October boat trips, in short
For most visitors, the best October boat trip is the 3–4 hour Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa, with an hour at the Blue Lagoon and a 45-minute swim at the Crystal Lagoon, from $29 a person. A couple or a small group can have a boat to themselves on the private speedboat, from $181 for up to six, or the private charter with snorkel gear, from $285 for up to seven.
Conventional cruises work best early and mid-month. In the last week the wind picks up and a few seasonal trips stop, so book free cancellation and keep a spare day.
- Best for swimming
- June to October, with September and early October particularly strong
- Low crowds
- November to March
- Best warm-season format
- Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and the caves
- Best winter format
- Gozo and Comino, or a short private Comino boat
- October
- Warm-water shoulder season with lower crowds than summer
- What to check before you sail
- Wind, swell and sea state, more than a rain icon
- Comino cruise, per person, October From $29
- Private speedboat, per group of up to six From $181
- Clocks go back 25 October 2026
Check October dates for the Comino cruise Free cancellation up to 24 hours before · at most 24 people on board
Which boat trips run in October
October is a warm-water shoulder season with lower crowds than summer. Conventional cruises still work, especially early and mid-month, and almost every format a summer visitor would book is still on sale.
| Boat trip | Leaves from | From | In October |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comino cruise, 3–4 hours | Ċirkewwa | $29 | Swim stops at both lagoons; at most 24 people |
| Comino-only catamaran | Buġibba | $34 | Time ashore on Comino; Crystal Lagoon swim until the end of October |
| Gozo and Comino full day | Buġibba | $34 | Three to four hours on Gozo; Crystal Lagoon is a photo stop |
| Private speedboat, 2–3 hours | Mġarr or Ċirkewwa | $181 per group of up to six | Fuel extra |
| Private charter | Ċirkewwa | $285 per group of up to seven | Snorkel gear and a freshwater shower; €59 fuel in cash |
| Blue Lagoon sunset cruise | Buġibba | – | Not running; sold from about June to September |
The end of the month is where October changes. The clocks go back on 25 October 2026, after which the sun sets before half past five, and at least one of the Comino-only cruises we list finishes its season at the end of October. Sea temperatures, the swim season and how the lagoon itself changes through the month are in our Blue Lagoon in October guide. To check your own dates against the forecast, use the date checker in our best time to visit Malta guide.
What kind of tour makes sense?
Three formats cover most October trips, and the choice comes down to how much of the day you want in the water.
Standard shared cruise
Best when swimming is central to the day and the mainstream schedules are operating, which in October they are. A 3–4 hour Comino cruise is usually more versatile than a long single-stop excursion, because you get the Blue Lagoon, the Crystal Lagoon and the caves in one trip. Our pick is the Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa, the shortest crossing to Comino.
Gozo + Comino
This format comes into its own in late autumn and winter, because Gozo adds a substantial block of sightseeing. If nobody wants to swim, the day still includes Victoria, the island's scenery and a proper excursion, not a long, cold stop at anchor. In October it suits anyone who wants a swim at the Blue Lagoon and a look at Gozo in one trip, on the Gozo and Comino full-day cruise from Buġibba. Our Gozo and Comino in winter guide covers the same day from November on.
Private boat
Best for couples, families and small groups who value a flexible route, the caves, a shorter transfer and control over the swim stops. In summer a private boat helps you avoid the crowds; in winter it gives you flexibility and a compact trip. October sits between the two: the lagoon can still be busy at midday, and you choose when to stop and for how long.
Three boat trips for October
Many Blue Lagoon cruises are near-identical, so these are three genuinely different trips: one shared cruise and two private boats. Book the Comino cruise for the lowest price per person. Go private if there are four or more of you and you want to set the stops, choosing the speedboat for a short trip and the charter for a longer swim.
Our October picks
Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Sea Caves Boat Tour
A small boat for at most 24 people, with an hour at the Blue Lagoon, 45 minutes swimming at the Crystal Lagoon, and a paddleboard and swim noodles free to use. You can swim straight off the boat at the Blue Lagoon, which the operator says means you do not need the landing pass.
Check cruise datesMalta: Comino & Blue Lagoon Private Speed Boat Tour
Your own skipper from Mġarr on Gozo or Ċirkewwa on Malta, both close to Comino, so little of the trip goes on getting there. The route takes in Santa Marija Cave and the tunnel at the Crystal Lagoon. At the starting price four people pay about $45 each, with fuel on top, and the operator does not recommend it for anyone prone to seasickness.
See speedboat datesMalta: Private Boat Cruise with Caves, Beaches & Swim Stops
Your own boat and skipper, with snorkel masks, fins and a freshwater shower on board, which suits October, when the sea is still warm enough for a long swim. Fuel is a €59 cash charge on board, so four people pay about $71 each before fuel. The skipper adjusts the route to the weather.
See charter datesWant Gozo in the same day? The Gozo and Comino full-day cruise from Buġibba starts at $34 and is rated 4.4/5 from more than 21,000 reviews; Hornblower's Gozo and Comino cruise, rated 4.7/5 from more than 7,000, starts at the same price and sails until December. For time ashore on Comino itself, the Comino catamaran from Buġibba starts at $34 and is rated 4.7/5 from more than 9,000 reviews. Our best boat trips in Malta guide covers the rest of the year's choice.
Booking an October boat trip
- Go early in the month if you can choose. The first half of October still feels like the end of summer, and the Crystal Lagoon swim stops are published for June to October, weather permitting.
- Take an early departure. October is not a quiet month for Malta, and an early boat reaches the lagoon before the midday arrivals.
- Mind the clock change. After 25 October 2026 the sun sets before half past five, so an afternoon trip comes back in fading light.
- Read the calendar, not last month's price. The Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa started at $29 in October and $40 in winter when we checked.
Weather, wind and cancellations
All Blue Lagoon trips are marine excursions. Operators may change the route, skip the Crystal Lagoon, avoid the caves, shorten the swim stops, switch boats, postpone or cancel when conditions require it. Book the trip early in your Malta stay so you still have another day available.
For autumn and winter, flexible cancellation is particularly valuable. Do not rely only on the weather in Valletta or at your hotel, because conditions around Comino can be different: a sunny forecast with a strong north-westerly can still mean a rough crossing. The Malta Met Office's mariners' forecast gives the wind and sea state for the evening before.
Blue Lagoon landing pass
If you plan to step ashore in the managed Blue Lagoon area, check the current access rules and get the free landing pass when it applies, from the official site at blcomino.com. The pass has applied since 1 May 2025 and was brought back for summer 2026, and no official source says when it stops applying each year, so check for your October date.
The landing pass and your boat or ferry booking are separate. Your tour does not book the pass for you, and if you stay aboard and swim from the boat you do not need it.
What to bring
For most of October, pack the warm-season list: swimwear, a towel, high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water. Late in the month and on any windy day, add what you would bring in late autumn: a fleece or jumper, long trousers, a windproof layer and a complete dry change of clothes if you intend to swim.
Final verdict
October still supports the classic Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon cruises, Gozo and Comino days and private boats, so the choice is much as it is in summer. Book the Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa for both lagoons at a low price, the private speedboat or the private charter for a boat of your own, and the Gozo and Comino cruise if you want both islands. Go early in the month if you can, and keep a spare day. Travelling in the last days of October? Our Blue Lagoon in November guide covers what changes next, or see Malta boat trips in November for the tours that keep sailing.
How we know
Tour routes, departure ports, group sizes, inclusions, prices and ratings are from the GetYourGuide listings; prices are the lowest October figures we saw in September 2026, and ratings were re-read in October 2026. The sunset-cruise season and the end-of-October finish are from the operators' booking calendars, and Hornblower's season from its own published schedule. Sunset times are computed for the lagoon's coordinates, and the landing-pass rules are from blcomino.com.
Malta boat trips in October: common questions
Do boat trips to the Blue Lagoon run in October?
Yes. October is still part of the main swimming season, and the Comino cruises, the day cruises to Gozo and Comino, and the private boats all sail, weather permitting. Early and mid-October are the most reliable part of the month. A few seasonal trips stop: the Blue Lagoon sunset cruises we list end in September, and at least one Comino-only cruise finishes at the end of October.
Which boat trip is best in October?
For most visitors, the 3–4 hour Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa, with an hour at the Blue Lagoon and a 45-minute swim at the Crystal Lagoon. Couples, families and small groups who want to set the route should book the private speedboat for a short trip or the private charter for a longer swim with snorkel gear. A Gozo and Comino day suits anyone who wants to see Gozo as well.
How much does a Malta boat trip cost in October?
When we checked, the Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa started at $29 a person in October and the Gozo and Comino full-day cruise at $34. The private speedboat starts at $181 for up to six, with fuel on top, and the private charter at $285 for up to seven plus a €59 fuel charge. Prices change with the date, so read the calendar for yours.
Are there sunset cruises to the Blue Lagoon in October?
Not on the ones we list. The Blue Lagoon sunset cruises are sold from about June to September. In October the sun sets at about 18:27 on the 15th and before half past five once the clocks go back on 25 October 2026, so a day cruise or a private boat is the way to see the lagoon.
Is late October still good for a boat trip?
Yes, but it is more likely to be moved or shortened. The wind picks up through the month, the sea keeps cooling and the days are shorter after the clocks change. Book an early departure, choose free cancellation and leave a spare day in case your trip is called off.
Do I need the Blue Lagoon landing pass in October?
Only if you step ashore in the managed Blue Lagoon area while the scheme is in force. The pass is free from blcomino.com and is separate from your boat booking. Some operators, including the Comino cruise from Ċirkewwa, say you do not need it if you stay aboard and swim from the boat.