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Overview

Sailing cruise in the Greek islands

If you’re traveling alone or as part of a group and you don’t have much sailing experience…this trip is for you! We propose a novel approach to this beautiful country and its countless islands. This sailing cruise in the Greek islands is an original way to discover traditional Greece: sail to a wide variety of destinations and discover small fishing towns, typical taverns, and charming bays.

No previous sailing experience or training is required. You will be an active member of the crew, each participating in the rigging, navigation, and other aspects of life on board a sailboat. Our skippers are ready to train you and give you advice when necessary. Note that children aged 8 and under are not allowed on board.

Contact our travel specialists today for more information on this magnificent sailing cruise in the Greek islands!

Itinerary

Sailing holidays take place from April to October. Boarding is always on Sundays. One-, two-, or three-week cruises are available, and it is possible to board or disembark the ship regardless of where it is moored. We recommend arriving in Athens the day before the cruise begins in order to reach the island from which the ship will depart the following day. This also allows you to spend your last night in Athens when your cruise is done and hop on your international flight the next day.


Program 1| Cyclades – One-week cruise starting in Mykonos
From lively Mykonos to the fine sands of Naxos and the volcanic cliffs of Santorini, sailors will discover around twenty islands on this journey. With distances generally hovering around 20 miles, you will have the pleasure of leaving one island to discover another one barely visible on the horizon.

This program can be combined with one departing from Santorini for a two-week cruise and a more complete tour of the Cyclades.

Mykonos => Delos => Syros => Paros => Naxos => Little Cyclades => Ios => Santorini

Sunday: Mykonos
Climb aboard at 6 pm (the meeting point is Matthew’s tavern at the entrance to the marina’s). Welcome aboard the ship! Optional visit of Mykonos, Greece’s version of St. Tropez, famous for its windmills, pelicans – and nightlife. Dinner at the tavern.

Monday: Mykonos/Delos/Syros, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
After sailing for one hour, drop anchor at Rhinia (sister of Delos). Pass by Delos, the largest archeological site in the Cyclades, dedicated to Apollo. Late afternoon arrival in Syros, pearl of the Cyclades. Stroll around Ermoupolis, capital of the Cyclades, named after the god of commerce. Beautiful neoclassical city.

Tuesday: Syros/Paros, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Morning visit of Ermoupolis. Don’t miss the market, the Town Square, and Apollo theatre, which is a reproduction of La Scala in Milan. Though it may look intimidating, hiking up to the citadel at Ano Syros is well worth the effort: the views of the port from this first Aegean catholic village are superb. Around noon, start sailing towards Paros. Drop anchor in Paros in an untouched bay north of Naoussa. Rest and enjoy the water. When evening comes, dinner on board or barbecue on the beach.

Wednesday: Paros/Naxos, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Morning visit of Naoussa, a charming town with typical Cyclades colors. Then back on the boat and sail towards Naxos. Late afternoon arrival in the port of Naxos, followed by a visit of the village and the medieval fortress. Naxos is the largest and most fertile island in the Cyclades. There you can discover myriad local products, including cheese, honey, and spirits.

Thursday: Naxos/Little Cyclades, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Set a course for the Little Cyclades, an archipelago south of Naxos with magnificent beaches, fine sands, and crystal clear waters. Drop anchor in Koufonissi or Iraklia.

Friday: Little Cyclades/Ios, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Sail towards Ios. Two options are available: the main port in Ios and discovery of the upper village, or heading south to rest and swim at Manganari’s magnificent beach. Dinner on board or at the tavern.

Saturday: Ios/Santorini, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Words fail when attempting to describe the arrival by sea in the caldera (an ancient collapsed crater). Sail around this grandiose site and marvel the dramatic cliffs, a blend of rocks and various minerals, before passing by the villages of Oia and Thera… Drop anchor at the marina in Vlichada. It is possible to organize a visit to Pirgos cave and to sample famous traditional wines (1700 BC) like Vinsanto, Assyrtico, Nykteri…

Sunday: Santorini
Gather your belongings, tidy up the ship, and be ready to disembark at 10 am. For those interested the skipper can organize transfers to Limanaki tavern at Vlichada port (bus, taxi, car rental, etc).

Program 2| The Cyclades – One-week cruise starting in Santorini
From Santorini’s volcanic cliffs to the tranquility of Polyaigos, from the fine sands of Sifnos to the liveliness of Mykonos, sailors on this cruise will visit approximately twenty islands. And when summer comes and the Meltemi winds are blowing, you’ll always have somewhere to take shelter from the wind.

This program can be combined with one starting in Mykonos to form a two-week cruise for a more complete tour of the Cyclades.

Santorini => Folegandros => Polyaigos => Sifnos => Serifos => Syros => Mykonos

Sunday: Santorini
Boarding in Santorini starts at 6 pm. The meeting point is Limanaki tavern at the entrance to Vlichada marina. Staff reception aboard the ship. For those interested, visit the village of Thira which overlooks the caldera…Dinner at the tavern.

Monday: Santorini/Folegandros. 30 miles (6 hours of sailing)
Nothing compares to sailing in the caldera in Santorini. Lunch at the foot of the village of Oia. Early afternoon, set sails for Folegandros and drop anchor in the small port of Karavostati…Chora, a picturesque Cycladic village, sits atop this island. Don’t miss its church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and Kastro, a medieval castle.

Tuesday: Folegandros/Polyaigos, 15 miles (3 hours of sailing)
Late morning departure for Polyaigos, and islet close to Milos. A volcanic archipelago with cliffs showing colors ranging from chalk white to ochre red. Drop anchor in a magical bay at the foot of an ancient kaolin quarries. Swim in the turquoise waters, meal on board, and sleep under the stars…

Wednesday: Polyaigos/Sifnos, 15 miles (3 hours of sailing)
Sailors find shelter from the wind in Vathi bay. Once there, they also discover a long beach with fine sand and a chapel. This is one of the most enjoyable moorings in all the Cyclades. This island has a long-standing tradition of pottery and ceramics. Don’t forget to visit Kastro, a superb little venetian citadel on the east coast, as well as Apollonia, a village that stretches along the island’s crest.

Thursday: Sifnos/Serifos, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
One of the most beautiful villages in the Cyclades overlooks Livadi and its fine sandy beach. Don’t miss Chora, a magnificent village built like a staircase. From this rocky peak you get bird’s eye view of the surrounding islands – truly a breathtaking panorama.

Friday: Serifos/Syros, 25 miles (5 hours of sailing)
Late afternoon arrival in Syros, pearl of the Cyclades. Stroll around Ermoupolis, capital of the Cyclades, named after the god of commerce. Beautiful neoclassical city with two hills, one Orthodox and one Catholic. This city is known for its sweets (nougats, Turkish delights) and its many friendly taverns.

Saturday: Syros/Mykonos, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Before leaving for Mykonos in the morning, we strongly recommend that you climb up to the citadel at Ano Syros: the views of the port from this first Aegean catholic village are superb. After 2½ hours of sailing, drop anchor at Rhinia (sister of Delos). Pass by Delos, the largest archeological site in the Cyclades, dedicated to Apollo. Afternoon arrival in Mykonos, the St.Tropez of Greece, known for its windmills, pelicans – and nightlife…

Sunday: Mykonos
Gather your belongings, tidy up the ship, and get ready to disembark at around 10 am.

Program 3| The Cyclades – One-week roundtrip cruise from Santorini
A new cruise departing from Santorini that allows participants to discover the wildest islands in the Little Cyclades. On your way, discover Amorgos, made famous by the movie “The Big Blue”. A refreshing change of scene is guaranteed – as is swimming in crystal clear waters.

It is possible to combine this program with one leaving from Mykonos to form a two-week cruise, for a more complete tour of the Cyclades.

Santorini => Oia => Ios => Folegandros => Sikinos => Ios => Iraklia => Koufonissi => Amorgos
=> Santorini

Sunday: Santorini
Boarding in Santorini starts at 6 pm. The meeting point is Limanaki tavern at the entrance to Vlichada marina. Staff reception aboard the ship. For those interested, visit the village of Thira, dominating the caldera…Dinner at the tavern.

Monday: Santorini / Oia / Ios, 25 miles (5 hours of sailing)
Nothing compares to a sailing in the caldera in Santorini. Lunch at the foot of the village of Oia. Early afternoon you sail towards the magnificent beach at Manganari, south of Ios, where you drop anchor. Dinner on board or at the tavern.

Tuesday: Ios / Folegandros, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Late morning departure to Folegandros, anchoring in the small port of Karavostati. At the top of the hill you will discover the picturesque Cycladic village of Chora. Don’t miss a visit to its church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, its medieval castle, the Kastro, and its impressive cliff line. In the evening enjoy dinner in one of Chora’s lively taverns.

Mercredi: Folegandros / Sikinos / Ios, 20 miles (4 hours of sailing)
Sail downwind from Sikinos and drop anchor around noon in a small cove. Lunch on board and some swimming for those who wish. Afternoon arrival in Ios, Homer’s final resting place. In a deep bay, you will discover the magnificent Cycladic village that gives the island its name (though the locals call it Nios), perched on top of a ridge.

Thursday: Ios / Iraklia / Koufounissi, 25 miles (5 hours of sailing)
Sail towards the Little Cyclades, a group of islands south of Naxos, Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissi…Stroll around these islands where tourism has yet to leave its mark. Enjoy untouched bays and magnificent beaches with fine sand and crystal clear waters.

Friday: Koufonissi / Amorgos, 15 miles (3 hours of sailing)
Mid-afternoon arrival at Katapola port in this “Big Blue” island. Visit the village of Chora which overlooks Vathi bay. Don’t miss Hozoviotissa monastery, clinging to a cliff in the southeastern part of the island, where you can go for a pleasant stroll.

Saturday: Amorgos / Santorini, 30 miles (6 hours of sailing)
Sail in front of the islet of Anydros. Weather permitting, drop anchor and go for a dip. Return to Santorini at Vlichada marina. It is possible to organize a visit to Pirgos cave and to sample famous traditional wines (1700 BC) like Vinsanto, Assyrtico, and Nykteri.

Sunday: Santorini
Gather your belongings, tidy up the ship, and be ready to disembark at 10 am. For those interested the skipper ca organize transfers to Limanaki tavern at Vlichada port (bus, taxi, car rental, etc).

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Overview

Greece boasts 16,000 km of coastline evenly split between its thousands of islands and the mainland. The Greek shores offer exceptionally diverse landscapes: long, clean beaches, sheltered bays and small coves, sandy beaches lined with dunes, pebble beaches, rocky peaks towering over underwater caves, black sand beaches typical of volcanic soil, coastal wetlands, etc. The diversity of these shores combined with the crystal clear waters that surround them have made the world-famous Greek islands extremely popular. In 2004, 378 Greek beaches and 7 marinas were awarded the blue flag under the “Blue Flags of Europe” program, placing Greece among Europe’s best.
The Greek shores are easily accessible and you can discover these in complete freedom, usually with few other swimmers around. There are also dozens of beaches offering a number of quality services, including parasols, chairs, changing rooms, cafés, bars, restaurants, etc.
Apart from swimming, many other water sports are available, including water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, parasailing (solo or duo), tubing, banana boating, jet skiing, pedal boating, etc.


The islands...
In the Aegean sea, little white houses bask in a bright and warm sun, surrounded by crystal clear waters: welcome to the Cyclades! The Greek islands are probably the country’s most famous asset. They are an integral part of society and have shaped its culture and traditions.
There are 6,000 islands and islets scattered between the Aegean and Ionian seas, only 227 of which are inhabited, a phenomenon unique in all of Europe. The Greek islands boast 7,500 km of shores, for a national total of 16,000 km. These shores display exceptionally diverse landscapes: long, clean beaches, sheltered bays and small coves, sandy beaches lined with dunes, pebble beaches, rocky peaks towering over underwater caves, black sand beaches typical of volcanic soil, coastal wetlands, etc.
Many beaches have received awards from the Blue Flags of Europe program. Apart from swimming, they lend themselves to scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing, sailing and windsurfing. As they represent the cradle of some of the most ancient and prosperous European civilizations (the Cycladic, Minoan civilizations, etc.), the islands boast unique archaeological sites, an outstanding architectural heritage, and centuries-old, fascinating local traditions of a multifaceted cultural past. It’s not surprising then that 58.5% of the country’s lodging establishments and 62.6% of hotel beds are found on the islands (data for 2003). All the above, combined with the ideal climate, the safety of Greek waters and the short distances between ports and coasts, have made these islands extremely popular among Greek and foreign visitors.

Geography

Greece is a mountainous country, with more than 300 mountains of varying sizes on its territory. The Pindus Mountains, often called the “spine of Greece”, form the country’s main mountain range, extending from the mainland down to the Peloponnese and Crete. Most Greek islands are actually the peaks of the underwater Aegean mountains that long ago connected Greece with continental Asia. The country’s highest mountain is the mythical Mount Olympus in Macedonia, where Mytikas peak culminates at 2917 m. Some 40 mountainous areas spread across the country have peaks rising over 2,000 meters. The Greek mountains are characterized by their diversity, their unique landscape and their exceptional forests, some of which are among Europe’s oldest natural forests. To help protect their unparalleled natural wealth (flora and fauna), many of these forests are classified as natural reserves.

Culture

Greece is filled with prestigious archeological sites and charming monuments rich in history, each a reminder of a specific period in this country’s long and impressive history. Visitors have the opportunity to make a unique journey into Greece’s past and discover its historical and cultural wealth, each of the country’s regions bearing a local reminder of one of this ancient civilization’s many facets.

The following archeological and cultural sites are on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites:

• Mount Athos (monastery complex)
• Athens (Acropolis)
• Bassae (temple of Apollo Epicurus)
• Vergina - Aigai
• Delphi (archeological site)
• Delos (archeological site)
• Epidaurus (archeological site)
• Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments in Thessalonika
• Meteora monasteries
• Mystras (medieval town)
• Monasteries of Dafni (Attica), Hosios Loukas (Phocida) and Nea Moni of Chios
• Archeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns
• Olympia (archeological site)
• Patmos (Saint-John monastery and cave of the Apocalypse)
• Medieval city of Rhodes
• Samos (Pythagoreion and Heraion)

Climate

The climate in Greece is Mediterranean, which means plenty of sunshine, little rain, and warm temperatures. Thanks to its geographical location, mountainous terrain, and a territory split between the sea and the mainland, Greece’s climate varies considerably as one travels from one place to another. In the summer, the Meltelmi winds bring a breath of fresh air on the warmer days, while the temperatures remain lower in the mountainous areas. In the plains, winters are fair with little snowfall, while the mountains receive their fair share of snow. Temperature variations within the same season are frequent (for example, coastal temperatures are warm while it’s very cold in the mountains).

When to sail?

April/May/mid-June:
Spring in the islands offers lots of sunshine. The flowers are in bloom and the air full of Mediterranean fragrances. Moderate winds and a warm breeze mean the conditions are right for family sailing. The sea is still cold in April, but once May rolls in the water becomes more inviting.




Mid-June/July/August:
Warm and dry summer, more demanding sailing conditions due to Northern winds: the Meltemi. Enjoy fine evenings and refreshing sunsets as you drop anchor in a warm and lively port in the Cyclades.

September/October:
“A lovely autumn that doesn’t fear winter”. After summer, things calm down. Winds become moderate. The days get shorter, but the sunsets are more beautiful. Having been warmed by the sun all summer long, the water temperature is ideal. Smooth sailing and fair weather for those who dread the summer heat.