Charter vacations - 8 most popular destinations.

Choosing where to go on a charter vacation is never an easy task. With so much choice at your fingertips it can be hard to know where to begin. The combined expertise among our Burgess yacht brokers will help pave the way to finding your ideal yacht charter.

Whether you're looking for fast and furious watersport-action in the Caribbean, taking the entire family on a scuba safari in French Polynesia to set eyes on a mighty whale shark, or join the jet set in sunny Saint-Tropez, we have you covered with our pick of the eight most popular charter destinations in the world.

French Riviera

The Côte d’Azur is the beating heart of yachting. It basks in the glory of a balmy year-round climate thanks to hills in the west and the Alps in the northwest. The steep and winding streets of Monaco are a playground for the rich and famous, streaked with rubber from the tyres of Formula One race cars and dripping in Michelin stars. Port Hercules is best placed to begin a charter, but for unrivalled views across the Bay of Villefranche a short cruise to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat will deliver you to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a sumptuous palace with a dreamy garden. Canne’s Boulevard de la Croisette is the place to find chic handbags, but wine buffs will adore the small Saint Honorat Island where sampling the six grape varieties grown at Lérins Abbey’s 20-acre vineyard is a must.

Italy

Few charter destinations in the Mediterranean offer more drama than sighting an erupting volcano from the aft deck. Fiery Mount Stromboli, located on its namesake island off of the north coast of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea, is one of Italy’s three active volcanoes that light up the night sky in a flurry of molten lava. Away from the action, the zesty aroma of Sicilian lemons and green olive groves carry on the breeze. Italy’s coastline is freckled with sleepy fishing villages and craggy coves where guests dine on freshly caught oysters, lobster and sardines. Vernazza’s tumble-down, pastel-hued Cinque Terre walking path pulls the crowds on land, but it’s best experienced by boat while snorkelling the clear, blue waters.

Croatia

The Bay of Kotor is Montenegro’s jewel in the crown, a UNESCO world heritage site nestled on the cusp of Croatia’s cruising grounds. Island hop Croatia’s cluster of stylish isles, from the cobblestone paths of Brač to the Blue Grotto on Biševo Island, one of ten waterlogged sea caves providing phenomenal diving. The culturally diverse city of Split is a celebrated melting pot of international cuisine. Dine on sea bass in truffle sauce under vaulted stone ceilings in Enoteka Terra, paired with a wine flight featuring specialised Dalmatian grapes. For true exclusivity, take a tender to Stiniva Cove, a white-pebble beach on the island of Vis only accessible by water.

Greece

If mythology and intrigue stirs your soul the Greek islands beckon. From the Cyclades to the Ionian, webs of sundried octopi scatter the shores and white washed buildings pepper the horizon. The coveted Saronic Gulf is a prized sailing destination that twins ancient ruins with arresting coastlines set against a backdrop of haute cuisine and vibrant snorkelling. Hydra’s 18th-century buildings line the harbour village, but it’s the view atop Mount Eros that is worth the climb. For solitude, the cove of Saint Nicholas is just a tender ride from Hydra’s port, sip Ouzo on the sun deck with a view of the floodlit Acropolis, or retrace Marilyn Monroe’s sandy footsteps on the beaches of Spetses.

The Bahamas

Popular with US yacht charterers as a vacation destination for its close proximity to Florida’s coastline and Caribbean weather, the 700 islands and cays that make up The Bahamas are heaven on Earth. Shallow, warm waters make watersports fun for the entire family. Pink sandy beaches elevate an already stunning location to memorable status, as do wild swimming pigs, championship golf courses and succulent, sweet juicy crabs. Sport-fishing afficionados should head to Andros island; it’s the largest in the Bahamian archipelago and is a mecca for world-class, salt-water bonefishing. For those looking to catch a flying blue marlin, Berry Islands is where it’s at.

St Lucia

St Lucia’s signature rum punch cocktail will have you whiling away the hours on the aft deck anchored off of this balmy island. Its East Indian, French, English and African heritage makes St Lucia as culturally diverse as it is beautiful. Old world meets new at Balenbouche Estate, once an 18^th century sugarcane plantation and today a destination hotel. Drink in views of neighbouring island Martinique from Cap Maison. No yacht charter in St Lucia would be complete without a hike up the mighty Pitons. Located near the town of Soufrière, these two mountainous volcanic spires dominate the tropical skyline.

St Kitts and Nevis

The twinned country of St Kitts and Nevis is located just to the west of Puerto Rico. A constant sea breeze blows across the watery divide, but the two islands share a united history. Christophe Harbour is a superyacht draw in St Kitts. Drop anchor before climbing atop a double-peaked volcanic hill to Brimstone Hill Fortress ruins rising 230m above sea level. Snorkel the shallow coral reefs along the island’s south-eastern tip flanked by jungle-covered mountains alive with the chatter of Vervet Monkeys. Nevis is the smaller of the two islands offering palm-fringed white sandy beaches and a slower pace of life. Both are the ideal setting to idle away the days aboard a power catamaran or sailing yacht of your choice.

Fiji and French Polynesia

The 100-plus islands that make up French Polynesia are scattered throughout the South Pacific creating arresting anchorages far and wide. This is a land of vanilla pods and pearls from black-lip oysters. Where the waters provide the best scuba diving in the world, and roasted papio fish is served on the beach. Swim with manta rays in the Tuamotu islands and snorkel the reefs in the Marquesas Islands. Glide past luminous silks and floral garlands while strolling through Tahiti’s ancient Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. Trace the sandy footsteps of Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin who captured these paradise shores so exquisitely on canvas. Humpback whales mate off the coast of Rurutu Island, while the religious shrines and artifacts on the island of Raiatea call to be explored. As yachting vacations go, French Polynesia has it all.