A private boat trip in Malta means your own boat, skipper and route for the day – no packed group deck, no fixed timetable, and the freedom to reach the quiet coves the big tour boats skip. It's the way to see the Blue Lagoon before the midday armada arrives, or to build a relaxed day around Comino, Gozo and a few hidden swimming spots. Charters are priced per group rather than per person, so split between a couple or a family they're more affordable than they first look. Here's what to expect and how to book.
- 01A private charter buys privacy and flexibility – your own boat, skipper and route, instead of sharing a deck with strangers on a fixed timetable.
- 02The big win is dodging the midday armada at the Blue Lagoon: a private skipper goes early, or to quieter coves the big boats skip.
- 03It's the pick for couples, families, groups and special occasions – anyone who wants control over how the day runs.
- 04Split between four to six people, a private charter is more affordable than it first appears.
- 05There are far fewer private boats than group-cruise seats, so book well ahead for summer dates.
Why hire a private boat in Malta?
The honest answer is control. A standard group cruise is cheap and cheerful, but you share the boat, follow a set route and arrive at the Blue Lagoon at the same time as everyone else. A private charter flips that: the boat, the skipper and the day are yours.
That means setting your own pace – a long swim here, a quiet cove there, lunch when you feel like it – and reaching spots the big boats can't or don't bother with. It's a different experience, geared to relaxation rather than ticking off a route.
It suits couples after a romantic day, families who want space and safety for the kids, groups celebrating something, and anyone who's done the standard group cruise and wants more than that.
What a private charter costs
The key thing to understand is that private boats are priced per group, not per person. A skippered charter starts around €500 for the day for up to six people, which sounds steep until you split it: a full boat of six works out close to the price of a premium group tour each, with none of the crowds.
For a couple it's a splurge; for a family or a group of friends it's genuinely competitive, and you get the whole boat. Drinks are often included, and the skipper handles the navigation, so you just enjoy the day. You can book a private yacht charter with a skipper and drinks as the easy, well-rated option.
Bigger boats and bareboat hire (where you skipper it yourself, if licensed) cost more or less depending on the vessel, but the skippered day charter is the sweet spot for most visitors.
Where private boats go
The classic route runs north to Comino, where a private skipper earns their fee: reaching the Blue Lagoon early, before the day-trip boats turn it into a floating car park, or slipping into the quieter Crystal Lagoon and the surrounding coves to swim and snorkel in peace.
From there, many charters take in the Gozo coastline, the sea caves and secluded bays that the scheduled routes pass by. The Comino guide covers the island the group boats descend on, and a private trip is the antidote to the crowds it draws in summer.
You can also tailor the day entirely – a short sunset cruise, a full day's island-hopping, or a lazy anchor-and-swim somewhere quiet. That flexibility is the whole point.
How to book and when to go
Book ahead, especially for summer. There are far fewer private boats than group-cruise seats, and the good skippers fill up in peak season, so the earlier you lock in your date the better. A skippered day charter booked online with drinks included is the simplest route.
Timing-wise, the boat season runs roughly from late spring to autumn, with the calmest seas and warmest water from June into October – the best time to visit Malta guide has the seasonal picture. Mornings are best for the Blue Lagoon whatever you book, and a private boat is the one way to actually beat the crowd there.
If a private charter is over budget, a standard group Blue Lagoon or catamaran cruise covers the same waters for far less per person – the trade-off is the crowds and the fixed route.
Featured image: PayniePaynie / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
