Where a Cyclades charter could take you

Not at all. The routes shown here are designed to give you a realistic idea of where a week in the Cyclades could take you, rather than a schedule we expect you to follow.

Before your arrival, we discuss the places you would particularly like to see, how much sailing your group enjoys and what you want from the week. Once onboard, your captain brings those preferences together with the weather conditions to shape the actual route.

Think of these routes as inspiration and a sense of distance — not a timetable.

The first route brings together some of the more iconic Cycladic names, including Mykonos and Paros, alongside islands such as Kea, Syros, Serifos and Kythnos. The second heads south towards Sifnos, Milos, Kimolos and Polyaigos, with a stronger emphasis on dramatic coastlines, beautiful water and some quieter places away from the better-known islands.

There is no better route. The choice depends on what interests your group, how much sailing you enjoy and, ultimately, the conditions during your week.

And you do not actually need to choose between them before arriving. Islands from either route can be combined when distances and weather make sense.

The Cyclades involve longer distances and more open-water sailing than the Saronic. Some passages may be relatively short, while others — particularly the first or final crossing from Athens — can be considerably longer.

But we don't build the week around accumulating sailing hours. There needs to be time to swim, explore a village, discover some history, enjoy the food, spend an afternoon in a beautiful bay or simply do nothing.

The best itinerary is the one that finds the right balance between travelling through the Cyclades and actually experiencing them.

There is no ideal number, and we would not start the week with a target.

Four or five islands properly experienced can make a far better holiday than six or seven reached simply to tick them off a list. An island might deserve an afternoon, a full day or an extra night because your group simply doesn't want to leave.

The advantage of a private yacht is precisely that the week can develop as you go.

Absolutely. The routes are not packages.

If there is an island you particularly want to see, tell us. Equally, if you discover during the week that you prefer quieter islands, longer swimming stops, more time ashore or less sailing, the route can evolve accordingly.

The only limits are distance, weather and what remains comfortable and realistic for your group.

This is particularly important in the Cyclades. The Aegean can be windy, and nobody can predict months in advance exactly what conditions your particular week will bring.

Your captain may change the order of the islands, select a more protected passage, substitute one destination for another or reshape the route more substantially if necessary.

That isn't the itinerary going wrong. It is how a good Cyclades itinerary works. Your group sets the priorities, your yacht helps define what is comfortable and realistic, and the weather always has the final say.

Yes. The Cyclades are exposed to the Aegean winds, and there may be weeks when conditions make sailing there uncomfortable or simply not the right choice for your group.

This is true regardless of whether you choose to sail with us or with anyone else. You cannot go against nature. No responsible operator can guarantee months in advance that conditions will allow a particular Cyclades itinerary. If someone promises that you will definitely reach a specific island or follow a specific Cyclades route, there is an important part of the story being left out: weather always has the final say.

Chasing an ambitious itinerary despite the conditions rarely leads to a better experience. If necessary, your captain may recommend heading towards the more protected Saronic Gulf instead.

For us, it makes no difference which direction you ultimately sail. What matters is that you get the very best out of your time in Greece. The Saronic is not a lesser alternative — it is a different part of Greece, with beautiful islands, calmer waters and shorter distances, often leaving more time for swimming, exploring ashore, discovering local history and culture, enjoying the food and actually experiencing the places you visit.

We would always rather change direction and give you a great week than spend your holiday fighting the weather simply because the original plan said "Cyclades."

Your preferences help us plan the week, but weather always has the final say.

No. They are there to give you a sense of distance, not an arrival time.

Actual passage times will vary according to the yacht, wind, sea conditions and route taken. They should be used to understand the relative distance between islands rather than to plan the week hour by hour.