Sailing is on the rise - here are the standout yacht adventures worldwide

Sometimes I just want to drift through a destination without the glass-walled insulation of a cruise ship. Sailing cruises may be the answer. This slower, quieter, low-impact form of sea travel is gaining ground, where the wind sets the pace and the route is flexible. Unlike chartering a private yacht, these are scheduled departures with other passengers.

The South Pacific is one of the best places for this style of trip, thanks to the warm weather and calm waters. Indonesia, in particular, has dozens of traditional sailing vessels exploring the Coral Triangle. Mutiara Laut is a two-mast schooner offering voyages from five to 11 days in Komodo National Park. It accommodates a maximum of 14 people, and the atmosphere is more like a wellness retreat than a package holiday. Activities include hiking, diving, snorkelling, swimming with whale sharks or manta rays, Komodo dragon treks, and visits to Pink Beach and Padar Island.

In Europe, Ponant's La Desirade is based in Corsica and Sardinia until October 2025 and then the Caribbean from December 2025 to April 2026. The four-cabin catamaran is equipped for waterskiing, wing-foiling and stand-up paddleboarding, but other activities can be tailored to your wishes on itineraries up to 14 days.

If only Sail Croatia existed when I was a backpacker. Departing weekly from May to September, Flotilla Week party cruises are aimed at people aged 18-39. BYO drinks are allowed, and you make your own breakfast. Days are spent swimming, wine-tasting, cycling, sightseeing or learning to sail. Multiple 10-person yachts sail around together, so everyone meets up at the swim spots and ports for overnight stays. Evenings are free to dine out with new friends or go to the beach clubs in Hvar, Split and Dubrovnik.

At the other extreme is the four-cabin Icebird in Antarctica. This aluminium yacht is the sidekick of the 98-passenger St Helena, operated by a new Australian company, Terra Nova Expeditions. St Helena guests can extend their polar adventure by spending six nights on Icebird, while on other voyages it will be used for excursions such as scuba diving. "There are no landing restrictions for the yacht, so you can be ashore with just eight people, and we can literally go anywhere," says CEO Greg Carter.