Olbia
via Long.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Olbia through Tavolara, Caprera, Spargi, Bonifacio (Corsica), Santa Teresa Gallura and Palau — full Maddalena + Bonifacio Strait loop.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Olbia → Tavolara Island
15 nm shake-down S to Tavolara — 565 m limestone islet, former smallest kingdom in world. Spalmatore swim sheltered N. Overnight at Porto San Paolo opposite.
Distance
9 NM
Sailing
~1.8h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Olbia → Tavolara Island
15 nm shake-down south from Olbia to Tavolara — limestone islet rising 565 m straight from the sea, formerly the smallest historical kingdom in the world. Anchor at Spalmatore di Terra (sand 4-6 m, sheltered from N) for the headline beach swim. Day-stop only — overnight back at Porto San Paolo opposite.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Spalmatore di Terra sand
Walk to the "royal cemetery" of the kingdom
Free-dive the limestone underwater arches
Lunch at Da Tonino taverna ashore
Mooring tip
Anchor day-stop only at Spalmatore di Terra on sand at 4-6 m, sheltered from N. Overnight at Porto San Paolo small marina (€60-90/night) opposite.
Tavolara → Caprera
20 nm north to Caprera — Maddalena National Park, Garibaldi's home (the Italian unification revolutionary lived here from 1855-1882). Cala Coticcio ("Tahiti of the Med", boat-only access) is the headline anchorage of the entire park. Park rules: mooring buoys must be pre-booked online for July-August.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Cala Coticcio "Tahiti of Med"
Visit Garibaldi's house museum
Snorkel the Spargi Shipwreck cannons
Hike the Cala Portese-Cala Garibaldi ridge
Mooring tip
Maddalena Park mooring buoys at Cala Coticcio, €40-80/night peak, pre-book online via the Park. Cala Portese on sand at 5-7 m as alternative for free anchorage.
Caprera → Spargi
5 nm short west to Spargi — uninhabited Maddalena Park island, pink-granite boulders. Cala Corsara (sand bottom 4-6 m, sheltered from N) is the headline swim anchorage. Piscine Naturali tidal pools on the south coast for snorkel. Park mooring buoys at Cala Corsara, €40-60/night peak, pre-book online. Anchorage on sand 4-6 m for free as alternative if buoys unavailable. Plan to anchor swim at Cala Corsara pink-granite cove, snorkel Piscine Naturali tidal pools, beachcomb sea-glass on the empty shoreline.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Cala Corsara pink-granite cove
Snorkel Piscine Naturali tidal pools
Beachcomb sea-glass on the empty shoreline
Picnic on deck under junipers
Mooring tip
Park mooring buoys at Cala Corsara, €40-60/night peak, pre-book online. Anchorage on sand 4-6 m for free as alternative if buoys unavailable.
Spargi → Bonifacio
12 nm north across the Bonifacio Strait into Corsica. The strait accelerates the Mistral by 5-8 knots — the windiest passage in the western Mediterranean, only viable in daylight + below 25 kn forecast. Bonifacio is a limestone fjord, the harbour cut into a 70 m cliff. Marina de Bonifacio stern-to inside the inner fjord.
Things to do
Walk the upper-town citadel walls
Descend the King of Aragon's Steps to the sea
Tender into the limestone sea grottoes
Langoustine risotto at U Castille
Mooring tip
Marina de Bonifacio stern-to inside the inner fjord, €100-180/night peak. Fully sheltered. Crossing the strait only viable in daylight + Mistral below 25 kn forecast.
Bonifacio → Santa Teresa Gallura
8 nm south back across the strait to Sardinia. Santa Teresa Gallura is the northernmost Sardinian charter port, sheltered from any direction by the headland. Anchor off Rena Bianca (white-sand crescent, sheltered from N) for swim. Longonsardo Tower (16th-c, Aragonese) above the village.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Rena Bianca white-sand crescent
Climb the 16th-c Longonsardo Tower
Mirto liqueur tasting on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele
Beach lunch at Capo Testa wind-sculpted granite
Mooring tip
Santa Teresa Gallura marina stern-to, €60-100/night, sheltered from any direction. Anchor off Rena Bianca on sand at 4-6 m as alternative.
Santa Teresa → Palau
12 nm east to Palau — the gateway port to the Maddalena archipelago, 200 m from La Maddalena island by car ferry. Capo d'Orso ("Bear Rock", wind-carved granite headland 4 nm east) is the headline shore activity, accessible by road from Palau marina.
Things to do
Walk to the wind-carved Capo d'Orso "Bear Rock"
Day-trip ferry across to La Maddalena town
Malloreddus saffron gnocchi at a port trattoria
Sunset on the Porto Rafael waterfront
Mooring tip
Marina di Palau stern-to, €80-120/night peak, sheltered from N. Marina dell'Orso 1 nm east is the larger alternative.
Palau → Olbia
20 nm south back to Olbia via Costa Smeralda. Optional anchor stop at Cala Granu off Porto Cervo (sand 5-7 m, boat-only access, sheltered from N) for swim. Refuel at Olbia Marina before tying up. Olbia Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €100-150/night peak. Plan to crew dinner at a Porto San Paolo trattoria.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Cala Granu off Porto Cervo
Walk the Porto Cervo Piazzetta marble
Refuel and clean the boat at Olbia Marina
Crew dinner at a Porto San Paolo trattoria
Mooring tip
Olbia Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €100-150/night peak. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth. Confirm handover slot 24h ahead.
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