Sardinia Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes
Sardinia’s north-east coast is ideally proportioned for yacht charters of any length. Porto Cervo to La Maddalena is just 20 nautical miles, the entire Costa Smeralda stretches 55 kilometres, and Corsica sits 9 nautical miles across the Strait of Bonifacio. The itineraries below are designed to be combined: a guest looking at the 3-day and 4-day routes can stitch them together into a full 7-day Sardinia charter without repeating a single beach. Every itinerary is fully customisable – your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard captain will tailor stops, pacing and activities to your group’s interests and the conditions on the day.
Day Charter Routes
Costa Smeralda Beach Hop
Depart Porto Cervo by 9 a.m. and cruise south along the Costa Smeralda’s most celebrated beaches. First stop: Spiaggia del Principe (the Aga Khan’s favourite), a crescent of white sand backed by granite and Mediterranean scrub. Swim and snorkel in jade-to-emerald water, then cruise 3 km to Cala di Volpe, the sheltered ‘Cove of the Fox’ with its fine white sand and emerald shallows. Lunch on the aft deck or take the tender ashore to the Hotel Cala di Volpe for a waterfront meal. Afternoon at Capriccioli – a pair of sandy coves with extremely clear, shallow water and granite swimming pools – before returning to Porto Cervo in the golden late-afternoon light for sundowners at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
La Maddalena Archipelago Explorer
Cruise from Porto Cervo or Palau to the La Maddalena archipelago (15–20 nautical miles, roughly 45 minutes). Enter the national park and head for Cala Corsara on Spargi – a sheltered bay of white sand and turquoise water surrounded by sculpted granite boulders. Snorkel over rocky reef (look for octopus, wrasse and damselfish), then continue to Porto Madonna, the natural harbour formed by three converging islets (Razzoli, Budelli and Santa Maria). Anchor for lunch in one of the most serene anchorages in the Mediterranean. In the afternoon, cruise past Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli – the famous pink beach, viewable from the water but no longer accessible on foot – before returning to base. Your crew secures the park access permit in advance.
Bonifacio and the Lavezzi Islands (Corsica Day Trip)
Depart from Santa Teresa Gallura or La Maddalena and cross the Strait of Bonifacio to Corsica (9 nautical miles at the narrowest point, under 30 minutes by motor yacht). Dock at Bonifacio’s harbour, nestled below white limestone cliffs 70 metres high, and take the tender or walk up to the citadel – a medieval fortress town perched on the cliff edge with views across to Sardinia. After an espresso in the old town, cruise 10 minutes to the Lavezzi Islands – a nature reserve of granite islets with some of the clearest snorkelling water in the western Mediterranean. Lunch on the aft deck in a sheltered cove between the islets, swim and snorkel among sea bream, grouper and colourful wrasse, and return to Sardinia in the late afternoon. Two countries, one unforgettable day.
3-Day Sardinia Yacht Charter Itinerary: Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena
Day 1: Porto Cervo to Cala di Volpe and Pevero
Board your yacht at Porto Cervo marina by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and a champagne toast on the flybridge, cruise south along the Costa Smeralda to Cala di Volpe – roughly 5 nautical miles, a relaxed 20-minute run. Anchor in the sheltered bay and swim in water that shifts from pale jade to deep emerald over the white-sand bottom. Lunch on the aft deck or take the tender to the Hotel Cala di Volpe’s waterfront terrace. In the afternoon, cruise to Pevero Beach (3 km from Porto Cervo) – fine white sand and emerald water framed by granite – for a late swim and a paddleboard session. Return to Porto Cervo for an evening stroll through the piazzetta, cocktails at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, and dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants.
Day 2: La Maddalena Archipelago
Depart early and cruise north-east to the La Maddalena archipelago (20 nautical miles, roughly 50 minutes from Porto Cervo). Enter the national park and head for Cala Corsara on Spargi – white sand, turquoise water, sculpted granite boulders and not a building in sight. Snorkel over rocky reef and Posidonia meadows, watching for octopus and colourful wrasse. Continue to Porto Madonna, the natural harbour formed by three converging islets, for a chef-prepared lunch in total serenity. In the afternoon, cruise past Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli (the famed pink beach, viewed from the water) and explore the coves of Razzoli and Santa Maria. Anchor for the night in a sheltered bay – your captain chooses based on conditions – and dine on the aft deck under a sky full of stars, with no lights on shore to dim the Milky Way.
Day 3: Spiaggia del Principe and Return to Porto Cervo
Rise early for a final morning swim in the archipelago’s crystal water, then cruise back towards the Costa Smeralda. Stop at Liscia Ruja – the longest beach in the area, a wide stretch of powdery sand with calm, shallow water – for a mid-morning swim. Continue to Spiaggia del Principe for the highlight: the Aga Khan’s favourite beach, a crescent of white sand backed by granite and maquis, with water that shifts from jade to emerald in the sunlight. Your chef prepares a farewell gourmet lunch on the aft deck – culurgiones (Sardinian stuffed pasta), grilled local fish, Cannonau red wine – as you soak in the final Costa Smeralda views. Return to Porto Cervo marina by mid-afternoon. Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine this 3-day route with the 4-day Corsica itinerary for a 7-day charter covering two countries and dozens of world-class anchorages – without repeating a single stop.
4-Day Sardinia Yacht Charter Itinerary: Sardinia to Corsica and Back
Day 1: Porto Cervo to Santa Teresa Gallura
Board your yacht at Porto Cervo and cruise west along the northern coast to Santa Teresa Gallura – roughly 25 nautical miles, just over an hour at cruising speed. Stop en route at Rena Bianca, a beach of white sand with views straight across to Corsica’s Bonifacio. Anchor for a swim and explore the town – a pleasant grid of lanes with a granite watchtower and a piazzetta overlooking the Strait. In the afternoon, cruise into the sheltered waters around Capo Testa – a granite headland sculpted by wind and sea into extraordinary shapes, with hidden coves and clear snorkelling water. Your chef lays out dinner on the aft deck as the sun sets over the Strait of Bonifacio and Corsica’s silhouette glows on the northern horizon.
Day 2: Bonifacio and the Lavezzi Islands, Corsica
Cross the Strait of Bonifacio (9 nautical miles from Santa Teresa, under 30 minutes) and dock at Bonifacio’s harbour. The town sits on white limestone cliffs 70 metres above the sea – the approach from below is one of the most dramatic harbour arrivals in the Mediterranean. Take the tender or walk up to the medieval citadel, explore the narrow lanes, and stop for an espresso at one of the cliff-edge cafés with views down to your yacht. After lunch (ashore at one of the harbour restaurants or on the aft deck), cruise 10 minutes to the Lavezzi Islands nature reserve. These granite islets offer some of the clearest snorkelling in the western Mediterranean – sea bream, grouper, wrasse and the occasional octopus, all visible in water so transparent the seabed detail is almost hallucinatory. Anchor for the night in a sheltered cove between the islets.
Day 3: Corsica’s Southern Coast
Explore Corsica’s beautiful southern coastline. Cruise east to the Golfe de Santa Manza – a wide, shallow bay with powder-white sand and turquoise shallows perfect for swimming and paddleboarding. Continue to Rondinara, consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in France: a near-perfect semi-circle of white sand enclosed by low headlands, with calm, clear water. Lunch on the aft deck, then cruise to Porto Vecchio – Corsica’s most popular resort town, with a Genoese citadel, a pretty harbour and excellent restaurants. Anchor off Plage de Palombaggia (a long crescent of fine sand shaded by umbrella pines) for a late-afternoon swim. Dinner ashore at one of Porto Vecchio’s waterfront restaurants – fresh grilled fish, Corsican charcuterie, a bottle of Patrimonio rosé. Return to anchor for the night.
Day 4: Return to Sardinia via the La Maddalena Archipelago
Depart Corsica and cross back to Sardinia. Enter the La Maddalena archipelago from the north and cruise through the islands you didn’t cover on Day 2 (if combining with the 3-day route) or explore new highlights: Cala Granara on Spargi (a horseshoe bay of white sand), the striking granite formations of Isola di Budelli, and a final snorkel stop at Secca di Washington – a shallow reef teeming with fish life. Your chef prepares a farewell gourmet lunch on the aft deck as you cruise back towards Porto Cervo, arriving by mid-afternoon. Guests looking for a full week can combine this 4-day route with the 3-day Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena itinerary for a comprehensive 7-day charter without repeating a single anchorage.
5-Day Sardinia Yacht Charter Itinerary: The Grand Sardinia–Corsica Circuit
Day 1: Porto Cervo, Costa Smeralda Beaches
Board at Porto Cervo and spend the first day exploring the Costa Smeralda’s finest beaches: Spiaggia del Principe, Cala di Volpe, Capriccioli and Pevero. Swim, snorkel and lunch at each stop as your captain works south along the coast. Sundowners and dinner at Porto Cervo.
Day 2: La Maddalena Archipelago
Full day in the national park. Cala Corsara on Spargi, Porto Madonna, the pink sands of Budelli (from the water), and a night anchored under the stars in one of the most pristine marine environments in the Mediterranean.
Day 3: Cross to Bonifacio, Corsica
Morning crossing to Bonifacio (9 nautical miles). Explore the clifftop citadel, lunch in the harbour, afternoon snorkelling at the Lavezzi Islands. Night at anchor among the Lavezzi or in Bonifacio harbour.
Day 4: Corsica’s Southern Beaches
Rondinara, Plage de Palombaggia, Porto Vecchio. A day of France’s finest beaches and a Corsican dinner ashore.
Day 5: Return to Sardinia
Morning crossing back to Sardinia, final stops in the La Maddalena archipelago for a farewell swim and lunch. Return to Porto Cervo by mid-afternoon. This 5-day itinerary covers two countries, a national park, and some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean.
