7-hour sailing boat tour: Tavolara & Molara, Sardinia

Traditional boats with shallow draft reach coves other sailings cannot.

A seven-hour sailing tour around Tavolara and Molara islands in Sardinia's protected marine area, with a skipper who adjusts the route daily based on wind and conditions. Groups stay under twelve passengers. The boat's shallow draft lets it navigate tight inlets and pass under cliff faces. Snorkeling equipment, charcuterie and fresh seafood, water and parking are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sailing tour around Tavolara and Molara

• Depart on traditional sailing boat
• Visit Tavolara island and go ashore
• Admire old lime kilns and cliffs
• Sail to Molara island
• Visit Cala del Pastore and natural pools
• Stop at Porto Istana beach
• Visit famous beach with cobalt blue water
• Explore Capo Ceraso inlets
• Swim at inlet near Don Diego hotel
• Pass Porto Taverna beach
• Stop at Turtle beach for swimming
• Swim at Cala Suaraccia beach
• Visit Capo Coda Cavallo inlet
• Stop at Cala Brandinchi beach

The experience

Seven hours on the water means time to actually swim and explore, not just motor past. The boat leaves at 9:45 and the skipper decides the route with you once you're aboard. Some days that means Capo Ceraso's rocky inlets, other days the natural pools of Molara or the transparent shallows near Turtle Beach. Porto Istana works when the mistral blows hard. Cala Brandinchi shelters from the west wind. You're not locked into a fixed itinerary the way bigger tour boats are, and the reduced draft of a traditional sailing boat means you can slip into places where the deeper hulls have to stay offshore.

Snorkeling happens wherever the water and conditions suit: the seabed near the Don Diego inlet sits in just a few meters of water, and the cove near Turtle Beach is set like a diamond in flat rocks you can climb from. Charcuterie, cheese and fresh seafood come aboard partway through the day. Bottled water is there, and parking is covered, so you only need to show up at the meeting point.

The boat holds a maximum of twelve, which keeps the deck from feeling crowded and means the skipper can actually hear what passengers want. Children from age two are welcome, and the tour suits all fitness levels. You swim when you want and rest when you don't.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• charcuterie and cheese platters plus fresh seafood.
• bottled water.
• skipper.
• parking fees.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full-day option running from 25/03 to 31/05Guide in English or Italian · Available from 2 Apr 2027Lasts 7 hours

Full-day option running from 01/08 to 31/08Guide in English or Italian · Available from 15 Aug 2027Lasts 7 hours

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Apr 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (2 to 9 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sailing San Paolo Experiences

Is this one for you?The seven-hour length and flexible routing suit travelers who want to swim and explore at their own pace rather than follow a fixed schedule. The boat's shallow draft is what lets you reach narrow inlets and cliff-side coves that larger tour boats skip.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 9 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I choose which islands and beaches we visit, or is the route fixed?

The skipper decides the day's route with the group once you're aboard, based on wind and weather. Tavolara and Molara are always in the plan, but which coves, inlets and beaches you stop at depends on conditions: some days that's Capo Ceraso, other days Porto Istana or Cala Brandinchi.

What's included in the tour, and what do I need to bring?

Snorkeling equipment, charcuterie and cheese platters, fresh seafood, bottled water, the skipper and parking are all included. Bring sun cream and a towel. The operator does not provide them.

How much time do we actually spend swimming and snorkeling?

The seven-hour tour includes multiple stops where you can swim and snorkel. How long you stay at each spot depends on the group's preference and the day's conditions, so there's flexibility built in.

What makes Tavolara and Molara worth visiting by boat instead of by land?

Tavolara's southeastern cliffs and old lime kilns are best seen from the water, and the boat's shallow draft lets it navigate tight inlets and pass under rock faces that bigger boats cannot reach. Molara is a private island known for its natural pools, accessible mainly by water.