Explore Greece aboard your own luxury catamaran with a dedicated Captain and Chef. Since 1999, Yachtsailing.com has been crafting unforgettable sailing experiences across the Greek islands — combining comfort, privacy, and local expertise for a truly seamless journey at sea.
An authentic and genuine experience of the Greek Lifestyle. History, culture, and flavors this beautiful country has to offer. Taken to breath taking views, taverns, bars, and beautiful beaches. As well as Incredible landmarks and monuments which echo back into the ages.
All our trips are fully customizable. There is no fixed itinerary. The final route is shaped together with you, based on your preferences (how many hours you wish to sail per day, whether you prefer sightseeing or relaxation, interest in hiking, swimming, local cuisine, etc.) and—most importantly—the weather conditions at the time of your trip.
We do not pre-impose routes, nor do we force sailing long distances if conditions are unpleasant. The captain adjusts the plan daily to ensure the experience remains relaxed, safe, and enjoyable. You may also change plans during the trip and stay longer at places you enjoy.
The Cyclades and the Saronic Islands offer different sailing experiences.
The Cyclades involve longer distances between islands and have a higher chance of stronger winds, especially in summer. This makes them more adventurous and sometimes choppier. The Saronic Islands, on the other hand, have shorter crossings, calmer waters, and a more relaxed overall pace.
Neither option is “better” universally. The choice depends on your comfort with sailing conditions, how much time you want to spend under sail, and the overall vibe you seek. Weather always has the final say, and flexibility is key to a successful trip.
Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that you have the best possible experience during your time in Greece
Some islands can be combined within a week; others cannot—at least not without sacrificing comfort.
Mykonos and Paros are feasible from Athens within a week under favorable conditions. Santorini, Patmos, Anafi, and other southern or eastern islands are located over 150 nautical miles away and are not realistically reachable within a one-week sailing vacation without excessive daily sailing hours.
For these distant islands, we strongly recommend visiting them by ferry or plane before or after your sailing trip. The true experience of a sailing vacation lies in balance, not in covering maximum miles.
Trips are weather-dependent, but this does not mean they are canceled.
If strong winds or unfavorable conditions arise, the itinerary is adjusted to more protected areas. To date, we have not lost a single trip due to weather. Greece offers many alternative routes that remain beautiful and enjoyable even when conditions in one region are not ideal.
Flexibility is essential and a key for a succesful trip along with an elevated experience
The difference is considerably greater than simply having one additional crew member onboard.
Our captain-only option is available on selected smaller boats, primarily for experienced or more independent guests who may have sailed this way before, or for those who prefer a simpler option for budget reasons. It provides the boat and a professional captain, but it should not be considered the full Yachtsailing crewed experience presented throughout our website.
With a captain-only charter, the captain’s responsibility is first and foremost the safe navigation, operation and management of the boat. The captain plans passages, monitors weather conditions, sails and manoeuvres the boat, anchors and moors, and remains responsible for the safety of the boat and everyone onboard.
Everything related to the guests' day-to-day living onboard remains largely their own responsibility.
Guests should expect to shop for their own groceries and provisions, prepare and cook their own meals, serve and clear meals, wash dishes, keep the galley and shared areas clean and tidy, manage rubbish and generally look after the boat during the charter. This can also include purchasing everyday supplies or cleaning products if additional items are required during the trip.
There are also practical limitations to what one captain can provide. The captain cannot safely operate the boat and provide guest service at the same time. Depending on the weather, anchorage and circumstances, the captain may need to remain onboard and may not always be able to launch or operate the dinghy, provide repeated shore transfers, accompany guests to beaches or swimming areas, assist with water activities, carry luggage or leave the boat unattended.
In stronger winds or exposed anchorages, these limitations become even more important, as the captain may need to remain continuously focused on the boat, its position and the anchor.
While the captain concentrates on navigation, safety and the operation of the boat, the second crew member takes care of many of the practical aspects of everyday life onboard.
Depending on the crew arrangement, this includes meal preparation, provisioning assistance, galley duties, cleaning and maintaining the interior and common areas, helping guests throughout the day, assisting with shore transfers and water activities, and generally keeping the boat organised and comfortable.
Having a second crew member also allows responsibilities to be shared during anchoring, mooring, arrivals and departures and gives the captain considerably greater flexibility to operate the dinghy and assist with the itinerary without compromising the safety of the main boat.
For this reason, a minimum of two crew members is standard on our larger boats and is the arrangement we strongly recommend for guests looking for the complete Yachtsailing experience.
Captain-only can be a perfectly suitable choice for guests who understand this style of charter, enjoy being independent and are comfortable cooking, shopping, cleaning and looking after themselves onboard. It also allows us to maintain a more budget-conscious option on some of our smaller boats.
However, for guests looking for a holiday where the everyday responsibilities are largely taken care of and where greater assistance, service and flexibility are available throughout the trip, a two-person crew is unquestionably the option we recommend.
In order to plan an accurate budget you should consider the following costs apart from the boat price:
Costs listed on the website are for the whole group (and not per person). Adding an additional passenger after your booking (providing the layout allows that) does not affect the weekly boat cost.
There is no fixed number of islands. The number depends on your preferences, the weather, and the pace you wish to maintain.
Some guests prefer changing location almost every day, while others enjoy staying longer in fewer places. Most commonly, guests visit 5–6 islands in one week, but this can be more or less depending on sailing distances and how much time you want to spend swimming, relaxing, or exploring ashore.
The itinerary remains flexible throughout the trip, allowing you to slow down or move on as you wish.
You are involved in the decision-making throughout the trip.
The initial route is discussed with the captain upon embarkation, taking into account the weather forecast and your preferences. From there, daily adjustments are very common. If you enjoy a specific island or bay, you may stay longer. If conditions change, the captain may suggest an alternative that offers a better experience.
Nothing is locked in advance, and spontaneity is part of the sailing experience.
Yes, provided the itinerary is planned thoughtfully.
For guests who prefer calmer waters or are sensitive to choppy seas, routes with shorter distances and more protected waters are recommended. The Saronic Gulf, for example, generally offers a smoother experience than the Cyclades.
Weather is always monitored closely, and itineraries are adapted to avoid unpleasant conditions. The objective is comfort and enjoyment, not endurance sailing.
Our charters operate on a Saturday-to-Saturday basis.
On embarkation Saturday, yachts are typically ready from around 14:00 at our base in Alimos Marina, Athens. You are welcome to arrive at that time, board the yacht, and settle into your cabins. If you have ordered provisioning in advance, everything will already be onboard.
Once on board:
The captain will welcome you and introduce the yacht
A full safety briefing will take place
You will discuss your preferences and possible routes based on the weather forecast
After these formalities, the trip begins immediately. Depending on your plan and weather conditions, you will usually sail for a few hours and enjoy your first swim or anchorage the very same day.
On disembarkation, the yacht returns to the marina on Friday evening. You overnight onboard, and disembarkation takes place by 09:00 on Saturday morning. This timing allows the crew to properly clean, service, and prepare the yacht for the next guests according to our standards.