Croatia’s Dalmatian coast
With eight berth yachts and 12 berth catamarans ideal for two families, Fish and Pips can organize a Dalmatian island hopping dream trip. Navigate to quiet coves off the honeypots – snorkel in the waters of Kornati National Park or drop anchor for a seafood lunch. The trips start from Rogoznica between Split and Sibenik and can go north or south for a week or two. The boats are skippered, so all guests have to do is board and relax. A week from €4,800 for eight guests with no flights, fishandpips.co.uk/sailing-in-croatia
A trio of Canary Islands
G Adventures offers a small-group sailing trip aboard a 15-meter skippered yacht in the Canary Islands. From the south coast of Tenerife it heads west to La Palma and on to La Gomera before returning a week later. There is plenty of time to explore ashore – hiking, the historic streets of Santa Cruz de la Palma and the bays of La Gomera. There are also island-based meals, snorkeling opportunities, and even sailing. A week from £764 per person excluding flights, gadventures.com
Join a flotilla in Greece
A flotilla holiday is ideal for inexperienced sailors who want to take command of their boat independently with the peace of mind of sailing in a small group with a skipper on the lead yacht and social gatherings ashore. Sunsail’s voyages explore the Ionian coast of Greece, leaving Lefkada and taking in islands like Kefalonia. It is also possible to hire a skipper. A week from £1,349 for four people excluding flights, sunsail.co.uk
More on this Europe travel
Sail the Cyclades
Join a small group of eight guests—or gather your own—to explore the Greek Cyclades on a private yacht. Although skippered, the trip is convenient, with opportunities to learn the ropes while venturing to the quieter Cycladic islands – Kea, Serifos and Kythnos. There is time for land-based exploration, as well as stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling and dolphin-watching in the inky waters. Four nights from £626 per person excluding travel, muchbetteradventures.com
Bays and mountains in Montenegro
MedSailors specializes in sailing trips for 20-35 year olds, with voyages for solo travellers, couples and groups in some of the most alluring parts of the Mediterranean. Skippered Montenegro trips take time for hiking in the mountains near Morinj, exploring the fortified town of Kotor, watching the sunset from Tivat and visiting Perast, the “Venice of Montenegro” and snorkeling a shipwreck Herceg Novi. A week from €660 per person excluding flights, medsailors.com
Turkey by gulet
A traditional two or three masted gulet is an ideal vessel for exploring the south west coast of Turkey and is available for full charter or per cabin booking. For example, you could board a crewed boat from Bodrum to explore the sky-blue waters of the Gulf of Gokova with its pine-clad mountains and tranquil bays, coral-fringed Seven Islands, Cleopatra Island and fishing villages over the course of a day Week. Five cabin gulet from £835 per night excluding flights, gulescapes.com
The fascinating Côte d’Azur
A yacht charter along the French Riviera for certified sailors (the Mistral is possible in the summer months) offers the opportunity to drop anchor in some of the most alluring spots on the French Riviera. Between St Tropez and Cassis lie glamorous ports and quiet fishing villages, sun-soaked lunch spots and the dramatic limestone coves of the Calanques National Park. A week from £1,171 for four people, no travel required, nautilusyachting.com
blow around the Balearic Islands
Tranquil Menorca is the perfect counterpart to its larger, bolder neighbor Mallorca. Over the course of a week you can explore all types of sandy beaches, enjoy time in historic Palma and Mahon, one of the deepest natural harbors in the world. There are also countless beachfront restaurants and bars to enjoy along the way. Yachts can be chartered bareboat or with skipper. One week bareboat charter from £1,785 for six people with no return transfers, seamaster.co.uk
See the wildlife of Wales
Of course, Great Britain also has plenty of scope for a sailing adventure. On a Pembrokeshire Coast holiday, learn the basics with a Yachtmaster instructor on board and cruise from Milford Haven to award-winning beaches along the National Park coast and past puffins on Skomer and Skokholm. You might even come across dolphins and porpoises along the way. A week from £2,800 for six people, pembrokeshirecruises.co.uk
coast along the Costa Brava
From the hustle and glamor of Barcelona, head north to quiet coves and historic coastal villages while chartering a yacht along Spain’s Costa Brava. Along the ‘craggy coast’ there are hiking trails, diving around the Illes Medes, Dali landmarks, stormy viewpoints, forts, monasteries and pretty villages where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. A week’s rental of a skippered six berth sailboat from Roses starts from €2,720, samboat.com