Amazing Boat Trips in Malta

Amazing Boat Trips in Malta is a search-and-book platform for sea trips across the Maltese islands. Rather than running a single boat, it brings together shared group tours, fully private charters and rentals, covering Malta, Gozo and Comino, so a visitor can compare catamarans, sailing yachts, traditional boats, speedboats and jet skis in one place.

For UK holidaymakers the appeal is simplicity: pick a departure point near your hotel, choose between a social shared trip or a private boat, and see the duration and starting price before you commit. The business is listed in our directories of boat charter in Malta and tour operators in Malta, and the trips it features include some of the island's best-loved sights, including the Blue Lagoon on Comino.

Shared boat trips

A shared trip puts you aboard a boat with other guests, usually under a licensed skipper and crew, on a fixed route and schedule. Typical stops include the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon on Comino, sea caves, swim stops in sheltered bays and scenic cruising along the coast. Most last between three and eight hours, and the atmosphere is sociable, which suits solo travellers, couples and groups of friends.

Shared tours are the cheaper way to go. Half-day trips of three to four hours are typically priced from €25 to €70 per person, and full-day trips of six to eight hours from €50 to €100, normally covering skipper, fuel and basic safety equipment. Snorkelling gear is provided on some trips and rented on others, and food and drink vary by tour, so check each listing. Families are generally welcome, although age limits may apply to particular trips, and non-swimmers can come along because life jackets are on board and swimming is optional.

Private charters and boat rental

Private trips give you the whole boat. You choose the departure time, how long to stay at each stop and whether the day is about swimming, snorkelling, sightseeing or simply relaxing, and the skipper can adapt the route to the weather. Private charters suit couples, families, birthdays, proposals, weddings and corporate events.

As a guide, small speedboats or motorboats cost roughly €150 to €400 for a half-day for four to seven people, while sailing boats and catamarans start at around €400 to €600 or more for a half-day, and full-day private trips typically run from €600 to €1,000 or more. Most private hire includes a skipper, fuel, snorkelling equipment and safety gear, and because a professional skipper is included you do not need a boating licence. Fuel policy differs between operators, so confirm it before booking.

Boat categories on offer include catamarans, sailing boats, Turkish gulets, speed and motor boats, traditional luzzu boats, RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) and jet skis. If you are comparing options for a longer sailing holiday, our Valletta guide and the Three Cities guide describe the harbours you may sail past.

Harbour cruises, sunset trips and parties

Sliema and Valletta are the starting point for harbour cruises of around 75 minutes that sail between Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour, with views of Valletta's bastions and the Three Cities. Night cruises show the skyline floodlit, and a themed boat party with drinks and food is also listed.

Sunset trips run from Bugibba, Mellieħa and Valletta, some with a swim and snorkel stop at the Blue Lagoon before the sun goes down, and there are romantic private sunset sails on yachts. Late-afternoon departures give calmer water, softer light and fewer crowds than midday.

Where trips depart from

Valletta has trips ranging from catamaran charters to private sailing yachts, with related departures from Ta' Xbiex, Birgu and Kalkara. Sliema offers harbour cruises and day trips combining Gozo, Comino and the Blue Lagoon. St Julian's focuses on powerboat and speedboat runs and jet ski safaris to the north and south of Malta. Bugibba and St Paul's Bay have many shared day trips and sunset cruises, and Mellieħa and Ċirkewwa, closest to Comino, have the widest choice, including short ferry-style crossings of around 25 minutes to the Blue Lagoon.

Gozo departures include private speedboat and cave trips from Hondoq Bay and Mgarr. If you plan a ferry-and-beach day, read our Gozo guide, the Mellieħa guide and our overview of the best beaches in Malta.

Choosing between shared and private

Shared trips win on price, social atmosphere and ease, since the route is planned for you, which suits short stays and half-day outings. The trade-offs are less flexibility over stops and timing, less privacy and, in peak season, a busy boat. Private trips reverse those points: exclusive use, a customised itinerary and a calmer pace, in exchange for a higher cost and the need to plan ahead.

A simple rule of thumb is to choose shared if you are on a budget, enjoy meeting people or want a scheduled outing, and private if you are celebrating, travelling with a group or children, or want a full day to yourselves. Half-day trips of three to four hours usually include one or two swim stops and coastal sightseeing. Full-day trips of six to eight hours allow several swimming and snorkelling stops, time at both lagoons and a slower, unhurried itinerary, with lunch included or free time for food depending on the tour.

Skippers, safety and the view from the water

Safety is built into the way trips are run. Licensed skippers know the coast, currents and weather, can change the route when conditions shift, and are essential on private charters. Life jackets are provided, boats carry first aid kits and emergency signalling devices, safety briefings are given before departure and boats are regularly maintained and inspected to meet Maltese maritime requirements.

The reward is a perspective you cannot get from land: limestone cliffs along the north and south coasts, caves and coves reachable only by sea, and panoramic views of historic harbours and forts. Many of the island's best lagoons and bays are easiest to reach by boat, which is why a trip is often the highlight of a Malta holiday.

When to go and what to bring

The boating season runs from April to October. June to September is the peak, with warm weather and calm seas but crowds at popular spots such as the Blue Lagoon and a need to book in advance, ideally three to four weeks ahead for private boats in summer. April, May and October are cooler and quieter and may be cheaper. From November to March the weather is less predictable, and some shared tours do not run, though many private charters still do. Our Malta weather guide shows conditions by month.

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, sunglasses, a hat, water and a waterproof phone case. Guests are usually asked to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure for boarding and a safety briefing. If conditions are unsafe, the trip may be rescheduled or refunded, depending on the operator's policy. Reputable operators carry life jackets, first aid kits and emergency signalling equipment, and licensed skippers monitor the sea conditions throughout.

Planning your trip and getting in touch

Use the platform's filters to narrow trips by shared or private, group size from one to over a hundred, duration, price and category such as harbour cruise, RIB, self-drive or sunset cruise. For wider planning, our things to do in Malta guide and the Blue Grotto guide suggest what to combine with a day on the water.

Diving as well as boating? 7R Diving Malta is listed in our directory. To ask about a trip, a private charter or a group booking, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the business.