ATV riding in Gozo: Off-road buggy safari from Mgarr Harbour

You navigate rough terrain and coastal tracks most visitors never reach.

A private buggy safari across Gozo starting from Mgarr Harbour, where you ride through fertile valleys, off-road tracks and cliff-edge routes to reach the island's temples, bays, stone quarries and salt pans. The tour runs 6 hours with a driver-guide speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language. Entrance fees to attractions are separate, and ferry tickets to Gozo are not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ġgantija Temples45m
2. Rotunda of Xewkija15m

Explore Gozo island highlights

• Start from Mgarr Harbour
• Visit Qala belvedere viewpoint
• See Ġgantija Temples
• Enjoy views at Ramla Bay
• Visit the Rotunda of Xewkija church
• Explore the Salt Pans
• Stop at Marsalforn Bay
• Visit the Cittadella in Victoria
• Enjoy boat ride at Inland Sea
• Pass by Fungus Rock
• Pass by Stone Quarries
• Pass by Xlendi Bay
• Return to Mgarr Harbour

The experience

The buggy leaves Mgarr Harbour and climbs inland through the valleys that cut across Gozo's center, moving between rough tracks and paved roads as the route demands. You pass through Qala, where the belvedere opens onto views of Malta, Comino and the Blue Lagoon channel, then drop to Ramla Bay on the northeast coast: a beach of reddish sand that sits between Marsalforn and San Blas. The Ggantija Temples, the oldest on the island, stand inland. The Rotunda of Xewkija and its massive dome rise near Xagħra. Each stop is a place you reach by vehicle, not a walk-through. The buggy gets you to the edge of what matters and you step out to look.

The route swings toward the cliffs on the way to Xlendi Bay, a small seaside village on the southwest that locals favor as much as tourists do. From there the buggy heads to the Inland Sea, where a boat ride carries you through a narrow opening to the open water: a separate excursion you arrange on arrival. Fungus Rock, a 60-metre limestone lump at the entrance to a black lagoon, sits visible from the coast. The salt pans on the north coast near Marsalforn are a working landmark, the harvest still following methods centuries old. Marsalforn itself is a town between hill-top villages, and the route includes the Citadella (also called the Castello), the citadel of Victoria that has held occupation since the Bronze Age. The stone quarries and the Basilica of Ta' Pinu round out the stops before the buggy returns to the harbor.

A driver-guide travels with you the whole 6 hours, speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language depending on your booking. Entrance fees to the Ggantija Temples and other archaeological sites are not included in the price, nor is lunch or the ferry ticket to reach Gozo. The pace is set by the route and the stops. You are riding, not walking, so the physical demand is moderate: sitting in a vehicle for a full morning and afternoon with breaks to step out and look.

What’s included

• Driver-guide for the full 6 hours.
• pickup and drop-off at Mgarr Harbour.
• stops at Ggantija Temples, Ramla Bay, Qala, Xlendi Bay, the Inland Sea, Fungus Rock, the salt pans, Marsalforn, the Citadella, the Rotunda of Xewkija and stone quarries.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 19.85

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Barbarossa Excursions

Is this one for you?The buggy covers ground a walking tour cannot reach (off-road tracks, cliff edges and inland valleys), so you see the real island instead of the main roads. The 6-hour loop is long enough to circle the whole island and hit the major sites, but you spend most of it riding rather than walking, which suits travelers who want range without the pace of a hiking day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Ggantija Temples and why are they worth the stop?

The Ggantija Temples are the oldest temples on Gozo, standing inland from the coast. They are an archaeological site with entrance fees charged separately. The buggy brings you to them, but visiting inside requires a ticket you purchase on arrival.

Can I take a boat ride from the Inland Sea, or is that a separate booking?

The Inland Sea is included as a stop on the route, and you can arrange a boat ride through the narrow opening to the open water when you arrive there. It is a separate excursion you book and pay for on the day.

How long does the buggy safari take from start to finish?

The tour runs 6 hours total, departing from Mgarr Harbour and looping around the island before returning to the harbor. The time covers driving, stops at each location and breaks to step out and look.

Are meals included, or should I bring food and water?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You should bring water and snacks, or plan to eat at one of the towns you pass through: Marsalforn, Xlendi or Victoria near the Citadella all have cafes and restaurants.

Do I need a ferry ticket to reach Gozo, and is that included?

Ferry tickets to Gozo from Malta are not included in the buggy safari price. You arrange and pay for your ferry crossing separately. The buggy tour begins once you arrive at Mgarr Harbour.