La Maddalena sailing tour from Palau: Vintage ship, seven hours
A full day under sail through the Maddalena islands on an authentic wooden ship.
A seven-hour sailing tour from Palau to La Maddalena Archipelago aboard an authentic vintage wooden ship, with small-group departures chosen daily by weather to reach the clearest waters and quietest bays. The itinerary includes swimming stops at Spargi and the natural pools of Budelli, lunch at Santa Maria, and tastings of typical Sardinian products and wines throughout the day. The crew shares the area's history and ecology as you sail.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Sailing and swimming in Maddalena
- Depart from Palau port
- Pass Porto Rafael village
- Swim at Spargi island
- Admire natural pools of Budelli
- Lunch and swim at Santa Maria
- Sail around Maddalena island
The experience
You board at Palau Pier 5 at 9:30 and sail toward the Sardinian coast, passing Porto Rafael. A village founded in the 1970s by a Spanish count, now a cluster of villas overlooking the archipelago. The route itself is not fixed: the crew watches the weather each morning and picks the day's stops to find the calmest waters and the fewest crowds, so no two departures are quite the same.
Swimming breaks anchor the day. You'll stop at Spargi to swim in clear water, then at the natural pools of Budelli, one of the Mediterranean's most distinctive spots: shallow turquoise basins where the seabed shows through. Lunch happens at Santa Maria, where you eat on board and can swim again if you want. Throughout the day the crew brings out an aperitif, coffee, Sardinian liqueurs, water, soft drinks, prosecco and white wine, so you're never without something to drink or taste.
The return sail hugs the island of Magdalene on the way back to port, arriving around 4:30. Groups stay small to keep the atmosphere intimate and the deck from feeling crowded, and the crew speaks English and Italian, sharing stories about the islands' history and wildlife as you move between stops.
What’s included
- Aperitif, lunch and coffee.
- Sardinian liqueurs, prosecco and white wine.
- water and soft drinks.
- crew commentary on the area's history and nature.
- swimming stops at Spargi and Budelli.
- hotel pickup is not included, but you meet the crew at Palau Pier 5 at 9:30.
Before you book
Operated by Sailing San Paolo Experiences
Is this one for you?The daily-chosen itinerary means you get the calmest waters and emptiest bays available on the morning you sail, so if you want to swim without fighting crowds or rough conditions, the crew's flexibility is what makes it possible. Small groups keep the deck comfortable and the atmosphere intimate rather than like a ferry.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What's the water like at Budelli and Spargi where we swim?
Budelli's natural pools are shallow turquoise basins where you can see the seabed clearly. Spargi offers deeper, open water for swimming. Both are chosen because the water stays calm and clear on the day of your tour.
How does the crew decide which islands to visit each day?
The itinerary changes daily based on weather. The crew picks the stops that will have the calmest waters and the quietest bays on that particular morning, so you always sail to the best conditions available.
What food and drinks are included during the seven hours?
An aperitif, lunch, coffee and typical Sardinian liqueurs are served on board, along with water, soft drinks, prosecco and white wine throughout the day.
Can children come on this tour?
Children are welcome from age 2. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and public transportation is available near the meeting point if you need it to reach Palau Pier 5.
What is Porto Rafael, the village we pass on the way out?
Porto Rafael is a small village in northern Sardinia founded in the 1970s by a Spanish count. It sits on the coast with villas overlooking the Maddalena Archipelago and is known as a distinctive spot along the Sardinian shoreline.