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Logo Bark Europa diapositive HomeBark EUROPA

Cascais to Tenerife

11 days voyage

Next voyage: Oct 15 - Oct 25, 2025

Starting from €2.585,- pp

Map Key Cascais – Tenerife.png

Ocean voyage

A journey of personal growth from Cascais to Tenerife

Dates & prices

Step on board Bark EUROPA in Cascais and set sail for the Canary Islands on a voyage shaped by the power of the ocean. This journey isn’t about sitting stil, it’s about standing on deck, helping the crew setting sails, watching the horizon stretch endlessly, and letting the rhythm of the waves teach you. Together with Niek van Halteren, you’ll reflect on what the sea shows you: patience, resilience, and perspective. Through moments of guided sessions but also alone quiet reflection, you’ll learn to translate the lessons of the ocean into your own life. Step out of the everyday, embrace the vastness of the Atlantic, and let the wind and water reveal new ways of seeing yourself and the world.

Ocean sailing
Going aloft

Leaving Cascais behind, the signal of your phone gradually makes place for another pace of life. No more phones and laptops, just the ocean, the elements and your fellow crewmates to spend the next 11 days with. The voyage follows natural wind patterns, beginning with the Portugese Northerly (Nortada). Further south, the North East Tradewinds provide a steady breeze, guiding us toward Tenerife. Plenty of time to get to know the ship, your fellow voyage crew and yourself.

Dolphins

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Destination

A journey of personal growth with Niek

After experiencing a sailing expedition in Antarctica on Bark Europa, Niek van Halteren discovered the profound power of the open sea: sailing a tall ship with people from all nationalities, combining strength. Together, you will deepen your self-awareness and step out of your comfort zone.

  • This journey is about learning from the ocean itself, reflecting on its lessons of resilience, patience and perspective.
  • On board, there will be plenty of opportunity to go your own way, but also participate in lectures, exercises, breath work sessions or meditations
  • For those interested: you’ll receive a personal 1-on-1 coaching session, supporting your individual growth.
  • Once we reach Tenerife, the experience doesn’t end: post-expedition integration will make sure that what you discover will have a lasting impact.

About Niek van Halteren

Niek van Halteren is an experienced facilitator with a passion for personal development, adventure, and transformative learning experiences. Inspired by intense wildlife encounters during his studies, he pursued a successful career in the corporate world. However, success alone did not bring fulfillment. It was only by stepping outside his comfort zone that he discovered who he truly was and became aware of deeply ingrained conditioning. He learned how thought and behavior patterns are interconnected and how they unconsciously shape us. Now, Niek guides others in breaking through these patterns through out-of-comfort experiences in nature—helping them become more self-aware, choose their own course, and live with greater freedom. After his own experience on Bark Europa, sailing to Antarctica, he was inspired to collaborate with Bark Europa. 

Route

As we navigate down the coast of Cascais, we'll leave the continent behind and start our way south. We'll experience the steady Portuguese Northerly and the Northeast trade winds pushing us toward the Canary Islands. The voyage allows us to follow the traditional sailing routes, with the sun climbing higher each day, bringing warmth of the subtropics as we move further south. This leg is perfect for those wanting to gain ocean sailing experience while still only having time for a shorter voyage.

Map Route Cascais – tenerife.png

Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome on board

From nearly all corners of the world, our guests will arrive in Cascais, Portugal. Your ocean voyage will finally start. Embarking via our gangway, you will be welcomed by our crew members. You will be asked to sign in on board and take the luggage to your assigned cabin, followed by a first meeting to introduce the captain and crew to the voyage crew before enjoying your first meal on board. These will be the first exciting moments of your time on board. A first glance of who you will be sharing your experience with. They will be solo travellers, friends or couples, young and old, from various countries and with different backgrounds, all united in their dream of sailing the Atlantic on a tallship.

epic covid voyage 2020

Itinerary

Life on board

For some people on board it will be their first time on a tall ship, while others will have done similar journeys. This mix of beginners and more experienced tall ship lovers creates a learning atmosphere on board, where each person can contribute in their own way to keep the ship sailing. Soon after we have cast of our mooring lines, the watch schedule will begin. You will be placed in the Red - White or Blue watch. Each watch will take turns in being 4 hours on watch, to stand on lookout, steer the ship and help with sail handling.

Natalie sailmaking

Itinerary

Sail training

This ocean voyage offers you a chance to get a first glance of the theory and practice of tall ship sailing and all that it entails - sail handling, rigging, maintenance, navigation and much more. From day one, our experience permanent crew will start to teach you all there is to know about square rig sailing. With 9-10 days of sailing, we'll have time to dive a little deeper into the first basics of sailing a square rigger.

Climbing the rigging

Itinerary

Starry skies

This voyage will offer spectacular starry skies, especially when sailing away from coastal light pollution, and the sky opens up to an incredible display of stars. On dark nights, the ocean itself may also come alive with glowing bioluminescence, as tiny marine organisms create trails of light in the ship's wake. This magical combination of stars above and glowing water below is definitely a highlight for the night watches. The gentle sound of the waves, the ship moving steadily forward and the vast sky above create an unforgettable experience, making the night watches a memory to remember.

Starry skies

Itinerary

Research

We believe in expanding knowledge of our sailors, and to do so we invite scientists on board. Oceanographers, astronomers, marine biologists have joined us in the past and their presence and expertise have been highly valued by both our crew and trainees. By working together with universities and other institutions we hope to connect the scientific world with our world at sea and bring scientific knowledge to a wide audience. Our hope is to broaden the awareness of oceanic and polar issues and make scientific knowledge accessible to a wide audience. During your voyage, you will have the opportunity to assist the researchers with their work, such as helping to collect data using a manta trawl or plankton net.

Research on board

Itinerary

Day 10-11: Arrival to Tenerife

After more than a week at sea, the Canary Islands will come into sight, marking our approach to our destination. The last night of the voyage we will spend in port of Tenerife, commemorating everything you have learned throughout the trip, having created memories for a lifetime and making new friends along the way. The morning after, it will be time to say goodbye to the ship, her crew and your newfound friends. On to new adventures!

Port of Tenerife

Reviews

Tracey Abbots - OceanOcean Crossing

The whole trip was just amazing. From the crew to the food to the ship. It was my second voyage on The Europa and would happily do a third. I would however recommend if I may that perhaps a word to everyone at the beginning of each leg about not taking ropes off or pushing in in front of female crew members. We are there too for the whole experience not just to paint our nails. Every member of the female voyage crew experienced this and some of the crew as well. I did point this out to the Captain who took this on board immediately and spoke to her crew for which I was very thankful.

Caren Adams - OceanOcean voyage

What a marvellous experience: The ship was incredible and the crew were so helpful for those of us who had never sailed on a square rigger before. It was good to meet new people, there were 13 different nationalities onboard all of whom experienced their own personal adventure. We swam near the equator, saw dolphins, whales, flying fish and albatross and had perfect sailing weather for most of the trip. A small niggle was that a number of our more experienced fellow male voyage crew were a bit over zealous when it came to rope handling or sail setting and maybe the initial briefing could make it clearer about allowing everyone the opportunity to be involved rather than those who mostly pushed themselves forward. I would absolutely recommend Europa to anyone looking for a special experience, I can’t wait to do another trip!

Piet Hein Coebergh - OceanOcean Crossing

The permanent and voyage crew were very pleasant, relaxed and gezellig, the sailing was marvelous, the ship is a sheer beauty, the ocean was magnificent. It was a wonderful, joyful and obviously unforgettable experience. I wish this unique ship and crew indeed many more wandering voyages like these.

Sailmaking skills.jpg

Why choose us

  • Traditional sailing route

    Follow the traditional sailing route with northeasterly steady winds, making this the perfect route for a great sailing experience in enjoyable temperatures.

    Ocean sailing

  • Rich wildlife

    Sail under starry skies, witness breathtaking sunsets over the Atlantic and keep an eye out for dolphins, seabirds and possibly even turtles or whales along the way.

    Dolphins close to the ship

  • Personal discovery

    Join Niek van Halteren, for a special voyage focused on personal growth. With exercises, lectures and personal time to focus on your relation with the ocean, he will help you on your journey.

    Niek van Halteren

Dates & prices

Sailing South in 2025: Bordeaux - Cascais - Tenerife - Montevideo

Embark on an unforgettable southbound journey as Bark EUROPA sets sail from Bordeaux in autumn 2025! This voyage will take you along the Atlantic coast, from the historic ports of Bordeaux and Cascais to the volcanic landscapes of Tenerife, before heading deep into the Southern Hemisphere toward Montevideo.

Choose your adventure—join for a single leg or experience the full transformation from the Europe's autumn chill to the warmth of the South Atlantic. Whether you’re learning the ropes on a coastal leg or embracing the rhythm of the ocean on a long crossing, this is a voyage of discovery, teamwork, and adventure. Step on board and become part of our sailing tradition!

What's included

 

  • A journey of personal growth with Niek, pre-voyage, during the voyage and after the trip
  • Small and personal sailing experience with a maximum of 42 voyage crew members
  • Sail training and interesting lectures from our permanent crew
  • Participate in research projects on board
  • Delicious meals from our experienced cook, unlimited coffee & tea
  • Spend your “off-watch” time in the ships library, lounge, poker corner, deckhouse or ships bar
From To Days Nautical miles Price pp 4/6p cabin Price pp 2p cabin
From
Cascais, Portugal
To
Tenerife, Spain
Days
11
Nautical miles
830
€2.585,-
€3.080,-
Book now

I'm interested but not sure yet. Block me a voyage for two weeks.

Make optional reservation

FAQ

To all FAQ
Are swimming and snorkeling included in the voyages?

During the Pacific voyages and Ocean crossing, we will have regular swim stops during the voyages, and you are welcome to bring your snorkeling gear to explore the underwater world. 
 

Swimming during one of the ocean voyages
Can I join a sailing voyage as a solo traveler?

Yes! As a solo traveler, you are more than welcome to participate in a sailing trip aboard the EUROPA. Many of our guests are individual adventurers seeking new experiences and the opportunity to form new friendships during the journey. Our crew and fellow passengers create a close-knit community, ensuring that you will quickly feel at home on board. So, when traveling alone, you can definitely enjoy the camaraderie and unique experience of sailing on the EUROPA.

What if I get seasick while on the ocean?

It sometimes happens that people experience seasickness while sailing. Fortunately, there are many simple solutions available nowadays that can provide significant relief. Additionally, we have a doctor on board who is always ready to assist you.

Are the listed prices for the entire cabin or just a bunk?

The prices listed on our website are per person for a single bunk. You have the option to book a bunk in a 4/6-person cabin or a two-person cabin. Please note that the two-person cabin can only be booked when traveling with a companion. The prices mentioned are also per person.

What does an optional reservation entail?

If you are interested in a specific voyage and you cannot decide immediately or if you have to make any necessary arrangements we can block a bunk for you for two weeks. That way you will have some time to decide without the risk of losing your berth. Please let us know in which voyage you are interested and how many bunks (male or female) you would like to block and if you prefer a 2-person cabin (can only be booked by couples or duo’s) or a bunk in a 4/6-person cabin. We will contact you as soon as possible to confirm your optional reservation.