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Overview

Sail the Cyclades aboard a catamaran

You and your shipmates have a full crew and are ready for your private sailing cruise in the Greek islands aboard a rented Pahi 53 catamaran. Your crew can help you decide the best route to follow based on what you want to do and what the weather is like, so you can rest assured that there won’t be any hiccups and that you will sail in complete safety. Our team will be happy to share their sailing expertise and their intimate knowledge of all things Greek, and won’t hesitate to answer all your questions.

Discover heaven on earth in the Greek islands aboard a luxury catamaran! The seas of Greece are particularly well suited for sailing. Your head will be filled with unforgettable memories of beautiful Greek landscapes, dramatic coastlines, countless islands, isolated beaches, secluded bays, crystal clear waters, not to mention the fauna and flora you’ll discover on the beaches and the countless monuments and traditional villages. The exposed rocks and sandy beaches allow you to safely drop anchor at all time, making it the ideal place for exploration aboard a luxury catamaran.

With countless islands and rugged coastlines scattered across the transparent waters of the Aegean Sea, the Cyclades are just begging for sailors to come and discover their hidden charms and secret treasures. Plus, there’s plenty of sunshine and natural light warming up the islands’ lovely little white houses. Sailing is the best way to avoid the tourist hordes and let you keep a sense of adventure as you explore the area in complete freedom. A wide variety of stops will introduce you to traditional Greece, its small fishing towns, typical taverns, and secluded bays.

Feel free to contact our Greece specialist for more information on how to rent your catamaran for a luxury sailing cruise in the Cyclades!

Itinerary

Boarding time: Saturday at noon; immediate departure
Disembarkation time: Friday 6 pm

Saturday: Sailing time: about 3 ½ hours.
Board the ship at noon in Parikia. Meet your skipper, take a tour of the ship, settle into your quarters, and enjoy a light breakfast before leaving for Sikinos.
Things to do and see: drop anchor in a delightful little port and take a stroll to the Kastro.

Sunday: Sikinos-Santorini. Sailing time: 2-3 hours.
Things to do and see: Sailing in the caldera in Santorini, strolling around in Oia, a must-visit Cycladic village, and a favorite among shoppers!

Monday: Santorini-Folegandros. Sailing time: 3-4 hours.
Things to do and see: walk around the fortified village of Chora Folegandros, a jewel of Cycladic architecture.

Tuesday: Folegandros-Polyaigos/Kimolos. Sailing time: 3-4 hours.
Things to do and see: discover Polyaigos, a chalk-white desert island surrounded by turquoise waters, home to monk seals.

Wednesday: Kimolos-Sifnos. Sailing time: 2-3 hours.
Things to do and see: discover the picturesque villages of Apollonia and Kastro.

Thursday: Sifnos-Despotiko. Sailing time: 3-4 hours.
Things to do and see: drop anchor in a tranquil bay, swim around, and enjoy the sunset.

Friday: Despotiko-Paros. Sailing time: 2-3 hours. Disembark at 6 pm
Things to do and see: visit the old town and its winding alleys, byzantine church, shop around, and relax.

Please note: even taking into account prevailing winds, uncommon weather conditions can force us to modify the itinerary to ensure your comfort and safety. This will not modify your port of arrival.

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

Two cruises are available; price will vary according to which option you choose:

ACTIVE cruise (skipper)
Port of departure: Paros
Maximum 9 people + skipper.
You group actively participates in life on board (navigation, cooking, etc). A stimulating option that still leaves you plenty of time to relax! With your skipper you will sail off the beaten path from one island to the next and have plenty of opportunities to gain first-hand sailing experience. At least one team member must help the skipper during ship maneuvers. Usually, dinner is on land.

COMFORT cruise (skipper & steward)
Port of departure: Paros
Maximum 8 people + skipper & steward.
For those who want to enjoy sailing without having to worry about on-board stewardship. Your steward takes care of cabin and common area maintenance, groceries, breakfast and lunch. When needed, he/she helps the skipper with ship maneuvers. Dinner is on land except when dropping anchor in secluded areas.

When you rent a ship, your skipper is responsible for the ship 24 hours a day, as well as for your on-board safety. This involves considerable responsibilities. When he isn’t taking care of navigation, mooring, weather analysis, ship maintenance, or port formalities, the skipper can spend his time as he or she pleases. You will reconfirm your itinerary with your skipper on the day of departure, as he will then be familiar with the week’s weather forecast and recommended routes. Your steward is in charge of on-board breakfast and lunch (dinner is on land except when dropping anchor in secluded areas), groceries, and of keeping cabins and common areas clean. When needed, he/she helps the skipper with ship maneuvers. Dinner is on land except when dropping anchor in secluded areas. The steward works from 7:30 am to 6pm.

Boat kitty: to give you an idea, this should cost about 220 € per person per week.
To be paid for upon boarding, the boat kitty is meant to cover: breakfast and lunch on board, dinners on land, skipper’s meals, port expenses, water, fuel, and boat cleaning upon disembarkation. Expenses are updated on a daily basis.
Are included: ship accomodation, skipper, security deposit, taxes.

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.