Start your sailing holidays from Volos, the main sailing base of central Greece!

Start sailing the Greek islands from Volos, a coastal port city in the heart of Greek mainland with a rich history and a short distance from both the majestic Sporades islands and the monumental Pelion mount. Volos has been built at the innermost point of the Pagasetic Gulf, an almost lake-like stretch of water, just 13 Nautical miles across and 15 long. It is a modern city of approximately 90.000 inhabitants, intense night life and a great market with super markets for provisioning, a variety of shops for your gifts and even more cafes, tavernas and restaurants, for a great greek lunch or dinner or a drink. All of them just 1-5 minutes walking distance from your yacht. Volos combines perfectly sea and mountain landscape, offering limitless opportunities for escapes, as the nearest villages of mount Pelion are located no more than 10 minutes driving from Volos port.

When sailing in Volos, on the southern tip of the gulf, you will find the exit to the Aegean Sea and the Sporades islands, but before plotting a course for the hustle and bustle of Skiathos, worth exploring the picturesque villages strewn around the coast of the Gulf.

Discover Volos’ gem locations and revel in a vibrant port city

From Volos, you could follow the coast heading southeast, stopping for lunch in any of the popular Pelion beach resorts, such as Kala Nera, or Afissos. Or you might prefer to go ashore for lunch in a quiet fishing village, such as Kato Gatzea or Lefokastro.

Find premier places to anchor while sailing in Volos, Greece

For an overnight stay before returning to Volos (or for the 1st night of your trip if you’re not in rush to reach Skiathos), we’d strongly recommend you to visit the natural shelter of Milina, Here you have a choice of several coves to anchor and tavernas offering fresh seafood. Further around the coast, you will find the idyllic anchorage called Zasteni Bay, with its white house on the peninsula.

Immerse yourself in cultural activities and sightseeing while sailing in Volos, Greece

The most popular overnight stop for our guests before exiting the Pagasetic Gulf, is the safe harbour on Palaio Trikeri Island, allowing plenty of time to walk up the hill and visit the Monastery, before enjoying a selection of fresh seafood at one of the two restaurants. However, always keep in mind that Palaio Trikeri can get quite busy during weekends, due to its perfect location for the first or the last overnight stop for guests who have chartered a yacht from Volos.

Plan your sailing holidays in Greece – Welcome to Skiathos, the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades

While sailing the Greek islands, Skiathos is a place that shouldn’t be missing from your itinerary. Skiathos island is the closest to mainland Greece, and the busiest. It’s known for its nightlife and lively harbour town which gets extremely crowded in high season, and finding a place to moor can be tricky. With 64 beaches to explore when sailing in Skiathos – most of which are sandy and only accessible by boat – it’s easy to while away the days around here.

Find the optimal locations to anchor overnight

There are plenty of options to moor for the night, if you want to escape the crowds. 6 miles southwest of Skiathos Town is Koukounaries Beach. Although it’s a busy and popular beach, most of the day-trippers leave by sundown and it’s a charming place to anchor for the night. There are a few traditional Greek taverns to visit if you don’t feel like cooking onboard.

Discover the best islets for sailing in Skiathos

Directly across from Skiathos Town are the lovely little islets of Maragos, Tsougkria and Tsougriaki, which are worth a stop. Tsougkria, in particular, is highly recommended, where a small beach bar/restaurant is located on the beach with a limited but delicious menu. A lovely spot to spend a day or night.

Hop on a boat tour in Greece’s finest beaches

The northern side of Skiathos offers a more challenging sailing experience in Greece, especially when the winds are strong for our guests who seek some adventure. The northern side of the island can become quite wild,  it is definitely much less touristy and will appeal to nature lovers who prefer tranquillity.

Our favourite spots are Lalaria beach, with stunning topography and a cliff that drops off into the sea. Lalaria beach is accessible only by boat. Other worth seeing spots in Skiathos are Kechris Beach, Kastro, Mandraki Beach, Kriffi Ammos, and Banana Beach.

Unravel the best places to visit during your Skiathos sailing holidays

• Kastro, the ruins of the islands’ Medieval capital, is located along the west coast high above Kastro Beach. Incredible views!
• The Monastery of Panagia Evangelistria, built in the early 19th century is located 5 km north of Skiathos Town. It holds historical importance for its role in the Greek War of Independence.
• Alexandros Papadiamantis Museum in Skiathos Town. The building of the museum was the home of Alexandros Papadiamantis, an important Greek writer, who lived there in the 19th century.

Combine your sailing holidays in Greece with pop culture – Welcome to Skopelos, the picture-perfect “Mamma Mia island”

Sailing the Greek islands is undoubtedly a superb experience, especially if it can be combined with some cultural, but also historical sightseeing. After departing from Skiathos, continue your trip on the east and you’ll come across Skopelos. A boat trip in Skopelos is definitely going to fill your heart with joy.

Find premier places to visit & anchor while sailing in Skopelos

Finding a beautiful place to anchor overnight shouldn’t be a problem while on a boat trip in Skopelos. This green and pleasant island has some fantastic ports to stop in. Along the southern coast are the lovely ports of Glossa, Neo Klima, Agnontas, and Panormos – all great places to anchor, with Panormos being the most natural with the least facilities and no quay.

You can exercise your land legs and hop on a bus to visit the touristy ”Mamma Mia” church from here, or simply enjoy port life with the locals. The sheltered southeast coast has many, mostly pebble beaches, while the northwest is exposed to the wind and sea with high cliffs and without any good anchorages, except for the Bay of Skopelos.

A boat trip in Skopelos shouldn’t be only limited to the sea. Spend a few or more hours at Skopelos Town, the capital city of the island, exploring the small alleyways, the small charming shops and let yourselves been seduced by the local cuisine. The northern coast is worth sailing along, if the weather permits, but we recommend to visit there on your return route of your sailing week, since this part of the island is very convenient to visit on your return from Alonissos. The northern coast offers tranquility and unparalleled  natural beauty.

Sightseeing not to be missed during your Skopelos sailing holidays

• Agios Ioannis Church. This is the church where scenes from the Mamma Mia movie were filmed. Perched on top of a rock, there are amazing views of the island.
• The Museum of Cultural Heritage and Library Perseus Athineos in Glossa village. A fascinating look into the history of the island.
• The Monastery of the Transfiguration of Savior (Metamorfosi Sotira) is located 3 km east of Skopelos Town, in a lush green area. Founded in the 16th century, it hosts an exhibition of rare icons and books.
• Christoforos Shipwreck. For advanced scuba divers, visit the Christoforos Wreck in Panormos Bay. A unique shipwreck- exploration adventure of an 83-meter cargo ship sunk in 1983.

Cherish your sailing holidays in Greece – Welcome to Alonissos, the most picturesque island of Sporades

Alonissos is a not to be missed stop while sailing the Greek islands for a variety of reasons! Authenticity, crystal waters, peaceful atmosphere, unforgettable beaches. Of course, the National Marine Park of Alonissos is also there waiting for your visit! Boat trips in Alonissos, and specifically around the Park, dominate people’s choices while on sailing holidays in Greece. The marine park is home to the last European colony of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus-Monachus), although these shy creatures are very difficult to see.

Discover the best places to visit on a boat trip in Alonissos

The least crowded island of the Sporades makes a great base for exploring the outer islets by boat. The main port is called Patitiri and is a charming place, although it can be a little crowded with sailing boats during July or August. You definitely make sure to visit the Old Town, which offers incredible views of the island and some of its remote beaches.

The popular beaches along the island’s west coast are worth stopping in at, too, and Steni Vala is a good place for provisioning and tavernas before sailing out to the even more remote isles. Opposite Steni Vala is the island of Peristera, which has some wonderful inlets and anchorages, including the” safest harbor in the Sporades” – Vassiliko Bay, where there is a half-sunken ship to visit.

Alonissos is surrounded by eight uninhabited islets well-worth exploring by yacht. These are Peristera, Two Brothers, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Skantzoura, Psathoura, and Piperi (which is off-limits as it is the breeding island for the Monk Seal Colony)

Places not to miss while sailing in Alonissos

• Mavrikis Folklore “Pirate” Museum in Patitiri, for an excellent look into the history of the area and the legendary pirate life.
• The Monk Seal Preservation Centre in Patitiri

Make the most out of your sailing holidays in Greece – Welcome to Evia, the second-largest island of Greece

When sailing the Greek islands, Evia shouldn’t be missing from your itinerary. Combining a relaxing pace of holiday with striking natural settings, sailing in Evia offers limitless anchorage options and guarantees a lifetime experience onboard.

Sail around Evia’s breathtaking coastline

Evia island, south of Volos, is an equally unique experience with Sporades islands. It is a big island, thus, we recommend for those of our guests who are interested in exploring it, to visit the northern part of the island. The northern part is just across the entrance of the Pagasetic Gulf, which makes it a perfect stopover (at the village Orei) before returning to Volos at the end of your charter week. For a 1 week charter from Volos to Sporades there is not enough time to explore more of Evia, than Orei or Neos Pyrgos. For this reason, Evia is usually recommended for our guests with 2 or more week charters, so there’s plenty of time to make the most out of their sailing in Evia.

Unravel the best places to visit while sailing in Evia

• Our favorite spots are Neos Pyrgos, a small harbor, mainly used by local boats and Orei, a well-sheltered harbor about 1nm NW of Neos Pyrgos. Orei stands as an ideal stop before entering back into Pagasetic Gulf, offering a nice taverna just opposite the dock and water – electricity supply in low charges. Just about the other side of the harbour is sitting the exotic Νisiotisa beach.

Plan your sailing holidays in Greece – Welcome to Skyros, Sporades’ secluded hidden gem

Prepare for a boat trip in Greece out of the beaten track. Skyros is the outlier island with a different atmosphere, more like the Cyclades than the Sporades and less sheltered too. It takes some more distance from the rest of Sporades islands, thus we recommend it for our guests with a 2-week charter. It is kind of adventurous, yet rewarding sail away. Οpt for sailing holidays in Skyros, Greece – especially if you seek privacy combined with untouched natural beauty.

Find optimal places to anchor while on sailing holidays in Skyros, Greece

When planning your boat trips in Skyros, keep in mind that even if it’s a quiet island, it does provide you with plenty of options to anchor overnight. Linaria is a little bay where fuel, water, tavernas, and basic provisions are available. You can also take the bus up to Skyros town (also called Chora in local dialect) for a better variety.

Most beaches and anchorages are found on the W-SW coast: Atsitsa, Alyko, Ag. Fokas, Pefki, and Acherounes are all worth a stop. The islets of Valaxa, Skiropoula, Sarakino, and Prasso, and the rocky bay of Tristomou, Kalamitsa beach, Kolympiada, Renes are extremely pleasant to sail around. If no North winds are blowing, the N and NE coast of the island becomes accessible where there are a lot of beautiful anchorages and beaches.

Sightseeing not to be missed during your sailing holidays in Skyros, Greece

• Faltaits Historical and Folklore Museum in Skyros Town. Learn the fascinating history of Skyros. This 19th-century mansion has an outdoor terrace and an excellent gift shop.
• Skyros Island Horse Trust This ranch is active in preserving the endangered Skyrian Horse. It’s 10km northwest of Skyros Town in Trachi.
• Archeological Museum, Skyros Town.
• Palamari, The interesting Palamari Bronze Age excavation is found at the northeast end of Skyros. It dates back to between 2.500 BC and 1.650 BC.