Malta and Gozo Gulet Cruise: A Sailing Itinerary from Valletta to Comino and Gozo

The cruise covers the Maltese archipelago, departing from Valletta and moving between the main island of Malta, the tiny island of Comino and Gozo, the largest of the outer islands, reached by a short crossing across the channel that separates them.

Sailing here stays close to the coastline for most of the week, with short crossings between islands and frequent stops to anchor and swim in sheltered bays, rather than long open water passages.

Comino is known above all for the Blue Lagoon and the Crystal Lagoon, two stretches of shallow, intensely turquoise water framed by limestone cliffs. Gozo feels greener and quieter than Malta, with the dramatic coastline around Dwejra among its most striking landscapes, while the Blue Grotto on Malta's southern coast adds a series of sea caves carved into the cliffs.

Valletta sets the tone at the start of the week with its baroque architecture and fortified harbor, while Gozo's capital, Rabat, also known as Victoria, offers a quieter, more rural pace of life. On Malta's coast, Marsaxlokk remains a working fishing village with a colorful harbor, and the area around Saint Paul's Bay and Anchor Bay, the setting for Popeye Village, adds a lighter, more playful stop along the route.

Most days combine a short sail with time anchored for swimming, followed by a visit ashore to a village, a viewpoint or a stretch of coastline, with evenings spent either in a small harbor or at anchor in a quiet bay.