Tentative Cyclade Island Itinerary

Day 1 – Sept 9th:

Leave the USA! Or for you early birds/sailors it’s time to start making your way back to Athens.

Day 2 – Sept 10th:

Arrive in Athens! Depending on what time you get in feel free to tool around the city and see the sites.

Day 3 – Sept 11th:

Get boats at Alimos Marina! We can start our embarkation from Alimos Marina at 5 pm. But first we’ll have a briefing about sailing program, safety equipment; we’ll provision the boast and begin to enjoy our beautiful Bavaria 45’s. The previous charter has to disembark at 9am. So if we can get the boats early and set sail we might get in an extra island. But since we have to be on “Greek Time” a.k.a. vacation time we might just want to chill at the marina for the evening and set sail first thing in the morning.

Day 4 – Sept 12th:
Sailing from Athens to Kea! In the early morning we’ll set sail for Kea which is approximately 45nm. This is our first LONG sail and why we don’t want to leave at 5pm on Saturday (I’d rather get to port in the day light). Kea is your typical Greek Island; slow pace, nice weather, gorgeous vistas. Here we’ll have a free day walking in the picturesque town of Kea and enjoy the traditional cuisine.


The Greek island of Kea is known for many things. It has exceptional beaches and one of the best walking paths and trails of any Greek island. Kea is a hiker's paradise with numbered routes that take you through a variety of landscapes to remote coves and the ruins of ancient cities. The restaurants on Kea are among the best in Greece and the summer features a number of cultural events and an outdoor movie theater with new first-run movies (usually in English) that change every 2 days.


The lyric poets Simonides and Bacchlides come from this island. The picturesque hamlet of Vourkari is most popular and has excellent restaurants. The large protected bay was once an important coaling station for steamers. The beautiful 'Chora' on the hill, a huddle of glaring white houses, is well worth a visit. A large lion carved from the rock face is attributed to an Ionian sculptor from around 600 BC.

Day 5 – Sept 13th:
Sail from Kea to Mykanos! We’re off to Mykanos, one of the most popular Greek Islands and a favorite cosmopolitan holiday resort. Maybe we’ll get to rub elbows with some major VIP's including artists, actors, and models on this very posh island. They suggest seeing area called ''Venice'', where the waves touch the houses. It’s a paradise for those who like night-life (that would be us), but on the other hand still remains a beautiful picturesque Cycladic island.

Mykanos is bursting with life every summer, when party lovers gather to enjoy days and nights full of fun and enjoyment. The clubs, the bars and the beaches are filling up with tourists, celebrities and travelers who want to experience the Greek summer. The luxurious restaurants and traditional taverns are plenty, they suit all tastes and of course, there are dozens of bars and clubs that constitute the famous night life of Mykanos. The best places to swim and enjoy the sun and the clean waters in Mykanos, are located mainly on the south side of the island, where the wind is calmer. Platys Gialos, Psarou, Elia and Kalo Livadi are beautiful sandy seashores, with umbrellas and sun beds and also restaurants and snack bars, aligned by the coast. There are also the wonderful beaches of Kalamopodi (Paradise) and Blidri (Super Paradise), where nudism is allowed. On the rest of the island you will find Panormos, Ftelia, Tourlos and Houlakia. Wherever you go for a swim you can also enjoy various water sports such as water skiing, wind surfing, sailing and fishing. And if you love tennis or mini golf you should visit Agios Stefanos for various sports facilities, found in hotels. Hora, the capital of the island, is very well organized to welcome and service tourists from all over the world and you will always find an English speaking local to help you with information.

Day 6 – Sept 14th:
Sail from Mykanos to Paros! Paros is an island with many many beaches so sunscreen is going to be crucial. The island is fortunate to get some strong, steady winds that make it a great place for windsurfing. There are many open-air festivities, including folk dancers accompanied by the local music and delicious food.


As you will be approaching the port of Paros it is inevitable that the traditional and picturesque profile of Parikia, the capital and main port of the island, will impress you at the first glance. Wandering around the beautiful Cycladic town, which pulses with narrow alleys, imposing arches, small churches and white washed houses, you will come across the ruins of the castle, the most interesting region of the town. Additionally, the archaeological museum, the ruins of the Asklipiio, the remains of a settlement, the famous church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the sacred monasteries and the natural region Petaloudes, integrate the all-embracing beauty of Parikia. Touring around the magnificent and extremely gifted island of Paros you will come across innumerable natural sites of unique beauty, such as superb beaches with sand or pebbles, fertile plains with olive groves, vine yards and fruit bearing trees and beautiful low hills. During your stay on the island of Paros you can visit Alyki, a coastal settlement with clear sea, Dryos, a region with small ports and sandy beaches, Lefkes, one of the most beautiful and scenic villages of Paros as well as Pounda, Pisso Livadi and Logaras, three coastal sites with amazing beaches and verdure. Moreover, the famous Naoussa, which is a magnificent coastal tourist resort with impressive beaches, sightseeing and archaeological findings, is a very interesting destination for your holidays, while Marpissa, a traditional village full of white houses and small churches, built on a hill, is also worth the visit.


Day 7 – Sept 15th:
Stay in Paros! Instead of setting sail in the morning, we’ll stay put. This will give people the opportunity to explore islands around Paros, including Santorini, Naxos, Ios, Milos or Sifnos. There are numerous ferries that run out of Paros at various times. Check out http://www.greekferries.gr/#greek_islands for ferry times and fees.

Santorini! This island is visually spectacular. The best way to experience its full affect is to approach the island by sea. You’ll feel like you’re sailing into a giant crater. Thira is touristy, Oia is a little quieter but the island is the most popular in Greece and for good reason. The daytime action is at the beaches, Perissa and Kamari. Good Raki and domatokeftedes (fried tomato-balls) are culinary favorites. Ruins of Ancient Thira are worth the trip if you are unimpressed by the most spectacular sunsets on this planet. Most people want to stay in the beautiful hotels overlooking the caldera on the edge of a 1000 foot cliff. Great nightlife, excellent beaches, spectacular scenery makes this one of the world's top destinations.

Naxos! Another overlooked gem in the Aegean, Naxos is big, green and may have the best beaches in Greece. Lively harbor town with restaurants, cafes, clubs and shops. Rent a car and see the whole island. The island has beautiful valleys that are like paradise if you enjoy walking, particularly the area known as Tragaia. The best beach they say is at Plaka with other nice ones at Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Mikri Vigla, and Kastraki, any of which would be the prized beach on any other island. The fishing village of Apollon is a popular location for day trips, with good seafood restaurants and a giant unfinished statue of the God Apollo lying in the ancient marble quarries since 600bc.

Ios! Arrive by day to a quaint white Cycladic Village. By nightfall every house is a disco, bar, fast food or boutique. Not recommended for anyone over 25, at least for not more then a day or so. It's like an international Daytona Beach at Spring Break. If you are of college age this place is it! You will meet boys and girls, you will get drunk and you will most likely sleep with them. If you are older, married, and looking for a nice peaceful island, FORGET about Ios. If you are old and feel like you are young at heart this would be a good place to test it.

Milos! Like Santorini, a volcanic island with spectacular rock formations and hot springs. You can’t walk everywhere so bikes or a car is super important if not essential. This is a beautiful island with fantastic beaches like Paliochori, Hivadolimni and the tiny cove of Sarakiniko, one of the most interesting places to swim on earth. The village of Pollonia has great swimming, restaurants and you can take a boat to the island of Kimilos. The main village of Plaka is made up of the cubic white houses which the Cyclades are known for. The island is rich with archeological sites including Christian catacombs, a roman ampitheatre, venetian castles and museums. Those of you who took art history should recall that the famous Venus de Milo was found here.

Sifnos! For the thirty and older crowd, single or married with children. Apollonia, in the center of the island, has fun nightlife. There are great beaches all around the island and some fantastic food and WINE. Port of Kamares is nice combination of beach, restaurants and a few bars all within walking distance. Vathi is quiet with excellent food at Manolis Taverna. Kamares is one of the best beaches in Greece for families because it is a long sheltered bay that is very shallow so you don't have to worry if you turn your head for a few moments while your child is playing in the sand (and you are sitting in the Kima Cafe a few feet away.) People who visit Sifnos come back year after year.


Day 8 – Sept 16th:

Sail from Paros to Syros! After breakfast we’ll set sail towards Syros. Syros is the capital of the Cyclades and is located about 25nm from Paros. The main harbor has some breathtaking views of the neoclassic buildings and the large pebbled squares. These areas signify the island’s nobility and elegance. They recommend a visit to the Public Theater, which is built in the same style as the Opera of Milan and DO NOT forget to buy the local sweets, loukoumi and chalvadopita.

Syros, the "duchess" of the Cyclades Islands cluster and the "nymph" of the Aegean Sea as we are used to call this superb island, bears an exceptional nobleness that shall enchant you at the very first sight. Ermoupolis, which is the main port and the capital of the island as well as the capital of the whole Cyclades Islands cluster, is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns of Greece as it is amphitheatrically built and pulses with neoclassical buildings and mansions from another era. The spacious square with the palm trees, the imposing town hall, the cultural center, the museum, the municipal theater, the historical monuments and the scenic quarters are the main sightseeing of this magnificent town. Touring around the island of Syros you will come across numerous settlements of unique natural beauty, special traditional picturesque-ness and hospitable insular mentality, which are spread all around embellishing the already amazing landscape. The much-frequented regions of Azolimnos, Vari and Megas Gialos are the main tourist resorts of the island, while Finikas is the ideal place for peaceful vacations. Furthermore, Possidonia (or Delagratsia) and Galissas, which are regarded as the most beautiful settlements of Syros, are gifted with superb sandy beaches and clean waters not to mention their traditional profile with the neoclassical villas and the verdant gardens. Kini, Delfini, Aetos, Sousouni, Grammata, Kymata, Asteria, are also some of the beaches that are worth visiting.

Day 10 – Sept 18th:
Sail from Syros to Alimos Marina! From Syros we’ll head back to Alimos/Athens for our third long sail (~50nm). Once we’ve docked the boat and cleaned up we can explore the harbor and stay on the boat that night!


Day 11 – Sept 18th:

Explore Athens! There is a lot to see in do in Athens and Delphi is a great day trip from the bustling metropolis of Athens. We can split up or stay together! Explore or just relax.

Day 11 – Sept 19th:

Return to the USA! Most flights to the USA will leave fairly early in the day and I know everyone will be sad to see our little trip end. But we’ll make plans to visit again or try something new.

Day 12 – Sept 20th:
Work!  Sadly, I think most of us will have to return to work Monday, but we’ll have some great stories and fantastic photos.