Cyclades Yacht Charter
About Cyclades
If you have ever pictured a Greek island, you have pictured one of the Cyclades. The archipelago is roughly 200 islands scattered across the central Aegean in a loose ring around Delos, the uninhabited rock the ancient Greeks named as the birthplace of Apollo and his twin Artemis, and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. The picture they collectively give is a familiar one: white-washed villages, blue-domed churches, windmills on the headlands, and fresh fish off the boat at lunchtime.
Mykonos and Santorini are the headline islands and they earn the headlines, the first for its rooftop bars and beach clubs, the second for the sunset above the caldera, which is one of the most-photographed views in Europe. Beyond them, the chain opens out into smaller and quieter islands, each with its own character. Folegandros holds a dramatic clifftop chora, the small hilltop town typical of Cycladic islands, and a handful of quiet anchorages around it. Sifnos has a serious food culture, with island producers shaping the menus in the harbour tavernas. Paros, Naxos and Antiparos run on a slower clock, with long late dinners and beaches that rarely fill up even in August.
The wind that shapes a Cyclades summer is the meltemi, the strong dry north wind that blows down from the Aegean, at its most persistent in July and August. A good captain plans the week around it, sailing roughly north to south so the wind sits at the stern, which is why most charters pick up in Athens (Alimos, Marina Zea or Lavrion) and disembark closer to Santorini or Naxos. The season runs May to October, with June and September the quieter and most consistent months.
Highlights
Destination Info
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Where to sail
Mykonos and Delos
The northern gateway. Mykonos for its chora, beaches and rooftop bars, with the sacred island of Delos a short hop away, uninhabited and ringed by the archaeological site the ancient Greeks held as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.
Paros, Naxos and Antiparos
The green heart of the chain. Naxos is the largest island, with mountain villages and long beaches; Paros has Naousa and Parikia; and the channel to Antiparos and Despotiko holds quiet coves for swimming and lunch at anchor.
The Small Cyclades
Koufonisia, Iraklia, Schinoussa and Donoussa, low-lying islands between Naxos and Amorgos with turquoise lagoons and anchorages well off the ferry lanes. The quiet end of a Cyclades week.
Milos, Sifnos and the west
The western islands, off the main Mykonos to Santorini run and known for their food and their coastline. Milos is the star, with the white moonscape of Sarakiniko and the sea caves of Kleftiko in the south; Sifnos has a serious kitchen and clifftop choras, and Serifos and Ios add sheltered bays along the way.
Santorini and the south
The southern end and the classic finish. Santorini for the caldera and its sunset, with Folegandros's dramatic clifftop chora and the wild uninhabited island of Polyaigos among the quieter stops nearby.
What it costs
- From
- From about EUR 20,000 / week for a crewed yacht
- Included
- The weekly fee covers the yacht and all its equipment, including the tenders and water toys, the full crew, and the yacht's insurance.
- Extras
- Your running costs are paid separately, through an advance provisioning allowance (APA): a sum of around 25 to 35 percent of the fee that you pay before the charter. The captain uses it to pay for fuel, berthing and harbour dues, provisioning, and the food and drink for your party, then gives you a full account at the end and refunds whatever is left. Greek charter VAT and a customary crew gratuity are the two other costs on top of the fee.
Prices rise with the size of the yacht and the time of year.
We explain the money side properly: What is included under MYBA, How the APA works, VAT on a Greek charter, and What to tip the crew.
Before you go
When to go
The season runs May to October. July and August are the warmest and busiest, and also when the meltemi blows hardest, so a good captain plans the route around it. June and September are quieter and more settled, and are the months many charterers prefer. For how the Greek regions compare through the season, see our Greece charter regions guide.
Getting there
Most Cyclades charters embark near Athens, at Alimos or Marina Zea on the coast or at Lavrion to the south, all a short transfer from Athens International Airport. Sailing north to south with the meltemi behind you, many weeks disembark closer to Santorini or Naxos rather than returning to Athens.
Choosing the yacht
Sailing yachts, catamarans and motor yachts all work the Cyclades; a catamaran suits guests who want deck space and a shallow draft for the anchorages, while a motor yacht covers the longer legs between islands quickly in a blow. If you are weighing crewed against bareboat, our guide on bareboat versus crewed sets out the difference. Browse the current fleet on our yachts page.
Explore Cyclades
Interactive map view of Cyclades • Click and drag to explore • Open in full screen
