Sardinia Costa Smeralda Boat Tour

The Costa Smeralda stretches roughly 55 kilometres along the northeastern coast of Sardinia, and its combination of white sand, granite outcrops, and water that reads as transparent from the air makes it one of the few stretches of Mediterranean coastline that genuinely matches its reputation. This full-day boat tour departs from Olbia and moves north along the coast, stopping at a succession of beaches and protected coves that are unreachable by road. The first anchorage is typically off the Liscia Ruja beach, where the group swims and snorkels over posidonia meadows and rocky reef sections alive with sea bream, octopus, and wrasse. A second stop near the Maddalena Archipelago allows exploration of a channel between two granite islands where tidal movement creates natural currents the guide uses to point out the geology of the area. Lunch is served on board — fresh focaccia, local cheeses, cherry tomatoes, and cold cuts from the Gallura region — while the boat anchors in a sheltered bay. The afternoon includes a passage past Porto Cervo, the marina village developed in the 1960s by the Aga Khan IV as the centrepiece of the Costa Smeralda resort, visible from the water in its full architectural oddness. Bring a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, and a light cover-up for the return leg when sea breezes pick up; snorkelling equipment is provided on board.