Europe Yachts
— Route · 7 days · one-way
Yacht charter route · Cyclades

Paros
via Naxos & Schoinousa.

Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Paros via Naxos, Donousa, Koufonissi, Schoinousa and Irakleia. Central + Small Cyclades loop with the quietest anchorages on the Aegean charter map.

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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.

Naxos
Day 1

Paros → Naxos

6 nm short shake-down hop east to Naxos. Town harbour well-protected; Portara marble doorway is the headline sunset spot. Stern-to in Naxos town harbour, €30-50/night. Plan to hike Mount Zas (Zeus birthplace, 4 h) and kitro citron liqueur tasting at Halki.

Distance

11 NM

Sailing

~2.2h at 5 kn

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun – Sep, meltemi Jul – Aug)
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Paros
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 / 7
Naxos
1
Day 1

Paros → Naxos

Short 6 nm shake-down hop east across the Naxos-Paros channel. Naxos town harbour is well-protected and stern-to is reliable. The Portara — a single marble doorway from the unfinished 6th-century BC Apollo temple — sits on the islet at the harbour entrance and is the headline sunset spot.

Things to do

Sunset at the Portara marble doorway

Hike Mount Zas (Zeus birthplace, 4 h)

Kitro citron liqueur tasting at Halki

Swim Agios Prokopios Beach

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Naxos town harbour, €30-50/night. Well-protected from any wind direction. Plenty of slot capacity even in peak season.

Donoussa
2
Day 2

Naxos → Donoussa

24 nm east-southeast to Donousa — most remote populated Small Cyclades island, 100 year-round residents. Stavros harbour on the southwest is small and sheltered; anchor in the bay outside if the quay is full. Kedros Beach south of the village is the headline swim, sand and 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.

Koufonissi
3
Day 3

Donoussa → Koufonissi

15 nm southwest to Koufonissi — boutique-yachting hub of the Small Cyclades. Pano Koufonissi (the inhabited island) has the quay; Kato Koufonissi (uninhabited) is the day-anchor for the Pori Beach turquoise lagoon swim. Astakomakaronada (lobster spaghetti) is the local speciality.

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. Anchor on sand at 4-7 m east of the village if full.

Schoinousa
4
Day 4

Koufonissi → Schoinousa (Mirsini Harbor)

5 nm short hop west to Schoinousa — quietest of the populated Small Cyclades, 200 residents. Mersini harbour at the foot, Chora village on the hill above. Tsigouri Beach is the headline swim — sandy, shallow, sheltered from N. Stern-to in Mersini harbour, €15-25/night, limited slots. Anchor on sand at 4-6 m east of the harbour. Sheltered from N. Plan to swim Tsigouri Beach (sheltered from N), walk up to Chora hilltop village, tomato keftedes under a tamarisk tree.

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. Sheltered from N.

Irakleia
5
Day 5

Schoinousa → Irakleia

7 nm west to Irakleia — population 100, one taverna at Agios Georgios harbour, single road, the Blue Cave a 30-minute hike from the village. Quietest island stop on the Cycladic charter circuit. If a panigiri (saint-day festival) coincides, the entire village joins.

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.

Paros
6
Day 6

Irakleia → Paros

20 nm west back to Paros. Optional snorkel detour to the Antiparos Cave (south coast of Antiparos, 0.5 nm short of the cave entrance). Naoussa for the photogenic fishing harbour overnight; Parikia for easier mooring. Last evening dinner on the Naoussa pier with octopus drying on the rope at the centre of the village.

Things to do

Snorkel the Antiparos Cave detour

Octopus on the rope at a Naoussa pier taverna

Wine tasting at a Marpissa vineyard

Walk Lefkes village marble paths at dusk

Mooring tip

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

Paros
7
Day 7

Paros → Paros (Check Out)

Handover at Parikia or Naoussa before 09:00. Boat inspection — deposit released within 7 days. Crew transfer to Paros airport (PAS) is 15 minutes from Parikia. Photo evidence of any noted damage before signing. Plan to final inspection with the base manager and last swim at Golden Beach (south coast).

Things to do

Final inspection with the base manager

Last swim at Golden Beach (south coast)

Breakfast on the Parikia portside

Airport transfer (15 min to PAS)

Mooring tip

Hand over before 09:00. Deposit released within 7 days post-inspection. Photo evidence of any noted damage before signing.

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