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Sample itinerary · Italy · 7 nights
One Week by Yacht in Sardinia
A sample seven-night crewed yacht itinerary around north-east Sardinia: the Costa Smeralda, the granite islands of La Maddalena, a hop across to Bonifacio in Corsica, and the marine reserve of Tavolara.
North-east Sardinia has some of the most beautiful water in Europe. Pink and grey granite, wind-carved into strange shapes, frames coves so clear that yachts appear to float in mid-air. Add the polish of Porto Cervo and the wild islands of La Maddalena, and you have one of the Mediterranean’s great yachting playgrounds.
This sample week is a starting point for a crewed charter in summer 2027. Your captain will adapt it to the wind, the yacht and your group. For more on the country as a whole, see our yacht charter in Italy page.
Why north-east Sardinia works so well by yacht
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport sits right on this coast, so you can be on board within an hour of landing. From there, the distances are short: Porto Cervo, the La Maddalena archipelago and Corsica’s southern tip are all within easy reach, which means more time swimming and less time under way.
The Costa Smeralda itself is a story of the 1960s. A consortium led by the Aga Khan began developing this stretch of coast in 1962, with strict planning rules that kept buildings low and close to the landscape. The result is a coast that still feels natural, even around its famous resorts.
The week, day by day
Day 1 · Porto Cervo – board and settle in
Meet the yacht in Porto Cervo or Olbia, settle in and plan the week with the captain and chef. Porto Cervo’s piazza and marina are the social heart of the Costa Smeralda, and a good place for a first evening ashore.
Day 2 · The Costa Smeralda bays
Spend the day cruising the coast’s best-known bays, such as Cala di Volpe and the beaches around Capriccioli and Romazzino. The water here is shallow and vivid green-blue over white sand, perfect for swimming, paddleboarding and lunch at anchor.
Day 3 · La Maddalena and Caprera
Cross to the La Maddalena archipelago, a national park of granite islands just off the north coast. Take the tender into the lively harbour town of La Maddalena, then visit neighbouring Caprera, where Giuseppe Garibaldi lived and died. His home is now a museum. Caprera’s coves, such as Cala Coticcio, are protected, and land visits there are by guided tour only.
Day 4 · Spargi, Budelli and the “Piscine”
Explore the outer islands. Spargi has some of the archipelago’s loveliest beaches, and between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria lies a shallow, sheltered lagoon known as the “Piscine”, the swimming pools, for its extraordinary colour. Budelli’s famous Spiaggia Rosa, the pink beach, is protected and can only be admired from the water.
Day 5 · Bonifacio, Corsica
Cross the Strait of Bonifacio to Corsica, France, a short run on a calm day. Arriving at Bonifacio is spectacular: the old town sits on top of white limestone cliffs, and the harbour is reached through a narrow natural inlet. Walk up to the citadel for the view back across to Sardinia. On the way, the Lavezzi Islands, a nature reserve of granite and clear water, make a beautiful swim stop.
Day 6 · Porto Rotondo
Return south past the Costa Smeralda to Porto Rotondo, a smaller, chic marina village with a relaxed evening scene. Your captain will pick a sheltered anchorage for the afternoon depending on the wind.
Day 7 · Tavolara
Finish at Tavolara, the great limestone island that rises sheer out of the sea south of Olbia. It is part of a protected marine area, and its sandy spit and clear shallows are a glorious place for a last swim and a farewell dinner on deck.
Day 8 · Disembark in Olbia
After breakfast, return to Olbia, close to the airport for flights home.
Tell us your dates and group size. Jake will send a free shortlist of crewed yachts for Sardinia and the Costa Smeralda, with availability and rates.
Park rules in La Maddalena
The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park is carefully protected. Yachts need a park permit to use its waters, priced by length and duration, and in summer there are rules on where you may anchor, with anchoring banned over the posidonia seagrass and in a number of marked areas. There are also speed limits near the coast and a ban on discharging waste water. Your captain arranges the permit and plans each anchorage within the rules, but it’s good to know why some famous spots are seen from the water rather than visited.
When to go and how to book
The season runs from May to October. June and September are often the sweet spots, warm and quieter than the peak weeks of July and August, when the Costa Smeralda is at its busiest. Northern Sardinia can be breezy when the mistral blows from the north-west, which is another reason a flexible plan and a good captain matter. Our guide to booking a Mediterranean charter for 2027 early explains why the best yachts and weeks go first.
Crewed charters are usually quoted as a weekly charter fee, plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) for fuel, food, drinks and berthing, and VAT where it applies. Our plain-English guide to yacht charter costs explains each element before you commit.
Keep planning
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Plan your Sardinia charter
Tell us your dates, group size and the kind of yacht you have in mind, whether that’s a sleek motor yacht, a spacious catamaran or a classic sailing yacht. We’ll come back with a shortlist of crewed yachts, with photos, crew details, availability and rates. Contact us or message Jake on WhatsApp to start planning your summer 2027 week in Sardinia.
Plan your charter
Your free yacht shortlist in 30 seconds
Tap your answers and send them to Jake on WhatsApp. You’ll get yachts, crews, availability and rates, usually within one working day. Free, with no obligation.