Lavrion
via Milos & Sifnos.
Sail a 14-day yacht charter from Lavrion through Andros, Tinos, Donousa, Amorgos, Koufonissi, Folegandros and back via Milos and Sifnos. Full Cyclades grand tour.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Lavrion → Kea (Korissia Harbor)
18 nm afternoon hop east-southeast from Lavrion to Kea. Korissia is the larger free quay; Vourkari is the sheltered paid alternative when Meltemi blows above 18 kn N.
Distance
15 NM
Sailing
~3h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Lavrion → Kea (Korissia Harbor)
18 nm shake-down hop east-southeast from Lavrion to Kea. Korissia harbour on the northwest of the island is the larger overnight option; Vourkari Bay 1 nm north is the better-protected alternative with stern-to lazy lines. Plan to be moored before 16:00 — afternoon Meltemi swell builds at the Korissia entrance once wind exceeds 20 knots.
Things to do
Walk to the 6th-century BC Stone Lion of Kea
Snorkel the Patris steamship wreck off Koundouros
Octopus carpaccio at a Vourkari ouzeri
Walk Ioulida marble alleys at dusk
Mooring tip
Korissia town quay free but exposed in N Meltemi. Switch to Vourkari Bay (€25-35/night, lazy lines) when wind builds above 18 kn.
Kea → Andros
32 nm east-northeast to Andros — the northernmost of the Cyclades and one of the greenest. Gavrio on the west coast is the standard charter overnight; the harbour is large, well-protected and stern-to is straightforward. Andros is unusual in the Cyclades for its surface water — streams, waterfalls and stone bridges — and the inland hiking is the equal of any Aegean island. The capital Chora is on the east coast and accessed by road.
Things to do
Hike to Pithara waterfalls (inland)
Walk Chora marble paths and contemporary art museum
Froutalia herb omelette at a kafeneio
Swim Vitali Beach (north coast)
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Gavrio harbour, €30-50/night. Well-protected from any wind direction. Plenty of slot capacity in peak season.
Andros → Tinos
20 nm southeast to Tinos. The Andros-Tinos channel funnels the Meltemi but the leg is short. Tinos new harbour stern-to has moderate sand holding; the inner small craft harbour is the calmer alternative when Meltemi is forecast above 25 knots. Tinos is the marble-carving capital of the Aegean and the Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre — over 100 cliff-side dovecotes in the inland villages.
Things to do
Marble-carving workshop visit in Pyrgos
Walk the dovecote trail above Falatados
Artichoke à la polita lunch in a courtyard
Sunset at Volax granite-boulder field
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Tinos new harbour, €25-40/night. Holding moderate sand — set anchor with long scope. Inner craft harbour is calmer above 25 kn.
Tinos → Donousa
Long 38 nm southeast to Donousa — first of the Small Cyclades. Donousa is the most remote of the four populated Small Cyclades islands, with 100 year-round residents and limited charter capacity. The harbour at Stavros on the southwest coast is small but sheltered. Anchor in the bay outside the village if the quay is full. Kedros Beach south of the village is the headline swim — sand, turquoise water, sheltered from N.
Things to do
Swim Kedros Beach (south of village)
Hike to Kalotaritissa stone village
Snorkel the Cave of the Wall
Grilled gouna sun-dried mackerel at a beach shack
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Stavros harbour, €15-25/night, limited slots. Anchor in the bay outside on sand at 5-7 m. Sheltered from N Meltemi.
Donousa → Amorgos
15 nm southeast to Amorgos. The cliff-clinging Hozoviotissa Monastery is the headline excursion — 300 steps up the cliff face from the road, brilliant white walls against ochre rock, founded 1088 AD. Aegiali on the north coast is the safer overnight in N Meltemi; Katapola on the south is the alternative when wind clocks south. Olympia shipwreck off Liveros is the dive spot if anyone aboard has certification.
Things to do
Climb to cliff-clinging Hozoviotissa monastery
Dive the Olympia shipwreck off Liveros
Psimeni raki and goat in a Tholaria taverna
Hike Aegiali-Tholaria ridge path
Mooring tip
Aegiali stern-to, €25-40/night, sheltered from N. Katapola is the south-coast alternative for S wind. Confirm slot in peak — limited charter capacity.
Amorgos → Koufonissi
15 nm west-southwest to Koufonissi — the largest of the populated Small Cyclades and increasingly the boutique-yachting hub of the cluster. Pano Koufonissi (the inhabited island) has the harbour and village; Kato Koufonissi (uninhabited) is the day-anchor for the famous Pori Beach turquoise lagoon. Astakomakaronada (lobster spaghetti) is the local speciality; the catch is brought in early morning by the village fleet.
Things to do
Day-anchor swim at Pori Beach lagoon
Snorkel the cliff caves on the southeast coast
Astakomakaronada lobster spaghetti at the harbour
Walk Pano Koufonissi white-washed alleys
Mooring tip
Pano Koufonissi harbour stern-to, €25-40/night, slots fill by 17:00 in peak. Anchor on sand at 4-7 m east of the village if full. Sheltered from N.
Koufonissi → Schoinousa
Short 5 nm hop west to Schoinousa — smallest populated Small Cyclades island, 200 residents, the white-washed village Chora on a hill above the small harbour at Mersini. Walk up from the port, swim Tsigouri Beach (sheltered from N, sandy, shallow), eat tomato keftedes and house wine under a tamarisk tree. Schoinousa is the quietest stop on the Small Cyclades cluster.
Things to do
Swim Tsigouri Beach (sheltered from N)
Walk up to Chora hilltop village
Tomato keftedes under a tamarisk tree
Hike to Panagia mountain church
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Mersini harbour, €15-25/night, limited slots. Anchor on sand at 4-6 m east of the harbour if full. Sheltered from N.
Schoinousa → Irakleia
7 nm west to Irakleia. Population 100, one taverna at Agios Georgios harbour, a single road, the Blue Cave 30 minutes hike from the village. This is where Cyclades cruising goes quiet — the headline tourist crowd never reaches the Small Cyclades. If a panigiri (saint-day festival) coincides with the visit, the entire village joins in; the Saint Trinity festival in late August is the biggest of the year.
Things to do
Hike to the Blue Cave (30 min from village)
Beach swim at Livadi (best swim water in Small Cyclades)
Grilled gouna at the harbour taverna
Walk the kastro pirate-era ruins
Mooring tip
Anchor in Agios Georgios bay on sand at 5-7 m. Sheltered from N Meltemi. Small quay slots €15-25/night, lazy lines absent.
Irakleia → Folegandros
32 nm west to Folegandros — beam reach in standard Meltemi, fast passage. Karavostasi is the only practical port; small, sheltered from N, exposed S. Cliff-top Chora is a 30-minute kalderimi climb above the harbour or a taxi up. The cliff-edge walk from Chora to the Panagia church is the headline shore activity — 30 minutes one way, panoramic views all the way back to the southern Cyclades.
Things to do
Cliff-edge walk Chora to Panagia church
Swim Katergo Bay (boat-only access)
Matsata pasta with goat ragù in a courtyard
Walk the kalderimi path to Ano Meria
Mooring tip
Karavostasi stern-to, €25-40/night, limited slots. Anchor in the bay east of port on sand at 4-7 m if full. Avoid in S winds.
Folegandros → Milos (Port Adamantas)
20 nm northwest to Milos. The long Milos inlet provides one of the most sheltered overnights in the western Cyclades — once inside Adamas Bay the wind drops away from any direction. Sarakiniko bone-white volcanic moonscape on the way past is the unmissable swim stop, but the anchorage is exposed and only viable in calm wind. Klima fishermen syrmata (rainbow-painted boat houses on the water) are the photo activity ashore.
Things to do
Swim stop at lunar Sarakiniko cliffs
Snorkel Papafragas sea caves
Visit Plaka Castle for the panorama
Klima fishermen syrmata photo walk
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Adamas town quay, €30-50/night. Excellent shelter in any wind direction. Pollonia northeast is cheaper but exposed in N Meltemi.
Milos → Sifnos (Vathi or Kamares)
18 nm north to Sifnos. Vathi on the south coast is the calmest swim anchorage on the island — fjord-like inlet, sand bottom, salt flats inland. Kamares on the west coast is the larger paid quay overnight. In late summer when Meltemi has a westerly component switch from Kamares to Vathi for shelter. Sifnos is the gastronomy island of the Cyclades; mastelo lamb in clay pots and chickpea revithada cooked overnight in a wood oven are the two standard orders.
Things to do
Walk to cliffside Chrysopigi monastery at Faros
Mastelo lamb in clay pots at Artemonas
Pottery workshop visit in Vathy
Swim Vathi Bay (south coast, calmest)
Mooring tip
Anchor on sand at 5-8 m in Kamares Bay or stern-to on the small quay (€20-30/night). Vathi anchor on sand at 4-6 m, fully sheltered.
Sifnos → Kythnos (Merichas Harbor)
32 nm north back to Kythnos — long upwind day, plan two long port tacks against the Meltemi. Merichas on the west coast is the easier mooring than Loutra in builder forecast. Day-anchor at Apokrousi cove for lunch (sheltered from N). The Kolona double-bay sandbar 6 nm further north is the headline anchorage of the island and worth the detour if time and wind allow.
Things to do
Day-anchor lunch at Apokrousi cove
Anchor swim at the Kolona sandbar (detour)
Walk Merichas-Chora ridge road
Sfougato cheese pie at a Driopida taverna
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Merichas town quay, €20-30/night. Sheltered from N Meltemi. Loutra is the alternative for thermal springs.
Kythnos → Lavrion
Final leg back — 22 nm northwest to Lavrion. Stop at Cape Sounion for a last anchor swim under Poseidon's temple (anchorage 0.5 nm offshore on sand at 5-8 m, sheltered from N). Refuel at the Lavrion fuel berth before tying up so the boat is handover-ready.
Things to do
Last swim under the Cape Sounion temple
Refuel and clean the boat at Lavrion
Crew dinner at a Lavrion harbourside taverna
Souvenir-stop in Lavrion town
Mooring tip
Lavrion Olympic Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €60-90/night. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth before mooring. Confirm handover slot 24h ahead.
Lavrion → Check-out
Handover at Lavrion before 09:00. Boat inspection with the skipper present — deposit released within 7 days. Crew transfer to Athens airport is roughly 50 minutes by road. Photo evidence of any noted damage before signing. Plan to final inspection with the base manager and coffee at a Lavrion harbour kafeneio.
Things to do
Final inspection with the base manager
Coffee at a Lavrion harbour kafeneio
Airport transfer (50 min from Lavrion)
Tip the dock crew if service was good
Mooring tip
Hand over at Lavrion before 09:00. Deposit released within 7 days post-inspection. Photo evidence of any noted damage before signing.
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