The Fall Crossing

Balearic Islands • Morocco • Strait of Gibraltar • Canary Islands

The Trip

Where the sea meets the ocean.

Our crossings are the most ambitious trips we run. In the fall we spend fourteen days heading from Mallorca to Tenerife, by sea. The route takes in the Spanish coastline, a few days in Morocco, the Strait of Gibraltar, and a number of days on the open Atlantic before the Canary Islands appear on the horizon.

This is a proper offshore passage. A small crew, one skipper who knows these waters, and two weeks that tend to stay with people for a long time.

You don't need experience. You do need curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to participate.

Fall Crossing: October 11-26, 2026

Apply now!

The Essentials.

Everything you need to know before you come aboard.

Fourteen days, starting in Palma, Mallorca and finishing in Tenerife.
The first few days are spent sailing the Balearic Islands before the route turns south, tracking down the Spanish coastline with stops along the way. The boat arrives in Ceuta, the small Spanish enclave on the northern tip of Africa, where the group spends a few days exploring Morocco; the mountains, the markets, Chefchaouen.
From Ceuta, you sail through the Strait of Gibraltar and out into the Atlantic. What follows is four to five days offshore, the longest passages of the trip, and for most people, the best part.
The first land you'll see is La Graciosa, off the northern tip of Lanzarote. A day or two in the eastern Canaries before the final stretch into Tenerife, where the trip ends.
Total distance: roughly 1,500 nautical miles.
We cap each trip at 6 guests; it keeps things small in the right way. Easy to connect, easy to settle in, and you actually feel like part of the crew.
Your captain was born and raised between the Canary and Balearic Islands and has been sailing these waters his entire life. He knows the islands the way most people know their own neighbourhood; the anchorages that don't appear on maps, the crossings worth timing for, the ones worth waiting out. Consider him your insider, your instructor, and your reason for not worrying about a thing.
Get to know the Sailing Alisios team →
A well-equipped bluewater sailing yacht, chosen for offshore passages and for living comfortably at sea. Depending on the trip and group size, boats range from 46 to 54 feet — all monohulls, all set up properly for the kind of sailing we do.
Space, stability, and everything you need on board.
Note: Hard suitcases don’t work well on sailboats — soft bags only. We’ll send a full packing guide after booking.
€2,300 per person reserves your spot in a shared cabin for fourteen days. (Roughly €144 per day)
What's included:
- Onboard accommodation with fresh bed linens and towels
- Marina fees
- Diesel costs
- All safety equipment
- Paddleboards and snorkelling equipment
- A crew of up to 7 people, typically aged 20–35
- Access to a group WhatsApp before departure
- Surprise activities along the way
Dietary requirements: Let us know when you enquire and we’ll plan accordingly.
Not included:
- Flights to and from
- Airport transfers to and from the marina
- Meals on board; grocery costs are shared and cooking is split between the crew
- Restaurant meals ashore
- Onshore accommodation where applicable
- Alcohol and personal spending
None needed. Genuinely.
We’ve had first-timers who’d never set foot on a boat and sailors who’ve crossed oceans. Everyone finds their place. The captain handles navigation — your job is to show up, stay curious, and take part however feels right.
That might mean learning to handle the sails, taking a turn on the helm, or simply being the person who makes sure everyone has a drink in hand at sunset. All of it counts.
The more you want to learn, the more we'll teach you. There's no pressure either way.
The crossing leaves Mallorca in autumn — warm days, cooler nights, and conditions that can change quickly once you're offshore. Pack for both. Sunscreen and a proper layer. This is sailing, not a beach holiday, and dressing for it is part of the experience.
We sail with the weather, not against it. The route adapts based on conditions — some days are long passages, others are lazy anchorages, and occasionally the plan changes because the wind had a better idea. What we don't do is sail when it isn't safe. Joaquin makes conservative calls. If something doesn't feel right, we wait.
All boats carry full offshore safety equipment including life jackets, flares, life rafts, an EPIRB, and a stocked first aid kit. Safety briefings happen before departure.
A note on seasickness: Most people find their sea legs after a day or two. Come prepared — pharmacies across Spain stock Biodramina, and we recommend the caffeinated version.
Ready to go? Fill out the interest form and we’ll be in touch within 48 hours to confirm availability and answer any questions.
Prefer to talk first? Reach out — we’re happy to help you decide if it’s the right fit.
How it works:
- 50% deposit to secure your spot
- Remaining balance due before departure (we’ll confirm timing)
Cancellation:
- 30+ days before: full refund
- Within 30 days: deposit non-refundable
If we ever cancel, you’ll receive a full refund or the option to move to another date.
Apply to the Fall Crossing trip →

Map depicting the maritime route from Tenerife to Mallorca, passing through La Graciosa & Lanzarote, The Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco, Balearic Island Hoping, and finally Mallorca.

How the trip unfolds.

01 Departure

Island hopping through the Mediterranean.

We meet in Palma, do a group grocery shop, and get settled on board before we head out. The first few days are easy — sailing between the Balearic Islands, stopping when something looks good, swimming a lot, eating well in small ports. Nobody's in a rush and that's kind of the point.

02 Morocco

Off the boat and into the mountains.

The boat pulls into a small port on the northern tip of Africa and the group heads inland for a few days. Morocco is a completely different world from what you left behind in the Balearics — the mountains, the markets, the blue city.

03 The Atlantic

Out into the open ocean.

You cross the Strait of Gibraltar — where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean — and then the coast drops away. Nothing ahead but open water. Long watches, big skies, more stars than you've ever seen. Most people say this is the part they didn't expect to love as much as they did.

04 Arrival

The Canaries on the horizon.

The first land you see after days of open ocean is La Graciosa — a small volcanic island that rises out of the Atlantic north of Lanzarote. A day or two in the quieter eastern Canaries, largely untouched and worth the wait. Then the final sail into Tenerife, soaking up the last few days together before it ends.

Two women and a man with backpacks are in a foggy outdoor setting with hills in the background. The woman in the foreground wears sunglasses, a headband, and a tank top. The woman behind her has braided hair, sunglasses, and a tank top, smiling and r

Silhouette of a woman on a boat, with a group of people on the boat deck, and a second woman on the boat deck waving, near the ocean during sunset.

A shirtless man wearing sunglasses laughing and holding a green bottle of Topcical beer in his hand, sitting next to a woven basket, with a mountain and sky in the background.

A white off-road vehicle parked on a barren desert landscape with rocky terrain and mesas in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Group of people walking outdoors on a paved promenade with palm trees, high-rise buildings in the background, and dark cloudy sky overhead.

Sliced raw tuna served on a blue plate with some green herbs, accompanied by three small bowls of sauce and condiments on a wooden table.

A woman with long blonde hair on a boat, smiling and wearing a light-colored hoodie and shorts, with water and the setting sun in the background.

A group of people with cameras and phones standing on a dirt road in front of a white jeep, with a forested hillside in the background, some waving or looking at the camera.

People standing outside a cream-colored vehicle with a mountain in the background. One person is smiling and wearing sunglasses, others are visible but partially obscured.

Three people on a boat smiling at the camera, with a mountainous coastline and cloudy sky in the background.

A group of three men outdoors in front of a large, orange concrete wall with desert plants behind them. They are dressed casually, with backpacks and hiking gear around them, and are smiling while holding backpacks and phones.

A sailboat on calm water during sunset with a cloudy sky and mountains in the background.

A woman with blonde hair wearing a headband and sleeveless top is standing in a grassy, bushy area with mountains in the background, appearing to be outdoors.

A market stall displaying various dried goods such as beans, spices, and seeds in plastic containers and bags, with a blue wooden wall in the background.

You’ll love this trip if...

You're an adventurer at heart and open to anything.
You're the kind of person who is happy to figure it out as it goes. Uncertainty doesn't put you off, it's kind of why you're here.
You're willing to pull your weight on board and make the trip better for everyone on it.
You've done one of our island trips and you know what it feels like. Now you're ready for something that asks a bit more.