Whether drifting through Raja Ampat’s bioluminescent waters or discovering cosseted corners of the Amalfi coast, these superyacht journeys transform the voyage itself into the destination. Discover six itineraries sure to deliver lasting memories.
Best for entertaining at sea…
FRENCH RIVIERA, CECIL WRIGHT
When a 22-year-old Brigitte Bardot spotted a couple grilling sardines over driftwood on the tawny sands of Pampelonne, she asked whether they would cook for the crew of And God Created Woman. When they agreed, a legend was born: Club 55, the leading lady of Saint-Tropez’s beach clubs, which remains in the hands of the Colombo family. The scalloped coastline stretching from Saint-Tropez to Monaco remains the natural home of superyacht culture. Here, pine-fringed bays are studded with Belle Époque villas overlooking ports lined with some of the world’s most impressive vessels. We have chosen Cecil Wright for its highly bespoke approach and ‘fewer clients, better served’ philosophy, creating itineraries that feel more like insider introductions than charter templates.
Only possible by yacht. Dropping anchor off Pampelonne Beach for a leisurely lunch at Club 55 before cruising east towards the wooded peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat as the coastline turns honey coloured at sunset.
The Cyclades take their name from the kyklos (meaning circle), formed by the islands that orbit Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. While Mykonos and Santorini feature in Instagram photos that have launched a thousand ships, travelling by private yacht reveals a more elemental Greece: the terraced cliffs of Folegandros, where generations carved fertile land from stone; Milos, with its lunar landscapes and hidden sea caves; and quiet bays on Sifnos where fishing boats still outnumber tenders. Edmiston offers deep regional expertise and highly tailored itineraries designed to move effortlessly between lively ports and harder-to-reach anchorages.
Only possible by yacht. Arriving by tender beneath the white cliffs of Kleftiko on Milos before continuing to Sifnos for a long lunch at Omega-3 on Platis Gialos Beach, where the spearfishermen owners’ catch appears in globally inspired dishes such as ceviche and tartare.
Scattered off the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua, Raja Ampat is widely considered the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on the planet. This archipelago of jungle-covered limestone islands rises from waters so vividly turquoise they seem digitally enhanced. Travelling aboard a traditional Indonesian sailing yacht transforms the journey into something slower and more elemental – days unfold between deserted lagoons, hidden beaches and reefs where manta rays, wobbegong sharks and shoals of dazzling reef fish glide beneath the surface. Alongside motor yachts, Camper & Nicholsons offers a selection of expedition-style sailing charters that pair adventure worthy of the destination with a level of comfort that far exceeds anything usually associated with sailing boats.
Only possible by yacht. Eating freshly caught tuna sashimi on deck and swimming through bioluminescent plankton under the stars.
Ancient Greeks called Corsica Kalliste (‘the most beautiful’), and arriving by sea, it is easy to understand why. Jagged mountains plunge into dazzling turquoise bays, while red-roofed villages and Genoese citadels emerge unexpectedly between pine forests and rocky headlands. South across the Strait of Bonifacio lies Sardinia, where granite coves and Caribbean-coloured waters give way to an interior shaped by shepherding traditions and one of the world’s highest concentrations of centenarians. Burgess offers more than 64 yachts in the region, from the sleek Excellence with its triple-glass atrium to Renaissance, the largest in the fleet with its and onboard wellness centre.
Only possible by yacht. Cruising through the narrow limestone fjords of Bonifacio before dropping anchor in the Gulf of Orosei for a lunch of freshly grilled langoustines and a glass of Cannonau as monk seals drift through nearby caves.
Beginning in Salerno and moving west towards Amalfi and Capri allows travellers to experience both poster girl port towns with candy-coloured villas and hidden fishing enclaves where Italian life continues as it has for generations. Increasingly, itineraries are also incorporating Ischia, Capri’s more understated sibling, where thermal springs, vineyard-covered hills and harbours that are more likely to welcome fishing boats than megayachts create a gentler rhythm of life. Fraser’s seven-day journeys can be tailored aboard vessels ranging from the 85-metre Solandge, with its spa, beauty salon and generous wellness deck, to the recently refitted Carinthia VII, whose six decks and vast outdoor spaces feel akin to a private estate at sea.
Only possible by yacht. Anchoring beneath Ischia’s Aragonese Castle before swimming ashore to Spiaggia dei Pescatori and climbing to Ristorante il Monastero for a farm-to-table lunch overlooking the bay.
Summer has a way of inviting us to look outward. Towards new horizons, new perspectives and the experiences that stay with us long after the season has passed. It is a time defined not only by where we travel, but by how we choose to spend our time, the people we meet and the places that leave a lasting impression.
