One of the most exclusive vacations that one can imagine is a chartered cruise of the Greek Isles on a luxurious yacht. It will take your breath away to imagine sailing across the turquoise sea, dropping anchor at pristine beaches, visiting picturesque towns and tasting delicious meals on board your own yacht. When it comes to luxury, personalisation and a unique experience, there’s nothing quite like hiring a private yacht. From finding the best island to deciding on the right time to travel, here is all you need to know to plan the perfect Greek Island vacation.

Why Choose a Private Yacht for Sailing Around the Greek Islands?

Exclusivity and Privacy

If you decide to travel by a private yacht during your sailing tour, you are going to get something that no ordinary cruise or group tour can offer. You will have the whole yacht for your own, and no one will dictate how quickly or slowly you should go. If you want to avoid people or just need to be alone, a private yacht is your chance to feel as comfortable as you need.

The Greek Islands are one of the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean and by chartering a private yacht, you can moor your yacht in some quiet bays out of the reach of tourist crowds. Sailing in a yacht of your own is something you cannot compare to anything else in the world.

Luxury and Comfort

A private yacht is the best way to combine elegant comfort with excitement and thrill. Worthy of note are interiors that can be breathtaking; spacious and comfortable decks that are a great place to sunbathe, among others; today’s yachts are equipped with state of the art amenities to ensure that your sailing is as comfortable as it can be. They will picture themselves wining and dining on deck while candle lit meals cooked by a private chef are served or relaxing on soft cushions while sailing. Whether it be in terms of exploring new destinations or just cruising in leisure, your charter yacht will always be ready to meet your expectations.

Best Greek Islands for Sailing

Greece has more than 6,000 islands and every single island has something special to offer. You should choose the islands that you wish to visit when organizing your private yacht sailing tour. The following are the top three island groups where you should consider for a great sailing adventure.

The Cyclades: Sun, Beaches, and Culture

The Cyclades are perhaps the most famous islands in Greece, famous for their buildings painted in white with blue domes, beautiful beaches and active night life. Mykonos and Santorini are popular all over the world, but the Cyclades are much more than these two islands.

During a yacht trip you can visit the less popular islands such as Folegandros, Milos, Serifos or other. These islands are endowed with natural beaches, steep rocks, and archeological sites. While tourists from across the globe flock to witness the beautiful sunsets in Santorini, Mykonos is famous for its chic dining places, and designer stores.

The Ionian Islands: Scenic Beauty and Tranquility

In general, the Ionian Islands boast beauty and calm for those tourists who want to have a good rest. Situated on the Ionian Sea on the west side of Greece this group comprises of Corfu, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos among others. The Ionian Sea is gentle, is surrounded by greenery and has some of the most beautiful sandy shores.

The Ionian Islands are known to provide different experiences for any lover of nature. Go trekking up the picturesque slopes of Corfu, sunbathe on the famous Shipwreck beach of Zakynthos or swim in the clear waters around Kefalonia. This group of islands is ideal for a slow vacation with beautiful bays, quiet fishing settlements, and lively marinas.

The Dodecanese: History and Charm

Cultural sightseers will have a great time on the islands as there are numerous archeological sites, medieval castles and beautiful architecture. Rhodes, the biggest island of the Dodecanese, should be explored thanks to the Old Town that is enlisted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient ruins, and the medieval palace.

If one wants to have a more secluded honeymoon, then he or she should go to some of the less touristy islands such as Patmos or Symi with its monasteries. The Dodecanese is perfect for those who seek history, culture and natural beauty in their sailing across the Aegean Sea.

Planning Your Itinerary: How to Customize Your Private Yacht Trip

The first step therefore is to choose the islands you wish to visit and the second step is to choose how to visit them. A private yacht sailing trip is as flexible as you want to be and you can make a schedule that best suits you.

Deciding the Duration of Your Trip

The length of your yacht trip depends on the number of islands you plan to visit and the type of activities you plan to do. A week’s vacation in Greece is said to be sufficient for a complete Greek island experience in the sense that you can visit more than one island, do just about everything that the islands offer and have the time to get bored if you want to.

If you are not going on a long vacation, you can plan a 3 or 4 days and choose one or two islands so that you can spend more time and visit more sites on each island.

Must-See Destinations and Hidden Gems

Of course, the large islands such as Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes are good but the beauty of a private yacht charter is that you get to discover other lesser-known gems. Try to visit such offbeat places as Hydra – the streets of which are inaccessible for cars, and houses are mostly traditional Greek ones, or Kythnos, which is well-known for the thermal springs.

It is quite important to set a day or two aside for an exploration of small coastal towns, local markets and beautiful deserted beaches. Your yacht captain will usually know the best place where to go to avoid commercialized areas and make the experience as genuine as possible.

Key Considerations for a Successful Private Yacht Sailing Experience

Choosing the Right Yacht for Your Trip

It is also worth mentioning that the type of yacht that you hire determines your trip. Yachts include superyachts and sailing boats and everything in between. The type of accommodation you will book will depend on the size of your group, your preference of how much you want to spend or how much luxury you want.

Whereas some of the luxurious yacht rental services may offer several cabins, a personal cook and can even have a jacuzzi or a swimming pool, others may place more emphasis on sailing and exploration. It is important that all these aspects should be brought to the attention of the yacht broker so that the chosen vessel will suit the buyer.

Hiring a Professional Crew vs. Self-Captained

Although some experienced sailors may prefer to sail their own yachts, the vast majority of yacht owners prefer to hire a crew. The presence of a professional team makes the trip relaxed since they take charge of determining the course, preparing meals, and anything else regarding the voyage.

For those who would like to take a closer look at the sailing, some private yachts are available for sail by themselves but it can be done only if the renter has enough knowledge about sailing.

Best Time of Year to Sail the Greek Islands

The ideal time for the cruise to the Greek Islands is during the time of May, June, September and the first half of October while the high season is in July and August. Nonetheless, May, June, and September are the shoulder months with warm and sunny weather and low tourists compared to those of the summer season.

Conclusion

The best example of an exciting and luxurious vacation is a private yacht sailing tour of the Greek Islands. When you charter a yacht, you have the ability to plan your own trip, including the stunning islands to stop at, as well as have personalized services. If you are in search of some quiet time on the sand, a history or food tour, The Greek Islands are ready and willing to present themselves to you.