One charter week is enough to link both islands: roughly three to four days in Sardinia, split between the Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena archipelago, then the rest in Corsica, around Bonifacio and the Scandola nature reserve. Base the trip out of Porto Cervo or Bonifacio depending on the group's arrival airport. Charter rates start around EUR 80,000 a week plus local tax, as of May 2026.
Table of Contents
- Why Sardinia and Corsica Work as One Week
- Getting There: Olbia, Figari and Ajaccio
- The Day-by-Day Itinerary
- Full Loop or a Single Island
- When to Go and What It Costs
- FAQ
Why Sardinia and Corsica Work as One Week
Sardinia and Corsica sit close enough together, across a short strait, that a single charter week can cover both islands without losing entire days to transfer legs. Each half of the trip delivers something different: Sardinia contributes the marina life of the Costa Smeralda and the shallow, clear water of the Maddalena archipelago; Corsica contributes the vertical drama of Bonifacio's clifftop old town and the near-untouched coastline of the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The contrast is the reason to combine the two rather than pick one: days of marina glamour in Porto Cervo alternate with days at empty anchorages where the loudest sound is wind through pine trees. Sardinia carries decades of polish as an Italian elite-tourism address; Corsica, even with real marinas at Bonifacio and Calvi, keeps a rawer, wilder feel.
Getting There: Olbia, Figari and Ajaccio
Which airport a group flies into decides which direction the route runs. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, a short drive from Porto Cervo, is the most direct entry point for guests starting on the Costa Smeralda side, with more direct European connections in summer. On the French side, Figari Sud-Corse Airport sits close to Bonifacio; Ajaccio Airport, further north, better suits itineraries extending toward Calvi and the Piana area.
Most groups embark on one island and disembark on the other rather than sailing the same stretch of water twice — arriving via Olbia and leaving via Figari or Ajaccio, or the reverse, with the crew handling the boat's repositioning afterward.
The Day-by-Day Itinerary
The split below is a starting point used by operators who have run this route for years, not a fixed grid — the captain adjusts order and timing at each stop based on the wind and the day's forecast.
Day 1 — Embarking in Porto Cervo
The route begins in Porto Cervo, the heart of the Costa Smeralda, an area that became shorthand for elite summer life after being developed as a resort by the Aga Khan in the 1960s. The embarkation afternoon usually includes a walk through the marina and the village's boutiques before dinner — worth keeping for this first night, since the rest of the week runs through quieter, more isolated bays.
Days 2 and 3 — The Maddalena Archipelago
A short cruise north brings the boat into the Maddalena archipelago, a national marine park with seven main islands and dozens of smaller islets of pink granite. Caprera is known as the home and burial place of Giuseppe Garibaldi and is preserved today as parkland open to visitors ashore. Neighbouring Budelli holds the Spiaggia Rosa, a beach coloured pink by fragments of coral and shell; landing there is controlled by the park authority and should be confirmed directly with them before arrival, never assumed from a guide written months ahead.
Two full days in the archipelago allow time to alternate between busier anchorages near Maddalena town and quieter corners around Caprera — the clearest, shallowest stretch of the whole route, and a good fit for guests travelling with children.
Day 4 — The Crossing and Arrival in Bonifacio
The stretch of water between Sardinia and Corsica — the Strait of Bonifacio — is short but known for accelerating wind and building rougher seas than the surrounding area, even on an otherwise settled day. The decision to cross, and the exact timing, always rests with the captain, based on the forecast confirmed on the day and the current chart — which is why most itineraries build in slack rather than promise a fixed arrival time.
The reward on the other side is one of the most dramatic arrivals in the western Mediterranean: Bonifacio's walled old town sits atop sheer white limestone cliffs above the narrow channel leading into the inner harbour, with medieval streets and a stone stairway cut into the cliff face — reason enough for at least one night ashore before moving on.
Day 5 — Toward the Scandola Nature Reserve
From Bonifacio, the route runs northwest along Corsica's west coast toward the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its volcanic landscape of dark red rock, with almost no visible development in any direction. Landing inside the reserve is prohibited; cruising through is allowed, but under specific speed and distance-from-shore rules set by the park authority, which should be confirmed before entering the area.
Along the way, many itineraries stop at Girolata, a fishing hamlet reachable only by sea or on foot, with no road access — a full contrast to the marina life of the Sardinian days.
Day 6 — Calanques and Coves Further North
Continuing north, Corsica's coast opens into a run of calanques — rocky coves between cliffs and pine-covered peaks, including the Piana area, known for red granite carved by erosion into shapes that shift colour through the day. It is a visibly wilder stretch than the Costa Smeralda, with little development and most of the shoreline still under native vegetation.
The night is usually spent at Calvi, a historic marina with a Genoese citadel facing the sea, the last resupply point before heading back.
Day 7 — Return and Disembarkation
The final day depends on which direction the group chose at the start of the week. Guests disembarking in Corsica head back toward Bonifacio or the Ajaccio airport; groups closing the loop back to Sardinia retrace the Strait of Bonifacio crossing in reverse, under the same captain's-call logic that governed Day 4. Either way, it is worth keeping the morning open for one last short stop rather than scheduling the week to the last minute.
| Day | Area | Type of stop |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto Cervo, Sardinia | Embarkation, marina and nightlife |
| 2-3 | Maddalena archipelago | Granite islands, clear shallow water |
| 4 | Crossing + Bonifacio | Cross-border passage, dramatic arrival |
| 5 | Toward Scandola | Nature reserve, no landing |
| 6 | Calanques further north, Calvi | Wild coves, historic marina |
| 7 | Return | Disembark in Corsica or Sardinia |
Full Loop or a Single Island
Seven days is enough for a real pass through both islands, but it is not the only way to plan the week. A closed loop — leaving from and returning to the same country, rather than embarking on one side and disembarking on the other — tends to need ten to fourteen days, since the Strait of Bonifacio crossing has to be made twice and groups usually want more time anchored on each side.
For guests who would rather not cross the border at all, a full week on a single island goes deeper: on Sardinia alone, Sardinia and Costa Smeralda by Yacht covers how to add more time to the Costa Smeralda and Maddalena combination; on Corsica alone, Corsica by Yacht: Bonifacio, Scandola and the Calanques covers the same stops with room to spare, without the pressure of the crossing. The choice comes down less to the number of days available and more to what the group values most: variety of scenery, or a slower pace at each stop. Guests who like the format of a week split between two nearby destinations find the same logic in the 7-Day Itinerary in the Balearics and the 7-Day Itinerary on the French Riviera.
When to Go and What It Costs
Sardinia is Italian and Corsica is French, so each half of the route carries its own tax on the charter fee. As of May 2026, reference rates for a week in this region start at around EUR 80,000 before tax: add roughly 22% Italian VAT for the portion sailed in Sardinia and roughly 20% French VAT for the Corsica portion, depending on how the broker structures the contract. Similar rate ranges show up elsewhere in the western Mediterranean at the same time of year, including a charter pairing Ibiza and Formentera.
May, June and September make up the western Mediterranean's shoulder season: rates typically run 20 to 35 percent below the July-August peak, with calmer sailing. May 2026, this itinerary's reference month, sits at the early edge of that window, with the water warming up and the summer crowds not yet arrived. July and August carry the year's heaviest demand, and in 2026 the wider Mediterranean charter market is already running 5 to 12 percent above the prior season.
| Period | What to expect | Reference rate |
|---|---|---|
| Low season (autumn-winter) | Empty marinas, livelier seas, many services closed | The lowest of the year |
| Shoulder (May-June, September) | Pleasant water, calm sailing, good availability | From roughly EUR 80,000/week + local tax, May 2026 |
| Peak (July-August) | Heaviest demand, full marinas, book months ahead | Above shoulder rates; 2026 market up 5-12% on 2025 |
FAQ
Can you really see both Sardinia and Corsica in one charter week? Yes. The two islands are separated by a short strait, which leaves most of the week free for actual cruising rather than transfer time. A common split reserves the first three to four days for Sardinia and the rest for Corsica, embarking via Olbia or Figari depending on the group's arriving flight.
Should I start in Sardinia or Corsica? It depends on your arrival airport. Guests flying into Olbia usually start on the Costa Smeralda and head to Corsica afterward; those arriving via Figari or Ajaccio do the reverse. Embarking on one island and disembarking on the other avoids sailing the crossing twice in the same week.
What is the crossing like, day four of the route? It is a stretch known for accelerating wind and building rougher seas than the surrounding area, even on an otherwise calm day. The captain always decides the exact timing, based on the day's forecast and the current chart, which is why most itineraries build in slack for this leg.
Do I need permission to land on Budelli or enter Scandola? Landing on Budelli is regulated by the Maddalena park authority; Scandola prohibits landing and allows cruising only, under speed and distance rules set by the reserve's administration. Confirm the exact rules directly with the park authority before arrival rather than assuming them from a general guide.
What does a week's charter between Sardinia and Corsica cost? As of May 2026, reference rates start at around EUR 80,000 a week before tax, with roughly 22% Italian VAT applying to the Sardinia leg and roughly 20% French VAT to the Corsica leg. The final figure depends on yacht size, crew and exactly when the charter is booked.
When is the best time for this itinerary? May, June and September form the shoulder season: pleasant water, calm sailing and rates 20 to 35 percent below peak. July and August carry the Mediterranean's heaviest demand and, in 2026, rates running 5 to 12 percent above the prior season — worth booking well ahead for those dates.
Book Your Sardinia-Corsica Charter
Speak with the Voguer Yachts team to build a charter combining Sardinia and Corsica, timed to the group's arrival and departure flights, with a crew that knows both sides of the border.
Read also: Sardinia and Costa Smeralda by Yacht · Corsica by Yacht: Bonifacio, Scandola and the Calanques · 7-Day Itinerary in the Balearics · 7-Day Itinerary on the French Riviera · Ibiza and Formentera by Yacht · voguer.yachts · voguer.com.br
