Cyclades sailing holidays

The Cyclades - Κυκλάδες lay in a circle (Greek: kyklos) around the sacred island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, and consists of 23 large islands and some 200 smaller ones. The archipelago is based on a submarine plateau which extends in an arc from the most easterly point of Attica and Evia towards the coast of Asia Minor. All the islands are hilly. The northern ones consist predominantly of Cretaceous limestone, micaceous schists, gneisses and marbles; those to the south consist in part of volcanic materials.
Sailing map of the Cyclades - Aegean Sea - yacht charter vacations.

Sailing map of the Cyclades - Aegean Sea - yacht charter vacations.

With the exception of Naxos the islands have no perennial rivers, and as a result of the prevailing sharp sea-winds (the Meltemi in summer) are lacking in trees. Characteristic features of the landscape are the cubed whitewashed Cycladic houses and the thatch-roofed windmills, very romantic and ideal for a sailing holiday.

Cyclades Islands

Kea Kythnos Syros Andros, Tinos Mykonos, Delos SerifosNorthern SifnosSouthern Paros, Antiparos Naxos Milos, Kimolos Folegandros Ios Amorgos Santorini

Routes and itineraries in the Cyclades
Routes for oneway yacht charters
Full list of Cyclades islands and their Greek, Ancient Greek, Medieval and Latin names.
Charts & descriptions should not be used for navigational purposes.

History of the Cyclades

Evidence of settlement dating back to Mycenaean times has been found on the islands, but their first emergence into the light of history was in 743 BCE. In the 5th century BCE the islands came under Athenian influence, and in the 2nd century BCE the Roman Empire took over.
Later they became under Byzantine rule, and in 1085 were conquered by the Normans; subsequently in 1203-04 the Fourth Crusade brought another change of masters. The Cyclades now fell into the hands of Italian rulers, and came under Venetian control.

Venetian rule lasted until the fall of the Republic of St Mark in 1797. And during this period the islands provided a refuge for many Greeks fleeing from the Turks, including artists from Crete who founded a school of their own here, and throughout these centuries they enjoyed a richer cultural life than the rest of Greece.
After an interlude of French rule the young Republic of the Seven Islands became a British Protectorate in 1815; in 1864 Britain returned the islands to Greece.

Important reading

Guide to yacht charters: 8 steps towards a succesful sailing holiday in Greece or Turkey.

Lavrion as yacht charter base

The port of Lavrion (Laurion or Lavriou) is located at the south east of Attica, and is in many aspects a more convenient yacht charter base to explore the Cyclades from than the Alimos / Kalamaki marina in Athens. The distances from the International Athens Airport are roughly the same, yet you will spare yourself a sailing day along the dull concrete outskirts of Athens and for instance the port of Kea is just 14 nm away. Therefore, this less known port of Lavrion is sometimes called the gate of the Cyclades and already quite a few charter companies have set up a base here.
Sailing map of Lavrio lavrion lavriou

Other bases to start your sailing holiday are Paroikia port in Paros, Syros and Athens, which makes it possible to sail a one way charter from for instance Athens or Lavrion to Paros. For unbiased advice on charter companies please go to my page on Yacht charters.

Sailing maps and charts

British Admiralty Charts 1095 and 1037, 1038, 1040, 1041

Imray Tetra chart G31 Northern Cyclades Covers the islands of Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Siros, Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Delos and the south tip of Evvia as well as the north tips of Paros and Naxos. Plans O. Mikonou (N. Mikonos) O. Gavriou (N. Andros), Limin A. Nikolaou (Nisos Kea), Limin Sirou (N. Siros). Scale 1:189,700
Imray Tetra chart G33 Southern Cyclades The islands of Serifos, Sifnos, Antiparos, Paros, Naxos, The little Cyclades (Karos, Iraklia, Skinoussa, etc), Ios, Santorini (Thira), Sikinos, Folegandros, Poliagos, Kimolos and Milos. Plans Steno Kimolou (N. Kimolos), O. Livadhiou (N. Serifos), Steno Andiparou (N. Paros), O. Naxou (N. Naxos). Scale 1:190,000
Imray Tetra chart G34 Southeastern Cyclades The islands of Naxos, The little Cyclades (Karos, Iraklia, Skinoussa, etc), Dhenoussa, Amorgos, Kinaros, Levitha, Leros, Kalymnos, (east tip of) Kos, Astypalaia, Anafi, Santorini (Thira) and Ios. Plans O. Kalimnou (N. Kalimnos), O. Maltezana (N. Astipalaia). Scale 1:190,000
Greek Waters Pilot - Amazon.co.uk Greek Waters Pilot - Amazon.com The brand new 10th edition - 2008 - of this classic and indispensable pilot, which completely covers Greece, the Aegean Sea and the Cyclades in great detail. Hundreds of maps and sketches covering ports and anchorages. Weather patterns, currents, animal life etc. As well as in-depth cultural and historic background information.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you want to know more about sailing Greece and reliable yacht charters in this area...

Cyclades Islands

kea
Kythnos
Syros
Andros, Tinos
Mykonos, Delos
SerifosNorthern
SifnosSouthern
Paros, Antiparos
Naxos
Milos, Kimolos
Folegandros
Ios
Amorgos
Santorini

Greece :

Ionian Islands
Dodecanese Islands
Cyclades Islands
Northern Sporades
Peloponnese – Athens

Charter guide
Yacht charter companies

Itineraries in the Cyclades
One-way itineraries

Turkey :

Izmir – Bodrum
Bodrum – Marmaris
Marmaris – Fethiye
Fethiye – Antalya

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