Costa Smeralda and Bonifacio Sailing Cabin Charter: A 7-Day Cruise from Olbia Through La Maddalena and Southern Corsica

The cruise departs from Olbia, on the northeastern coast of Sardinia, and follows a circular route north through the Maddalena Archipelago before crossing the Strait of Bonifacio into southern Corsica and returning along the Costa Smeralda coastline at the end of the week.

Daily sailing stays relaxed and coastal, with short legs that leave most of each day free for swimming, snorkeling and time ashore. The pace favors long stops at anchor in sheltered bays over longer passages, with the route adapting day by day to the prevailing conditions, particularly the Mistral, which can influence the choice between the Lavezzi Islands, Cavallo or the Sardinian coastline on any given day.

The first days cover the southern approaches to the Maddalena Archipelago, from the limestone island of Tavolara and the natural pools of Molara to the protected coves of Caprera and the archipelago's most celebrated anchorages. Budelli's pink sand beach, Spargi's bright water and smooth granite formations, and the more remote island groups of Razzoli and Santa Maria form the heart of the Sardinian section of the route.

The crossing to Corsica brings a sharp change in landscape. Bonifacio, perched on a narrow limestone promontory above a fjord-like harbor, is one of the most dramatic port arrivals in the western Mediterranean, with the medieval citadel above and the sheer white cliffs falling directly to the sea. The Lavezzi Islands and Cavallo, within the French marine protected area just west of Bonifacio, add shallow clear water and granite formations typical of this stretch of Corsican coastline.

The return south along the Costa Smeralda passes some of the most recognized anchorages on the Sardinian coast before arriving back in Olbia. Meals follow a half-board format, with fresh breakfasts and lunches prepared by the crew on board, and two evenings left free for dinner ashore.