A sailing charter is not all about sailing…

It might seem odd to say – but a sailing charter is not just about sailing. A sailing charter is about fully submerging yourself in culture and being at one with nature! You, as a charterer, are in a unique position where you do not have to stay in the same place for more than one day. Your hotel stays with you wherever you go, meaning you can do more, see more and experience more!

Some of the most incredible countries in the world are surrounded by water. Places like Greece, Croatia, Thailand, Italy, and the Azores just to name a few. These countries are steeped in natural beauty waiting for you to drop anchor and rock up to. Below is a list of activities in some of our favorite destinations to enhance your charter experience.

Location 1 – Sicily, Aeolian Islands.

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Italy, a country famed by its food, culture, hospitality and it’s an outstanding natural beauty. Italy is one of Boatbookings favorite destinations for a couple of reasons, yes, we are all foodies, but its the natural, off the beaten itineraries that the Aeolian Islands offers.

Activity 1 – Walk up and admire the views across to the smoldering Vulcano

For the yachts that got into port on time and the wind wasn’t on the nose (haha) you can walk west 3kms from town to this incredible viewpoint on Lipari Island. This famous viewpoint is named “Quattrocchi” which is Italian for ‘four eyes’. For guests arriving a little later in the afternoon, you can catch a 10-minute bus. Watch the neighboring island ‘Vulcano’ as she smokes – you get a real sense that the earth is alive!

Viewpoint.

Activity 2 – Beach day at Cala Junco

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Cala Junco

Sometimes a beach day is necessary on a yacht charter. Pack a picnic and head for Cala Junco, a tiny cove with its own sheltered beach. Located on the southern tip of Panarea island, this oasis provides the perfect place to chill out with the family.

Location 2 – Azores, Atlantic.

Panoramic view over the Sete Cidades lake on Sao Miguel Azores

For the adventurous spirit, the Azores offers something different. A small cluster of islands located 1,400 miles of mainland Portugal boasts some of the most impressive scenery the world has to offer. With volcanos, craters, vineyards and hiking in abundance, you will not be short of activities!

Activity 1 – Calderia Volcano, Faial Island

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Calderia Volcano and Capelinhos Volcano

A must-see if you find yourselves in the Azores!  The Calderia Volcano and Capelinhos Volcano, located on the island of Faial. The Calderia and Capelinhos Volcano is a breathtaking monogenetic volcanic field – monogenetic means that it will only erupt once. Incredibly, its irruption lasted over 13 months!  

Calderia Volcano and Capelinhos Volcano on map

Activity 2 – Wine tour on Pico island

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Pico island has been producing with since the early 1500s and is the island’s main export. The vineyards are not the traditional neat rows over rolling fields, they have been adapted to Pico’s rich volcanic soils. The stone wall areas called ‘Currais’ litter the landscape, covering just over 2,000 acres of land across Pico island. The gardeners use basalt that exposes the vines to the sun but protects them from the Atlantic breeze.

Cooperativa Vine Yards

Location 3 – The Bahamas

The Bahamas. One of the most visited placed by sailors from all over the world. A playground made up of sandbanks, island hopping and crystal clear turquoise water. An area so natural, that more than half the islands in the Exumas are not inhabited.

Activity 1 – Anything in the water

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The best activities to do in the Bahamas revolves around getting in the water, I mean who wouldn’t want to go swimming in that turquoise water?! Some of our favourite additions to a yacht charter in the Bahamas are: driving with nurse sharks, snorkelling in Thunderball Grotto, swimming with the pigs and visiting the Iguanas!

Activity 2 – Eating at the yacht club, Staniel Cay.

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Who said eating isn’t an activity? Boatbookings certainly thinks it is! In a place so sparsely populated sometimes you need a bit of human interaction and what perfect place than the Yacht Club in Staniel Cay. Sit on the balcony and admire the views across the bay and eat some of the island’s most delectable dishes.

Take the Plunge in Top Diving Destinations

How better to enjoy the most sought after places to dive around the world than on a private yacht charter? Diving is an immensely popular activity on a charter as you have experienced divers for crew, top notch equipment and some of the most jaw-dropping diving destinations available. Get the best of both worlds being on top of the water on your luxury yacht, as well as exploring the depths below! See which three diving destinations are amongst our guests’ favourites…GalleryImage_1559_3111_53a8e2 Continue reading

5 Things to do in the Bahamas on your Yachting Holiday!

The Bahamas is one of the most beautiful places to cruise on a yacht where you can surround yourself with the calming turquoise waters for an unforgettable holiday.  With over 700 islands and inlets and more that 2,000 cays (coral reefs),which of only 30 islands are inhabited, there are endless places to cruise and explore. Today the Bahamas is one of the world’s most foremost places to spend your holiday and attracts more than 5 times it’s population in tourists.

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The Similan Islands – The Best Diving in Thailand

Not just the best diiving in Thailand, but regularly voted among the top 10 dives sites in the world, the Similans are a north south group of 9 islands northwest of Phuket, and a must-see part of your yacht charter Thailand.

Declared a National Park in 1982, the area provides some of the most striking underwater landscapes in Asia. Huge granite builders go down to the ocean floor, creating an underwater playground for divers, surrounded by crystal clear waters and a huge variety of corals and fish.

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photo credit from Similan islands

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