If you prefer to get away from the more traditional routes of Greece and you are interested in discovering the best kept secrets of the Hellenic country, our Greek Island Cruise Athens – Athens is ideal for you. Explore the lesser known islands of Greece, but therefore also some of the most beautiful! This eight-day cruise, departing from Athens, will take you back in time to discover Greek history. You will also have the opportunity to connect with the lifestyle of the inhabitants, get to know the local culture and the traditions of the locals.
DAY 1 (Friday): ATENAS – CAPE SOUNION
Embark on our Greek Island Cruise Athens – Athens between 14hs and 15hs in Athens. Set sail for nearby Cape Sounion. Enjoy sunset cocktails and welcome dinner in the open air under the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon. Overnight at sea heading towards the island of Ikaria.
DAY 2 (Saturday): IKARIA
In the morning, we will stop for a refreshing swim at the Seychelles beach, which can be reached by yacht. Enjoy the crystal blue waters and the bright white pebbles that cover the seabed. We will have barbecue lunch on board and the ship will dock in the picturesque harbor of Ikaria. Ikaria is an island phenomenon like no other place in Greece or the world. People here live much longer than the population of other islands and the mainland. In fact, people here live on average 10 years longer than those in the rest of Europe and America.
Optionally, you can take a tour discovering authentic villages that seem to live in another world, enjoy a hike through breathtaking natural landscapes and then take a dip in one of the eight natural hot springs, or join a cooking class in the kitchen and garden of a family cottage in one of the island’s villages for a personalized experience cooking and learning about life and the secret of the inhabitants’ famous longevity. Afterwards enjoy an afternoon at leisure or have fun at one of the traditional village fairs. Overnight in Ikaria.
Discover the best kept secrets of the Hellenic country
DAY 3 (Sunday): PATMOS – LIPSI
We sail during the morning and countinue with our Greek Island Cruise Athens – Athens on Patmos, a beautiful island with a divine touch. Surrender to the mysticism and tranquility of this biblical island. In the morning we will discover two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Grotto and Monastery of St. John and the historic center of the medieval city of Chora, full of majesty and serenity. Small and secluded but spectacular, Patmos is the “Jerusalem of the Aegean”. In the afternoon we will sail to Lipsi Island, a time capsule of authenticity in the Dodecanese.
An open-air lunch and a swim stop await you at one of the glittering necklaces of 24 islets, protected by the Natura 2000 network, making it an ideal refuge for the friendly Mediterranean monk seal. While in Lipsi we will invite you to taste the famous red wine Aposperitis Lipsi (also available on board). Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the local harbor setting at sunset and a seaside dinner with traditional homemade recipes prepared with local products. Overnight in Lipsi.
DAY 4 (Monday): KÁLYMNOS
Early in the morning we will sail to Kalymnos with a stop for a swim on the way. Kalymnos is a hidden gem island for those who crave simplicity and authenticity. Home to the famous sponge divers, this Dodecanese island is ideal for modern adventurers with many hiking trails to explore. Join our optional tour to interact with the locals who collect sponges and produce around 30,000 sponges a year, learn about the many species of sponges and the various stages they go through before reaching the market. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy a walk or marvel at the Esperidon Fjord, perhaps the most beautiful fjord you will see on our Secret Greek Island Cruise and in all of Greece. Overnight in the picturesque port of Kálymnos.
DAY 5 (Tuesday): LEVITA – AMORGOS
On the fifth day of our Greek Island Cruise Athens – Athens The ship will sail to the white and blue Cyclades. Enjoy a stop at Levitha Island, inhabited by a family of four dedicated to animal husbandry. During the summer, this family also runs a small but impeccable restaurant for visiting yachts. Their roasts of meat and fresh fish are particularly popular with visiting travelers.
Enjoy a walk along one of the island’s goat trails. At the top of the island is an abandoned Italian outpost from World War II. At noon we sail to Amorgos, the island of Luc Besson’s “Big Blue”. Amorgos, full of traditions, brandy and quiet villages, will make you forget the 21st century. Enjoy an afternoon with the locals learning how to prepare the island’s famous Psimeni Raki, a local homemade liqueur flavored with honey and cloves made since ancient times in Amorgos. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the stunning medieval capital, 400 m above sea level. Overnight in the picturesque port of Katapola in Amorgos.
DAY 6 (Wednesday): AMORGOS – KOUFONISIA – IRAKLIA
Our early morning Secret Greek Island Cruise will take us to the impressive Chozoviotissa Monastery (optional visit) built in 1088 inside the rocky mountain cliffs. We will visit the monks’ cells which are open to visitors and contain important relics and artifacts. We will taste a glass of Psimeni Raki and a local sweet while enjoying magnificent views of the Aegean. Return on board for a short sail to the Small Cyclades: enjoy a swim in Koufonisia, take the kayaks and paddle boards off the ship to explore sea caves accessible only by boats.
In the afternoon, scenic cruise around the nearby island of Schinoussa before reaching Iraklia, a small island jewel hidden in the middle of the Aegean. It is part of the Natura 2000 network of natural habitats that marvels for the magnificent views offered by its mountain trails, the variety of its coastline and its own unique landscapes. There is no supermarket on the island, so deliveries are made by ferry from the nearby island of Naxos. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the true relaxed life of the Greek island. Overnight in port.
DAY 7 (Thursday): SERIFOS
In the morning we will arrive at Serifos, an island central to Cycladic culture, this island is bathed in brilliant light, crystal clear waters and unwavering traditions. Enjoy a swim at one of the island’s remote beaches, best accessed by small boat. BBQ lunch on board, followed by an afternoon stroll to explore the perfect castle-village called Hora. Optionally, join our tour of a local winery offering unobstructed views of the Aegean, or if you are a more creative person, join the group at a pottery studio on the island, where you can master the basics of traditional Greek craftsmanship and take your creations as a gift back home. Farewell dinner reminiscing about all the hidden gems of Greece. Midnight sailing back to Athens.
DAY 8 (Friday): ATENAS – END OF TRIP
Disembark in Athens between 8:30 – 9:00, after breakfast. End of the Greek Island Cruise Athens – Athens.
Send inquiry from 3.040,00 € per person
