Maddalena Archipelago Sailing Tour from Santa Teresa

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (852 reviews) 97% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/34

Duration7h–8h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · IT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Seven Hours Under Sail to Sardinia's Pink Beach & Hidden Coves

You sail from Santa Teresa di Gallura through the Maddalena Archipelago for seven hours, stopping to swim and snorkel at Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria. Lunch and drinks are included on board. The captain adjusts the route for wind and weather, so each day is slightly different. Return by late afternoon.

7h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Sailing and island exploration

Depart from Santa Teresa port
Stop at Spargi island for swimming and snorkeling
Visit Cala Santa Maria beach and coves
Explore Razzoli and Santa Maria islands
Observe Pink Beach from boat
Enjoy aperitif and lunch on board
Return to Santa Teresa port

The Experience

The boat leaves Santa Teresa di Gallura at 9:30am, and within an hour you're anchored off Spargi, looking down into water so clear you can count the rocks on the seabed. This is a sailing tour, not a motorboat run — the boat moves on wind and canvas, which means the pace feels different from the start. You swim when the captain finds the right spot, not when the schedule says so. The Maddalena Archipelago sits just north of Sardinia's northeast coast, a protected marine park where the granite islands rise sharp and sculptural from turquoise shallows, and the contrast between the white sand and the water color is the kind of thing that makes you understand why people come back to Sardinia year after year.

The itinerary moves between four main islands — Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria — though the captain adjusts the route depending on wind and weather, which is part of what makes sailing different from a fixed schedule. You'll anchor at Cala Santa Maria, a long beach with turquoise water so shallow it fades to white near the shore, or at one of the western coves if conditions shift. The famous Pink Beach on Budelli is a photo stop only — it's a protected natural monument, so you observe it from the water, but the coral-pink sand against the granite cliffs and the intensity of the sea color make it worth the camera work. Snorkeling happens in reserved areas of the park where the water is calm and the seabed is visible; you can spend as long as you want in the water at each stop, which beats a timed slot.

Lunch and an aperitif come on board — the crew serves it between stops, so you eat when you're anchored and the boat is still. If you have food intolerances or dietary restrictions, bring a packed lunch instead; the boat can't manage special requests on the water, but vegetarian and no-fish options are possible if you arrange them ahead. The day ends back in Santa Teresa around 5:30pm. Groups stay small — the boats hold a maximum of 8, 10 or 12 passengers depending on which one you're on — so there's no crowding at the snorkel stops and no queue to get in the water.

What’s included

Your day includes a seven-hour sailing cruise departing from Santa Teresa di Gallura at 9:30am, stops at multiple islands in the Maddalena Archipelago (Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria), swimming and snorkeling in protected marine areas, lunch and an aperitif served on board, bottled water, soda, coffee and tea, and return to port around 5:30pm. The boat holds a maximum of 8 to 12 passengers depending on the vessel.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sardinia Sailing Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see the Maddalena Archipelago under sail rather than by motorboat, with time to swim and snorkel at each stop instead of a rushed schedule — the small group size and flexible routing mean you're not following a fixed timetable, which is what makes the day feel less like a tour and more like a day on the water.