Island Quest Sailing Charter: 7 Hours Around Gozo and Comino

Island Quest Boat Charters

Malta, Gozo & Comino: 7-Hour Secluded-Bay Sailing Charter

★ 5.0 (25) · from $784

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Prices and timetables checked 17 October 2026. Affiliate note: I earn a commission on bookings made through the button below.

The Island Quest sailing charter is the long, slow way to see Malta's two smaller islands: one skipper, one sailboat, and a full day to anchor wherever the water looks best. Island Quest Boat Charters sells it on GetYourGuide as a private booking, so the $784 covers the whole boat rather than a seat.

The detail that changes the decision is the price basis.

A shared Comino cruise from Bugibba costs $34 a head; this charter only starts to look reasonable when you fill most of the 11 places. Below six guests, the shorter half-day sailing charter or one of the cheaper private Comino boats is the better value. If you are still choosing the type of trip, my overview of boat tours in Malta compares all twelve I list, and the sailing trips page puts the sailboats side by side.

What do you get on the Island Quest sailing charter?

You get the whole sailboat, its skipper and a first mate for seven hours, with fuel and port fees already paid. The listing describes a 14-metre boat with three cabins, a hammock, a paddle board, a kayak and snorkelling equipment for everyone aboard.

• Skipper and crew - a skipper plus, according to recent guests, a first mate.
• Fuel and port fees - listed as included, so no cash extras for those.
• Water sports kit - snorkel gear, paddle board and kayak, shared between the group.
• Drinks and snacks - water, soft drinks, snacks and prosecco.
• Barbecue - the grill is on board but the food is yours to bring and cook.

The listing does not say whether the prosecco is a bottle or a glass each, so ask Island Quest before you plan the picnic around it. It also does not state a start time, which the operator confirms once you book.

Where does the Island Quest sailing charter leave from?

It leaves from either Marfa Jetty on Malta's northern tip or Mgarr Harbour on Gozo, and the operator's half-day listing says the choice depends on where guests are staying. The pin on this listing sits at Marfa; the Gozo ferry also lands at Mgarr, so guests staying on Gozo avoid the crossing.

1. Pick your side - tell Island Quest where you sleep when you book so they assign the nearer jetty.
2. Check the exact pier - open the Maps link for Marfa Jetty or Mgarr Harbour the evening before.
3. Plan the groceries - buy the barbecue food before you reach the jetty, because the listing mentions no shop there.

I could not find a published bus time from the Malta side that I would trust for a day-trip schedule, so I am not giving a walking time or fare. Transport Malta runs the public buses; confirm the route on its official website.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route is the skipper's call: the listing names secluded bays and private coves around Gozo and Comino, with several swim stops, but no fixed stop list. That is normal for a private sailboat, because wind and swell decide which bays are comfortable on the day.

• Blue Lagoon - Blue Lagoon, Comino on Google Maps.
• Crystal Lagoon - Crystal Lagoon, Comino on Google Maps.
• Gozo ferry quay - Cirkewwa ferry terminal on Google Maps, near Marfa.

Comino's Blue Lagoon is the likely highlight, and Transport Malta's 2026 notice to mariners reserves a swimmers' zone there that boats must stay 5 metres clear of, entering slowly. A skipper who respects that anchors outside the zone and lets you swim in. If you want the lagoon specifically, ask which bay he plans for the middle of the day.

How long is the Island Quest charter and when does it sail?

The charter runs 7 hours, and the start time is not published: GetYourGuide shows "check availability to see starting times". As a private booking, you pick a date and the operator confirms the hour.

The sun sets at 6:28 PM on 15 October and 4:50 PM on 15 December in Malta, according to the sunrise-sunset API, so a late-autumn departure after 10 AM would finish close to dusk. Summer is easier: sunset is at 8:21 PM in June.

The listing gives no season, so I would not assume it runs in winter. Ask Island Quest which months it takes the boat out; January and February average 5.8 to 8.1 rain days a month and sea water between 16.2 and 17.3 °C.

What is on board and who is it for?

The boat is a sailing yacht with three cabins, so there is somewhere to sit out of the sun, which matters on a 7-hour day. The listing mentions a hammock, but it lists no toilet or shower, so ask whether there is a marine toilet.

• Mixed groups - reviewers describe adults and children, and one party of eight friends.
• Swimmers - most of the value sits in the anchored swim stops.
• Sailing curious guests - one reviewer says the skipper raised the sail, which suggests the engine is not the only way to move.

How much does it really cost per person?

At 11 guests the price is about $71 each, and at 4 guests it is $196 each, so this charter only competes with shared cruises when the boat is nearly full. Food for the barbecue is the one extra the listing names.

Euro figures use the Frankfurter rate of 0.88865 on 16 October 2026; your card rate will differ.

How does it compare with the other Malta boats?

It is the most expensive listing in my Malta set and the only full-day private sailboat, so it competes with shared Comino cruises on atmosphere rather than price.

The half-day version is the easier first choice for a couple. If you want the cheapest path to the same lagoons, the Hornblower cruise costs $34 a head, with a crowd to match.

Is the Malta sailing charter worth it against a shared Comino cruise?

Yes for a group of six or more who want privacy and a slow pace, and no for two people watching a budget. The shared cruise is a transport product; this is a day on someone's yacht.

• $784 vs $34 - the private boat costs 23 times a single shared ticket.
• 11 seats - splitting the boat narrows the gap to about 2 times, with food and privacy included.
• Pace - guests set the time at each bay instead of following a fixed swim stop.

For one evening or a small budget, I'd book the cheaper cruises on my main Malta page; for a birthday or a friend group that wants a whole day, my pick is this charter.

When is the best time to go?

June to September is the best window for a swim-heavy day: sea surface averages 25.0 °C in June and 27.1 °C in July, and mean daily maximum waves drop to 0.52 m in June.

The marine figures come from an open-sea grid point north-west of Gozo, so sheltered bays should be calmer than they show. Sunscreen matters: a sailboat has little shade away from the cabin, and the weather API supplies no UV figure for Malta.

4,022,310 inbound tourists visited Malta in 2025, up 12.9% on 2024, so peak-summer jetties and bays are busy.

The next public holidays are the Immaculate Conception on 8 December, Republic Day on 13 December and Christmas Day, per the Nager.Date holiday API; book winter dates early if you want one of them.

What do passengers say?

All eight review snippets I can see are 5-star, so the sample is positive only, and the common thread is the skipper. Seven of the eight mention him by first name, and several describe him adapting the day to the group.

• Skipper - friendly, flexible, never rushing the swim stops.
• Food - the barbecue gets a positive mention.
• Mixed ages - one reviewer calls it a good day for adults and children together.
• Boat - described as tidy, large, safe and well suited to activities.

None of the snippets complains, but a 25-review score is small. Treat 5.0/5 as a strong early signal rather than proof, and check the latest reviews on GetYourGuide before paying.

Who should skip the Island Quest charter?

Skip it if you are travelling as a couple on a tight budget, if you want a guaranteed Comino landing, or if you need certainty about toilet facilities. Compare snorkelling trips for a cheaper reef-focused morning.

• Pairs - $392 each is hard to justify against a $34 shared cruise.
• Landing pass seekers - the listing does not mention Comino's land-access pass, so ask whether you can step ashore.
• Seasick travellers - a sailboat heels under sail and offers less stable footing than a large cruise ship.
• Fixed schedule - the start time is agreed after booking.

How do you book the Island Quest sailing charter?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, so a date can be held while the group confirms.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 642862 (checked 17 October 2026); Transport Malta notice 059 of 2026; NSO Malta inbound tourism; Open-Meteo archive and marine APIs; sunrise-sunset.org API; Frankfurter FX API; Nager.Date holiday API.