Malta Charters

Malta Charters rents out sailing yachts, catamarans and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) from Kalkara Marina, a sheltered base inside Valletta's Grand Harbour. You can book a skippered day on the water, or take a yacht for a week or a weekend with no crew if someone in your party holds a recognised maritime licence.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the company is listed among our boat charter companies in Malta. Its location is a real advantage: from Kalkara you can head north towards Comino or south along the coast, whichever way the wind favours.

A fleet the company owns outright

Malta Charters was established in 2006 to tap into the growing niche of yacht chartering and boat rental in the Maltese islands. Its motto is bringing friends together for a great time at sea, and its stated long-term aim is a business that lets people from all parts of society enjoy the water while treasuring the islands' cultural and marine heritage.

The operation is substantial. More than 15 people work full time and another 40 part time, and the fleet runs to up to 30 sailing yachts, 4 catamarans and 7 RIBs, all owned by the company rather than brokered. Bareboat yachts on the current rate list range from 36 to 53 feet, with models from Bavaria, Dufour, Beneteau and Jeanneau, and a handful of Bali catamarans. Berthing at Kalkara Marina is free for the whole charter, although water and electricity are excluded.

If you want to see the harbour from the land first, our Three Cities guide and Vittoriosa guide cover the fortified towns across the water from Valletta.

Skippered day charters

A day charter is the simplest way to see the coast. You spend a day at sea with family, friends or colleagues on a private sailing yacht or a luxury catamaran, exploring clear water around the islands. An experienced, friendly skipper meets you at the agreed pick-up point and runs the boat, so you can swim, sunbathe and relax. The range of trips runs from a romantic sunset cruise for two to a full week under sail.

Popular destinations include the shallow bays of Comino, and our Blue Lagoon guide explains what to expect there. For beach stops along the way, see our list of the best beaches in Malta. Day charter prices are not printed on the website for these trips, so ask for a quote through the enquiry form with your group size and dates.

RIB hire

RIB charter is the quick, flexible option. You turn up at the marina, spend about five minutes on paperwork and set off, and when you return the team takes care of the rest. Seven RIBs are available, which makes this a good fit for a short exploring trip along the coast, though prices are given on request.

Bareboat charter and the weekly rates

Bareboat means you skipper the yacht yourselves, so at least one member of the group needs a recognised and valid maritime licence, and a security deposit is required. Yachts can also be hired with one of the company's skippers if you prefer. More than 30 different yachts are available in summer.

Weekly rates for 2026/2027 depend on the season: low season runs from 26 September to 8 May, mid season from 9 May to 5 June and high season from 6 June to 25 September. As examples, the 36-foot Bavaria CR36 sleeps six plus one and costs €2175 per week in low season, €2625 in mid season and €3080 in high season. The 45-foot Dufour 450GL sleeps eight plus one from €3160 in low season to €4160 in high season, and the 52-foot Dufour 520GL sleeps ten plus one from €5490 to €7310. The Bali catamarans are priced from €7300 to €10495 per week. All rates include VAT.

Fuel is charged on consumption and settled on return. The yacht is handed over with full tanks, and refuelling is done at Kalkara Marina, billed per litre. The price includes friendly service at the pontoon, the yacht with standard equipment from the inventory list, free berthing at Kalkara Marina for the charter, and luggage storage at the pontoon.

Deposits, extras and packs

Three security options are available. The first is an insurance waiver at €60 per day on sailing yachts (minimum €420) with a €300 fuel deposit. The second is a waiver at €45 per day (minimum €315) with a €1000 security deposit that includes €300 for fuel. The third is a refundable cash deposit of €3000 for yachts up to 40 feet, €4000 for larger yachts and €5000 for catamarans. Catamarans cost 1.5 times the waiver figures, and bookings of more than three yachts must use the second option. A compulsory service pack covers full water tanks, cooking gas, linen, blankets, towels and end cleaning, from €110 for a three-cabin yacht to €170 for the largest boats.

Extras include a skipper at €280 per day, a hostess at €250 per day, a gas barbecue at €45 per week, a paddle board at €45 per week, an outboard at €95 per week and a Wi-Fi modem at €70 per week. An optional starter pack at €75 provisions up to six people with basics such as drinks, fruit, tea and coffee. Embarkation is at 19:30 from 21 June to 21 September and at 17:00 for the rest of the year, with disembarkation at 08:30. Clients arriving after dark check in the next day.

Choosing between yacht, catamaran and RIB

The three boat types suit different plans. A sailing yacht gives the classic experience: the larger models on the rate list have four or five cabins, two or three toilets and berths for eight to ten guests plus one, which suits a family week or a group of friends sharing costs. A catamaran, the Bali 4.1 and 4.2 models with four cabins and four toilets, is a stable, roomy alternative, and three of them are hired with a skipper only.

A RIB is for people who want speed and simplicity over cabins: the paperwork takes minutes. If you are not sure which type fits, the team will help you plan, whatever the size of your event, and will suggest a boat once they know your dates and numbers.

Smaller sailing yachts on the list, such as the 38-foot Dufour 382GL and the 36-foot Bavaria CR36, have three cabins and sleep six plus one. Weekly prices for the Dufour 382GL run from €2710 in low season to €3780 in high season.

What a week afloat looks like

A bareboat week starts at the pontoon in Kalkara, where staff are on hand at handover and your luggage can be stored if your arrival and departure times do not line up with the yacht. The company asks that you do not refuel outside the marina without authorisation, and the yacht is handed back at Kalkara.

For charters of more than one week, extra linen and towels cost €12 per person per week, and if the crew changes from one week to the next, the new group must buy the full service pack so the boat is cleaned, the linen changed and the water tank refilled at the marina on an agreed date. Snorkelling equipment is available, with two sets free and further sets at €6 each, and an extra night on the yacht costs €30 per person with a minimum of €60.

Because Kalkara sits centrally, you can sail to both sides of the island and choose a route to suit the wind, whether you want the north around Comino or the southern coast.

Cancellation terms and planning your trip

For bookings in July and August, you are refunded in full if you cancel more than 60 days before the start, and lose the fee paid if you cancel 59 days or fewer ahead. For bookings from September to June, the full refund applies when you cancel more than 35 days ahead and the fee is lost at 34 days or fewer. The charter agreement has the final say, and travel insurance is advised.

Check the Malta weather guide to pick your month, plan flights with our guide to flights to Malta, and find ideas for time ashore in our things to do in Malta and Valletta guide. To start, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page, and we will pass your message to Malta Charters.