Sailing itineraries Cyclades

• The most attractive islands of Amorgos, Sifnos, Folegandros, Santorini as well as the Little Cyclades below Naxos are well in reach;
• More opportunities to explore the often very worthwhile inlands of the islands by scooters or bikes;
• Less time spent near the concrete outskirts of Athens;
• A better chance to avoid the loads of fellow yachtsmen who are often herded (in flotillas) along the easy milk runs near Athens, Kea, Kythnos and Syros.

The Cyclades

Characteristics	Northern Cyclades	Southern Cyclades
Easy access by plane or ferry
Unspoiled by tourism
Beautiful ports
Amenities and tavernas
Ancient Greek sites
Mediaeval sites
Secluded anchorages
Spectacular scenery
Easy sailing conditions
Fertile and lush vegetation
Wildlife

The sailing itineraries

Please toggle between the itineraries with the A through L buttons in the clickable map below or by simply clicking a button in a table. The Winds button directly above the clickable map shows you the prevailing Meltemi wind directions.

1 week   Athens-Athens						1 week   Athens-Athens
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Alimos/Kalamaki					1	Alimos/Kalamaki
	2	Sounion		22			2	Kythnos Mericha		44
	3	Kythnos Mericha		23			3	Syros Ermoupolis		50
	4	Kythnos Loutra		20			4	Mykonos Delos		27
	5	Syros Finikas		20			5	Kea		60
	6	Kea		35			6	Sounion		15
	7	Alimos/Kalamaki		36			7	Alimos/Kalamaki		22
				156						218

1 week   Lavrion-Lavrion						1 week   Lavrion-Lavrion
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lavrion					1	Lavrion
	2	Kythnos Mericha		23			2	Kythnos Mericha		23
	3	Syros Ermoupolis		50			3	Serifos Livadi		31
	4	Mykonos Delos		27			4	Sifnos Kamares		9
	5	Andros Gavrion		44			5	Syros Finikas		39
	6	Kea		25			6	Kea		36
	7	Lavrion		17			7	Lavrion		17
				186						155

1 week   Paros-Paros						1 week   Syros-Syros
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Paros Paroikia					1	Syros Finikas
	2	Sifnos Kamaras		30			2	Mykonos Delos		30
	3	Folegandros		28			3	Naxos		31
	4	Santorini		30			4	Paros Naoussa		9
	5	Amorgos		40			5	Sifnos Kamares		42
	6	Paros Naoussa		41			6	Kythnos Loutra		26
	7	Paros Paroikia		10			7	Syros Finikas		19
				179						157

2 weeks   Athens-Athens						2 weeks   Lavrion-Lavrion
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Alimos/Kalamaki					1	Lavrion
	2	Sounion		22			2	Kythnos Loutra		39
	3	Kea		15			3	Syros Finikas		19
	4	Kythnos Mericha		19			4	Paros Naoussa		24
	5	Serifos		31			5	Naxos		9
	6	Sifnos Kameres		9			6	Amorgos		41
	7	''		--			7	''		--
	8	Milos		24			8	Little Cyclades		17
	9	Polyaigos		4			9	Sifnos Kamares		44
	10	Paros Paroikia		33			10	''		--
	11	Paros Naoussa		10			11	Serifos		9
	12	Syros Ermoupolis		24			12	Kythnos Mericha		31
	13	Kythnos Loutra		27			13	Kea		19
	14	Alimos/Kalamaki		48			14	Lavrion		17
				266						269

2 weeks   Paros-Paros						2 weeks   Syros-Syros
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Paros Paroikia					1	Syros Finikas
	2	Sifnos Kamares		30			2	Kythnos Loutra		19
	3	Milos		24			3	Serifos		18
	4	Polyaigos		4			4	Sifnos Kamares		9
	5	Folegandros		20			5	''		--
	6	Santorini		29			6	Little Cyclades		44
	7	''		--			7	Amorgos		17
	8	Astypalea		52			8	''		--
	9	Amorgos		50			9	Donoussa		19
	10	''		--			10	Naxos		28
	11	Little Cyclades		17			11	Paros Naoussa		9
	12	Naxos		19			12	Mykonos Delos		28
	13	Paros Naoussa		9			13	Tinos		12
	14	Paros Paroikia		10			14	Syros Finikas		18
				264						221

3 weeks   Lavrion-Lavrion						3 weeks   Athens-Athens
	Day	Port		NM			Day	Port		NM
	1	Lavrion					1	Alimos/Kalamaki
	2	Nea Marmari		25			2	Kea		36
	3	Andros Gavrion		27			3	Syros Ermoupolis		39
	4	Andros Kastro		31			4	Paros Naoussa		24
	5	Tinos		20			5	Paros Paroikia		10
	6	Mykonos Delos		12			6	Andiparos		4
	7	Ikaria Evdilos		41			7	Little Cyclades		21
	8	Donoussa		39			8	''		--
	9	Amorgos		18			9	Ios		18
	10	''		--			10	Santorini		28
	11	Astypalea		49			11	''		--
	12	Anafi		35			12	Sikinos		26
	13	Santorini		16			13	Folegandros		8
	14	''		--			14	Polyaigos		20
	15	Little Cyclades		51			15	Milos		4
	16	Naxos		17			16	Sifnos Kamares		24
	17	Paros Naoussa		9			17	''		--
	18	Paros Paroikia		10			18	Serifos		9
	19	Kythnos Loutra		39			19	Kythnos Mericha		31
	20	Kea Poleis Bay		10			20	Sounion		23
	21	Lavrion		20			21	Alimos/Kalamaki		22
				469						347

Unsorted tips

• When particularly aiming for the Cyclades only - instead of a combination with the Saronic Gulf - the port of Lavrion is more suitable than the Alimos Marina. Starting at Lavrion, which is situated further south on Attica and much closer to Kea, means steering clear of the unsightly outskirts of Athens. Downside is the few quality yachts available in Lavrion, since 95% of the good yachts are to be rent from Athens.
• In the 2 or 3-weeks itineraries it is possible to have one or more rest days/stopovers/onshore excursions. Various islands like Santorini, Amorgos, Kythnos and Sifnos simply must be explored, preferably by bike or scooter.
• How to avoid the crowds:
  • Get as far away from Athens;
  • Most yacht charters are from Saturday to Saturday, so mid week it is relatively quiet near the bases, while relatively crowded further away;
  • Medio July till end of August is main holiday season;
  • In the weekends the native Atheneans sail to Kea and Kythnos and join the tourists.
• Overrated islands are few, possibly only Mykonos, although a handy port to explore Delos from.

My favourite anchorages

• Fjord bay on Amorgos island;
• St John or Ay. Ioannis bay on Naxos island;
• Kastro, Platis Gialos and Faros bays on Sifnos island;
• Poleis bay on Kea island;
• Manolonisi bay on Polyaigos island;
• Sand bar bay on Kythnos island;
• Naoussa bay on Paros island;
• The anchorages in the Little Cyclades: Karos, Schinoussa, Koufonisia;
• For the geology: south bays and coast of Milos island;
• The flooded caldera of Santorini island: Thira, Thirasia and Kammeni.

Aegean itineraries

Therefore, starting in Athens and after spending about 10-14 days in the Saronic and Argolic gulfs cross via Hydra to Kea or Kythnos en start exploring the Aegean.
Highlights in the Cyclades are Sifnos, Paros, Naxos & the little Cyclades, Amorgos, Santorini, Milos and Folegandros. This will be a further 2 weeks: for instance Sifnos, Santorini and Amorgos are worth more than one day!!!

Cross towards the Dodecanese from Astypalea via Kasos, Karpathos to Rhodes, Symi, and continue north to the islands of Tilos, Nisyros & Kos plus Leros & Kalymnos, Patmos, Fourni, arki & Lipso and Samos.

Sailing north means beating the prevailing winds - yet the trick of this anticlockwise route is that particularly here the winds are weakest, especially on the east (the more interesting) coasts of the dodecanese and southern sporades which are sheltered by the the myriad of Aegean islands as well as the Turkish promontories.

From the Southern Sporades of Ikaria or Chios cross back into the Cyclades to Tinos & Andros, via Mykonos & Delos, Syros, Kea and Sounion and finally the Alimos/Kalamaki marina in Athens.

You can extend this basic circle easily with extra loops:

1. South coast of the Peloponnese around the notorious Cape Maleas, worth an extra week at least;
2. Include Crete from Thira;
3. From Chios to Lesbos into the Northern Sporades, Limnos and Thassos;
4. Through the Corinth Canal via the Corinth Gulf and Patras Gulf into the Ionian Sea;
5. Cross the border and explore the Carian, Ionian and West Lycian coasts of Turkey.

One-way itineraries

Day 0   Sat	Athens or Lavrion
Day 1   Sun	Kea, Main port as well as Polis bay, delightful anchorage
Day 2   Mon	Andros/Tinos, Andros Port is lee-shore and involves distance, Tinos port is recommended. These islands are really off the beaten track and Gavrion and Kastro are very beautiful
Day 3   Tue	Denoussa - delightful islet east of Naxos
Day 4   Wed	Amorgos, Fjord bay lunch, night in Aegiali, visit northeast cliffs-800 metres sheer drop, Katapola for night (after santorini the best island in the Cyclades)
Day 5   Thu	Iraklia + bays around the islets there - mini cruise area :-)
Day 6   Fri	Sifnos, Kamares port; anchorages: Platis Gialos, Faros and Kastro
Day 7   Sat	Syros, Ermoupolis approach even more breathtaking than the Poros approach

Alternatives for Athens to Athens in 14 days in the Cyclades: click on the chart below for full-size !

Numbers indicate nautical miles.

Further reading:
Greek chart terms and toponyms for sailing in Greece.
An Ionian combined with Aegean logbook of 2 months.
The Wind roses of Greece.
Luxury crewed yacht charters.

Nautical charts

Greek Waters Pilot - Rod Heikell A yachtsman's guide to the entire area from the Ionian Islands to the Aegean, Rhodes and Crete and includes details of over 450 harbours in a single volume. Greek Waters Pilot - Amazon.co.uk

Imray Chart G31: Northern Cyclades → All nautical charts for the Greek Islands and Turkish Coasts.

Imray Chart G33: Southern Cyclades (west sheet) → All nautical charts for the Greek Islands and Turkish Coasts.

Imray Chart G34: Southern Cyclades (east sheet) → All nautical charts for the Greek Islands and Turkish Coasts.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you want to know more about sailing Greece and reliable yacht charters in this area...

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Diederik Willemsen |
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