Europe Yachts
— Route · 14 days · one-way
Yacht charter route · Cyclades

Lavrion
via Mykonos & Santorini.

Sail a 14-day yacht charter from Lavrion through Syros, Tinos, Mykonos and Santorini and back. Lavrion start saves the Saronic crossing — the central Cyclades on minimum motoring.

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The route

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.

Kea
Day 1

Lavrion → Kea (Vourkari)

Easy 18 nm afternoon hop east-southeast from Lavrion to Kea. Lavrion is 12 nm closer than Alimos so the first day stays short. Vourkari for the overnight; Korissia town quay is the cheaper alternative.

Distance

15 NM

Sailing

~3h at 5 kn

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun – Sep, meltemi Jul – Aug)
Duration
14 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Lavrion
Sailing area
Cyclades

Route summary

Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.

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The full story

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.

Day 1 / 14
Kea
1
Day 1

Lavrion → Kea (Vourkari)

Lavrion sits 12 nm closer to the central Cyclades than Alimos and the start day reflects it — one short channel crossing east to Kea, comfortable inside an afternoon. Cast off after lunch when the Meltemi is at its strongest, take the wind on the quarter, and run south of Cape Sounion before turning east. Vourkari Bay opens on the northwest of Kea; long stern-to quay, well sheltered from the prevailing N, and lined with seafood ouzeris that have been at the same family pier for three generations.

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 streets at dusk

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Vourkari with lazy lines, around €25-35/night. Excellent shelter from N Meltemi. If full, drop anchor in Otzias 2 nm east on sand at 6-8 m.

Syros
2
Day 2

Kea → Syros (Ermoupoli)

Slip the lines around 09:00 — the morning wind is usually under 12 kn before the Meltemi fills in around 13:00. 32 nm east-southeast across open water to Syros. Once the Meltemi builds the second half of the leg becomes a beam reach with fast sea state, so reef early. Ermoupoli town quay is one of the most forgiving stern-to mooring positions in the entire Cyclades and the capital climbs the slope above in pastel neoclassical layers.

Things to do

Climb Ano Syros for the medieval Catholic quarter

Loukoumi tasting at a 19th-century confectionery

Walk Miaouli marble square at dusk

Swim the rock platforms at Asteria Beach

Mooring tip

Stern-to on Ermoupoli town quay (no fee, your own anchor). Excellent shelter in any wind direction. Manna marina is the paid alternative for €60-80/night.

Tinos
3
Day 3

Syros → Tinos

14 nm hop east-southeast. The Syros-Tinos channel is the breeziest in the central Cyclades — gap effect adds 5 knots to the regional forecast and 25-knot afternoons are normal in late July. Ride the wind on the beam at speed but plan to be moored before 16:00. 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 Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre and the marble-carving capital of the Aegean.

Things to do

Marble-carving workshop visit in Pyrgos village

Walk the dovecote trail above Falatados

Artichoke à la polita lunch in a courtyard taverna

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 small craft harbour is calmer when Meltemi exceeds 25 kn.

Mykonos
4
Day 4

Tinos → Mykonos

Short 8 nm leg east. The Tinos-Mykonos channel is reliably 5 knots stronger than the regional forecast — short, choppy state in the afternoon. Pre-book a slot at Tourlos New Marina online 24 hours ahead in July-August, or aim for the older Mykonos town quay (free but very exposed to swell, only viable if Meltemi is forecast below 18 knots). Day-anchor at Ornos or Psarou for an afternoon swim before mooring.

Things to do

Day-trip across to ancient Delos

Beach lunch at Agios Sostis (no road access)

Walk the Little Venice waterfront at sunset

Hike the Armenistis lighthouse loop

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Tourlos New Marina, €70-110/night peak. Pre-book online for July-August. Mykonos town quay free but only safe under 18 kn N.

Paros
5
Day 5

Mykonos → Paros (Naoussa)

Run southwest to Paros, roughly 22 nm of open-water Meltemi sailing with the wind on the quarter. Passage time 4-5 hours under sail. Naoussa on the north coast of Paros is the obvious overnight: the original Cycladic fishing harbour at the centre and a thriving yacht-village restaurant scene around it. Anchor in Plastira Bay outside the town if Meltemi pushes the inner harbour or if the small quay is full by 17:00.

Things to do

Snorkel the moon-rock outcrops at Kolymbithres

Wine tasting at a Marpissa vineyard

Ouzo at the Naoussa fishing-harbour quay

Hike Lefkes village marble paths at dusk

Mooring tip

Naoussa harbour stern-to, €30-50/night, often full by 17:00. Anchor in Plastira Bay 0.5 nm east on sand at 5-7 m if full. Parikia is the larger alternative.

Ios
6
Day 6

Paros → Ios

28 nm passage south through the Naxos-Sikinos channel — one of the strongest Meltemi stretches of the central Cyclades. Expect a port-tack reach with steady 22-30 knots through the channel itself. Reef early. Ormos harbour at Ios is sheltered and the marina is undergoing expansion; the older quay is still serviceable. Mylopotas Bay 1 nm south is the standard daytime swim anchorage but unsafe overnight in any Meltemi.

Things to do

Hike to the supposed tomb of Homer above Plakotos

Swim Manganari Bay (south coast)

Sunset drinks above Chora windmills

Late-night Chora rembetika square

Mooring tip

Ormos harbour stern-to, €25-40/night. New marina slots when available are pre-bookable. Mylopotas anchorage daytime only — untenable overnight in Meltemi.

Santorini
7
Day 7

Ios → Santorini

18 nm south to Santorini. The caldera deserves a daylight entry and a calm wind window. Vlychada Marina on the south coast is the only practical overnight (paid berth, road access, sheltered). Caldera anchoring is technically possible at the cruise-ship buoys off Thirasia, but the bottom drops past 200 m so swing-anchoring is impossible. Plan to leave Ios at first light, be at Vlychada by lunchtime, and taxi up to Oia for the sunset.

Things to do

Taxi to Oia for the cliff-top sunset

Wine tasting at Santo Wines or Domaine Sigalas

Swim off Red Beach (south coast access)

Caldera-edge fava with capers in Megalochori

Mooring tip

Vlychada Marina stern-to, €60-100/night. Book ahead in peak season. Cruise-ship buoys off Thirasia are an unreliable alternative.

Folegandros
8
Day 8

Santorini → Folegandros

Turn west and start the return. 22 nm northwest to Folegandros, first true upwind leg of the trip — Meltemi on the bow. Karavostasi is the only practical port; small, sheltered from N, exposed to S. Anchor or stern-to depending on slot availability. The Chora itself is high above the harbour on the cliff edge — taxi or a 30-minute climb up the kalderimi. Day-anchor at Katergo Bay (boat-only access) for a swim before mooring.

Things to do

Taxi up to Chora for the cliff-edge Panagia church

Swim Katergo Bay (boat-only access)

Matsata pasta with goat ragù in a lantern 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 — port fully exposed south.

Milos
9
Day 9

Folegandros → Milos (Adamas)

20 nm northwest to Milos — second upwind leg, Meltemi on the bow. Adamas harbour at the head of the long Milos bay is the safest overnight on the island and one of the most sheltered in the western Cyclades. Once inside the bay, the wind drops away and protection from any direction is excellent. Plan a daytime swim stop at Sarakiniko on the way past — the bone-white volcanic landscape is unmissable but the anchorage is exposed and only viable in calm wind.

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.

Kamares
10
Day 10

Milos → Sifnos (Kamares)

18 nm short hop north to Sifnos. Kamares Bay on the west coast is the obvious overnight — sheltered from N and NE but opens to the W. In late summer when the Meltemi has a westerly component, swell rolls in and the bay can become unsettled; Platys Gialos on the south coast is the alternative. Sifnos is the gastronomy island of the Cyclades — chickpea revithada cooked in a wood oven overnight, mastelo lamb in clay pots, and the original Tselemes 19th-century cookbook tradition.

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, calm)

Mooring tip

Anchor on sand at 5-8 m in Kamares Bay or stern-to on the small quay (limited slots, €20-30/night). Switch to Platys Gialos south coast when wind clocks west.

Serifos
11
Day 11

Sifnos → Serifos (Livadi)

14 nm short upwind hop north to Serifos. Livadi Bay on the south coast opens directly into the Meltemi and acts as a wind funnel; holding is good sand but the wind stretches any anchor and drag is the most common Serifos charter incident. Set with long scope, dive to verify, stay aboard for the first hour after mooring. Chora above the harbour is one of the most photogenic Cycladic villages and worth the donkey path or the road taxi up.

Things to do

Walk the donkey path up to Chora

Revithada chickpea stew in a kafeneio

Swim Psili Ammos beach (south coast)

Sunset at the windmills above Chora

Mooring tip

Anchor in Livadi Bay on sand at 5-8 m, long scope mandatory. Stern-to on town quay, €20-30/night. Drag risk above 22 kn — dive the anchor before going ashore.

Kythnos
12
Day 12

Serifos → Kythnos (Merichas)

15 nm north to Kythnos. Merichas is the small ferry port on the west coast and the Kolona double-bay sandbar 6 nm further north is the headline anchorage of the whole island. Kolona is unique — a 200-metre sand spit joining the islet of Agios Loukas to Kythnos proper, with a beach and shallow swimming on both sides of the spit. Anchor and stay through dinner — the swim is the destination, not the village.

Things to do

Anchor swim at the Kolona sandbar

Soak in the Loutra natural hot springs

Cycle the Chora-Driopida ridge road

Sfougato cheese pie at a Driopida taverna

Mooring tip

Free anchoring on sand at 4-6 m at Kolona, sheltered from N Meltemi by the islet. Merichas town quay €20-30/night. Loutra has small marina slots and natural hot springs.

Lavrion
13
Day 13

Kythnos → Lavrion

Final leg back to Lavrion — 24 nm northwest. Shorter than the Alimos return because Lavrion sits east of Athens. Cape Sounion to starboard halfway across — last navigation marker before the home port. Refuel at Lavrion fuel berth before tying up so the crew can step off the boat ready for transfers. The Lavrion base typically wants the boat in by 17:00 the day before the official handover.

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 with the base.

Lavrion
14
Day 14

Lavrion → Check-out

Handover at Lavrion before 09:00. Base inspects the boat with the skipper present — deposit released within 7 days assuming nothing flagged. Crew transfer to Athens airport is roughly 50 minutes by road, plus traffic. Coffee and breakfast at a Lavrion harbour café before goodbyes; the espresso here is half the price of Glyfada.

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. Confirm any damage notes with photo evidence before signing.

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