Yacht Charter Itinerary Nice, France to Olbia, Sardinia
Written by Missy Johnston
Nice
Join your yacht in Nice and enjoy lunch on the aft deck as you settle in, under the warm Mediterranean sun. Cruise to Monaco (1.5 hours) and spend the evening viewing the Principality and perhaps stopping in at the famous casino. Take a stroll around the tropical gardens and grounds of the Grimaldi Royal Palace. Enjoy dinner on board as prepared by your private chef.
Monte Carlo Casino
Wake early to a delicious French breakfast, before motoring up to St. Jean Cap Ferrat for lunch. Take a walk up to the fine gardens along the coast, perhaps taking a tour of the Rothschild Villa Ephrussi. After lunch cruise to Villefranche. Take a taxi up to the famous medieval walled village of Eze perched high atop of the French Riviera and enjoy a walk around this very quaint medieval walled village perched high over the French Riviera with fabulous views of the Cote d’ Azur. Have dinner ashore or on board. Overnight cruise to the lovely northern coast of Corsica.
Calvi
Awake in a lovely anchorage with beautiful beaches, and enjoy a refreshing swim, and perhaps a beach picnic on the wide expanses of beaches on this northern coastline. After lunch, head to the fishing village of Calvi. There are those that say that Christopher Columbus came from Calvi, which was part of the Genoese Empire at the time. It was during the Siege of Calvi in the French Revolution that Lord Nelson sustained the injury that cost him his eye. The harbor of Calvi is shadowed by the citadel, a first sight when coming in by sea. After docking, spend time exploring the old town of Calvi. The area around is well known for superb wine, cheese and olive oil. Overnight
Ajaccio
In the morning, cruise from Calvi to Ajaccio, stopping for lunch in a quiet anchorage. This town, first established by the city state of Genoa in the 1400’s is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. A busy little town with the old citadel right next to the main harbor; old city buildings with an Italianate feel ring the main quay. Visit ashore, and explore the little streets and shops. At night this town comes alive with nightlife. Stay in the port or head out for a quiet anchorage in the Bay of Ajaccio. Overnight.
Bonifacio
10 nm south of Ajaccio are les Iles Sanguinaires, a tiny archipelago, uninhabited, which means literally “Bloody Islands”, due to the number of ships with crews lost that sank against the rocks of these islands. Watch for the lone Genovese Tower built in 1609 standing on one of the islands. In the late afternoon head to Bonifacio, where an approach by sea, is a spectacular sights; that of the medieval village clinging to the tops of the chalk cliffs.
This is a great location for dinner ashore in one of the many fish tavernas ringing the main harbor. Before or after dinner walk up to explore the old walled Medieval town of Bonifacio.
Bonifacio is a town of approximately 4,000 people near the southern tip of the island of Corsica, in the département of Corse-du-Sud, France. A picturesque port with trade in olive oil, wine, and fish, Bonifacio faces Sardinia across the Strait of Bonifacio. The oldest town in Corsica, it was founded (c.828) on the site of a citadel built by Boniface I, count of Tuscany. It later passed to Pisa and to Genoa. There is a Pisan-style church (12th–13th cent.) and the town, surrounded by a rampart, is medieval in character.
Bonifacio is split into two sections. The vielle ville (old town), or la Haute Ville (the Upper city), on the site of a 9th century citadel, is located on a peninsula overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the inhabitants reside in the Haute ville, including the town’s most famous inhabitant, Marie-José Nat. The harbor, la Marine, is at the end of a fjord-like inlet that provides a natural harbor, and is a port for a large number of fishing and tourist boats.
Beautiful Waters of the Maddalena Islands
Cruise to the Maddalena Islands in the morning to visit the main town of Maddalena, a little fishing village, making a stop at Arzachena Gulf for lunch. The Maddalena Islands are filled with beautiful beaches and lovely anchorages with green blue clear water. While inhabited for many centuries as a hub of commerce; today, these islands are very sleepy and much of the area is a national park. Given the close proximity of the islands, the many anchorages and the beautiful clear water, many people compare these islands to the British Virgin Islands. This is a great location to just enjoy the beauty of the area and the lovely water and beaches.
Porto Cervo
Visit the unique and very chic port of Porto Cervo, on the Costa Smeralda of Sardinia, perhaps heading ashore for lunch in one of the restaurants, and visiting the boutiques and shops. In the afternoon, cruise to Porto Rotundo, another chic port on the Costa Smeralda, perhaps visiting Phi Beach Bar for sunset cocktails, or anchor and head by tender for cocktails at the luxury Cala di Volpe Hotel, or head back to the Maddalena Islands for a lovely quiet anchorage to overnight and enjoy a relaxing swim.
Enjoy a final swim, and head to Olbia, Sardinia to disembark.