From Valletta: Full Day Private Charter on a Sailing Yacht

Malta is at its best from the water, where limestone cliffs, small coves, and clear swimming spots open up far beyond the usual city sights. On this private charter, you sail aboard Mowgli, a 2020 Elan Impression 45, with skipper Grace handling the boat and shaping the day around your group.

I like the freedom to choose between Comino’s famous bays and quieter southern stops, and I like that the yacht gives you room to sit, swim, and move around without a crowd. The main consideration is price: $742 covers a group of up to nine, so this makes better financial sense for a full group than for two or three people.

Key points

• A real private yacht: Mowgli is a 45-foot sailing yacht built in 2020, with space for up to 12 people plus the skipper.
• Grace gets strong praise: She is described as friendly, professional, funny, helpful, and careful with the boat.
• The route can change: Comino, Gozo, and southern Malta are possible, but wind and sea conditions decide where you can safely go.
• Swimming is the main event: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Armier Bay, and other coves provide time for swimming and snorkeling.
• Bring or pre-order food: Water, soft drinks, and coffee or tea are included, but food and other drinks cost extra.
• A full day on the sea: The eight-hour charter leaves enough time to sail, stop, swim, and avoid a rushed schedule.

Why a private sailing day works so well in Malta

Malta is compact on land, but its coast feels much larger from a boat. A private charter lets you trade busy roads and crowded waterfronts for a day of open water, limestone shorelines, and coves reached only by sea.

You are not locked into one rigid route. The skipper can aim north toward Comino and its famous swimming bays, or south toward places such as the two bays of Hoffriet, St. Peter’s Pool, and St. Thomas Bay. Gozo may also be part of the plan, depending on conditions and your wishes.

That flexibility matters. The northern route is the obvious choice if you want Malta’s most famous turquoise water and cave scenery. The southern route can suit you better if you prefer a quieter day with less emphasis on the best-known stops.

The yacht is private to your group, so you do not have to fit into a boatload of strangers or follow a fixed entertainment program. You can spend more time swimming, ask to move on, or simply sit in the sun while the boat carries you along the coast.

Mowgli and what you get for the price

Mowgli is a 45-foot, 14-metre Elan Impression 45 sailing yacht built in 2020. The boat is described as clean, well maintained, and comfortable, with enough room for a full group to spread out rather than sit shoulder to shoulder.

The yacht carries up to 12 people plus the professional skipper. The stated price is $742 per group of up to nine, so the per-person cost is about $82 if you fill the included group size. That is not a budget boat ride, but it becomes fairer when you compare it with the privacy, full-day length, fuel, and skipper included.

For two people, the same price is a much bigger commitment. For a family or group of friends, it can be a sensible way to get a private boat without paying for a luxury yacht sized for far more people.

Water, bottled water, soda, and coffee or tea are included. Food and additional drinks are not, so plan ahead. You can bring your own provisions or pre-order food and drinks. The operator also offers extra time at €75 per hour, though you should confirm the final price and currency when booking because the main rate is shown in dollars while the extension is listed in euros.

Leaving Marina di Valletta

The meeting point is Pontoon B at Marina di Valletta in Pietà, only a short distance from Valletta. You begin with coffee and a safety briefing before setting off.

The first sailing section is listed as about 15 minutes. That gives you a quick introduction to the boat and the skipper’s instructions before the swimming part of the day begins. Do not treat the safety briefing as filler. On a sailing yacht, it is your chance to learn where to move, how to use the boat safely, and what the skipper expects when the yacht is under way.

Grace has received repeated praise for her calm, friendly way of handling the day. She is also described as professional, helpful, and experienced with the boat. One particularly useful detail is that she has offered recommendations for places to eat, which can help you plan dinner after returning to Valletta.

The marina itself is a practical starting point. You do not need to travel to a distant harbor before the charter begins, and the yacht is close to Malta’s capital.

Blue Lagoon: famous for a reason

The usual northern route reaches Blue Lagoon on Comino, with about two hours set aside for sailing, sightseeing, swimming, and snorkeling. This is the longest stop and gives you time to enjoy the water instead of making a quick photo stop.

Blue Lagoon is the scene most people picture when they think of a Malta boat day: bright, clear water enclosed by pale rock. From the yacht, you can appreciate the color without spending the entire time trying to find a place along the shore.

The tradeoff is fame. Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s best-known swimming spots, so it may not feel quiet, particularly in the main season. A private yacht helps because you are not dependent on the busiest part of the beach, but the surrounding area can still be active.

I would use this stop for swimming and snorkeling rather than expect a calm, empty cove. Bring sun protection and a towel, and remember that the skipper may shorten or replace the stop if wind, waves, or local conditions make it unsafe.

Crystal Lagoon and the Comino caves

Crystal Lagoon follows with about an hour for photos, swimming, snorkeling, and free time. Its name gives you a good idea of the appeal: clear water, pale rock, and a setting that looks especially good from the boat.

This stop is also useful for breaking up the day. You get a second place to swim rather than spending the whole charter in one bay. The operator notes that a northern route can include caves around Comino, along with Santa Marija Bay and San Niklaw Bay.

Caves are one of the advantages of seeing Comino by boat. You can reach coastal spaces that are not practical to visit on foot, and the skipper can adjust the route to suit the sea. The exact cave visits are not guaranteed, so think of them as possible additions rather than fixed promises.

The same warning applies to Crystal Lagoon as to Blue Lagoon: conditions and congestion can affect the experience. The yacht’s private setup gives you more control over your time, but it cannot control the weather or the number of boats in the area.

Armier Bay and the final swim

The sample route then heads toward Armier Bay for roughly an hour of photos, swimming, and snorkeling. It is a more relaxed final stop after the busier Comino section.

Armier Bay gives you another chance to get into the water without making the entire day about sightseeing from the deck. For many people, this is the rhythm that makes a charter work: sail for a while, stop for a swim, dry off, move to another bay, and repeat.

The exact order and choice of bays can change. If you go south instead, possible stops include the two bays of Hoffriet, St. Peter’s Pool, and St. Thomas Bay. This matters if you have already visited Blue Lagoon or want a route that feels less predictable.

St. Peter’s Pool is known as a striking swimming area, but no particular stop is assured. The skipper chooses according to safety and the group’s needs. That is a benefit of a private charter, but it also means you should not treat the sample schedule as a promise.

North or south: choosing the right route

The northern option is the straightforward pick for a first Malta boat day. Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon deliver the bright water and cave scenery most people want, with the possibility of Santa Marija Bay and San Niklaw Bay as quieter alternatives.

Choose the south if you care more about variety and flexibility than checking off Malta’s most famous bay. Hoffriet, St. Peter’s Pool, and St. Thomas Bay give the skipper different places to work with, and the day may feel less tied to one headline stop.

Gozo is also available as part of a flexible route, but the supplied plan does not promise specific Gozo stops. Ask about the likely route before departure if Gozo is a priority for you.

The sea decides more than the brochure does. If the weather is not safe, the skipper can change the route or cancel the charter. That is not a flaw. A responsible skipper should put safety before a promised photo stop, and the full refund policy applies if the skipper decides conditions are unsafe for sailing.

What the day feels like onboard

This is not a sightseeing cruise with constant commentary. It is a private day on a sailing yacht, where the best parts are the simple ones: sitting on deck, watching the coast pass, stopping in clear water, and choosing how long to linger.

The boat includes basic drinks, but you should sort out lunch before you arrive. You can bring your own food and drinks or pre-order them. Since the charter lasts eight hours, going without a proper meal would make the afternoon less comfortable.

Swimming and snorkeling are central to the experience, so pack the things you would want for a beach day. A towel, swimwear, sun protection, and a dry change of clothes are practical choices. The supplied information does not list snorkeling equipment, so ask the operator what is provided rather than assuming masks and fins are onboard.

The yacht is not suitable for pets. The group is private, but the operator’s information gives two different capacity references: the price is stated for up to nine people, while the yacht can carry up to 12 people plus the skipper. Confirm the cost for a group larger than nine before paying.

The skipper makes a real difference

A boat day depends heavily on the person at the helm. Grace is the skipper named in the supplied information, and the strongest praise centers on her service, professionalism, humor, and attention to the group.

You can expect an English-speaking skipper. Grace is described as taking care with safety, explaining things clearly, helping with the practical details, and adjusting the day to suit the group. She has also been praised for keeping the yacht clean and well maintained.

That does not mean the day will feel formal. The comments describe a friendly atmosphere, which is useful on a private charter. You want someone who can take control when needed but still let you enjoy the boat without turning the day into a lecture.

The skipper’s judgment matters most when the sea changes. A route that looks perfect in the morning may not work later, and a good captain will choose a safer bay or a different coast rather than force the original plan.

Who should book this charter

I would recommend it most strongly to families, couples traveling with friends, and small groups who want a private day rather than a standard boat excursion. The eight-hour length gives you room to slow down, and the private setup makes it easier to keep children or mixed-age groups comfortable.

It also suits swimmers. If you only want to look at the coast from a deck, you may not get full value from the price. The best use of the charter is to combine sailing with several water stops.

This is less appealing if you are traveling alone or as a pair on a tight budget. The fixed group price rewards numbers. It may also disappoint anyone expecting a guaranteed visit to every named bay, since the route depends on weather, sea conditions, and the skipper’s judgment.

I would also think twice if you dislike open-water days or want a highly structured schedule. The appeal here is freedom, and freedom means the day can change.

Booking details worth checking

The charter lasts eight hours and departs from Marina di Valletta at Pontoon B. Starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule before building the rest of your day around it.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If weather makes it unsafe to go out and the skipper cancels, a full refund is also available. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold the booking without paying immediately.

The operator is Holidays in Malta Ltd. Fuel and the skipper are included, along with water, bottled water, soda, and coffee or tea. Food and other drinks are extra.

Should you book Mowgli?

Book this charter if you want Malta’s coast on your own terms, have a group large enough to share the cost, and care more about swimming and scenery than a packed sightseeing schedule. The clean 2020 yacht, flexible route, and strong reports about Grace give the day a solid practical foundation.

I would choose the northern route for a first visit and ask about Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and the Comino caves. If you have already seen those places, ask about a southern plan instead.

Before booking, confirm the price for your exact group size, what snorkeling equipment is included, and the likely route for your date. If those details suit you, this is a very good way to see Malta from the side that often matters most: the sea.

FAQ

Where does the yacht depart from?

The meeting point is Pontoon B at Marina di Valletta in Pietà.

How long is the charter?

The private charter lasts eight hours. Extra time is available at €75 per hour.

How many people can join the boat?

The yacht can accommodate up to 12 people plus the professional skipper. The stated $742 price is for a group of up to nine, so confirm the rate for larger groups.

Is food included?

Food is not included. You can bring your own food and drinks or pre-order them. Water, bottled water, soda, and coffee or tea are included.

Which places can the route visit?

Possible northern stops include Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, San Niklaw Bay, and caves around Comino. A southern route may include the two bays of Hoffriet, St. Peter’s Pool, and St. Thomas Bay. Gozo is also possible, depending on the route and conditions.

What happens if the weather is unsafe?

The skipper can change the route when weather or sea conditions make a stop unsuitable. If the skipper decides it is unsafe to go out and cancels the charter, a full refund is available.