Oneway sailing itineraries

There are several one-way routes possible in the Aegean Sea since Lavrion and Athens; Alimos marina are upwind from the Cycladic main yacht charter bases of Syros, Paros and Kos.

Sailing Syros (pix)

Furthermore, the ports of Mykonos, Milos and Santorini increasingly serve as useful secondary bases for yacht charters as well.
Frequent domestic flights, ferries and hydrofoils connect these islands with Athens Airport and Piraeus Port.

A	1 week Athens / Lavrio Mykonos, Syros or Paros via the Lesser Cyclades
Day	Ports & anchorages
1  Sat	Athens (Alimos) or Lavrion
2  Sun	Kea • Korissia & Vourkari ports as well as Poleis and Pisses, delightful anchorages.
3  Mon	Andros or Tinos • Andros port is lee-shore and involves distance, Tinos port is recommended. These islands are quite off the beaten track.
4  Tue	Donousa • a lovely remote isle in the Lesser Cyclades east of Naxos.
5  Wed	Amorgos • “Fjord bay” lunch-stop, night in Aegiali, visit northeast cliffs–600 metres sheer drop, alternatively Katapola & Xilokeratidi for the night.
6  Thu	Irakleia or Schinoussa • Drima-Antikeros, Glaros, Koufonisi, and Alimia bays around the Lesser Cyclades there – mini cruise area.
7  Fri	Mykonos or Syros • the Ermoupoli approach is even more breathtaking than the Poros approach, or preferably finish in Paros, Parikia port.

B	1 week Athens / Lavrio Paros via west Cyclades and Ios
Day	Ports & anchorages
1  Sat	Athens (Alimos) or Lavrion
2  Sun	Kythnos • either Merichas or Loutra and the Flampouria anchorage.
3  Mon	Serifos • Livadi/Chora and the stunning anchorages of Koutala, Megalo Livadi, Sikamia, Platis Gialos and Psili Ammos.
4  Tue	Sifnos • Kamares port, Faros port, and plenty of must-see anchorages: Fikiada, Kastro, Platis Gialos, Vathi…
5  Wed	Folegandros • Karavostasi and the chora, Sikinos, Alopronia port, totally off the beaten track with loads of archaeology.
6  Thu	Ios • Ios port or Tris Klises anchorage.
7  Fri	Parikia on Paros • very pictoresque, comparable to Naousa bay and port.

C	2 weeks Athens / Lavrio Paros via east Cyclades and Ios
Day	Ports & anchorages
1  Sat	Athens (Alimos) or Lavrion
2  Sun	Kea • (via Sounion) either Kea port as well as Poleis, Otzias and Pisses.
3  Mon	Andros • Gavrio port or Batsi anchorage.
4  Tue	Delos & Rinea • Skinos anchorage.
5  Wed	Donousa, Stavros port • or the anchorages Kedro and Roussa.
6  Thu	Amorgos • “Fjord bay” lunch-stop, night in Aegiali, visit northeast cliffs–600 metres sheer drop, alternatively Katapola & Xilokeratidi for the night, or Kalotiri (more adventurous)
7  Fri	Schinoussa • Mersini port – Drima-Antikeros anchorage, or on Naxos south coast visit Kalantos.
8  Sat	Ios • Tris Klises anchorage.
9  Sun	Ios • Ios port.
10  Mon	Despotiko • Livadi or Gamma bay anchorages.
11  Tue	Piso Livadi on Paros • or Marmara bay anchorage.
12  Wed	Naxos • Naxos port “Marina” and town.
13  Thu	Naousa on Paros • port or Naousa bay anchorages, notably Agiou Ioannou.
14  Fri	Parikia on Paros • very pictoresque, comparable to Naousa bay and port.

Several alternatives for Athens to Paros in 14 days:
click on the chart below for full-size.

D	2 weeks Athens / Lavrio Paros, west Cyclades and Santorini
Day	Ports & anchorages
1  Sat	Athens (Alimos) or Lavrion
2  Sun	Kea • (via Sounion) Kea port or Pisses anchorage.
3  Mon	Kythnos • Merichas and Flampouria anchorage.
4  Tue	Serifos • Livadi/Chora and the stunning anchorages of Koutala, Megalo Livadi, Sikamia, Platis Gialos and Psili Ammos.
5  Wed	Sifnos • Kamares port, Faros port, and plenty of must-see anchorages: Fikiada, Kastro, Platis Gialos, Vathi….
6  Thu	Folegandros • Karavostasi and the chora, Vathy anchorage, Chryssospilia “Golden cave”.
7  Fri	Santorini • Vlichada marina. Ag Nikolaos on Thirasia and Akrotiri anchorages + museum.
8  Sat	Anafi • Skala Anafi port and Megas Potamos.
9  Sun	Ios • Tris Klises anchorage.
10  Mon	Sikinos, Alopronia port, totally off the beaten track with loads of archaeology, Ag Georgios anchorage.
11  Tue	Ios • Ios port.
12  Wed	Despotiko • Livadi or Gamma bay anchorages.
13  Thu	Andiparos • Andiparos port.
14  Fri	Parikia on Paros • very pictoresque, comparable to Naousa bay and port.

E	2 weeks Athens / Lavrio Kos
Day	Ports & anchorages
1  Sat	Athens (Alimos) or Lavrion
2  Sun	Kea • (via Sounion) Kea port as well as Poleis and Pisses.
3  Mon	Kythnos • Loutra or the Ag Ioannis & Stefanos and Kanala anchorages.
4  Tue	Sifnos • Faros port, and the must-see anchorages: SE bay, Kastro, Platis Gialos…
5  Wed	Folegandros • Karavostasi and the chora, Vathy anchorage, Chryssospilia “Golden cave”. Off the beathen track: Sikinos, Alopronia port,and Ag Georgios anchorage.
6  Thu	Santorini • Vlichada marina. Ag Nikolaos on Thirasia and Skala • Fira or Akrotiri anchorages + museum.
7  Fri	Amorgos • the ports of Katapola & Xilokeratidi, Aegiali or “Fjord bay” anchorage, and do visit the northeast cliffs–600 metres sheer drop.
8  Sat	Kinaros & Livitha • see stepping stones between the Cyclades and Dodecanese below.
9  Sun	Leros • Lakki port, Archangelos islet and Panteli port.
10  Mon	Kalymnos • Kalymnos port Emporios with mooring buoys and Vathys.
11  Tue	Nisyros • Palon port and walk inside the volcano.
12  Wed	Tilos • Livadia port and St Anthony port or the Theologos anchorage.
13  Thu	Symi • Symi port or Panormitis or St George.
14  Fri	Kos • Kos marina.

F	3 weeks Lefkas Athens via south Peloponnese
Day	Ports & anchorages
1  Sat	Lefkas town / port / marina.
2  Sun	Meganisi • Zampati port.
3  Mon	Kalamos • Kalamos port.
4  Tue	Ithaca • Kioni port.
5  Wed	Ithaca • Vathy port.
6  Thu	Zakynthos • Zakynthos port or Porto Vromi.
7  Fri	Katakolo (Olympia).
8  Sat	Kyparissia
9  Sun	Marathopoli
10  Mon	Methoni
11  Tue	Koroni
12  Wed	Mezapos
13  Thu	Porto Kagio
14  Fri	Gytheio
15  Sat	Elafonisos / Neapoli
16  Sun	Monemvasia port
17  Mon	Ieraka port
18  Tue	Kyparissi port
19  Wed	Hydra • Hydra port, Agios Nikolaos or Bali anchorages.
20  Thu	Aegina • Perdika port or Ayia Marina port.
21  Fri	Athens (Alimos).

Several islands – notably Sifnos, Amorgos, Andros, Santorini, Symi, Tinos, Anafi, Paros - are worth more than one day.

Note, that in the above one-way itineraries - in contrast to the Saronic, Cyclades, Ionian and Dodecanese routes - I have opportunistically incorporated sailing each day.
Planning to sail the Aegean, should mean you are an experienced yachtsperson and reaching for Kea, or Kythnos should even in twilight pose no added risk if you are qualified enough to make such a landfall.
When sailing with reputable yacht charter agencies the handover of your yacht can be arranged much earlier in the afternoon.

There are a couple of stepping stones or logical connections between the Dodecanese and the Cyclades:

1. Between Kalymnos / Leros and Amorgos you will find the lovely islets of Kinaros and Livitha, the latter offering the best anchorage, totally secluded, usually mooring buoys.
2. East of Astypalea - totally off the beaten track - is the islet of Ioannis which has a nice solid anchorage at the south (loads of Ifalos here) and from there dead east to Nisyros.
3. Denoussa (islet east of Naxos) to Patmos.
4. Between Andros or Tinos and the Southern Sporades - notably Ikaria island (this is part of the east and then south route). This is also the recommended route when returning upwind in heavy weather such as the Meltemi.

The large fetch (the distance a wave travels: the greater the fetch, the larger the wave.) of more or less unblocked sea all the way from Mount Athos, Chalkidiki, Lemnos, Thasos…, causes higher waves in the open waters between the Dodecanese and Cyclades.
See, wind generated waves and seas versus swells.

Further reading

Greek chart terms and toponyms for sailing in Greece.
The wind roses of Greece.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you want to know more about cruising in Greece and trustworthy yacht charter firms for these one-ways.

Read more articles in my yachting guide.