Offshore lie quiet, rocky islands in a sapphire sea, while inland you’ll discover wild, mountainous landscapes of vineyards and wildflowers.
Here’s an example 7-day itinerary of what you might experience on charter in Corsica and Sardinia.
Day 1: Bonifacio to Roccapina (13 miles)
You’ll board the yacht in Bonifacio Harbour at 12pm, where the crew will get you acquainted with the yacht and get you settled into your staterooms. You’ll then meet at the upper deck dining table, and enjoy the stunning transit through the towering cliffs of Bonafacio as you enjoy a gourmet lunch.
A short cruise later, you’ll arrive at Roccapina, a breathtaking anchorage framed by the rocky hills of the Grand Valicino region; a quiet, sparsely populated corner of Corsica’s southeast. The water here is an almost shocking shade of aquamarine, with clarity so perfect you can see the yac
ht’s shadow on the seafloor far below. The captain will drop anchor, and you’ll spend an idyllic afternoon swimming in the sunlit waters, walking along the powder-soft beach, and perhaps taking a hike through the pine forest into the rocky hills, where giant boulders and ancient castles overlook the coast.
As evening falls across the hills, enjoy canapes and champagne on the sundeck, before sitting down at the dinner table for a gastronomic feast, water turning silver all around. Your yacht will remain at anchor at Roccapina overnight.
Day 2: Roccapina to Cavalló Island (20 miles)
After breakfast and a swim, the captain will weigh anchor and get underway for Cavallo Island, the only inhabited island in the Lavezzi Archipelago. Privately owned and entirely car-free, this tiny island has the kind of low-key exclusivity and secrecy that means it flies under the radar of conventional tourism. Cavallo has a shocking beauty, with incredible rock formations rearing up over wild beaches and a lapis lazuli sea. Sandy tracks wind through the maquis scrub, which sends up a heady scent of lavender, rosemary, thyme and mint as it warms under the Mediterranean sun. Breathe deep, for this is the smell of Corsica!
When you arrive, the deck crew will put up the waterslide and launch the toys, before you take the tender into the Shore Club for an elegant lunch at their beach club restaurant. Afterwards, relax a spell on the sunbeds and swim in the perfect rock lagoon.
Enjoy dinner at anchor, before heading to the sundeck to watch a movie on the yacht’s alfresco cinema, or relax in the Jacuzzi under the stars.
Day 3 Cavallò Island — Budelli Island: 7. 5 miles / PortoMassimo Harbor (Maddalena Island)
Wake up to look out upon the astonishing beauty of Cavallo. Start your day with a dive off the swim platform or a leisurely beach walk before sitting down to a splendid breakfast feast. You’ll then get underway for Budelli Island in the Maddalena Islands, your first stop in Sardinia.
Budelli Island is completely uninhabited, a stunning island where red rocks contrast vividly with the turquoise sea. There are white sand beaches on the island, but the most magical beach is Spiaggia Rosa, where pale pink sands slope gently into a crystal clear sea. Unfortunately, you cannot visit the beach as it is protected, but you can take a walk on the island and look upon its pink sands from several vantage points above the beach.
Pass a day at anchor in this heavenly place, swimming, picnicking on the beach, and walking the paths that crisscross the island. In the late afternoon, the captain will move the yacht to Marine di Porto Massimo on Maddalena Island, where you can explore the town and enjoy the bustling energy in high summer.
Day 4: PortoMassimo to Grande Pevero (9,5 miles) / Porto Cervo
Today you’ll arrive on the Sardinian mainland, where your first stop is at Grande Pevero on the Emerald Coast. This exquisite white-sand beach curves around a half-moon bay, and is known as one of the most glamorous beaches in the Mediterranean. If you want to stretch your legs, take a walk through the juniper trees at the back of the beach to discover secluded little coves, or play a round of golf at the nearby Pevero Golf Club.
For lunch, you could dine on lobster salad in a garden courtyard at the rather splendid Ristorante Pendrinelli in Porto Cervo, or remain on the yacht, enjoying a meal with a view of the Li Nibana islets.
In the afternoon, explore Porto Cervo to shop the boutiques, or head to the ultra-chic White Beach Club to spend the afternoon relaxing on sunbeds and drinking cocktails by the Tyrrhenian Sea. The hottest table in town for dinner, as always, is the Cala di Volpe Restaurant, but for something different, dine at one of Porto Cervo’s Michelin-recommended restaurants — Pedri Garden for Italian, ConFusion for contemporary, or Finger’s Porto Cervo for modern Japanese. After dinner, start your evening at Bar Il Portico before heading to the legendary Billionaire Club or Phi Beach.
The yacht can either remain at anchor overnight, or the captain will move the yacht into Porto Cervo so you can simply step aboard after your evening ashore.
Day 5: Gulf Pevero — Gulf of Marinella : 7.5 miles/Porto Rotondo
The captain will move the yacht to the Gulf of Marinella, a quiet stretch of coast at the far end of the Costa Smeralda. Sleep late and enjoy a long brunch on deck, refreshing any tired heads with a swim off the yacht.
As all days on a yacht charter, what you do today is up to you. Unsurprisingly, there are some superb beaches to choose from. Spiaggia de Bahas is famous for water sports and diving, the small cove of Cala Moresca has lovely views of Figarola Island, and Cala Sabina is quieter and more remote.
If you’d prefer to do a bit of exploring, head into the charming town of Porto Rotondo to shop, visit the beautiful Chiesa San Lorenzo church, and take a coffee in the central Piazzetta San Marco and watch the locals go about their lives in this splendid place.
If you would rather a day at a beach club, The Bay Porto Rotondo at Punta Asfodeli is a fabulous place to spend a lazy afternoon — and if you like, you can stay there through the evening, enjoying the ambience and views as the energy picks up towards sunset and DJs play long into the night.
For dinner, head into Porto Rotondo to dine at the elegant Enoteca da Giovannino, the wonderfully authentic La Tavernetta, or Bambusa on the marina.
Day 6: From Gulf of Marinella to Tavolara island 12.5 miles
Begin your day with a walk and a coffee in Porto Rotondo’s charming Piazzetta San Marco. Today, the yacht will cruise to Tavolara Island, a spectacular mountainous outcrop. Once its own kingdom and ruled by the Bartoleoni family, Tavolara is rich in history, and you can even visit the royal family’s graves in a tiny cemetery behind the beach.
The island is part of a marine park, and snorkelers will delight in the vibrant marine life along the rocky coastline, while scuba divers will discover shipwrecks and archaeological artefacts at dive sites at Teddja Liscia, Secca del Papa, Molara and Molarotto.
Want to take it easy? Spend a day on Spalmatore di Terra beach, with its magnificent view of the massif rising up overhead. Want to burn off some energy? Experienced hikers (who don’t mind a bit of rappelling) can hike the massif, enjoying the spectacular views across the Emerald Coast and out to the distant Maddalena Islands. For a bit of culture, Tavolara also hosts a Film Festival in mid-July. For lunch off the boat, you might like to dine at Da Tonino, which is run by the Bartoleoni family, descendents of the former rulers of the island.
Stay at anchor overnight, dining with the view of the mountain as the sun sets on your last evening on charter.
Day 7: Tavalora to Marina di Olbia
Wake on your last day, watching the reflections of the water play across your ceiling, thinking about all the wonderful places you’ve seen on your luxury yacht charter Italy. Eat breakfast at anchor, and enjoy a final swim or walk on the beach. The yacht will then cruise to Marina di Olbia, where you will disembark at 12pm. The captain will accompany you to the nearby airport to bid you farewell.
This is just one sample 7-day itinerary for a Corsica and Sardinia yacht charter. However, the opportunities and highlights of this magnificent yachting destination are near-endless, and the Yacht IN charter team will create a tailored luxury yacht charter itinerary just for you.
Contact the charter team at charter@yacht-in.com to start planning your charter.
