Nautilus Yachting > Yacht Charter > Greece Yacht Charter > Sporades
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The beauty of a yacht charter in Greece is that you have so many different areas to choose from! Choose a boat charter from Skiathos or Volos to enjoy fresh breezes, unspoilt harbours and some of the best fine sandy beaches in the Mediterranean.
Island-hopping in Greece is on many people's wish list and a sailing holiday in the Sporades gives you the ideal environment to tick that one off your list! The larger islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos are surrounded by numerous smaller islands which have escaped the effects of mainstream tourism and retained their down-to-earth charm.
Start your Greece yacht charter from Skiathos harbour, a very convenient 5 minute transfer from the airport, and enjoy an atmospheric start to your yacht charter. Wander the maze of cobbled streets and make your way up the hill for some spectacular panoramic views over the town. Skiathos Old Town is incredibly pretty with its whitewashed walls, brightly coloured painted doors and trailing bougainvillea. Getting lost in the meandering streets is part of the fun!
Sail in the largest marine park in the Mediterranean, the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades, home to a diverse range of flora and fauna as well as the endangered Mediterannean monk seal. The park includes the island of Alonissos, the 6 smaller islands of Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Psathoura, Piperi, Skatzoura and Gioura, as well as 22 rocky islets. Details of the marine park and entrance fees can be found here.
Sail into the northern Sporades with their fresh sailing winds and wonderful mix of picturesque fishing harbours and deserted anchorages or experience the peace and tranquillity of the more sheltered Gulf of Volos. Whichever itinerary you choose for your yacht charter in Greece, the uncrowded, picture-perfect Sporades will be sure to impress.
Yacht Charters from:
7 nights / 3 cabins
Stronger winds in the summer months, Force 4-5 Find out more...
Skiathos harbour is just a few minutes from the airport. Whitewashed houses up the steep slopes of the harbour make this a very picturesque place to start your holiday. Tavernas, restaurants and busy bars fill the bustling narrow streets.
Panormos is a beautiful bay for lunch. Overnight at Skopelos Town.
A very attractive harbour with plenty of waterfront tavernas and cafes.
An uninhabited island but full of legend, including the Cyclops Cave at Yioura.
A picture-postcard fishing village with a nice beach. Great fish restaurants at the harbour.
One of the best beaches in Greece. Waterskiing and fun rides on offer at the beach.
Weather conditions in the Sporades are very favourable for a yacht charter in Greece. Afternoon breezes Force 3-5 from the north-east give good sailing from mid-morning to early evening. In July and August the meltemi can bring stronger winds Force 5-6, but all the islands have good shelter. Summer temperatures reach 27-29ºC.
We have rated this destination a 'Level 2' (levels info) and you will need an ICC qualification for bareboat charters from Skiathos.
For those wanting more support or who are looking for more of a social holiday then why not take a look at our Sporades flotilla holidays.
You can see all of the bases we offer yacht charters in Greece along with the level ratings here so that you can find the most suitable destination for you. If you are at all unsure about a destination then please get in touch and our sales team will be more than happy to make their recommendations for you.
easyJet and Jet2 operate direct flights to Skiathos from London Gatwick and Stansted on Saturdays for the majority of bareboat charters.TUI and Jet2 also have direct flights to Skiathos from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham (East Midlands) on Fridays and Sundays but as most bareboat charters run Saturday-Saturday you can choose to spend some time on land either side of your charter.British Airways also have direct flights to Skiathos from London City on Fridays during the high season.
There is no direct service to Volos from the UK so the nearest airport is Thessaloniki which has regular direct flights with easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2.
The transfer time from Skiathos airport to the harbour is only 5 minutes so it usually works out better to simply jump in a taxi when you arrive.The transfer time from Thessaloniki Airport to Volos harbour is 2.5 hours. You can also fly to Athens but the transfer time is 3.5-4 hours.
For more information on things to see and do in the unspoilt Sporades on your yacht charter please click HERE
The best time to take a sailing holiday in Greece is between April and October, with peak season being June, July, and August.
High Season
The Meltemi winds are strongest in July and August, making a more exhilarating sailing challenge for the more experienced sailors. These months also fall within the UK school summer holidays, the perfect time for a family holiday, with lots of opportunities for the children to make new friends. Why not try one of our family-friendly flotilla holidays?
For easier sailing aim for the end of the summer when the winds are less intense making for more relaxed sailing conditions.
Shoulder Season
April and October benefit from smaller crowds as well as cheaper flights, great yacht availability and reduced costs.
Spring
April - June are the perfect months for those looking for a quieter yacht charter. The winds are milder, the weather is warm and the islands are in full bloom. With the reduced crowds it allows you to enjoy them to the fullest!Autumn Sailing in Greece
Choose the autumn months to avoid the tourist crowds, enjoy the calmer winds and take in the natural beauty of the islands at a leisurely pace.
May & September
The weather is warm but not too hot with average temperatures around 25ºC (77ºF) and the crowds are lower than the peak summer season.
Late May & June
The crowds are still relatively low but the temperatures have started to rise (average 28ºC / 85ºF) and the waters begin to get warm enough for swimming.
July to September
This is when the waters are at their warmest and it is also the peak tourist time due to the school summer holidays. This is a great time for a sociable family holiday - why not try one of our family-friendly flotilla holidays?
October
This is the end of the main sailing season and a good opportunity to take advantage of lower prices and lighter crowds. The weather is on average 21 - 23ºC and the waters are still warm enough to enjoy a spot of swimming.
In general, the best sailing conditions are from April to October when you can enjoy warm waters, clear skies and reliable winds.
The Ionian is great for year-round sailing however the best conditions are late spring to early autumn. The Ionian has hot, dry summers with calmer winds but stronger gusts can occur in the afternoons.
The Meltemi winds provide reliable sailing in the summer months perfect for more experienced sailors looking for a more challenging charter.
Typically the rainy season is from November to March and sailing conditions are not always ideal.
The cost of your yacht charter depends on several factors:
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. A 1 week charter on a 2 - 3 cabin monohull starts around £900 in low season whereas 1 week on a luxury catamaran with a skipper in high season could be upwards of £10,000. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week charter and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway however, a longer charter will give you more time to explore all the Greek islands have to offer. We have a range of 1 and 2 week flotillas, as well as custom bareboat bookings which can be tailored to your timescale.
Lower-priced yacht charters are available in the off-season of April, May, September and October with prices starting to rise in June before peaking in July and August.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer several skippered and crewed options so you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress. From a simple skippered yacht to fully crewed options, we can arrange a charter to suit your needs.
Flotilla yacht charters are more expensive than a bareboat charter, but for the extra cost, you are getting the assistance of a lead boat with an experienced crew who are ready to help if you need assistance on your voyage. The flotilla lead crew also arrange social activities and lead you on a carefully curated itinerary. Flotillas are great if you enjoy the social aspects of sailing and are perfect for families, especially during school holidays. Children enjoy making new friends, while adults can unwind and connect with like-minded sailors.
If you are experienced and prefer to discover the islands at your own pace then a bareboat charter is the perfect choice for a relaxing holiday in The Med.
For bareboat charters and flotilla holidays in Greece, you will need ICC qualification.
The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates:
If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA).
If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 10 years old and does not have a photo ID, then you need to apply for an ICC or IPC.
If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use these links - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.
A 1 - 2 week charter will give you the optimum time to explore all Greece has to offer, from the beautiful secluded beaches and coves to the rich culture of its historic towns. Fancy exploring at a more relaxed pace? Our knowledgeable team can assist you with a custom charter.
We have various 1 and 2 week sailing itineraries for both bareboat and flotilla sailing holidays in Greece that have been personally tried and tested by our team.
The mooring fees in Greece are very minimal, you will find it is one of the cheaper Mediterranean destinations in terms of mooring costs. On average, a town quay mooring in Greece (based on a 40ft monohull) would be €20/night.
There are fewer "full-service marinas" compared with somewhere like Croatia, but these would usually be between €50-70/night.
There is also the ability to free anchor in a lot of places too, which keeps the cost of your mooring fees down considerably.
Our most popular sailing destination in Greece is the South Ionian due to its easy sailing conditions and endless bays to visit; this collection of islands (Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaka, Meganisi, Kalamos & Kastos) is perfect for beginners and families but has a charm that keeps our guests returning year after year.
You can also set sail in the Ionian from well-connected Corfu which has great options for sail-and-stay to combine your holiday with one of the island's highly-rated resorts. When on a yacht charter from Corfu, you can also explore Corfu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as picture-perfect Paxos.
We have just landed in what appears to be the middle of a military base. Looking out of the airplane window we see a lot of decommissioned helicopters and jets. We are in Volos airport and it feels a little like landing in Greece 20 years ago, yet Volos is the 6th biggest city in modern-day Greece.
Our taxi transfer takes us on service roads before joining the main road and heading into town and to the base, which is in the main harbour at the centre of town. The charter office is on a small pedestrian street just behind the harbour and staff are awaiting our arrival with cold mineral water and fresh fruit. We board our yacht for the week, a 2016 model Hanse 505, receiving a technical briefing from the local technician. The base manager then shares information about the local area and his tips for where to visit.
The town of Volos itself is bustling with locals. A busy port town with sailing steeped in its history. The town’s symbol is of the Argos, the Argonauts legendary ship from 1600BC. We decide to enjoy our prime position in the harbour by taking in the promenade and exploring the town.
Once we are in the back streets we find a fantastic meze and tsipouro restaurant full of locals. We are the only tourists there and it is packed! Luckily, the staff squeeze us in and we enjoy never-ending courses of local seafood and traditional dishes alongside a couple of glasses of tsipouro (a strong traditional distilled Greek spirit). We discover most tsipouro tavernas involve simply ordering a drink and a selection of meze appears with it, so as long as you keep drinking, the meze will keep arriving! It is fantastic, very reasonably priced, and a great first night in Volos!
Our provisioning is delivered by the local supermarket so once it has been stowed we get underway. The sun is shining and we have glorious late season temperatures between 22-25 celsius with a steady breeze blowing. This area is known for its consistent winds as the bay is surrounded by hills and we can see Mount Pelion looming in the distance. The wind is blowing over our port stern so once we are outside the harbour walls, we get the sails out and enjoy a leisurely broad reach at 5 knots towards the middle of the Pagasetic gulf.
We sail to Pythos bay on the small island of Trikeri. There are just two other boats in the anchorage so we can happily drop the hook in the middle of the bay and swing freely. The water is aquamarine blue so in go the paddle boards and out come the snorkels. We enjoy a couple of hours of sunshine, paddleboarding, swimming and lunch before setting sail for the town of Agia Kyriakis. There is a small quay right in front of the two fish restaurants. It is a stern too mooring using the anchor and the restaurant staff are happy to help take our lines. They must have just received a good catch as octopus can be seen hanging around the veranda of the restaurant and the chef is on the end of the quay descaling a large fish. We stick a pin with our boat name in the next fish and pick a table right on the waterfront overlooking the channel. What a great way to start our trip around the Volos gulf.
Today we are up with the sunshine to explore Agia Kyriakis. We find a couple of pretty beaches complete with palm umbrellas and fresh-water showers so we seize the opportunity of a morning swim. Walking around the harbour we discover a local products store selling honey from the nearby hills, perfect for our breakfast. Whilst out walking, a man comes out of his house to speak to us. He is English and has been living here for 20 years. Rarely hearing English voices in the area, he welcomes a chat and gives us some great tips for the best tsipouro restaurants in the area.
It seems a shame to leave this tiny port town but we are heading out to Skopelos island today. There is a lot of wind predicted so we are aiming for the bay of Panormos, known for its great shelter. Heading into the channel there is plenty of wind so we reef our sails and a series of tacks gets us set on a close haul towards Skopelos. We are prepared for larger swells between Skiathos and Skopelos, so have an exhilarating sail in between the islands.
Once in the shadow of Skopelos’ hills we can feel the wind start to drop and the sea start to calm as we navigate into the southeast side of the bay to our spot for the night. We drop anchor and take long line to the rocks ashore with a spring for good measure, knowing the winds are due to come in the night. There is a lovely sandy beach in the corner of Panormos so we tender over to enjoy the last of the sunshine on the sand and then make our way to one of the beach tavernas for dinner.
As predicted, there is quite a lot of wind so we were glad of our long lines and spring line last night. We head carefully out of Panormos to see what the conditions are like. The swell is substantial and the winds are hitting 30 knots plus, so after getting the sails out we decide to have an easy day making our passage downwind on just a reefed genoa to the tiny village of Agnontas. The small quay should be sheltered from the winds and swell located at the bottom corner of Skopelos island.
After the daily ferry has departed we come alongside the quay where there are four other boats also sheltering from the wind. Once we are safely moored up the sun comes out and a tiny café behind the beach opens for an Aperol spritz in the sunshine. We are the only people on the beach for the afternoon as we enjoy the mid-20s temperatures in October and a hiatus from the wind.
There is a wonderful seafood restaurant at the end of the quay where we try some local octopus, homemade whipped taramasalata and other beautiful traditional dishes, alongside some excellent local wine.
The wind has dropped a little today so after topping up the water tanks we set sail for the island of Skiathos. Once we are out of the shadow of the island of Skopelos, we need to reef the sails in 20-25 knots of wind blowing on the starboard beam which makes for a fabulous beam reach sail over to Skiathos.
We have heard how busy Koukounaries beach can be in the peak season but by sailing in October we are able to enjoy the bay minus the crowds. Koukounari is the Greek word for pine trees, which line the shore of this huge anchorage. We anchor on the sandy bottom with depths of 5-7m, sitting comfortably facing the beach. There are only three other boats in the bay and while we can see sun beds on the long expanse of sand, there are very few people - what a treat!
We take the dinghy ashore, tie up in the tiny harbour and then enjoy an ice cream on the quiet beach. Before the sun sets, we head for a walk around Lake Strofila, which sits just behind the beach, to see some of the local bird life and wetlands. We also find a reasonably sized supermarket to stock up on a few supplies.
Dinner tonight is a short walk to one of the roads behind the beach where we find a fantastic traditional taverna somewhat strangely called ‘The Big Bad Wolf’. We all tuck into hearty Stifado, Kleftiko and Moussaka enjoying some classic Greek hospitality from the manager.
We are looking forward to returning to the tiny island of Trikeri but this time we will stay overnight in the port. This will be our last stop before heading back to Volos town. We sail down the channel towards the gulf with many other boats which all look to be heading in the same direction. The sails are set on a broad reach with one reef, hitting a steady 7.5-8 knots and managing the gusts coming over the hills. At the entrance to the gulf, we can see the little green island of Trikeri and a series of tacks gets us towards the port.
A restaurant has been recommended to us so we have booked a berth and a table for the evening since the owner has a small quay that holds just three boats. It’s a stern too with anchor on to the very end of his little quay. We have time for a walk before dinner so head up the hill towards the very top and the huge old monastery. There aren’t any vehicles on the island so it is lovely to just follow the paths amongst the olive trees until we’re at the top of the hill with beautiful views of the gulf. Then it’s back down the hill to the taverna for a fish dinner on the edge of the harbour.
It is time to return to base today. As we head out of Trikeri to go around the island and into the gulf, the wind immediately picks up and we have 20 knots blowing again so the sails come out and it's time for some fun. We take our time sailing in the gulf and enjoying a last sail before heading into port.
Anchoring on the northern side of the gulf, just outside of Volos, we have a late lunch and one last swim before heading inside the harbour walls. Once we have paid for our 20 litres of fuel (it has definitely been a week of non-stop sailing!) we navigate to the quay where base staff are waiting to assist with our mooring for the last time. It is a little windy still so the staff have got their work cut out for them, but with a little patience we are in safely and there is still time for one last G&T on board whilst watching a beautiful sunset over the harbour wall.
If you have your next bareboat yacht charter or flotilla holiday booked, your thoughts may now be turning to what to pack! Whether you are heading to the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean or jetting off to sail in the warm breezes of the Caribbean, we have a few suggestions for you for useful items to pack for your next sailing holiday.
We took a look at the destinations which are currently top of the list and have been surprised by a few of the entries! Tried and tested favourites for your yacht charters stand alongside a few newcomers, keeping things interesting and allowing a few lesser-known sailing areas to have their place in the limelight.
For those of you who jetted off at the beginning of the summer or for those who wanted to ‘wait and see’, September and October offer fantastic sailing conditions in many areas and a chance to explore without the intense heat and crowds of summer.
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).
