Egadi Islands Gulet Cruise: A Sailing Itinerary from Trapani to Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo

The cruise covers the Egadi Islands, a small archipelago off the western coast of Sicily reached by a short crossing from Trapani. The route moves between Favignana, the largest and flattest of the three main islands, Levanzo, the smallest and closest to the mainland, and Marettimo, the most remote and mountainous, set further out in open water.

Sailing here stays largely coastal, with frequent stops to swim or anchor off a cove before moving on to the next stretch of coastline. The crossing to Marettimo is the longest open water leg of the week, while navigation around Favignana and Levanzo tends to be shorter and more sheltered.

Favignana's coastline alternates between flat limestone quarries and clear water coves such as Cala Azzurra and Cala Rossa, while Punta Sottile marks its western tip. Levanzo is rockier and quieter, its two main bays, Cala Tramontana and Cala Dogana, set against a largely uninhabited interior. Marettimo feels wilder still, with steep cliffs around Punta Libeccio, Punta Troia and Punta Bassana dropping straight into deep blue water.

Trapani itself carries a strong Sicilian character, with its salt pans and old town setting the tone before departure, while the islands themselves stay largely undeveloped, favoring small fishing harbors and quiet anchorages over built up resorts. Marettimo in particular retains a slower, more isolated rhythm, having stayed largely cut off from mass tourism.

Days generally combine a morning sail with time anchored for swimming, followed by a slower afternoon ashore or simply at anchor, with meals prepared fresh on board each day and evenings spent either in a small harbor or a sheltered bay.