Sardinia Sailing: Tavolara & Molara with Lunch & Snorkeling

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/34

Duration7h–8h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · IT +2

Mobile ticketAccepted

Sail to Sardinia's Smallest Kingdom & Swim in Turquoise Bays

You board at San Teodoro port at 9:45 and spend the next seven to eight hours sailing between Tavolara and Molara islands, swimming in protected bays with turquoise water and white sand. Lunch and snorkeling gear are included, along with wine, beer, and local Sardinian aperitifs. The boat holds a maximum of ten people, which keeps the day feeling unhurried rather than crowded. You return around 5:30pm.

7h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Sailing and swimming around Tavolara

Depart from San Teodoro port
Swim at Cala Brandinchi beach
Enjoy aperitif and lunch near Tavolara beach
Swim at Molara swimming pools
Sail in Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo marine area
Watch dolphins while sailing
Return to San Teodoro port

The Experience

"How deep is the water here?" someone asks, leaning over the rail as the 13-meter sailing ship cuts toward Cala Brandinchi. The captain doesn't answer right away — he's watching the color shift from pale jade to that impossible turquoise that photographs never quite capture. You're three hours into the day, and the boat has already stopped twice: once for an aperitif with Vermentino wine and local Sardinian products on the deck, and once to let people slip into the water at Molara, where the sea is so clear you can see straight down. The swimming happens in bays that feel private, even though you're part of a group of no more than ten.

The sailing tour from San Teodoro departs at 9:45 and doesn't return until around 5:30, which sounds long until you realize how much ground — or water — that covers. You'll anchor near Tavolara, the island that holds the title of world's smallest kingdom (a real thing, not a marketing invention), and spend time in the protected marine area that stretches 76 kilometers along the coast. Lunch arrives on board: not a sandwich, but proper hot food prepared in the galley, Sardinian dishes with local flavors, followed by coffee or tea. The snorkeling equipment is there if you want it, but plenty of people just float and look down at the seabed. In the afternoon, the sail turns into a dolphin watch — they show up often enough in this area that it's not a maybe, more of a when.

What makes this different from a speedboat tour is the pace. You're under sail most of the day, which means no engine roar, no rushing between stops. The itinerary can shift if the weather turns — the captain has the final say on that — but the structure stays the same: swim, eat, snorkel, sail, watch for dolphins, return. Families bring kids, groups book it together, and the boat stays small enough that you're not crammed in. If you have food intolerances or dietary needs, bring a packed lunch; the kitchen can only manage vegetarian or no-fish options, and the boat's not equipped for complex allergies.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or port pickup (arrange separately), departure at 9:45am from San Teodoro, swimming and snorkeling at Cala Brandinchi and Molara in the protected marine area, an aperitif with Vermentino wine and typical Sardinian products, a full lunch prepared on board with local dishes, snorkeling equipment, coffee and tea, and an afternoon sail in search of dolphins before returning around 5:30pm. Beer and myrtle liqueur are also available on board.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sardinia Sailing Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day on the water without the rush of a speedboat tour — the sailing pace and small group size (max 10 people) mean you actually have time to swim, eat, and look for dolphins without feeling herded between stops.