Virgin Islands
The U.S. and British Virgin Islands are among the most popular yacht charter destinations in the world.
With shopping hubs like Mongoose Junction on St. John, beach bars like Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke, and world-renowned snorkeling venues like The Baths on Virgin Gorda, the Virgin Islands offer a wide variety of fun.
This round-trip itinerary from St. Thomas gives you plenty of time for multiple stops in both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Note the short cruising distances between most of the islands, one of the features that make the Virgins such a terrific yacht charter destination
Itinerary
You will find below an itinerary example from the 76ft. Catamaran AKASHA, one of the most luxury sailing Catamarans.
Day 1
Join S/Y Akasha at Village Cay Marina, Tortola. Enjoy a champagne reception and Captains welcome before setting Sail to Norman Island, also known as Treasure Island. Enjoy a late afternoon swim in quiet Benureres bay where Akasha will anchor for the evening, after dinner enjoy some star gazing on the fly bridge. Or take the party option and get wild at the Willy T’s bar!
Day 2
After a relaxing breakfast a short motor to The Caves for a breathtaking snorkel, or Scuba dive Angel Reef. A short sail to beautiful Deadman’s Bay – white sand and turquoise water galore! Swim ashore to relax in the hammocks on the beach before lunch either at the restaurant on the beach or aboard Akasha.
Peter Island boasts white, sandy beaches that are ideal for swimming and snorkeling, or just taking a romantic walk at the end of a fun-filled day. Dozens of scuba-diving sites are nearby, making Peter Island a must-see for anyone interested in water sports.
An afternoon sail to The Baths at Virgin Gorda – one of the most stunning sites in the BVI – Gigantic granite boulders and half submerged rocks line the southern seashore, creating grottos, tunnels, and arches – a wonderful place to swim, snorkel, and explore. Sandy beaches are lined with coconut palms, adding to the dramatic effect.
The Baths are an interesting geological formation and protected national park that make Virgin Gorda one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of the Virgin Islands.
Day 3
Start the day with an exciting upwind sail from The Baths to North Sound, Virgin Gorda. This beautiful area is one large playground, boarded by several islands including Mosquito, Prickly Pear, Saba Rock, Eustatia and Necker Island.
For the more active it is the perfect location for some Hobie Cat Racing, Water-skiing, Windsurfing or Hiking – or perhaps strolling around the famous Bitter End Yacht Club for some light shopping. Then a late afternoon a short hop to Prickly Pear Island to enjoy a deserted anchorage and beautiful views of Necker Island over sunset cocktails.
If you wish, partake in one Akasha’s themed nights – Pirates, 70’s disco .. the choice is yours!
Day 4
Day 4 Another exciting sail to Anegada – a unique Island a world apart from it’s BVI neighbours – being only 10 miles long by 2 ½ miles wide, and it’s highest point at 28 feet, and sixteen miles of pristine sandy beaches of a primeval quality.
It is “guarded” by the third largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere. After a delicious lunch on board allow a local tour guide to reveal the beauties of Anegada – the abundance of sea life that live in the Barrier reef, the Iguanas that guard the police station, or if you are lucky the indigenous, and shy, Pink Flamingos’ that live on the Salt Pond.
Sample Lobster, caught to order ashore at a recommended restaurant – a fascinating place to dine with the sand between your toes and under a canopy of stars.
Day 5
After breakfast, put your feet up with a good read for the relaxing down-wind sail to Monkey Point – sailing under one of Akasha’s colourful spinnakers. Monkey Point – a beautiful anchorage with fantastic snorkelling – or more water sports if you like.
A short sail to Marina Cay, a very pretty island which offers live entertainment at cocktail hour.
Day 6
If the wind is right a spinnaker run to Jost Van Dyke – Great Harbour. Stop off at Green Cay for a swim ashore to this tiny uninhabited island, a perfect sand island punctuated by a cluster of rocks with green vegetation and two lonely coconut palms – surrounded by aqua marine water.
Enjoy the peace and tranquillity overnight or take a short hop to Jost van Dyke , dingy round to the famous white bay – yet another beautiful beach, check out the Soggy Dollar Bar. Jost Van Dyke, for a visit to Foxy’s Bar – infamous for Foxy’s clever entertaining and micro-brewery.
Frequented in the past by both The Beach Boys and Van Morrison! Jost Van Dyke is home to two of the most popular beach bars in the Virgin Islands: Foxy’s on Great Harbour, and the Soggy Dollar Bar on White Bay.
Few places in the world are better for sipping drinks, taking a refreshing swim, and then singing well into the night. Great Harbour is particularly popular on New Year’s Eve, when countless boaters jam the local watering holes.
Day 7
A comfortable cruise takes you to the famous pirate hang-out of Sopers Hull, stop off for some shopping or sail on by between the western tip of Tortola and Eastern tip of St Johns towards the lunch time destination of Great Harbour.
A perfect anchorage for more water sports, including Scuba diving and snorkelling. For the daring dive from Akasha’s fly bridge into the deep water! Either relax in this pristine location watching the graceful Pelicans that gather on the rocky shore, or take another afternoon cruise to historical Salt Island which harbours the ship wreck of HMS Rhone and whose inhabitants still pay a bag of salt a year to The Queen as rent.
Snorkel or Dive HMS Rhone or have a cocktail served to you on Akasha’s “Rum Island” watching the sun go down.
Day 8
After a leisurely champagne breakfast and a swim in the transparent waters – a final cruise back to Road Town, Tortola.