It’s simple to see why so many people choose a yacht charter in Greece; its sheer diversity split into distinct clusters of breathtaking islands across the Aegean and Ionian Seas.
Spend your days sailing by landscapes that are as stunning as they are diverse and discover sandy coves, pretty harbours, white-washed fishing villages or cosmopolitan towns. One of the jewels of the Mediterranean Greece provides a reliable, hot climate, warm clear seas and a long season that spans early spring to mid-autumn. There’s no better way to see the country than by chartering a yacht – the perfect mixture of sand, sea and seclusion with a special blend of warmth, spirit and charm.
Greece is one of the most famous yacht charter destinations worldwide. With thousands of picturesque islands Greece has the largest coastline of Europe and offers a rich diversity of stunning landscapes to explore. Sailors have always been attracted to the Greek Archipelago due to it’s typically Mediterranean climate, with warm and dry summers, constantly fair winds and mild winters. From the Ionian Sea in the west to the Aegean Sea on the eastern coast, there is a fabulous choice of distinct sailing areas to discover.
Explore the major Ionian islands of Kefalonia, Lefkas, Ithaca, Zakynthos, Corfu and Paxos as well as more than twenty smaller islands and the unspoilt Greek mainland with its own array of beautiful villages, harbours and bays. Distinguished by flat seas, lush green landscapes, safe anchorages in bays encircled by olive groves and pine trees. The Ionian Islands sailing area is renowned for perfect and consistent sailing conditions and offers something for everyone – perfect for fun and relaxed sailing holidays.
The Cyclades Islands are popular sailing areas not just for their proximity to Athens. The western Cyclades islands include Kea, Kithnos, Serifos, Sifnos and Milos and most resemble what people picture Greece to look like. The islands transport you to a beautiful world of white washed houses, cobalt blue and stunning turquoise waters and blue sky. Further afield the remaining islands including Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Ios and Santorini complete a magical island chain with plenty to see and do, from bustling cosmopolitan towns to sleepy picturesque fishing villages.
The Saronic Gulf is a popular sailing area with it’s close proximity to Athens you don’t have to venture far to find beautiful islands and coastal villages and ports that make up a most wonderful cruising ground. The Saronic sailing area broadly consists of the Saronic Gulf and Argolic Gulf and scattered between the prefecture of Attica and the eastern side of the Peloponnese includes the major islands Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses as well as the Peloponnese mainland with its own array of beautiful villages, harbours and bays.
On the eastern side of the Aegean, a remote outpost of Greece the Dodecanese Islands include Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi and Tilos together with some fourty smaller islets. With the exception of the busier, well-known island hubs of Kos and Rhodes most of the Dodecanese islands offer traditional, blue-and-white fishing villages, 12th century fortresses or tiny fishing harbours, many quite hard to reach without a yacht. Much quieter than other Greek islands you will find life laid back and the locals most welcoming to visitors.
The North Sporades Island group lies off the eastern shore of the Greek mainland and consists of Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos and Skyros. Every island has its own charm and has something very authentic to offer. Incomparable natural beauty, full of monasteries and old stone houses, breathtaking landscapes, dazzling, whitewashed houses, idyllic coastlines, caves, chapels and churches and labyrinthine streets in lively neighborhoods. Having recently provided the backdrop for the film Mama Mia there are still plenty of places you can reach only by yacht.