Cyclades

The Cyclades are the Greece many people have imagined before they arrive — whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, dramatic landscapes and islands with remarkably different personalities.

Travelling by yacht adds another dimension. You approach each island from the sea, swim in places you would otherwise never reach and experience the contrast between the quiet of the water and the life, history and culture waiting ashore. However weather has the final say.

Generally more than in the Saronic. Distances are longer, the waters are more exposed and conditions can make passages more demanding.

That doesn't mean the objective is to spend the week sailing. We still want enough time to swim, explore the villages, discover the history and culture of the islands, enjoy the food and simply slow down.

The best Cyclades itinerary is not necessarily the one that travels the furthest.

Potentially, yes. Mykonos, Paros and other Cycladic islands can form part of a one-week itinerary depending on the weather, the yacht and how much sailing your group is comfortable with.

We prefer not to promise a list of islands in advance. Reaching Mykonos means very little if you arrive late, leave early and spend most of the week travelling simply to say you were there. The purpose is to experience the islands, not collect them.

Santorini is not realistically suited to a standard one-week charter from Athens. Reaching it requires too much travelling and tends to make the entire itinerary revolve around one destination.

And Santorini's real magic is ashore — its villages, caldera, history, views and sunsets. We strongly recommend visiting it separately for a couple of nights before or after your charter and using your week at sea to discover islands that are particularly rewarding by yacht.

With a two-week charter, Santorini becomes a much more realistic part of a wider Cyclades itinerary.

The Meltemi is part of summer sailing in the Aegean and can significantly affect a Cyclades itinerary. Your captain follows the forecasts closely and may change the order of destinations, choose more protected passages or modify the route altogether.

This is why we never want guests to become emotionally committed to a rigid itinerary before arriving. Weather has the final say, and adapting to it is what allows us to keep the experience comfortable and enjoyable.

Not necessarily — and that is perfectly fine.

For guests specifically drawn to the Cycladic landscape and happy with longer passages and more open-water sailing, it can be an extraordinary experience. For families, guests sensitive to motion or groups who prefer shorter sailing days and more time swimming and exploring ashore, the Saronic may be the better fit.

Neither choice is a compromise. They are simply two very different ways of experiencing Greece by yacht.