Sardinia & Corsica in 7 Days: Costa Smeralda Route, Budget Tiers, and Real Pacing
A practical Olbia-to-Bonifacio week-charter blueprint with wind-aware routing and clear budget expectations from premium crewed to superyacht.
This is one of the strongest Mediterranean week routes for guests who want beauty without constant reposition stress: North Sardinia + South Corsica.
You get iconic water color, serious dining, and enough route flexibility to preserve luxury pacing when conditions shift.
Why this 7-day route works
- Distances are manageable for a one-week charter
- Plenty of high-quality stops in close sequence
- Easy to build a “high-low” rhythm (social days + quiet days)
The goal is not to “do all of Sardinia and Corsica.” The goal is to do one premium corridor properly.
Sample 7-day framework (Olbia-centric)
Day 1 — Olbia embarkation + short settling leg
Keep it soft. New yacht, new crew rhythm, no heroics.
Day 2 — Costa Smeralda signature day
Water-focused morning, polished lunch, controlled social energy.
Day 3 — La Maddalena zone
Scenic cruising, beach circuits, slower luxury cadence.
Day 4 — Bonifacio direction (conditions permitting)
One of the most rewarding visual transitions of the week.
Day 5 — South Corsica day
Protected pacing day, route adapted to wind reality.
Day 6 — Return arc with elevated onboard program
Chef-led long lunch or celebration dinner day.
Day 7 — Olbia return + clean departure logistics
No rushed final morning.
Budget tiers and what changes
| Tier | Weekly profile | Experience change |
|---|---|---|
| Premium crewed | $35K–$75K | Excellent route quality, tighter platform specs |
| Upper premium | $75K–$250K | Better interior volume, toy stack, and service depth |
| Superyacht | $250K–$1M+ | Full concierge-level customization and operational speed |
Across all tiers, itinerary discipline remains the force multiplier.
Mooring and berth strategy in peak weeks
Peak Mediterranean weeks punish indecision.
Plan for:
- Priority nights identified early
- Flexible alternates for weather or congestion
- Route sequencing that avoids “forced long reposition” days
The right approach is not “book everything rigidly.” It’s “lock critical points, flex the middle.”
Wind and pacing realities
Even with premium budgets, weather still governs comfort.
Practical rule:
- If conditions are choppy, shorten hops and protect guest energy.
- If conditions are favorable, use your longer scenic transitions strategically.
Luxury is not doing the original plan at all costs. Luxury is intelligent adaptation that still feels seamless.
Dining and beach-club cadence
This corridor can become over-scheduled fast. Keep a rhythm:
- 2 high-production shore moments
- 2 high-production onboard moments
- Multiple low-friction water days
That structure keeps energy high by day six instead of burning the group out by day three.
Mistakes to avoid
Mistake: trying to cover too much coastline
One premium corridor beats three rushed regions.
Mistake: no backup plan for mistral-affected days
Always have protected alternates.
Mistake: optimizing for social media over comfort
Great charter memories are made in cadence, not in overbooked checklists.
Who this route is best for
- First-time Med week charters who still want prestige stops
- Repeat charter guests who value balanced pacing
- Groups wanting a blend of scenery, dining, and refined onboard time
Bottom line
Sardinia + South Corsica is a high-reward week when you treat it like a curated sequence, not a race.
Get the pacing right, and this route feels both iconic and effortless — which is exactly the point.