Kayak Gozo

Gozo's coast is at its best from the water: sheer cliffs, sea caves you can float into and clear bays that most day-trippers never see. Kayak Gozo is a specialist paddling business that takes small groups out from the island for half-day tours across the channel to Comino and along the Gozo shoreline, and it also runs private boat trips for people who would rather leave the paddling to a skipper.

The business is listed with the water sports operators in Malta on VisitMalta.co.uk, and its tours make a good alternative to the big tourist boats that head for the Blue Lagoon. All of them are guided, and there are no kayak rentals without a guide.

The kayak adventure

The Kayak Adventure is the most popular tour. It runs from March to October on a morning slot at 10am and an afternoon slot at 2:30pm, lasts about three hours and costs €60 per person. It is closed on Sundays. The tour includes about two hours of kayaking, so a moderate level of fitness is needed, and it suits beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

After a short safety briefing at Hondoq Bay, you paddle along the quiet Gozo coastline and cross to Comino, a crossing of about 20 minutes. There you see rock arches, hidden caves and bays, and usually a close look at the Blue Lagoon. A break gives you time to swim, explore or relax, with goggles provided for clear underwater views. Most kayak tours only visit the Blue Lagoon from the water and do not land, which means you do not need a landing ticket. The Malta Tourism Authority introduced a ticket system on 1 May 2025 for anyone going ashore, and our Blue Lagoon guide covers it.

The minimum age is 10, and children under 15 paddle in a double kayak with an adult. Maximum client weight is 100 kg in a single kayak and 110 kg in a double. Groups with an even number are normally put in double kayaks, with a single added for odd numbers, and solo paddlers are given a single kayak. Everyone must be able to swim unassisted.

Winter and multi-day paddling

Outside the summer season, Kayak Gozo offers winter tours from November to February. These half-day trips cost €60 per person and start at 10am on Wednesdays, though the day can move a day or two either side to follow the weather. The team confirms the route and day on the Monday before, and the tour only operates with a minimum of four people. Routes depend on the conditions and may cover Comino, the west coast of Gozo or the rugged north coast from Qbajjar. Lightweight waterproof jackets are provided to protect against wind and spray.

For kayak clubs and sports groups, multi-day tours of three, four or five days run from mid-September to mid-June. They are private, need a minimum group of eight and take up to 24 paddlers, with price on request. The package includes all kayaking gear and daily lunches, certified guides, and planned and alternative routes, and the team can suggest accommodation, transport and rest-day activities. Groups that bring their own qualified guide may be offered a discount. Group tours for schools, companies and clubs can accommodate up to 60 people depending on staffing.

Private skippered boat tours

If kayaking sounds like too much work on holiday, the Private Skippered Boat Tour covers the same waters by motorboat. It runs at 10am and 2pm for about three hours, costs €280 for the private tour and takes a maximum of five people, which suits couples and small families. The price is all inclusive, covering a skipper and guide, a snorkel set, a dry bag, a sunshade and a litre of water.

You choose the route with your skipper, who advises on the best time to visit busier places such as the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. Stops on Gozo may include Mġarr ix-Xini, Hondoq Bay and the Colosseum swimming spot beneath the Sannap cliffs. On Comino, the boat can reach the smugglers' caves near Santa Marija Bay, Elephant Head Rock and the Santa Marija Battery Arch. Routes can change with the weather. Tours meet at Mġarr Marina on Pontoon B/C, about a 10 minute walk from the ferry terminal, and detailed directions are sent before your trip.

Groups, equipment and guides

Regular tours are limited to six kayaks per guide, or 12 people, and groups rarely number more than ten, though several groups may be out on the water at once with their own guides. Kayaks are sit-inside models, and there is a separate fleet of higher-performance kayaks and carbon fibre paddles for experienced paddlers, subject to availability. Safety gear is provided, and you can ask for a single kayak if you are confident.

Groups of eight or more can book at a discounted rate. For these bookings a deposit of half the price is usually taken at the time of booking, with final payment at least a week before the event. For clubs and multi-day trips the team provides a packed vegetarian lunch, with options for vegan, gluten-free and nut-free diets if you tell them in advance. Anyone planning a longer holiday in Gozo can combine a tour with our guide to the best beaches in Malta and our Malta holidays overview.

What to bring and know before you go

Wear clothes that can get wet and shoes that can go in the water, and bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water and dry clothes for afterwards. A dry bag is provided for your belongings, and valuables can be locked in the team's trailer or vehicles at your own risk. Guides take photographs during the tour and send them to you free the next day. Food is not provided on regular tours, and there is no restroom on the water, so use the one at the launch point first.

A guide stays with you from the moment you arrive until you are safely back on land. Pets are not allowed in kayaks, and the team can discuss the options if you have a disability, ideally well before you book. Regular bookings of seven people or fewer can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. If the team cancels because of weather, you are offered a new date or a full refund. Check our Malta weather guide when choosing your date.

Getting to Hondoq and Gozo

Most tours start at Hondoq Bay, at the far end of the promenade, where a row of yellow and red kayaks marks the spot. A taxi is the easiest way to get there, using the Uber, Bolt or eCabs apps, which all work on Gozo. By bus, the 303 stops at Qala, followed by a 1.1 kilometre walk down the winding road to the bay. There is no booking office at Hondoq, so book in advance.

To reach Gozo, the car and passenger ferry leaves from Ċirkewwa in the north of Malta, about half an hour across, while a fast passenger ferry runs from Valletta to Mġarr, and our Valletta guide helps if you start from the capital. Our Mellieħa guide covers the Ċirkewwa side, and our Gozo guide helps you plan the rest of your stay, together with the hotels in Gozo page. For more ideas, see things to do in Malta and our guide to flights to Malta.

To ask about a tour, a group booking or a special request, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Kayak Gozo.