The Mediterranean concentrates in a single body of water what the rest of the world offers across multiple continents — the French Riviera and its legendary events, the Balearics and their turquoise waters, Italy and its cultural and gastronomic richness, Greece and its infinite islands. A yacht charter in the Mediterranean allows you to sail from one destination to another without ever packing your bags — the yacht moves, you remain on board.
This guide presents the best Mediterranean charter itineraries in 2026 — from the classic week on the French Riviera to the 21-day Grand Tour covering the entire western basin. Each itinerary is designed and tested by the International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII team with our fleet available in the Mediterranean.
Why the Mediterranean in 2026
The Mediterranean remains the world’s premier yacht charter destination — and 2026 is no exception. Several trends reinforce its appeal this season:
An exceptional events season — Cannes Film Festival in May, Monaco Grand Prix in June, Cannes Lions in June, Monaco Yacht Show in September, Voiles de Saint-Tropez in October — the 2026 season is particularly rich in high-traffic yacht events.
The rise of Greece — Greece confirms its position as the world’s third luxury charter destination. The Greek islands attract a rapidly growing international clientele — Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian.
The Balearics in shoulder season — Ibiza and Formentera in September offer the best sailing conditions of the entire season at rates 20 to 30% lower than August.
How to Choose Your Itinerary
Before choosing an itinerary, three parameters determine everything:
Available duration — 7 days allow you to cover one destination in depth. 14 days allow you to combine two. 21 days allow a complete Grand Tour.
Group profile — a family with children seeks shallow coves and water toys. A corporate group seeks lively ports and events. A couple seeks authenticity and gastronomy.
Season — May-June for the French Riviera and events. July-August for high season everywhere. September-October for the Balearics, Greece and Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
7-Day Itineraries
Itinerary 1 — The Classic Riviera — 7 Days
Destinations: French Riviera — Cannes · Monaco · Saint-Tropez Recommended yacht: ASCENSION — 37m, 25 knotsProfile: Events, gastronomy, prestige Best period: May to October
Jour 1 — Embarquement Cannes. Mouillage Îles de Lérins.
Jour 2 — Cannes. Antibes Cap d'Antibes le soir.
Jour 3 — Navigation Monaco (1h30). Port Hercule.
Jour 4 — Monaco. Casino, Palais, Le Louis XV.
Jour 5 — Monaco → Saint-Tropez (1h30). Pampelonne.
Jour 6 — Saint-Tropez. Club 55. Vieux port.
Jour 7 — Retour Cannes. Coucher de soleil aux Lérins.Why this itinerary — The Classic Riviera is the most requested itinerary in the entire Mediterranean. ASCENSION at 25 knots covers distances in under 2 hours — maximum time at dock, minimum cruising.
Itinerary 2 — Ibiza & Formentera — 7 Days
Destinations: Balearics — Ibiza · Formentera Recommended yacht: RILASSATA — 49.8m, 2.25m draft Profile: Beaches, beach clubs, social life Best period: June to September
Jour 1 — Embarquement Ibiza. Dalt Vila le soir.
Jour 2 — Cala Conta. Blue Marlin Ibiza.
Jour 3 — Es Vedrà. Coucher de soleil face au rocher.
Jour 4 — Transit Formentera (45 min). Ses Illetes.
Jour 5 — Formentera. Juan y Andrea déjeuner.
Jour 6 — Retour Ibiza. Cala Salada. Ushuaïa.
Jour 7 — Es Vedranell. Départ en fin de matinée.Why this itinerary — RILASSATA with its 2.25-meter draft accesses the shallow coves of Formentera impossible for standard superyachts. Ses Illetes at exclusive anchorage — an experience impossible to replicate from land.
Itinerary 3 — Sardinia & Costa Smeralda — 7 Days
Destinations: Sardinia — Porto Cervo · Maddalena Archipelago Recommended yacht: ANNAMIA — 43m, 12 guestsProfile: Prestige, HNWI social life, beach clubs Best period: June to September
Jour 1 — Embarquement Porto Cervo. Sottovento.
Jour 2 — Cala di Volpe. Déjeuner face à la baie.
Jour 3 — Archipel Maddalena. Cala Corsara.
Jour 4 — Cala Coticcio — "La Tahiti de la Méditerranée".
Jour 5 — Caprera. Réserve naturelle intégrale.
Jour 6 — Porto Cervo. Billionaire. Phi Beach sunset.
Jour 7 — Baia Sardinia. Départ en matinée.Why this itinerary — Costa Smeralda in July-August is the meeting point for the most discerning international HNWI clientele. ANNAMIA with its 12 guests and flybridge is perfectly calibrated for Porto Cervo evenings.
Itinerary 4 — Capri & Amalfi Coast — 7 Days
Destinations: Capri · Amalfi & Positano Recommended yacht: RAY — 32m explorer, shallow draft Profile: Culture, gastronomy, couples Best period: May to October
Jour 1 — Embarquement Naples ou Capri.
Jour 2 — Capri. Faraglioni. Grotta Azzurra. La Piazzetta.
Jour 3 — Capri. Marina Piccola. Il Riccio déjeuner.
Jour 4 — Transit Positano (30 min). Mouillage face au village.
Jour 5 — Positano. Chez Black. Fiordo di Furore.
Jour 6 — Amalfi. Cathédrale. Ravello en taxi.
Jour 7 — Praiano. Criques secrètes. Départ.Why this itinerary — The most culturally rich Southern Italy itinerary in the entire Mediterranean. RAY with its shallow draft accesses the Fiordo di Furore — a rock crevasse inaccessible to deeper vessels.
14-Day Itineraries
Itinerary 5 — French Riviera & Balearics — 14 Days
Destinations: French Riviera week 1 → Balearics week 2 Recommended yacht: ASCENSION — Monaco → Ibiza in 18h Profile: Prestige + beaches + social life Best period: June to September
Week 1 — Riviera: Cannes → Lérins Islands → Monaco → Cap Ferrat → Saint-Tropez → Pampelonne
Transit: Monaco → Ibiza in 18h with ASCENSION at 25 knots — overnight passage, morning arrival.
Week 2 — Balearics: Ibiza → Cala Conta → Es Vedrà → Formentera → Ses Illetes → return Ibiza
Why this itinerary — The most requested combination of the season. Two weeks, two atmospheres, zero redundancy. ASCENSION‘s speed makes this transit perfectly comfortable in one night.
Itinerary 6 — French Riviera & Italy — 14 Days
Destinations: French Riviera week 1 → Portofino + Sardinia week 2 Recommended yacht: RILASSATA — 4,000 NM range Profile: Grand prestige tour Best period: June to September
Week 1 — Riviera: Cannes → Monaco → Saint-Tropez → Giraglia → Portofino
Transit: Portofino → Porto Cervo in 15h — overnight passage with RILASSATA.
Week 2 — Sardinia: Porto Cervo → Cala di Volpe → Maddalena Archipelago → Cala Corsara → Cala Coticcio → Baia Sardinia
Itinerary 7 — Complete Southern Italy — 14 Days
Destinations: Portofino → Capri → Amalfi → Sicily Recommended yacht: RILASSATA or ANNAMIA Profile: Culture, gastronomy, adventure Best period: May to October
Jours 1-3 — Portofino · Cinque Terre · Camogli
Jours 4-6 — Capri · Faraglioni · Grotta Azzurra
Jours 7-9 — Positano · Amalfi · Ravello · Praiano
Jours 10-14 — Sicile · Éoliennes · Stromboli · PanareaWhy this itinerary — The most comprehensive itinerary in the Italian Mediterranean — 4 distinct destinations, 4 radically different atmospheres, 14 days unlike anything else.
The 21-Day Itinerary — The Mediterranean Grand Tour
Itinerary 8 — Western Mediterranean Grand Tour — 21 Days
Destinations: French Riviera → Balearics → Italy → Greece Recommended yacht: RILASSATA — 4,000 NM, 499 GTProfile: Ultimate Mediterranean experience Best period: June to September
Week 1 — French Riviera: Cannes → Lérins Islands → Monaco → Cap Ferrat → Saint-Tropez → Estérel
Transit Riviera → Balearics: 18h cruising. Overnight passage.
Week 2 — Balearics: Ibiza → Cala Conta → Es Vedrà → Formentera → Ses Illetes → Ibiza
Transit Balearics → Sardinia: 24h via Spanish coast.
Week 3 — Sardinia & Italy: Porto Cervo → Maddalena Archipelago → Portofino → Capri → Sicily
Why this itinerary — The Mediterranean Grand Tour is the most ambitious and memorable itinerary available on the charter market. Only RILASSATA — with its 4,000 NM range and 499 GT — allows you to cover these distances with the comfort of a floating palace.
How to Choose the Right Yacht for Your Itinerary
| Itinerary | Ideal yacht | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Riviera 7 days | ASCENSION | 25 knots, fast transit |
| Balearics 7 days | RILASSATA | 2.25m draft, Formentera coves |
| Sardinia 7 days | ANNAMIA | 12 guests, Porto Cervo prestige |
| Capri/Amalfi 7 days | RAY | Explorer, Fiordo di Furore |
| Riviera+Balearics 14d | ASCENSION | Monaco→Ibiza in 18h |
| Grand Tour 21 days | RILASSATA | 4,000 NM range |
Events to Include in Your Itinerary
Planning your itinerary around an event transforms a charter week into an unforgettable experience.
Cannes Film Festival — May 13 to 24 — anchorage in Cannes Bay, tender to La Croisette in 10 minutes.
Monaco Grand Prix — June 4 to 7 — Port Hercule, direct view of the circuit.
Cannes Lions — June 22 to 26 — corporate charter, brand hospitality.
Giraglia Rolex Cup — June — the largest regatta in the Mediterranean from Saint-Tropez.
Monaco Yacht Show — September 23 to 26 — the world’s new builds in Port Hercule.
Voiles de Saint-Tropez — September 26 to October 4 — 250 classic sailing yachts in the Gulf.
Rates by Itinerary
| Itinerary | Duration | Yacht | Estimated rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Riviera | 7 days | ASCENSION | €100,000 – €125,000 |
| Ibiza & Formentera | 7 days | RILASSATA | €210,000 – €385,000 |
| Sardinia | 7 days | ANNAMIA | €120,000 – €145,000 |
| Capri & Amalfi | 7 days | RAY | €90,000 – €120,000 |
| Riviera + Balearics | 14 days | ASCENSION | €200,000 – €250,000 |
| Grand Tour | 21 days | RILASSATA | €630,000 – €1,155,000 |
Rates exclude APA (25-30% of base rate).
Book Your 2026 Itinerary
Our team builds your custom itinerary — according to your dates, your group, your preferences and your budget. Each itinerary is adapted to weather, port availability and seasonal events.
