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Detailed
Itinerary - Argosaronic Gulf Islands and East Peloponnese Coast
 DAY
ONE -ATHENS
Transfer to the yacht. SAILING PARADISE host, will pick you up from
your Hotel and transfer you to Marina Alimos where the yacht is moored.
The Yacht will be ready to leave with all provisions onboard, our host
will introduce the crew to you, refreshments will be served and preparation
of all the necessary papers with Port Police will start. When everything
is ready (usually the process with Port Police takes about 1/2 hour)
our host will discuss with you and the crew details of your trip, pictures
will be taken and after tossing with a bottle of wine the yacht will
leave harbor. The yacht will sail towards the island of Aegina.
After two hours sailing you will drop anchor in a quiet cove for a
refreshing dip, watersports, sunbathing and lunch. By latest 17.00
hours you will sail towards the main harbor of the ancient Aegina island.
In case the harbor is filled and there is no room (some times it happens
during the months July and August) you will sail to Perdica,
a picturesque fishing village at the South part of the island. Enjoy
your sundowner drink on cockpit and at night you can dine in one of
the numerous by the water Restaurants.
 DAY
- TWO
Optional visit by taxi to the Temple of Aphaia
(5-6 BC) on the NE corner of the island that has been called the most
perfectly developed classical temple in Greece. After breakfast and
perhaps some shopping you want to do in the village you sail towards
the island of Kyra, drop the anchor
at the South side of the island and you spend your next 5 hours there
swimming, watersports, sunbathing, exploring the coast with the dinghy,
even fishing with fishing lines from the yacht. You have lunch and
maybe a nap so you are rested for the evening. Its a rocky, very primitive,
isolated island and you will be impressed by the rocks and the color
they change during the day. The water is crystal clear and you will
drop anchor a few yards away from the rocky coast. At 17.00 hours you
will prepare sailing towards the Palaia Epidavros
an attractive small fishing village set at the base of steep wooded
slopes at the coast of Pelloponese. After mooring the yacht, you have
your usual sundowner drink on the cockpit and at the evening a walk
through the village and eating out in one by the water Restaurants.
Later there are discos you can visit if you prefer to stay late and
our skipper will be very helpful to pick the right one for you. You
will love this fishing village. As you understand it is not an island,
it belongs to the main land of Pelloponnese and the colors and settings
are different. Life is influenced more by the mainland but because of
its location by the water here you will find that there is a mixture
something between an island and mainland life. You will find the fishermen,
the fishing nets on the pier and the octopus hanging for drying by
the water as well the restaurants with the traditional roasting
pit where you can taste the Greek mainland delicacies of roasted lamb,
lamb chops, rib eye (Mprizola moscharisia), kokoretsi, splinadero, exochiko
etc.
 DAY
- THREE
Optional visit by taxi (I strongly recommend it, takes only 30 minutes
to go) of the Epidavros Theatre.
The theatre is accepted to be the best preserved of all Greek Theatres
and one of the finest pieces of classical architecture in existence.
Some sensible restoration has been carried out, but the theatre is mostly
original. The acoustics of the theatre are perfect: a piece of paper
rustled on the stage or a coin dropped on the floor can be clearly heard
from any one of the 14,000 seats. There is a festival of ancient
Greek drama in the summer and seats and transport can be booked in Palaia
Epidavros. The site was renowned in ancient times not for its theatre
but as a sanctuary of the Asclepion: a religious center for curing the
sick and infirm. Extensive temples,hospitals, sanatoriums and the bath
houses covered a site comparable to Delphi. Little remains of the buildings
exist today but the site on the pine-clad slopes has a certain feeling
of quiet and calm about it. A museum on the site houses local finds.
After breakfast and perhaps the return of your visit to the ancient
theatre you set sails for the picturesque island of Poros.
On the way drop anchor at Vathi
for a swim and watersports, have a quiet and relaxing lunch onboard
and arrive before sundown at the island of Poros. You will experience
a beautiful sunset enjoying your sundowner drink and at night you could
have a real glenti (Dinner with Greek dancing in one of the local
taverns). Poros is the Rorschach-blob island of the Saronic. It
lies close to the coast of the Pelloponnese separated from it by a narrow
and in places very shallow channel. The island is extensively wooded
(mostly Pine and Olive and Citrus groves) and is cultivated in places.
 DAY
- FOUR
After breakfast and perhaps some shopping and browsing around the
narrow streets of Poros we sail for the cosmopolitan island of Hydra
, today a fashionable resort for the rich and famous. On the way you
have a good chance to participate in sailing the yacht (our skipper
would love to teach you) and just across of Hydra , drop anchor to a
bay in the Island of Soupia on the
Pelloponese coast. Swim, windsurf, sunbathe and snorkel or take a
short ride with the boat's dinghy. It is a quiet and peaceful small
cove with beautiful water protected by the small island and the coast.
Have lunch on board, maybe a nap and an early evening sail to Hydra.
The town of Hydra "Little England"
remains architecturally very much of the 18th and 19th centuries with
large stately homes built around the natural amphitheatre above the
harbor. Its timeless charm is preserved by the absence of automotive
transport In the harbor area. Wonderful numerous cafes, shops,
art galleries, jewelry shops and restaurants will entice you with
colorful wares. I recommend shopping and sightseeing in Hydra. Sunsets
from Hydra are fantastic. I recommend you visit "Lagudera" a Restaurant
- bar that sits on the top of the western slope of the harbor, and sip
your drinks at the veranda overhanging the water and watch the sunset.
Tonight you are invited to a dinner hosted by our Captain in a Taverna
and celebrating the special moment of your marriage. Full course
menu with quality wine and a bottle of champagne is included.
 DAY
- FIVE
Today we Sail towards the graceful Island of Spetses,
an island mostly covered with pine trees. Drop anchor for a refreshing
swim and enjoy lunch on the Island of Dokos,
experience one of the most primitive and virgin bay setups ideal also
for overnight staying.(on our way back we will stop here for our
BBQ beach party) Overnight, moor at Paleo
Limani (Old Harbor) in Spetses with many Grand Houses that
makes it a wonderful place to wander around. At night visit "Dapia"
(old town of Spetses) with its numerous cafes, shops and restaurants.
Dapia is more akin to the Italian Riviera than a Greek town although
recent architectural additions have reduced the effect. It is well worth
sampling an excellent dish peculiar to the island, "fish a la Spettsiota",
a casserole of fish, tomatoes and green peppers covered in cheese.
The Old Harbor is also a wonderful place to wander around. There are
several yards building caiques and Spetsiot boats are said to be among
the best in Greece. Tim Severin had his replica galley built here for
his voyages tracing the routes of Jason and the Argonauts and Odysseus
wandering home from the Trojan War. Around the harbor are many grand
old houses built in the prosperous era of the 18th and 19th centuries
when spetsiot ships traded all over the Eastern Mediterranean and because
no cars are allowed on the island (motorbikes unfortunately are)
walking around the old quarter is a delight
 DAY
- SIX
Today we sail towards the island of Dokos.
We stay for lunch and also for our BBQ beach party. A campfire,
broiled lamb chops and rib-eye steaks, baked potatoes, Greek salad and
good local wine with nice music under the stars in a quiet setting
that Dokos island offers will stay for ever in your memory as one of
the nicest moments of your life. You can stay overnight in Dokos island
or you can choose between Hydra or Ermioni on the coast of Peloponnese,
which has been relatively untouched by tourism. On the south side of
the head-land where things are peaceful, you can sit at a bar on the
waterfront with wonderful views over the water. According to Pausanias,
a festival in honor of Poseidon was held here and it is possible that
Hermioni was the site of the first small boat Regatta in recorded history.
DAY
- SEVEN
The last day of your trip. On the way to Marina Alimos you stop in the
island of Poros to enjoy a refreshing
swim and have lunch on board. Sail back to Marina Alimos in Athens.
Stay overnight in the boat or transfer to and check in at your hotel.
Detailed
Itinerary - Cyclades Islands
 DAY
ONE -ATHENS
Transfer to the yacht. SAILING PARADISE host, will pick you up from
your Hotel and transfer you to Marina Alimos where the yacht is moored.
The Yacht will be ready to leave with all provisions onboard, our host
will introduce the crew to you, refreshments will be served and preparation
of all the necessary papers with Port Police will start. When everything
is ready (usually the process with Port Police takes about 1/2 hour)
our host will discuss with you and the crew details of your trip, pictures
will be taken and after tossing with a bottle of wine the yacht will
leave harbor. Sail to the Island of Kea.
Stop for a swim in the calm crystal clear bay and have late lunch on
board. Sail to the ancient fishing village of Vourkari.
Archaelogical excavation show that history starts here at 3000 B.C.
From the findings it is estimated that around 2000 B.C. on the peninsula
of Agia Irini, there was a thriving city which was the commercial center
of the area with buildings, temples, and large protective walls. Dine
at Taverna Aristo's or Kyria Katerina, famous for her specialty "lobster
with spaghetti." After dinner a visit to Hora (the town of Kea)
will be very interesting, with its numerous cafés, bars, shops and restaurants.
 DAY
TWO
Optional visit by boat to Karthaea
can be arranged (see part of Kea) for the history enthusiasts. The Cyclopean
Walls, the Temple and the Theatre, though not restored, are of particular
interest for the visitors. After breakfast we will sail towards the
Island of Syros. Drop anchor at
Finikas for a refreshing dip and
lunch. Finikas is one of the best parts of Syros Island and it is
built on one of the most striking sites. Trees shade the beach. There
are still remains of the Roman walls. Early evening we sail to the
capital of the island, Ermoupolis,
with its traditional houses, squares, big churches and casino for the
gamblers. You will find by the seaside a nice Greek taverna. It is an
impressive town, once a capital of Greece. You will enjoy its archaeological
museum with exhibits from the Prehistoric and Hellenistic period and
Roman inscriptions. Also try to see the Cathedral Church of the Transformation,
which was built in 1842, the Temple of the Assumption with the icon
of the virgin, work of Dominikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco). You
should not forget to try the loukoumia of Syros, the chalva-pie and
the cheeses produced in Syros.
 DAY
THREE
From Syros you sail to cosmopolitan island, Mykonos.
This jet set island is the most popular island in Greece. You will find
fine jewelry stores, famous restaurants, beautiful beaches with wonderful
golden sand and three interesting museums to visit. Grey-green rocks
girt with prickle pear bushes and plains are covered in wild flowers.
A little church or a windmill are characteristic features of the Mykonian
countryside. According to mythology, the petrified bodies of the giants
that Hercules killed formed Mykonos. Later, the island was named after
the hero Mycono. On the way to Mykonos we stop at the rocky Island Rinia,
that has very good sandy beaches and is a good shelter for a swim
and lunch. At night, after dinner in Mykonos, we visit the numerous
nightclubs where the rich and famous usually gather. Nightlife here
is world-renowned, and this "party fever"
is definitely infectious. Tonight you are invited to a dinner hosted
by our Captain in a Taverna and celebrating the special moment of your
marriage. Full course menu with quality wine and a bottle of champagne
is included.
DAY
FOUR
Today you sail to the Island of Dilos,
where we stay for lunch and swimming. Dilos was once thriving with life
in ancient Greece. A visit to Dilos is a visit to timeless past.
Said to have risen from the sea, the sacred island of antiquity is in
Greek Mythology the birthplace of Apollo, God of Light and the Goddess
Artemis. The remains of ancient temples, shrines and tables are an
adventure in history. After lunch we sail towards the Island of
Naxos to Agia Anna. Agia Anna is
ten minutes away from the Naxos main harbour, but is chosen instead
for an overnight stay because it is safer especially when north winds
are blowing. At night you can visit Naxos Chora with a taxi (ten minutes).
 DAY
FIVE
Southeast of Naxos lies a group of the most primitive and peaceful islands
in the Aegean sea. Koufonisia,
Iraklia, Schinousa and Donousa are a must to see. There is
a small number of residents and of course a smaller number of tourists.
Life moves very slow here and the few tavernas that exist will
let you participate in cooking the food you have ordered. The traditional
Greek hospitality lives again here and you will experience the way the
Greek fishermen lived 50 years ago. Here is ideal for our BBQ
beach party. A campfire, broiled lamb chops and rib-eye steaks,
baked potatoes, Greek salad and good local wine with nice music under
the stars in a quiet setting that Coufonisia islands offers will stay
for ever in your memory as one of the nicest moments of your life.
DAY
SIX
Ios is another cosmopolitan island
of the Aegean sea and every summer teenagers gather from around the
world. The clean sea, the isolated beaches and the active nightlife
at the bars and nightclubs attract the teenagers. There is the port
and hora. Hora is a typical Cycladic city. It has white houses, windmills
and there are small streets and many churches. A stop at Milopota
beach for lunch and swimming and by the evening moor at the
main port. A visit to hora is interesting, where you dine in one of
the traditional Greek restaurants.
 DAY
SEVEN
Today you sail to the romantic Island of Santorini
or Thira. An island formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption
in the prehistoric past. Santorini is a mountain of stone surrounded
by black ashen beaches against deep blue waters. Plato speculated that
the legend of Atlantis originated here. Santorini is the largest known
active volcano in the world. Today we know of a well developed civilization
that existed in Santorini from 2000 B.C. until it ended abruptly in
about 1400 B.C. The archaeological site of Acrotiri (often referred
to as the Greek Pompeii) will give you a good insight into the site
of our ancestors. The small harbor of Thira lies the gigantic crater
itself, the depth of which is uncertain. The town with its white washed
houses sits upon a plateau overlooking the sea. We stop for lunch
in Thirasia (warm waters),
a small island across from Santorini, where you will enjoy the striking
view of Caldera and swim in the warm waters of the volcano.
At night you stay in Acrotiri and you visit Fira which is panoramic
and awe-inspiring" . From Santorini you fly to Athens (extra) or stay
for a few more days to complete your Honeymoon sailing dream trip.
The
above are suggested itineraries. Changes can be made and visiting a
combination of the two groups of islands can be arranged. A more detailed
itinerary will be drawn for you. |
