Seven day trip to Cyclades
Kalamaki – Kythnos 45 miles
Leaving the Kalamaki marina you reach after 45 miles Kythnos island. Kythnos is a quite island that since recently has started to attract tourists. A place you should definitely visit is Phikiada or Kolona bay on the north-west side of the island, near the main harbor. The place has two small bays that are separated from a small sandy strip. Furthermore, a nice place to visit on the north-east side of the island is Loutra bay, where you can find hot springs. Lastly but not least is Kythnos country a lovely and scenic place to visit.
Kythnos – Serifos 20 miles
Leaving Phikiada bay and sailing south after 20 miles you reach cape Kyklopas on Serifos island. From there you can exploit for about 2 miles the most beautiful beached of Serifos, until you reach Koutalas bay, the main harbor of the island. There you can find supplies, water and fuel, as well as lift (taxi, bus) for the main country of the Island. The country is located up on the hill behind Koutalas bay, having a beautiful view South. A place you should visit during the sunset.
Serifos – Siphnos 15 miles
Leaving Serifos and sailing south-east for about 15 miles you reach the next island, Siphnos. The main harbor is Apolonia a well-organized place with lots of taverns and tourist shops. One of the most beautiful and well protected bays with nice sandy beach is Platys Gialos on the south end of the island, a place you should visit and spent at least a night.
Sifnos – Despotiko Antiparos 16 miles
Leaving Siphnos and sailing with the wind abeam (most of the times, as Meltemi often prevails) you reach Despotiko island, a small island near Antiparos. The two islands are creating a nice bay with shallow waters. Special care should be taken to shallow waters at the end of the gulf, as there is no passing to the north-east side of Antiparos. Small tavernas are available on Antiparos coast (Ag. Georgios) where you can enjoy eating special Greek cuisine. Depending on the season you visit the place, you can watch the sun setting directly into the sea, a picture absolutely fabulous.
Despotiko Antiparos – Paros 14 miles
Leaving Despotiko and sailing round Antiparos island you travel between the south side of Paros island and the main country of Antiparos. There you can explore either the long sandy beach of Pounta, or stay for a night at Antiparos harbor. To be noted that Antiparos country is very attractive for its nightlife. Pounta beach is well known for its perfect conditions for extreme sports like kite surf and wind surfing.
Seven day trip to Saronic and Argolic Gulf
Visit the islands of Aigina, Hydra, Spetses and Poros close to Athens in combination with other islands further in the Cycladic complex. Itinerary can be proposed by your skipper or can be shaped and adjusted upon weather and your request.
Status Charter has created the following indicative itinerary in the Saronic Gulf, also ideal for a family trip:
EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION : ATHENS
DAY 1 Athens – Poros (31 miles)
DAY 2 Poros – Hydra (14 miles)
DAY 3 Hydra – Spetses (17 miles)
DAY 4 Spetses – lob – Nafplion (27 miles)
DAY 5 Nafplion – Porto Heli (26 miles)
DAY 6 Porto Heli – Hermioni (15 miles)
DAY 7 Hermioni – Moni- Aegina (25 miles)
DAY 8 Aegina – Athens (18 miles)
POROS lies very close or the Peloponnese separated from it by a narrow channel. The island is extensively wooded with pine trees reaching to the shore. In ancient times Poseidon was the patron and a few remains of a temple to Poseidon can be found on a picturesque side on the east coast. Poros town, built on rocky slopes, is attractive and the approach by sea one of the most beautiful in Greece. Perhaps the ideal first place to stop over during your sailing vacation and yacht charter holidays in Greece.
HYDRA is mountainous, arid and devoid of vegetation. In 1821 it was the first island to pledge its sizable fleet to the Greek cause. It has been said that but for the Hydriot fleet and sailors, the War of Independence against the Turks would not have been won. Hydra is a fashionable resort for the rich and famous and a stop over island for the jet set. The town remains architecturally very much of the 18th and 19th centuries with large stately houses built around the natural amphitheatre above the harbor. The total lack of vehicles adds to the atmosphere. Hydra will be the island you will remember from your sailing vacation and yacht charter holidays in Greece.
SPETSES is mostly covered by pine trees. The attractive town is popular with tourists and Athenians alike as well as for yacht charter and sailing vacation sailors. The old harbour and environs with many grand old houses is a wonderful place to wander around. The local yards build the Spetses caique which is considered to be among the best in Greece. John Fowles’ novel “The Magus” is set on the island. In September a small caique rigged out as an old trader is set on fire to commemorate the revolt against the Turks. This is accompanied by a noisy fireworks display and much merriment.
TOLON was a small fishing village that has developed into a tourist resort on the strength of its sandy beach.
NAFPLION, a large town of mostly 18th and 19th century buildings, is a gem. The stone houses seem to be engulfed in vegetation and the narrow cobbled streets wind in and out of modest mansions many of them built in golden sandstone that seem to absorb colour from the sun. Shops and taverns are tucked away in streets everywhere. The Venetian citadel, Palamidi is the most finely preserved piece of Venetian military architecture in existence. The interesting exhibits of the local museum include a suit of Mycenaean armour, a reminder that this whole area was the heartland of the Mycenaeans.
PORTO HELI is a natural land-locked bay where many yachts choose to spend the winter. Many villas adorn the numerous coves on either side of the entrance channel into Porto Heli. Heli means eel in Greek, probably referring to the numbers of eels which once lived here. The area was once zoned as a NATO base but the plan was eventually shelved. Over the years trees have been planted and a number of hotels have been built. The serene waters of the bay offer ideal conditions for water sports, sailing and charter stop over.
HERMIONI has been relatively untouched by tourism, yacht charter and is the secret place to stop over during your sailing vacation. The village saddles the headland the end of which is wooded and proves idyllic for afternoon walks. On the south side of the headland where things are peaceful you can sit in a bar on the waterfront with wonderful views over the water. According to Pausanias, a festival in honour of Poseidon was held here and it is possible that Hermioni was the site of the first small boat regatta in recorded history.
MONI is a small uninhabited island that is partially wooded. It is a sanctuary for wild life and the sight of peacocks along the beach in the mornings is quite common. A small tavern operates in summer.
AEGINA, the town is a busy little place but very pleasant and homely. It has the distinction of being the first place in Greece where the Greek flag was raised at the end of the War of Independence. The single Dorca column on Cape Kolona nearby is all that remains of the Temple of Aphrodite that formerly stood there.