7-day Cyclades itinerary
The Classic 7-Day Cyclades Yacht Charter Itinerary
Athens → Mykonos → Paros → Ios → Santorini and back. Day by day, anchorage by anchorage, what to do at each stop.
Last updated September 2026
The Cyclades 7-day itinerary, day by day
Sailing distances and timing
Total round-trip distance: 250-280 nm. Athens → Kea: 35 nm (4h motor / 6h sail) Kea → Mykonos: 60 nm (6h motor / 9h sail downwind in Meltemi) Mykonos → Tinos: 12 nm (1h motor / 2h sail) Tinos → Paros: 30 nm (3h motor / 5h sail) Paros → Ios: 35 nm (3.5h motor / 5h sail downwind) Ios → Santorini: 25 nm (2.5h motor / 4h sail) Santorini → Folegandros: 35 nm (3.5h motor / 5h sail) Folegandros → Santorini disembarkation: 35 nm All distances are direct sea routes. Add 10-20% buffer for weather, anchoring, and route deviations. The southbound direction is critical: with prevailing Meltemi from the north, sailing Athens→Santorini gives you downwind reaches; reverse direction (Santorini→Athens) is 4 days of upwind beating.
Notes from George on running this itinerary
- Book Naoussa restaurants (Mario, Stou Frix, Soso) two days ahead in summer. The yacht-set fills these.
- Delos closes at 15:00 sharp - anchor by 08:00 in the protected eastern bay, walk by 09:00, back to the yacht by 13:00.
- Caldera anchoring is technically poor (volcanic seabed, 40-60m depth). Captain calls double-scope anchor; some yachts use dynamic positioning instead.
- Vlyhada Marina for Santorini disembarkation, NOT Athinios. Vlyhada is calmer, more discreet, no day-tripper port crowd.
- Plan an overnight Athens→Mykonos repositioning on Day 0 if guests want to maximise destination time. Costs €1-3K extra in fuel but saves a full day.
- Antiparos Soros Beach lunch anchorage is best 11:00-14:00 - by 15:00 the Antiparos chora day-charter boats arrive.
Frequently asked
Questions we get about The Classic 7-Day Cyclades Yacht Charter Itinerary
How long should the Cyclades charter be?
7 days is standard. 10 days adds Folegandros + Sikinos + the Small Cyclades comfortably. 5 days is too tight for the Athens-Santorini route - consider Saronic instead.
Should I do this route Athens→Santorini or Santorini→Athens?
Athens→Santorini. The prevailing Meltemi (north-westerly) becomes a downwind tailwind sailing south. Reverse direction is 4 days of upwind beating, exhausting for sailing yachts.
What's the best yacht type for this itinerary?
Motor yacht for couples and luxury-oriented groups (the long downwind passages are still smooth). Catamaran for families (stability + comfort). Sailing monohull for sailors who want the Aegean classic. All three work; choose based on group.
Where do we disembark?
Santorini Vlyhada Marina is the canonical disembarkation. Direct flights from Vlyhada are limited - most guests fly Santorini → Athens, then Athens → home. Confirm flight timing before finalising the Day 7 schedule.
Can we skip Mykonos?
Yes - skip Mykonos for a quieter Cycladic week: Athens → Kea → Paros → Naxos → Ios → Santorini → Folegandros → Santorini. Saves 1 day of transit and avoids the August Mykonos crowds.
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Book the classic Cyclades route for 2027.
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