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Spend a week sailing the crystalline waters of Sardinia, an island and Italian autonomous region with a history, culture, cuisine, and language all its own. From our home on a modern 46-foot catamaran, we’ll trace the story of these coastlines through abandoned lighthouses, Roman ruins, bunkers built during Napoleon’s invasion of the region, World War II naval bases, sunken ships, and ancient cairns used by seamen in search of nearby civilizations, peeking above the waterline. Along the way, we’ll take daily opportunities to swim from remote beaches, or directly from the catamaran at anchor in a secluded cove. Throughout this voyage, your captain will be on the lookout for hidden wonders to visit, and your onboard chef will be curating a special menu using local ingredients and regional culinary techniques.
Our partner, The Sailing Collective: In order to create and curate this unique experience, we’ve partnered closely with The Sailing Collective, a U.S.-based travel organization specializing in sailing trips throughout the world with a team of professional skippers and culinary artists who are passionate about hospitality and travel. The Sailing Collective has extensive knowledge of the region and established relationships with local restaurants and guides, and the onboard chef for this voyage is a Sardinia native.
Meet your fellow travelers and crew in Olbia, Sardinia, and celebrate the first night of your journey. After getting settled into your cabin on the catamaran that will serve as our home for the week, the captain will give a safety and chart briefing to orient our group before we set sail. Then, we’ll head into town for dinner and begin to get to know each other over fresh, traditional Sardinian fare and wine from a nearby vineyard. The first round of drinks is on us, and we’ll toast to the start of our sailing adventure. We’ll spend our first night aboard the catamaran docked at Marina Cala dei Sardi.
Catamaran, Marina Cala dei Sardi
Welcome Dinner
After a light breakfast onboard, we’ll set sail north through turquoise waters along the Costa Smeralda, staying close to shore for our first glimpses of the wild Sardinian landscape we’ll explore over the next week. We’ll pass the historic Capo Ferro Lighthouse, and continue to La Maddalena Archipelago. One of several uninhabited islands in La Maddalena, Isola Budelli is famous for its Spiaggia Rosa (Italian for “Pink Beach”)—pollen from a local evergreen tree that gives the sand its rosy hue. We’ll dinghy to shore to meet the island’s longtime unofficial caretaker, Mauro Morandi, and discuss the current ecological challenges facing Budelli and his hopes for the island’s future. Get to know the island’s flora and fauna, see Morandi’s off-grid home built from driftwood and repurposed materials, and learn about his life as the sole inhabitant of this stunning and vibrant landscape for more than 30 years. Back on board for the evening, enjoy the first of many family-style dinners, relax, and stargaze from our anchorage in a secluded cove.
Catamaran, Isola Budelli
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’ll sail to Isola Razzoli, another uninhabited island in the La Maddalena archipelago. Here, we’ll marvel at the island’s red, lunar-like granite formations and take a short hike to its lighthouse—the only structure on the island—which marks the northernmost point of Sardinia, and is still active today. Built in 1858, the 40-foot-tall lighthouse was the last to be inhabited in the area and is highly regarded for its navigational importance along the Strait of Bonifacio. We’ll explore the interior of the house, which has been abandoned since the 1970s, and enjoy the view of Corsica from the lamp atop. From here, we’ll sail on to visit Corsica’s Iles Lavezzi—another uninhabited island with an abandoned lighthouse and Crimean War shipwreck memorial to explore—where we’ll spend the night in a quiet cove.
Catamaran, Iles Lavezzi
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If the weather is settled and the seas are calm, we’ll venture into the Strait of Bonifacio. The southern coastline of Corsica, less than 15 miles from Sardinia, is lined by a 150-foot-tall outcropping of white limestone, with the town of Bonifacio cantilevered along its edge. The harbor’s only entryway is fortified by a medieval citadel that sits atop the cliffs. A stunning, rugged rock formation, the coast was immortalized in Homer's the Odyssey when, taking note of the landscape, Homer describes it as “a curious bay with mountain walls of stone to the left and right, and reaching far inland, a narrow entrance opening from the sea where cliffs converged as though to touch and close.” After passing through this curious bay and arriving safely to port, we’ll have the opportunity to explore within the citadel walls, where a preserved medieval city remains mostly as it was more than 1,000 years ago. We’ll be able to explore the citadel and witness how modern civilization has evolved around the original fortified walls. The afternoon will be yours to roam through town, learn about local history with optional guided tours, and enjoy dinner on your own.
Catamaran, Bonifacio
Breakfast, Lunch
It’s onward to La Maddalena, the largest island in the region. An important settlement in Roman times and a major trading post during the Middle Ages, this island was abandoned after the fall of the Roman Empire until the 12th century, and reinhabited by Benedictine monks who were then chased out in the Ottoman raid of 1584. After an unsuccessful attempt by Napoleon Bonaparte to occupy the island in 1793, La Maddalena was established as the Italian Royal Navy base from 1887 and then as a NATO and U.S. Navy Base from 1972–2008. We’ll have the chance to visit abandoned American and Italian World War II bunkers and navy bases, both here and on the neighboring island of Caprera. We can also swim, explore secluded beaches, and take a deep dive into the history of this fascinating island. A safe harbor during rough seas, its coastline is a favorite for sailors in the area, and the comune of La Maddalena is full of character and charm. This evening, we’ll dock along the seawall, right in town, with an opportunity to explore the surrounding architecture and local fare.
Catamaran, La Maddalena
Breakfast, Lunch
Welcome to the abandoned kingdom of Tavolara. This three-mile-long island, characterized by its steep limestone cliffs jutting 1,800 feet above the water, was once home to what was the world’s smallest kingdom. Declared the Kingdom of Tavolara in 1836, only one family, the Bertoleoni family, resided on this island for most of recent history. Now that the island is no longer recognized as a kingdom, the Bertoleonis share their dynastic homeland with about 40 other residents. The descendants of the first king currently run the only two restaurants on the island. During our time here, we’ll speak with Tonino Bertoleoni, the would-be king of Tavolara, and visit his home and family’s restaurant. We’ll discuss the history of the family and the island as well as local ecology. The military history of Tavolara dates back to World War II, when the U.S. Navy acquired its eastern half to build a radiotelegraphy tower for communicating with submarines. We’ll sail past the tower and NATO station, which are still in use.
Catamaran, Tavolara
Breakfast, Lunch
For the last day of our journey, we’ll continue to explore the island of Tavolara and meet with a longtime local who has seen firsthand how Tavolara has changed over the decades. Hike along the shoreline toward the northern side of the island, taking note of the abandoned World War II bunkers installed to protect the U.S. Navy’s radio-telegraphic station. After departing Tavolara, we’ll sail north toward Olbia. Along the way we’ll drop anchor near a large shipwreck that has served as an unintended man-made reef for more than 50 years. We’ll dinghy, swim, and snorkel as we explore the wreck and the abundant sea life it supports. Returning to Marina Cala dei Sardi this evening for our last dinner and night onboard, we’ll raise a glass to a wonderful, adventurous week together at sea.
Catamaran, Olbia
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The cost of this trip is $3,635, based on double occupancy in a private cabin with one double bed.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip.
Each cabin on the boat has one double bed. Reserve a private cabin for a supplemental cost of $1,720. After booking your trip, please request a private cabin when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll send a separate invoice for the cost.
Our group will be staying aboard a 46-foot modern catamaran with four private cabins, plus additional space for crewmembers. Each cabin is designed to efficiently accommodate up to two people with a comfortable double bed, private bathrooms, and shelves for storing belongings.
Over the course of the trip, those interested will have the opportunity to handle sails, take the helm, and learn basic knots as we navigate the waters off Sardinia. The boat also has a small library for those who’d like to read more about sailing and Sardinia. When not on excursions to shore, the bulk of our time is spent in the main salon and outdoors on deck, playing games, relaxing, chatting with fellow passengers and crew, and enjoying the art of sailing. Lounge areas are both sunny and shaded, making for comfortable sailing and living onboard.
Passengers and crew cook family-style aboard; cooking enthusiasts and foodies are welcomed to contribute their skills and experience. Onboard meals are taken in the indoor or outdoor dining area. Meals on and off the boat will highlight Sardinian and Corsican cuisine and feature local ingredients.
You should plan to arrive at Marina Cala dei Sardi by 7 p.m. on Day 1. Our boat will return to Marina Cala dei Sardi at 5 p.m. on Day 7, and we will disembark by 9 a.m. on Day 8. Taxis and shuttle services can be arranged to Olbia, your accommodations, or the airport in advance. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) is the nearest airport and is a 20-minute drive from the marina.
Keep in mind that life aboard a boat is fairly active. You should feel confident climbing up and down a ladder, as well as moving about as the ship leans over while in motion. You can also expect to walk between two and three miles per day, sometimes on hilly, rocky coastline and dirt paths as well as well-maintained, mostly flat terrain.
You should feel comfortable on and around water. Since these are bigger boats, life jackets are not mandatory unless the water gets choppy. If you feel more comfortable in a life jacket, you are more than welcome to wear one.
As long as you include dietary information in your traveler form and update us about any requirements or preferences in advance, we’ll be able to plan our meals and food options accordingly, and will have plenty of food to satisfy you for your trip. However, if there are any particular foods that will make you feel more comfortable for the duration of your trip, please pack or purchase them in advance.
Nope! This trip is open to all levels of experience, and is a great chance to...ahem...learn the ropes. Your guides are seasoned sailors and they'll be taking care of the boat's operation, navigation, and maintenance, but they're always happy to share their knowledge if you're curious to learn.
Because of the exploratory nature of this voyage, every day is different, filled with sailing, exploring abandoned places and coastal hamlets, swimming, and getting to know one another. You can expect approximately two to four hours of sailing each day. Final decisions about our daily activities will be based on weather conditions and taking advantage of unexpected opportunities that may arise. The notes in this itinerary are designed to give you a good idea of our intentions, and what your days will look like, but there will very likely be some changes.
Sailing Collective is committed to developing and following best practices of sustainability to reduce our environmental impact and promote cultural learning. As members of One Percent for the Planet, we partner with like-minded ocean conservation organizations to support the ecosystems that support us as we harness the wind to voyage across the sea. As conscientious travelers, we engage thoughtfully with local communities along every shore we sail.