Boat Hire Malta

Boat Hire Malta is a small family team that has arranged private yacht and boat charters in Malta since 2016. Rather than selling seats on a crowded excursion, it hires you a whole vessel, with a licensed skipper, fuel and VAT included, so your group has the boat to itself. No licence or sailing experience is needed because the skipper handles the navigation.

The routes are the ones most UK visitors want: the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon on Comino, the coast and caves of Gozo, and the entrance to Valletta's Grand Harbour. If you are still choosing where to go, our Blue Lagoon guide and Gozo guide give useful background.

The fleet and what it costs

The fleet covers sailing yachts, motor boats and catamarans. Sailing yachts such as the Bavaria 40, a 12 metre boat with two cabins for up to eight guests, cost €475 per day. Motor boats range from the Eolo, at €450 per day, to the Princess P42, a 13 metre motor yacht with two cabins that carries up to twelve guests for €1350 per day. A Beneteau 423 for up to ten guests costs €500 per day, and the Lagoon 410 catamaran, with space for fifteen, costs €800 per day.

A large party catamaran takes up to 60 guests for €650 per day, which suits birthdays and group events. A sunset trip on a catamaran is offered from €425, and full days start from €450. These prices cover the whole boat, not a per-person fare. Lunch is available on some yachts for an additional fee, while water, tea and coffee come with the Bavaria 40, and some drinks are included on the Princess P42.

Where trips go and where they leave from

Most days out combine a swim at the Blue Lagoon with the quieter Crystal Lagoon and Comino's sea caves. The standard Princess P42 programme leaves Bugibba at 10:00 and returns at 17:30, calling at St Paul's Islands, Selmun Beach, Little Armier Beach, the Blue Lagoon and Mġarr Harbour in Gozo, and individual itineraries are also possible. Other popular choices include a sunset cruise, a Valletta Harbour cruise, a Gozo and Comino day trip and a trip to the Blue Grotto, which you can read about in our Blue Grotto guide.

Departures are listed from Sliema, St Julian's, Xemxija, Bugibba and Mellieħa on the main island, from Valletta, and from Gozo. Swimming and snorkelling equipment is carried on board. Since May 2025, visitors stepping ashore at the Blue Lagoon need a free visitor pass, and the team arranges the registration for you, though not every trip goes ashore.

Planning your charter

The season runs from April to October. July and August are the busiest months, while May, June and September bring warm water and quieter anchorages, so they are well worth considering. Early departures are calmer and less crowded at the lagoon. Our Malta weather guide shows what to expect each month.

Because the whole boat is yours, the day is flexible: you choose how long to stay in each bay, whether to snorkel or simply swim, and when to turn back. The skipper knows the coves personally and shapes the route around your group, the weather and your preferences, which makes the trip comfortable for couples, families with children and groups of friends alike.

Extras, booking and cancellations

Besides day trips, the company arranges weekly yacht charters, boat parties, birthdays, wedding celebrations, diving trips and fishing. A booking deposit secures your date and is part of the rental price, and the balance is paid on the day. If the weather rules out the cruise, it is moved to the nearest suitable day. Cancellation terms are set out per boat, so check them when you ask. You can compare other operators in the directory of boat charter companies in Malta, or read about the harbour that many trips pass in our Valletta guide.

When you are ready to ask about a date, a boat or a route, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Boat Hire Malta.