Yachting in Greece - Exploring the Aegean Sea

Overview

Greece is a land of history, culture, nightlife and beauty. It's brought the world democracy, drama, philosophy, the Olympic Games, literature and significant contributions to mathematics and science. All of this in spite of, or because of, it's checkered and chaotic past. ROW visits this incredible country on a 10-day yacht tour of the Aegean Coast, exploring historical sites, shopping, mingling and soaking up the vibrant nightlife. Our small groups tour multiple islands aboard a 130-foot yacht under the care of our Greek Captain and crew.

       

• Trip Duration: 10-17 Days
• Intensity: Easy
• Season: May - October
• Begins in: Athens, Greece
• Ends in: Athens, Greece

Details

ROW Founder, Peter Grubb, and partner, Betsy Bowen, led ROW's first yacht trip to Greece in 1984. Since then ROW has taken hundreds of guests on yacht charters to Greece. We work directly with the owners and captains of our contracted yachts, and have meticulously organized our Greek yachting trips to show you the beauty, history, culture and fun of this beautiful Mediterranean country.

We are pleased to make available weekly departures aboard the 24-passenger Aegean Lady II and the 40 passenger H&B II. Yacht tours of Greece are available to singles, couples and small groups, and ROW can arrange private charters for larger groups.

Greece is a land of mountains and gorges scattered over the gorgeous blue sea. Throughout time, its civilization has been carried far and wide. Greek temples can be found throughout the Mediterranean and its statues in London, Paris and America. The country is the birthplace of democracy and has a tumultuous history of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influence.

A people of shepherds, traders and warriors, Greek philosophy, politics, poetry and theater are the very essence of Western civilization. Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games and modern drama and its mythology has inspired two thousand years of Western art.

While the Islands of Greece are popular among travelers the world over, it is still possible to find a secluded shore. Even today the Greek Islands have retained the enchantment that inspired Homer and Byron to write about the wine dark sea, the transcendentally brilliant light, the scent of lemon blossom and jasmine at twilight and nights alive with shooting stars. The ancient Greeks made the islands sacred to the gods, and they have yet to surrender them entirely.

Itinerary

Yachting in Greece aboard the Aegean Lady II

Day 1 - Wednesday - Depart home for Greece.

Day 2 - Thursday –We recommend arriving in Athens a day early and staying a hotel in the Plaka District near the Acropolis.

Day 3 - Friday - Athens – Lavrion or Marina zeas - Serifos - Enjoy an early morning self-guided tour of the Acropolis or a visit to the outstanding National Archaeological museum. Transfer in the late morning to Lavrion or Marina zeas for embarkation between 2-3pm. Enjoy a swimming stop at Kolona (Kythnos) and overnight on the yacht at Serifos. L

Day 4 - Saturday – Seifos - Santorini – Early morning departure with breakfast enroute. The volcanic island of Santorini is the highlight for many. An optional tour around the island is offered, including a visit to Akrotiri, an archaeological dig of a Minoan outpost. Archaeologists have revealed a Bronze-age society that is wonderful and strange where you can walk among houses up to three stories high. Weather permitting, the yacht remains at Santorini for the night. Dinner aboard. B, D.

Day 5 - Sunday – Santorini – Naxos – Begin today’s sail after breakfast and enjoy a swimming stop at Ios. Enjoy lunch onboard. After lunch – we visit Naxos, the largest and most mountainous of the Cyclades (its highest point is 3295'). You may enjoy an optional island tour with visits to the villages, churches and various ruins. Evidence of the island's ancient Byzantine and Venetian past abounds. Nikos Kazanzakis went to school here for two years. (You must read at least one of his books before visiting Greece! Zorba is a good choice.) Most of the west coast is one uninterrupted beach where you may opt to absorb some rays. Dinner on your own in town. B, L.

Day 6 - Monday – Naxos - Paros - Morning sail to Paros, one of the larger and more fertile Cyclades. A quarry here produces some of the finest and most translucent marble in the world, coveted by classical architects and sculptors. After lunch enjoy an self-guided optional tour of the island, including a famous Byzantine cathedral, the Ekatontapyliani. Designed by Ignatius, an apprentice of the master architect of the Agia Sofia in Istanbul, the shadowy atmosphere inside is jewel-like. You will enjoy visits to several other sites and have time to swim from the soft, sandy beaches. Dinner in town on your own. B, L.

Day 7 - Tuesday – Paros - Delos - Mykonos- Early morning sail to Delos, the sacred island of Apollo. Delos was a major free port in Hellenistic and Roman times that controlled much of the east-west trade in the Mediterranean. Today it is deserted except for a guardian of the ruins and a small hotel. Enjoy a leisurely ramble through the multitude of temples, shrines, agora and theaters, dating from the 6th century BC to the 2nd century AD. After a swim at Rinia and lunch proceed to the Mykonos Marina. Be prepared for a different atmosphere here than on the other islands, as Mykonos has long found favor among trendy travelers the world over. The most popular island in the Cyclades, Mykonos is dry and barren. The port town is charming and its beaches are exquisite. Shoppers will find plenty to empty their wallets and everyone will enjoy walking through the winding streets lined with immaculately gleaming whitewashed houses with brightly painted wooden trim. Dinner on your own in town. B, L.

Day 8 - Wednesday – Mykonos – Tinos – Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Tinos and breakfast onboard. Sometimes called the Lourdes of the Aegean, Tinos is a center of Orthodox pilgrimage. On two principal feast days of the Virgin, Evangelistra Street becomes a solid mass of pilgrims ascending to the neo-Classical church of Panayia Evangelistra. An optional afternoon tour of the island is offered. Dinner on your own in town. B, L.

Day 9 - Thursday – Tinos - Kea – Early morning sail to Syros or Giaros where we enjoy a light lunch. We spend the evening at Kea (Korissia) and kick up our heels at the Captain’s Party (Greek Night)! B,L, D.

Day 10 - Friday – Kea – Lavrion - Athens - After breakfast, we continue to Sounion and on to Lavrion were we disembark the Aegean Lady II and transfer by bus to Athens, arriving around 3 PM. B.

The Aegean Lady II was built in 1999 and is 130-foot yacht with a 26-foot beam. She accommodates up to 25 guests in 12 cabins and has a crew of five or six. Ten cabins have a lower-berth double bed and an additional lower single berth. Two cabins have two single beds. Each cabin has a private bathroom, air-conditioning and heating. There are two top-deck cabins with double accommodation that are available for a $100 per person surcharge.

During a yacht trip in Greece there are several land excursions of approximately 3-4 hours available for an additional cost. They are led by an English-speaking tour leader and you may sign up and pay for these as you wish throughout the trip. Costs will vary depending on the number of guests who opt for these optional tours.

Yachting in Greece above the H&B I

This 7-day yacht cruise onboard the145 feet yacht H&B I featuring accommodation for 40 guests in comfortable cabins will visit the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Paros, Tinos, Syros, Kea.

Day 1 - Friday - Marina Zeas - Santorini
In the morning at leisure to visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon -the truly one of the most perfect architecturally structures of the world. Also enjoy a visit to the newly renovated National Archeological Museum, featuring antiquities from the glorious days of Ancient Greece. Transfer at 2:00 pm from the hotel to Marina Zea Yacht harbor in Piraeus.
Embark the large, traditional wooden yacht m/s H&B and sail off into the Greek world of sparkling blue waters for the 7-day Discovery Cruise. Sail to Santorini.

Day 2 - Saturday - Santorini - Ios
Morning arrival at Santorini island, one of the highlights of the cruise. Optional tour of the island, visiting the Akrotiri excavation and enjoy the spectacular view. Dinner. Afternoon departure for Ios island. Overnight in IOS.

Day 3 - Sunday - Ios - Paros
Early morning sail for PAROS, one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades. This lovely island has succeeded in maintaining delicate balances between Greek traditional life and the demands of sophisticated modern visitors. Know since the antiquity for its translucent marble. Ancient sculptors used marble extracted from Paros for their best works, including “Venus of Milos” and “Hermes” by Praxitele.
A visit to the "Our Lady of 100 Gates" church is a must. Beautiful beaches, good restaurants and shopping. Overnight in Paros

Day 4 -Monday - Paros - Mykonos
Sail from Paros to Mykonos the jet-set island with dazzling white houses, excellent shopping, entertainment and nightlife Optional excursion to DELOS, the sacred island of Apollo. This uninhabited island is one vast archaeological site and in ancient time was the cultural and religious center of the Aegean from 9 BC and for approximately a thousand years. Splendid remains of these glorious times can still be seen.Overnight Mykonos

Day 5 - Tuesday - Mykonos - Syros
Morning arrival in Syros, Cyclade's capital island with the amazing architecture of the beautiful main town called Ermoupolis Overnight Syros

Day 6 - Wednesday - Syros - Kea
Departure in the morning for Kea.Visit. Captain's dinner. Overnight Kea

Day 7 - Thursday - Kea - Marina Zeas
In the morning sail to CAPE SOUNION ( where god Poseidon's temple is located). Stop for a swim and later sail to Marina Zea, arriving in the afternoon.
Optional evening trip to attend the famous Dora Stratou’s Folk Dancing performance at the Philopappus Hill, followed with a dinner at Piraeus Tourkolimano yacht harbor Overnight onboard.

Day 8 - Friday - ATHENS
After breakfast, disembarkation and transfer to Athens.

The H&B I is a relatively new, 145 feet long, wooden 3-masted schooner, built in 2001, featurίng 20 cabίns for 40 guests.
Αll cabins with private: facilities, air conditioning all through, large lounge/dinίng room, huge deck with deck-chairs. There are 10 large and comfortable cabins on the main deck including the huge Master Cabin plus 9 double cabins on lοwer deck. Cruising speed 9-10 knots. Crew of 9.

Extend Your Greek Yachting Adventure

If 7 or 10 days yachting in Greece isn't enough, ROW can extend your tour with a 4-day Classical Tour to Delphi and the Peloponnese peninsula. This land-based trip extension features 3 night's accommodation at first class hotels, three breakfasts and dinners, and transportation by deluxe motorcoach.

The extension tour is accompanied by an English-speaking guide/lecturer and visits: Corinth, Mycaene, Epidauros, Nauplion, Olympia, Megalopolis, Tripolis, Patras, Antirion, Nafpaktus and Delphi. All entrance fees are included, please call for current pricing. There are many other extension possibilities for your Greek yacht tour. They range from 1-6 days and visit ancient sites, Northern Greece, additional islands of Greece, and even continue into Turkey. Call our friendly office staff to discover your options.