Embark on your Cyclades yacht charter in Athens and cruise toward the island of Kea. Anchor in the port of Korissia and acclimatize to the relaxed pace of life on board as you begin to appreciate the laid-back charm of Greek-island cruising. The sea is inviting, and the relaxed vibe of the island makes it perfect for a family charter.
Take an anti-clockwise circle around the Cyclades, cruising past Kythnos and Serifos to the sophisticated island of Sifnos. Climb to the medieval hilltop village of Kastro for spectacular views over the neighboring island of Milos, your next port of call. Take a dip and swim ashore to the beach havens of Vathi and Platys Gialos and reward your efforts with dinner at one of seafood restaurants that line the cosmopolitan port of Kamares.
Cruise toward Milos, the island of love. As you approach the island, step up on deck to appreciate the rousing colors of the cliffs. Drop anchor and take the tender to discover the sea grottoes and beaches tucked in between. Explore the ancient ruins up in Plaka before stepping back on board for a sunset cocktail while watching the stunning colors change as the sun dips into the ocean.
The vertiginous island of Santorini is one of the most popular of the Cyclades. Take the cable car to Fira and walk the cobbled streets where you will find a number of designer boutiques to browse. Many of the best restaurants are conveniently located in the island’s top hotels. Homeric Poems is one such establishment with a restaurant, which sits on the edge of the Firostefani cliff, providing spectacular views over the caldera.
Dip your toes in the sands of the stunning beaches around the satellite islands of Thirassia, Palea and Nea Kameni, before heading north for a peaceful night’s anchorage at Ios. The island is adorned with small coves, countless chapels (in fact, the island has 365 churches), olive trees and vineyards. Sip a sundowner in the town of Chora, watching the sky turn to a fiery red as the sun sets.
Spend the day enjoying all manner of watersports anchored off Paros before cruising to the small fishing village of Naoussa. Quiet by day, the village transforms in the evening, with restaurants and bars open until the early hours. The main port and island capital Parikia can on first impression seem rather disappointing, but step behind the seafront and you will find a pretty town.
For the past quarter of a century the sun-drenched island of Mykonos has welcomed the jet set for whom Mykonos is the St Tropez of the Eastern Mediterranean. Enjoy a hedonistic long lunch at Nammos on Psarou Beach – the Greek alternative to Le Club 55. Here, as with many of the beach clubs in Mykonos, sedentary lunches usually segue into dancing on the tables late into the afternoon. As the sun sets over the horizon, an impressive hubbub fills the maze of alleyways throughout Mykonos Old Town.
Cruise towards the ancient island of Syros, stepping ashore to walk the sacred grounds of Delos. The island is reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and was a center for trade and worship as far back as the ninth century BC. Ruins and temples remain today. Visit the capital of Ermoupoli before an overnight cross to Athens.
