Whale watching cruise with WWF researcher on a sailing ship in Sardinia

FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION.

Stress-free booking: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure!

Departure on 3 July 2022
6 days 7 nights

Southern Sardinia
Italy

Travellers of all ages are welcome!

6 more travelers and this holiday will be confirmed.

2 people are interested

10 spots available

This is a holiday dedicated to

Brief description of the holiday

WWF TRAVEL SEARCH CRUISES: WHALE WATCHING BUT NOT ONLY!

WWF Travel offers a cruise on a sailing boat where travelers will be involved in WWF scientific research activities for the protection of the Mediterranean megafauna. A sea and navigation experience accompanied by WWF researchers , where you can learn to observe, identify and protect, with strictly non-invasive methods, the cetaceans of our seas.

For travelers it will be an opportunity to enjoy naturalistic and marine beauties , to have fun in the most beautiful seas of the Mediterranean and at the same time to develop skills of great scientific interest such as:

• naturalistic photography techniques and photo-identification techniques

• monitoring methodologies

• behavior sampling techniques

• use of research instruments : GPS, navigation software, binoculars with reticles, video camera and BORIS software for the acquisition of surface behavioral data.

The atmosphere that reigns on the boat is serene and informal and all the people on board will be involved in the activities on board (such as cooking, keeping the boat in order, ...) , in order to preserve the spirit of sharing that characterizes this type of vacation. The daily activities, in agreement with the skipper and the researcher, will be modulated and variable according to the weather and sea conditions and the identification of itineraries that lend themselves extemporaneously to scientific research. For this as a crew we will need to be flexible and to understand that working with animals in nature is not 100% planned. Sometimes the observations of cetaceans will require more prolonged navigations in order to make an observation. But this is precisely the beauty of a cruise that has a scientific research component!

WHY CHOOSE WWF TRAVEL?

1) RESPONSIBLE TOURISM : we are among the founding members of AITR, the Italian Association of Responsible Tourism; for us, making a trip means first of all implementing all good practices aimed at respecting the environment , local communities and supporting the protection of biodiversity;
2) COMPETENCE and KNOWLEDGE : we give enormous value to competence in fact the WWF researchers all come from naturalistic training courses, but above all they have a very clear objective, that is to give depth to the emotions experienced on board and ensure that your wealth of knowledge is much heavier when returning from an experience with WWF, enriching with details every moment lived in search of the inhabitants of the sea.
3) FUN AND PLEASURE : we never forget that we are talking about holidays. We want to get to know the nature that surrounds us better, but we want to do it by enjoying the beauty of the places we are visiting and appreciating the pleasure of sharing the experience with our travel companions in a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere .

PLACES AND ITINERARY

We will leave Cagliari to head on Monday morning towards the wildest coves of southern Sardinia. It is a destination less traveled by mass tourism, where we will be able to see beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes day after day. Far from the most crowded places, we will take you to discover a side of Sardinia that is much more authentic and less explored.
Between the dunes of Porto Pino and the coves of Sant'Antioco , we will go into a journey between salt and severe rocks, history and natural suggestions. We will return to the port of Cagliari on Saturday evening, to spend a last evening together. Disembarkation will take place the next morning by 10 am.

We will decide the exact itinerary based on the weather conditions and the indications of the skipper and the WWF expert.

Do you want to get excited with little? Fun and healthy life on the boat are also waiting for you, including aperitifs, dinners under the stars and swimming in natural pools, respecting the environment, with new and old friends.

OUR SKIPPER

On board this experience there will be Francesco G. , together with a trusted sailor who will help him to make this experience even more beautiful and exciting!
Francesco is 49 years old, after studying at the academy of fine arts in Bologna, Madrid and New York, he dedicated himself completely to boats. He traveled, worked and lived on board for about 25 years, always as captain. Francesco has a good character, is responsible, alert and ready. He asks his guests to respect the marine environment and the boat that will host you. In return, he devotes himself completely to the success of the cruise. May it be an unforgettable experience!

Other departures

10 Jul

6 days

unconfirmed

Southern Sardinia

1099€

per person
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17 Jul

6 days

unconfirmed

Southern Sardinia

1199€

per person
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24 Jul

6 days

unconfirmed

Southern Sardinia

1199€

per person
more info

The boat

Goletta Aurica In Acciaio - One Off

cabins: 4
toilets: 2

length: 19,90m
year: 1985

We present a steel auric schooner with wooden masts, designed and built for expeditions to Antarctica. Commissioned by Sergi Medir and Orion Salvador, Antarctic navigators, authors of the book “al otro lado del orizonte, el viaje del pepa bandera”. He has sailed in the Atlantic and Pacific. Very comfortable and safe boat in any weather, it has a unique, unmistakable style, it looks like a design from the early twentieth century with its plumb bow, bowsprit and auric sails. Efficient under sail, fun to carry, it has a large and powerful engine, 8 kw generator, solar panels, large spaces on the deck and a helm station with second internal helmsmen, both in bad weather and in the scorching summer sun. On board the service is complete and guests can relax and enjoy sailing on an elegant and powerful boat, they can of course participate in the maneuvers of the sails.

On board there are 4 guest cabins divided as follows: two doubles, one quadruple and a bow triangle for 10 total seats. In addition, there is a separate cabin for the crew.

Our itinerary

Our trip starts here

Cagliari, CA, Italia
Sunday 3 July from 18:00 until Sunday 3 July at 21:00

Our trip ends here

Cagliari, CA, Italia
Sunday 10 July from 7:00 until Sunday 10 July at 8:00

Reviews of WWF Travel

26 reviews
10 / 10

Fantastic skipper! It makes you feel immediately in the family, always ready to tell anecdotes of the sea and not, to listen and to be part of the group! Extremely accommodating on life on board and strict when needed to ensure everyone's safety and tranquility. Surely I would repeat the experience with Mario

Great skipper and crew. Obviously highly knowledgeable and experienced about sailing and the sea. Beautiful boat with lost of space - felt as one with nature. The skipper and crew went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and also had a fun time - trips to shore, nights chatting and singing under the stars, great food. Saw some amazing sealife - dolphins (two types), shark, tuna, turtles. Was great to have a very knowledgeable WWF scientist with us explaining about the sealife and challenges all the way. A magical experience. Very much looking forward to another adventure soon.

Nicola is professional and nice! Eleonora explained a lot of things to us and is of pleasant company I would choose them without hesitation again! We saw quite a few dolphins, yey!

Very competent welcoming and helpful person, he led us with mastery in this wonderful adventure patiently teaching to be a good crew. Congratulations and thanks captain!

The boat is something magical that transports you to another space-time dimension. In 18 meters, there is room only for important things. The frenzy and frivolity of everyday life slowly slide into the depths of the sea. I couldn't ask for more revealing experience and better assorted crew. A special thanks to Mahayana -The Blue Dream Project and its captain Francesco, incurable allies against plastic in the sea. A heartfelt thanks to the WWF guides for transporting us and transmitting the importance of safeguarding our great blue sea.

what to say ? fantastic experience, I do not add anything else, try it!!

Sailing with Captain Francesco's boat was going beyond travel and adventure. It allowed me to learn the first rudiments of sailing, to compare myself with other biologists and researchers and to realize a dream far beyond my expectations. I never wanted to get off the boat nor did I want to have to say goodbye to the crew.

A unique experience, which can perhaps be summarized in two considerations. 1) have a skipper who built the boat with his own hands and brought it from Canada to us 2) See up close the desire to do of young researchers who will surely become great. Thanks to all of you, from the crew to the wonderful guests. A special greeting to the Captain who allowed me to take his boat even through difficult seas. See you again!

Great experience, I would have no other words to describe it.

They say that when you get off Captain Francesco's boat, the "big vehicle",you should be a little more enlightened than when you left. I cannot arrogate to myself the presumption of calling myself more enlightened, but more conscious yes. More aware of how much our seas are threatened and how little is still being done to protect them. More aware also of how much waste is made in everyday life and how much we can learn to reduce it more and more. I warmly thank the group that shared this experience, with which a good spirit of collaboration was formed right from the start. I thank Captain Francesco and Fabio, who guided us with sympathy and skill through the cetacean sanctuary. Finally, I thank Laura and Federica very much for having accompanied us on this journey and for their work of protection, research and dissemination that they carry out daily, to which I wish the best. I will always carry this experience in my heart.

Truly superb experience in all respects, to be repeated and recommended to anyone and at any age. If it were possible to include among the tasks of the mission also the recovery of floating plastics and the various polystyrene boxes lost / thrown away by fishermen, it would be even better.

Unforgettable experience, unrepeatable emotions! The biologists on board Nora and Lorenzo were beyond my expectations for professionalism, attention paid to the group, enthusiasm, sympathy and empathy. Thanks to the synergy created with the formidable skipper Francesco, the two biologists led us on magical routes where thanks to a good eye and a pinch of luck, we were able to observe a considerable number of cetaceans up close. Retraceable emotions also thanks to the incredible shots that Nora has managed to do! Highly recommended holiday

A fantastic adventure, absolutely to be repeated! Bravo captain Guido who knew how to sail with skill, always ready and attentive to understand the needs of the crew. Bravo the biologist Ludovico who has been able to transmit his love for the environment and for cetaceans with great enthusiasm and passion. Great crew in toto that despite the weather conditions not always favorable and the narrow spaces has been able to remain united, serene and weave a bond made of sea, horizons and smiles.

Unforgettable holiday! The two biologists / researchers very prepared, have involved us in the round, from lessons to sightings and answering all our questions, very short Lollo and Nora, the latter then exceptional photographer! The skipper Francesco great professional, proved to be fundamental for the success of the holiday, his choice to anticipate the departure. Experience to recommend absolutely Heather

The sailboat represents the experience that everyone should enjoy at least once in a lifetime. Accompanied by Guido as Skipper and Ludovico, biologist, we spent a wonderful week discovering cetaceans and paradisiacal views. Mamma Natura showed us all her range of moods: from swollen waves to the flattest calm. Always putting safety first, we have dealt with every condition in an optimal way, reformulating plans and routes if necessary to allow the group - for the most part at the first sailing experience - to live this adventure serenely. Full applause to Guido and Ludovico, able to respond, always effective and punctual, to the most disparate needs of a heterogeneous group (8-60 years) and to have put at our disposal their preparation, professionalism and passion, 24 hours a day. My most sincere thanks go to them and to the wonderful group with whom I shared this unique experience. Alexia

In addition to the competence and reliability of skipper (Guido) and wwf guide (Ludovico), thanks to both we were able to experience a contagious passion for the sea and sailing seasoned with child-proof human qualities (8 aa) and big sea! We found the theoretical lessons very interesting, in particular those related to the behavior of cetaceans and more than exciting sightings Grateful for the beautiful experience!!

nice experience despite the not very favorable weather. Skipper and wwf researcher of excellent level. I think more care can be taken in trying to "break" the small groups that inevitably arise between people who do not know each other. Shifts to make food or wash dishes should be done between people who do not know each other. I just didn't like the final gadget: a useless plastic bracelet ... just plastic you have to choose a gadget!!??? Nothing was better. I would suggest that everyone be given a nice picture of a dolphin!! difficult that among the participants you can make really nice photos! a beautiful photo is a nice memory and can be used to collect the autograph of all the participants. I do not believe that a print has such high costs that it cannot be addressed. --- RESPONSE FROM WWF TRAVEL --- Hello Antonello, we are very happy you enjoyed the cruise with the WWF guide on board, it is a holiday formula that excites, involves and helps the research for the protection of cetaceans in our seas. In addition, we sincerely thank you for your advice! As for the bracelet, it was our intention to leave you a small memory of the trip: it is not made of plastic but of silicone, which is a natural material, not derived from petroleum but derived from silicon, like glass, and is perfectly recyclable. This is not to say that it is not potentially dangerous for marine fauna if thrown into the sea, as are many of the objects that accompany us in our lives and about which we often do not ask ourselves questions, such as a cover of a mobile phone or a mobile phone itself, clothing, shoes and other objects rich in plastic that we accept in our lives because we consider durable and non-disposable goods. The huge difference is in fact this, between a durable good and a disposable one: the latter, if plastic, is extremely dangerous for the environment. Our bracelet therefore wanted to be just a memory, in natural material, that you could keep on your wrist (or in the drawer to remind you of the experience lived) until its end of life cycle, to then be recycled and give life to something else.

It was my first experience on a sailing boat: certainly positive and engaging, thanks to the sympathy and reliability of the captain, to the enthusiasm and passion of Laura, to the beautiful group that was formed. Too bad only for the weather conditions, not ideal. Despite this, two sightings (bottlenose dolphins and dolphins) and beautiful sailing. For the rest an experience definitely to be redone. Skipper Francesco N. boat spectacular.

Goody! Captain (Francesco N.) and Researcher (Laura) extraordinary - they were not only there to do their duty, but transmitted passion and militancy for the environment and the health of the sea, and managed to raise awareness and make the whole group active. And then, the boat is beautiful!

Positive experience, to be redone with calmer sea to see more cetaceans. Despite the sea conditions not ideal for sightings, the skipper Francesco N. gave us beautiful sailings on the fantastic schooner, always with a smile and great patience. And the biologist Laura entertained us with very interesting and enlightening lessons on cetaceans, and on the damage caused by plastic, which make us reflect even beyond the holiday. Super and fun travel companions. Advice for WWF + Sailsquare: definitely wrong communication in giving as a gadget a bracelet ... plastic ! with WWF/Sailsquare logo, after all we have learned about the deadly effects of plastic in the sea, and not only at sea, no one liked it, we would have expected a gadget consistent with the campaign. Rather sell some beautiful WWF cotton t-shirts on the boat. We would have been happy to contribute to the campaign. --- ANSWER OF WWF TRAVEL --- Hello Antonella, we are very happy that despite the uncooperative sea you have managed to make sightings and enjoy the experience. Also thank you for expressing your concern about such an important issue as that related to the dispersion of plastic with relative damage to the ecosystem: the bracelet is not made of plastic but of silicone, which is a natural material, not derived from petroleum but derived from silicon, like glass, and is perfectly recyclable. This is not to say that it is not potentially dangerous for marine fauna if thrown into the sea, as are many of the objects that accompany us in our lives and about which we often do not ask ourselves questions, such as a cover of a mobile phone or a mobile phone itself, clothing, shoes and other objects rich in plastic that we accept in our lives because we consider durable and non-disposable goods. The huge difference is in fact this, between a durable good and a disposable one: the latter, if plastic, is extremely dangerous for the environment. Our bracelet therefore wanted to be just a memory, in natural material, that you could keep on your wrist (or in the drawer to remind you of the experience lived) until its end of life cycle, to then be recycled and give life to something else.

Read all reviews

Other important information

WHAT TO BRING
Recommended: car phone charger, soft bags, boat shoes, slippers, fins and mask, sunscreen, biodegradable shampoo and shower gel, waxed and a great desire to have fun with care and adaptability.

Cancellations and Refund

What's included

Knowing what expenses are included and excluded from your booking fee will enable you to have a good idea of the total cost of your chosen experience.

Included in the price.

Not included in the price.

To be paid onboard.

In addition to the price, there will be some additional expenses that you will incur during your trip. Expenses have been listed below.

The estimated expenses for the rest of the holiday are approximately 150-200€ per person.

This is a holiday dedicated to

Brief description of the holiday

Other departures