Sailing ship from Porto San Paolo (S.Teodoro-Olbia) to Tavolara, Molara

The best part of this day is the mix of real sailing and long swim stops. You leave Porto San Paolo, raise the sails when conditions allow, and move between Isola Piana, Tavolara, and Molara without spending the whole day roaring from one beach to the next. I like the clear water and the generous Sardinian food and drink served aboard. The main catch is simple: this is a full day at sea, and the captain may change the route if wind or weather shifts.

I also like the small group, capped at 14 people, and the easygoing crew style associated with captains and crew members such as Luigi, Mateo, Fabio, Agustino, and Stefania. The boat gives you time to swim and relax rather than rushing through a string of photo stops. Bring sun protection and your own beach towel, and plan ahead for parking at the port.

Key points to know before booking

• Three main swim areas: Stop at Isola Piana, Tavolara, and the clear-water pools of Molara.
• A full Sardinian lunch: Expect an aperitif, local products, a cooked lunch, fruit, sweets, coffee, and drinks.
• Small-group sailing: The boat takes no more than 14 people, which helps keep the day personal.
• About 7.5 hours on the water: Departure is at 9:30 am, with the boat returning to Porto San Paolo.
• Dolphin search included: The afternoon sail may include looking for dolphins in the protected marine area.
• Parking needs planning: Port parking is not arranged for you, and a nearby paid option costs about €5 per day.

Why this Porto San Paolo sailing day works

Northern Sardinia offers plenty of fast boat trips, but this outing takes a slower route. The point is not to collect the largest possible number of beaches. You spend much of the day moving by sail, stopping for swims, eating aboard, and enjoying the view from the water.

That pace matters. Tavolara and Molara are best appreciated from offshore, where their rocky forms and pale beaches make sense as part of the sea around them. You are not simply being dropped at a beach and left to find your own lunch. Food, drinks, snorkeling gear, and the boat ride are part of one package.

The small capacity is another strong point. Fourteen people is still enough for a sociable group, but it is far more manageable than a large excursion boat. I would choose this for a relaxed day with a partner, friends, or older children who are comfortable spending several hours aboard.

The atmosphere can be lively. The crew serves drinks through the day, talks with the group, and may create a friendly, musical mood. Some departures are quiet and scenic; others become sociable, with people singing and chatting. You should be comfortable with that bit of unpredictability.

Leaving Via del Faro at 9:30 am

The meeting point is Via Del Faro, 62, in Porto San Paolo, near Olbia. The tour begins at 9:30 am and finishes back at the same place after roughly seven to eight hours.

Give yourself extra time to park. Parking is not included, and the port area can require planning. A paid car park about 100 meters from the boat has been described as costing €5 for the day. One useful suggestion is to check local parking arrangements in advance, including the monaiGo app mentioned by a previous passenger.

You need to bring your own beach towel. Bottled water is supplied, as are coffee and tea, wine, beer, myrtle liqueur, and snorkeling equipment. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes so you can get into the water without a fuss at the first stop.

The sailing plan is not fixed in stone. The master may alter the order or location of stops to keep the boat safe. That is normal for a sailing trip, not a flaw in the service. Wind, sea conditions, and local safety concerns take priority over a printed schedule.

Isola Piana provides the first swim

The first stop is Isola Piana, reached only a few minutes after leaving the port. You also swim near Isola, with about 30 minutes set aside for this opening stop.

This is a useful start to the day. You can test the water, get comfortable with the boat, and use the snorkeling gear before the longer stops. The short visit also keeps the morning moving toward Tavolara.

Do not expect a major land visit here. The stop is about swimming and seeing the coast from the water. If you want a long shore walk or a historic site, this is not that kind of excursion.

The first swim helps set the rhythm: sail, stop, water, then food and another stretch of coastline. I like that the day does not begin with a long lecture or a crowded beach transfer.

Tavolara brings the longest pause

The boat spends about two hours in front of Tavolara, including an aperitif, a swim, and lunch. This is the centerpiece of the route.

Tavolara has an unmistakable profile, and viewing it from the sea gives you a strong sense of its scale. The boat stops near a protected beach, allowing time to swim and enjoy the setting without treating lunch as an afterthought.

The aperitif features Vermentino and products from Sardinia. Food served during the day can include Sardinian pecorino, sausage flavored with myrtle, local salami, tartines, pane carasau, and guttiau. The meal itself has been described as a cooked pasta dish using Mediterranean ingredients and fish, followed by fruit, local sweets, coffee, and myrtle liqueur.

That is considerably more than a token snack. The meal is one reason the price works for many people. You are not paying around $120 for transport alone. You receive a long cruise, a prepared meal, drinks, wine tasting, and snorkeling equipment.

Food needs a little advance thought. The boat can handle no-fish or vegetarian choices, but broader food intolerances and special requests may not be manageable in the galley. If you have strict dietary needs, the operator recommends bringing a packed lunch. Contact the provider before the day if your diet is important to your decision.

Molara and its turquoise swimming pools

The Molara stop lasts about an hour. The focus is the so-called Molara swimming pools, where the water is especially clear and turquoise.

This is the best section for getting in the sea with a mask and snorkel. The equipment is included, so you do not need to pack your own unless you have a preferred fit. The water lets you look below the surface, and swimming near the boat gives you a different view from the beaches and coves you see on land.

As with Isola Piana, the stop is not built around a shore excursion. You are there for the water. If you dislike swimming from a boat, or if you need constant access to land, this route may feel limiting.

For most people who enjoy the sea, though, Molara is the payoff. You get time to float, snorkel, and cool off after lunch rather than making a quick photo stop and moving on.

The Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo marine area

The route also passes through the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo protected marine area, which extends along about 76 kilometers of coast. Here you may swim, snorkel, and continue with lunch service depending on the day’s sailing order.

The protected status adds useful context to the scenery. The clear water is not just a pretty backdrop for a boat trip. It is part of a marine area managed for its natural value, so the captain’s instructions and any local rules deserve attention.

This stretch also offers the best chance to appreciate the coast from a moving boat. The view changes gradually instead of arriving in one quick burst. You may see beaches, offshore rocks, and island profiles that are difficult to understand from a road.

One passenger noted that the area does not offer many large rocks or caves to explore up close. That is worth knowing. This is a trip for open-water swimming, island views, sailing, and food, not a cave-hopping trip.

Sailing and the afternoon dolphin search

A major part of the day is simply being underway. When wind conditions permit, the crew raises the sails and lets the boat move with less engine noise. Watching the harbor fall behind and seeing the coast from sea level is a pleasure in itself.

The final afternoon sail includes a search for dolphins, which often visit this part of the coast. A sighting is possible, not guaranteed. Keep your expectations sensible, and enjoy the sail even if the water stays empty.

The crew is a large part of the experience. Names connected with different departures include Luigi, Mateo, Fabio, Agustino, Marco, Ricardo, Stefania, Laura, and Livia. The crew roster can vary, but the service style is consistent in the details provided: friendly conversation, help with the boat, stories about the area, and attention to the group.

English service is available. The experience has also worked for mixed-language groups, with crew members helping people from several countries feel at ease. You should still expect an informal boat day rather than a formal lecture with a tightly scripted commentary.

What the $119.77 price really covers

At $119.77 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get into the water around Olbia. It is also not a bare-bones transfer.

The price includes:

• About 7.5 hours of sailing
• Lunch
• A Sardinian aperitif
• Vermentino wine tasting
• Wine, beer, myrtle liqueur, bottled water, coffee, and tea
• Snorkeling equipment
• The island and marine-area stops

If you bought a separate boat ride, lunch, wine, and snorkeling rental, the costs would quickly add up. The value is strongest if you plan to drink wine, eat the provided meal, and spend the day swimming rather than simply using the boat as transport.

The price is less attractive if you do not drink alcohol, have substantial dietary restrictions, or prefer to spend most of the day on land. The tour is designed as an all-day package, so you pay for the full rhythm even if one part, such as lunch or the social atmosphere, is not important to you.

The maximum of 14 people improves the value. You are buying a shared trip, but not one designed for a huge crowd. Still, the exact feel depends on who joins you that day.

What to pack and how to prepare

Pack lightly, but do not forget the basics:

• Beach towel
• Swimsuit
• Sun block
• Hat or other sun protection
• Dry clothes for the return
• Any special food you must have
• Phone protection for use around water

Sun block is especially important because you will spend hours exposed on deck and in the water. Bring enough for repeated use.

The boat provides water and food, so you do not need to arrive with a full picnic. If you have food intolerances, only no-fish or vegetarian arrangements are specifically possible, and a packed lunch may be the safer choice.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The activity requires good weather and a minimum number of people. If poor weather cancels the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this sailing tour

I would recommend this day to you if you want:

• A full day on the water rather than a short transfer
• Several chances to swim and snorkel
• A small group
• Sardinian food and local drinks included
• A mix of sailing, conversation, and relaxed sightseeing
• A view of Tavolara and Molara from offshore
• The possibility of seeing dolphins

It suits couples and friends especially well, but the activity is open to most people who can take part in a normal boat and swimming day. The crew’s warm, social approach is helpful if you enjoy meeting others.

I would think twice if you want a quiet, private charter, a strict gourmet menu, a land-based island visit, or a guaranteed dolphin encounter. I would also reconsider if you are uncomfortable with route changes caused by weather or with spending most of a day aboard.

FAQ

Where does the sailing tour begin?

It begins at Via Del Faro, 62, 07020 Porto San Paolo SS, Italy.

What time does the boat leave?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 am.

How long does the tour last?

The sailing cruise lasts about 7 to 8 hours, with the provided duration listed as approximately 7.5 hours.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the sailing cruise, lunch, bottled water, coffee and tea, wine tasting, Vermentino, beer, myrtle liqueur, a Sardinian aperitif, and snorkeling equipment.

Are beach towels provided?

No. You need to bring your own beach towel.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The master may change the route or stops according to weather and sea conditions for safety.

Is cancellation free?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the trip, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want your Tavolara day to feel like a proper outing at sea, with time to swim, a real meal, local wine, and a small group. The strongest reasons are the three water stops, the generous food service, and the chance to sail rather than simply speed between beaches.

Do not book it expecting a private yacht, extensive shore time, or a guaranteed wildlife show. For the right kind of day, though, the $119.77 price covers enough food, drink, equipment, and time on the water to make this a sound choice from Porto San Paolo.