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Sailing the Seven Seas: Amazing Yacht Adventures Around the World

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Updated: 25th March 2021

Since I was a child, I’ve been obsessed with the oceans and boats, and I’m in awe of the great expanses of water that seem so never-ending. The idea of exploring the most beautiful islands in the world by yacht has become even more appealing since my best friend started working in the industry, even though she tells me it’s a far cry from the life ‘Below Deck’ would have you believe.

As a chief stewardess, she has been lucky enough to traverse the world, visiting amazing places for her job. For those of us who don’t have the ocean as our office, though, there are plenty of incredible options available to discover the seven seas on our next vacation.

Orebić, a gorgeous coastal town in Croatia
Orebić, a gorgeous coastal town in Croatia

Of course, the cost of taking a Yacht charter is expensive, but there are plenty of group tours available – and once you’ve taken into account that your accommodation is bundled into the trip price, it seems a more palatable option cost-wise. It’s always worth having a look at the environmental credentials of any trip you pick.

Here are some of my favourite destinations I’ve ever visited, and a few dream trips too, all of which are best explored with the freedom of sailing the oceans.

Europe

In the summer months I don’t believe you can do any better than exploring the islands of Europe, from UNESCO vineyards in Portugal to the never-ending sandy coastline of Croatia, here are my top three!

Cruise the Croatian Coastline

Ever since I backpacked across Croatia’s best places, from Dubrovnik all the way up to Slovenia, I’ve promised myself one day I will return to sail along the coast.

There are more than 700 islands to explore on a Croatia island yacht trip, made even more appealing by the fact that a lot of the most popular cities to visit are directly on the coast, such as Split or Zadar. Interestingly, Dubrovnik is also actually separated from the rest of the country by a tiny strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coastline.

Some of my favourite islands I visited include Hvar, the island of the rich and famous where I enjoyed great scuba-diving, and Korcula, a laid-back escape where the medieval walled city is known as ‘Little Dubrovnik’, and this can easily be included in a 7-day Croatia itinerary or as part of a 10-day visit to Croatia.

Island hopping around Greece

You can’t consider a yacht trip to Europe and not think of a multi-centre Greece vacation when some 6000 islands await.

Yacht tour and charter options around Greece tend to focus on a particular group of islands, such as the Cyclades or the Dodecanese islands, each of them offering something a little bit different, whether it’s exploring the likes of Volcanic craters on Nisyros or kicking back on golden sands.

Of course, there are ever-popular options like Santorini in the Southern Cyclades, but by opting to sail around the islands rather than stay on one, you can avoid the crowds a little bit more by combining the most famous islands with more remote escapes. I have started planning my own sailing trip around Greece for next year; you can see how I’m putting it together here.

Pico Azores
Views of Pico Island, Azores

Sail around the volcanic Azores of Portugal.

Some of the most outer-post islands of Europe are the Azores, an archipelago of islands that belong to Portugal.

While the waters are known to be choppy in the winter months, a yacht charter around the main nine islands in the summer months is a delight, and as the ferry and flight options are already quite expensive to move around the islands, it can almost be more cost-effective to visit in this manner. If you want to spend a fair bit of time on the islands, though, then you will do better to pick a smaller cluster of islands to visit than them all.

Of the many things to do in the Azores, highlights include dolphin and whale watching from the yacht, hiking up the highest mountain in Portugal on Pico, visiting lush green expired volcanic craters and lakes with waterfalls in Flores or hiking through the bright blue Hydrangeas that cover all of Sao Miguel.

Three Dolphins jumping out of the water in Dominica
Playful Dolphins

The Americas

There are countless options for sailing expeditions across The Americas, from icy escapes in the far south and north to tropical sailings around the Caribbean; here are a few picks to inspire you.

Go wild for wildlife amongst the Galapagos Islands

You can’t mention a sailing charter around the continent without considering a yacht tour around the Galapagos Islands, a truly incredible experience and right at the top of my bucket list.

This stunning archipelago in Ecuador is a haven as an ecotourism destination for its pristine wildlife, such as the Giant Tortoise, Penguins and Land Iguanas.

Mainly starting from the hub of San Cristobal island, there are various sailing options you can take from a few days seeing nearby islands, to a week or two-week trips visiting countless different islands, obviously, the longer you stay the more likely you are to see a diverse range of wildlife.

Discover Dominica, the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean

I absolutely fell in love with Dominica, the land of mountains, rainforests, and waterfalls – and one of the least touched by tourism in the Caribbean.

While cruise ships do call at Dominica, it tends to be a less popular port of call, and due to the rugged landscape of the island, most day trips offered to the larger ships focus on one part of the nation. By visiting on a small yacht charter, you’ll have more options and freedom to visit the top sights of the island – such as Canyoning or hiking along never-ending trails with rare bird sightings. Of course, you also have amazing scuba diving and whale spotting from the boat.

Dominica is usually visited as part of yacht itineraries that also include the likes of St Kitts, Antigua or Guadeloupe. However, private charters are available for those who want to have an extended stay in Dominica and visit various parts of the island. Plan your trip with my Dominica travel guide.

A king penguin colony at Volunteer Point
A king penguin colony on the Falkland Islands

Meet all the penguins across the Falkland Islands

It’s not quite Antarctica, but the penguin-filled Falkland Islands provide an incredible, and remote, wildlife-focused escape.

I adored my time in the Falkland Islands, where vast, remote islands are inhabited by penguins and sheep rather than people. The capital city of Stanley is the starting point for most trips, and of course, there are larger ships that can be taken to other destinations, such as the South Georgia islands or even to Antarctica.

A standard 14-day itinerary will loop around the outer islands, such as Weddell or Carcass Island, with penguin sightings, or West Point Island, where an incredible array of albatross colonies await.

Africa

Although I’ve not been lucky enough yet to explore Africa on any sailing trips, I have a few trips that I dream of taking. Hopefully one day I’ll get the option to explore one or more of the below.

Island
A typical beach in Mauritius

Take a catamaran cruise around Mauritius

I absolutely loved Mauritius and getting to know more about this fantastic nation. Not only are the beaches sublime, but there is an abundance of other places to visit in Mauritius – from cultural and religious attractions to markets of delicious snacks and tumbling waterfalls.

A catamaran sailing trip around Mauritius will give you a chance to see various parts of the island and enjoy the crystal clear waters to snorkel in. Certain sailings may also offer the chance to visit other nearby islands such as Réunion or Rodrigues.

Explore the islands of Madagascar

An absolute dream of mine is to explore Madagascar, see the lemurs, witness the baobab trees that tower into the sky, and admire the colourful chameleons.

Madagascar isn’t just the main island, though; there are other smaller islands you can visit on a Yacht charter, all of which offer something special. Ankazoberavina sits in a nature reserve, and sea turtles are in abundance here, while the Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve provides one of the most diverse diving sites in the world to enjoy underwater. Visiting the smaller islands will also offer you the chance to enjoy local dishes and visit villages.

Asia & Pacific

If two continents truly lend themselves to a sailing adventure, they are Asia and the Pacific. From the countless islands out in the Pacific, like Samoa or the Cook Islands, to the incredible archipelagos in southern Myanmar or India, you are spoilt for choice. Below are just a few of my favourite trips.

Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat: Welcome to the real-life screensaver

Visit a real-life paradise in Raja Ampat

When I visited Raja Ampat some eight years ago I felt like the luckiest man in the world, this pristine paradise truly felt like being in a desktop screensaver.

Back then, your options for visiting the islands were more restrictive. However, nowadays, for better or worse, there are a whole host of options for visiting these islands – but checking the environmental credentials of who you sail with is essential as there have been reports of larger ships damaging the corals and reefs.

Smaller live-aboard sailing yachts are a much wiser option. Scuba diving here is an absolute dream, and by being on a live aboard, you’ll be able to enjoy the most amazing scuba daily whilst also seeing amazing sights like remote islands or the famed viewpoint at Pianemo.

Jump around Japan’s unforgettable islands

Taking a sailing adventure to Japan offers you the chance to see a completely different side of the country. While a city trip to Tokyo might be all about high-speed and modern sightings, the islands offer a much more traditional experience.

Sado Island, for example, is an old gold mining outpost where you can now visit these historic mines and see where much of the nation’s wealth comes from. There are plenty of other things to enjoy here, from rare birdlife to traditional tub boat rides in the harbour.

Further south, Shikoku is one of the main islands of Japan, which includes four different provinces. Here, you’ll find a huge pilgrimage route of over 80 Buddhist temples, amazingly clear waters and inland rivers, and also some surprising water-focused activities, like the unique deep-sea therapy spas in Kochi, a region that I absolutely fell in love with.

Private island Fiji
Private Islands in Fiji

Flit around the many islands of Fiji

There are countless options for exploring the Pacific islands – whether that’s the wildlife-filled isles of Australia or the more remote outposts.

Fiji is one of those perfect places to kick back and relax, and while I based myself in Nadi and enjoyed plenty of day trips to the Fijian islands, taking a bigger trip sailing on a Yacht would have been much easier than coming back and forth.

The stunning Yasawa Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands with amazing sandbars and snorkelling, would be my suggested starting point. I hope when I return to Fiji I’ll have the chance to visit these gorgeous islands – although I loved the Fijian islands I explored with fishermen.

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