
Sail and Explore Greek Islands
- Greece
- 4 nights
Set sail from Athens for a dreamy adventure among the stunning islands of the Cyclades
What's Included?
- Activities & Certified GuidesAll itinerary activities with an expert, local, English-speaking skipper
- Yacht4 nights on a private yacht
- MealsAll breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- EquipmentStand-up paddleboards always at the ready
- Small Like-minded GroupsSolo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 10 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
Last few spotsFrom…excluding flights
Highlights
Island hop between the hidden gems of Kea, Kythnos and Serifos, soaking up quaint villages, delicious Greek feasts and perfect sundowner moments
Soak up the beautiful Aegean Sea, venturing out on a SUP to paddle the calm, clear waters and explore the best swim spots off quiet coves and lagoons
Live aboard a private yacht, docking each night in a different bay and learning sailing techniques from your skipper as you go
Looking for a longer adventure? Check out Sail and Explore Greek Islands in a Week (opens in new tab)
Itinerary
Day 1
Set sail
Sailing2hrsBoatDouble or twin bunkShow Day 1 detailHide detail
Head to Lavrio Port to meet up with your fellow adventurers and skipper at a taverna here. Get your first glimpse of the yacht and settle in on board - your skipper will give you a quick tour of the boat and assign cabins before the time comes to set sail to the lush green island of Kea. Could there be a dreamier feeling than sailing out into the blue expanse of the Aegean with several days of the good life waiting ahead of you? Learn more about life onboard from the skipper and get some sailing tips and techniques to kick things off. After a while cruising through the waters you'll reach Kea in time to explore the charming village before settling in for a delicious dinner at a local taverna, tucking into myriad classic Greek flavours. Settle into your cabin this evening for a first taste of sleeping on board your yacht.
Day 2
Kythnos
Sailing3-4hrsBoatDouble or twin bunkBreakfast and lunch includedShow Day 2 detailHide detail
Wake up for the first time on board your yacht, with the sound of the Aegean lapping at the heel as you sip coffee, prepare breakfast and grab a morning swim. Mornings don't come much better than this. Set sail later this morning to a bay by the ancient Tetrapolis of Kea and see why it has been attracting visitors since the 17th century. Lay anchor and step onto dry land on Kea, take a dip in the sea from one of the island's most beautiful beaches and then set off for a relaxing afternoon’s sailing to the picturesque port of Loutra on Kythnos. The island is known for its natural warm springs, which you will have the chance to soak away in before heading out for dinner on the island at a classic taverna. Settle back on board for another cosy night in the Aegean.
Day 3
Serifos
Sailing3-4hrsBoatDouble or twin bunkAll meals includedShow Day 3 detailHide detail
The rhythm of life onboard the yacht doesn't take long to slip into, with another leisurely breakfast and morning swim to kick things off. Today's sail is over to Serifos island - an integral part of Greek mythology, associated with two of its most famous heroes: Ulysses and Perseus. This downwind crossing is a great opportunity to practice some of the sailing techniques that you've learned so from your skipper. If you're up for it, Serifos is a great spot try some paddle boarding off one of Serifos’ many secluded beaches. There are four paddleboards onboard the boat to be used at a variety of opportunities. The warm, calm seas in this part of Greece are ideal for paddleboarding. Enjoy sundowners and another Greek feast tonight, either on board the yacht or at a tavern on the waterfront.
Day 4
Kythnos
Sailing3-4hrsBoatDouble or twin bunkBreakfast and dinner includedShow Day 4 detailHide detail
Start your day with explorations on land this morning, exploring Chora’s narrow, whitewashed alleys overflowing with green, pink and purple bougainvillea at your own pace. Maybe hike the steep trail to the lovely Ag. Konstantinos chapel and enjoy the amazing views of the Aegean Sea and the islands of Kimolos, Milos, Sifnos and your next destination in the distance, Kythnos. Alternatively you can relax on the pristine beaches of Livadi and Livadaki, the morning and early afternoon is yours to enjoy as you like. After a leisurely lunch at a local taverna, rejoin your yacht and your skipper and set sail for the western side of Kythnos, stopping at the gold-sanded beaches of Apokrousi and Kolona which connect the main island to the islet of Agios Loukas. This is a truly dreamy spot for a swim and some paddleboarding. Soak up the last of Kythnos on land before hopping back on the yacht, sip sundowners from the deck and enjoy another Mediterranean evening meal.
Day 5
Make port at Lavrio Port before heading home
Sailing3hrsBreakfast includedShow Day 5 detailHide detail
Spend your final morning immersed in the beauty of Kythnos, soaking up the turquoise Aegean waters with an early morning swim or paddle boarding session, or simply relax on deck with a coffee. After a late breakfast you'll set sail one last time, heading north back towards the Greek mainland soaking up the last moments on the open sea. You'll be back at Lavrio Port around lunchtime, where the adventure comes to an end as you bid farewell to your yacht and crew. From here, you can head back into Athens city centre to continue your Greek travels, or head straight to the airport if you have a flight to catch. We recommend you don't book any flights departing before 17:00 today to give you enough time.
Getting There
- Nearest airport
- Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH)
- Pick up
- Lavrio Port, Athens
15:15 on Day 1 - Drop off
- Lavrio Port, Athens
14:00 on Day 5
What is and isn't Included?
What's included
- Guided sail to Kea
- Learn about life onboard, sailing tips and techniques
- Guided sail to a bay by the ancient Tetrapolis of Kea
- Wild swimming
- Soak in natural springs
- Guided sail to Serifos island
- Paddleboarding
- Visit Chora
- Guided sail to the western side of Kythnos
- Guided sail to Lavrio Port
- Expert, local, English-speaking captain
- 4 nights on a private yacht
- All (4) on board buffet breakfasts
- 2 fresh on board lunches
- 2 tasty on board dinners
The meals included on this trip will be prepared on board the yacht by you and your fellow travellers with fresh, local ingredients – all part of the fun of a sailing adventure!
- Stand-up paddleboards
What's not included
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
Tips are not included in the trip cost; these are entirely at your discretion. If you would like to tip, the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality.
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures, and you'll need to provide your policy details before departure. Your insurance should offer adequate cover for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities involved in your adventure. We also recommend ensuring your policy includes cancellation and curtailment cover, in case you're unable to join your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness.
Standard travel insurance may not cover all the activities included in your adventure, so it's essential to check the details carefully. There are adventure-specific providers that many travellers have used in the past, such as True Traveller (opens in new tab) (for those based in the UK or Europe), or Rise + Shield (opens in new tab), both of which offer cover for a wide range of adventurous activities.
Please make sure your chosen policy meets your individual needs and covers all aspects of your trip.
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.
Airport transfers on arrival and for departure are not included on this trip.
Where You'll Stay
Looking for a private room? See Optional Extras for details and pricing.

On board the yacht
What You'll Eat
All breakfasts and a selection of your lunches and dinners will be taken on board the boat. This is a participatory sailing trip, so you'll help muck in with meal preparation when on board – this is all part of the adventure, and makes for a great te…
Optional Extras
Upgrades
- Single cabin upgrade
- …
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private cabin can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
This Trip is Graded Level 1
Ratings & Reviews
- 2 stars (0)
- 1 star (0)
Category rating
- Food
- 4.0
- Guides & crew
- 5.0
- Accommodation
- 4.0
- Itinerary
- 5.0
Latest Reviews
Customer Photos
Want to Know More?
Ask our AI Assistant
Get instant answers about this adventure
We've Got Your Back
Book with confidence and peace of mind.
Departure dates
Tuesday 23rd June 2026
to Saturday 27th June 2026
Hurry; only 1 space left
…Sunday 28th June 2026
to Thursday 2nd July 2026
Fully Booked
Don't see a date you like?
Get an email alert when new dates are added.

Got a Group of 6 or More?
What to Pack

Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.
FAQs
I’ve never gone sailing before, what should I know?
No prior knowledge is required and your captain will brief you about life on board and the basics of sailing. The boat's interior is designed to achieve maximum space efficiency and you will soon become accustomed to the few steep stairs to your cabin. Sailing journeys are around 2-4 hours each day, you'll be able to learn sailing techniques as you go each day if you're keen.
How experienced are the guides?
Very. Your skipper is a qualified, native Greek seaman with vast experience navigating the local Aegean waters, the Mediterranean and beyond. The boats are also put under thorough monitoring during the winter in order to be in excellent condition when the sailing season starts.
What is the accommodation like?
The cabin layout on each boat is as follows:
56-foot Ocean Star:
- 2 double-bed cabins
- 2 twin-share cabins
- 1 triple-share cabin
51-foot Ocean Star:
- 2 double-bed cabins
- 2 twin-share cabins
The cabins on the charter yacht are not like those in a house or hotel. While your host’s boats offer some of the most spacious cabins in the industry with the added ‘luxury’ of private toilets in each cabin - space is still limited and the accommodation is simple. However, most of your time will be spent on deck, in the water, or exploring the islands, so cabins are generally just used for sleeping.
How does the food preparation work on the boat?
Both breakfast and a combination of lunches and dinners are provided on board on a self-prepare basis. Your host will shop for and try to use as many local, organic and Mediterranean ingredients as possible. You and your fellow travellers will take care of planning and cooking the meals together. This is all part of the fun of a participatory sailing adventure. The other lunches and dinners which aren't included will be taken at local tavernas on the islands. Due to limited storage on the boat and differing ingredient preferences within the group, you may have an opportunity to replenish stocks on one of the islands. The skipper's job is demanding, and they therefore do not have the capacity to always offer assistance with the meal preparations, but will guide the group on this aspect of the trip and assist with replenishing supplies on the islands. If you realise you’re missing a key ingredient for a favourite recipe, or simply want more fresh fruit and vegetables, just let your skipper know, and they’ll do their best to make it happen at the next stop.
Drinking water is available on board. Soft drinks and alcohol are welcome but not provided, so please feel free to bring your own (at your own expense). You’re also welcome to bring along any extra products for personal use - just be sure to store them separately from the shared provisions.
What's Plan B in case of poor weather conditions?
Your safety and enjoyment are your local host's top priorities. In the rare event that weather conditions – especially strong winds – could negatively impact your experience, the team may need to adjust the itinerary accordingly, in favour of your well-being and the overall quality of the trip.
Can I leave my excess luggage somewhere?
If you are travelling with excess luggage that you do not wish to bring on the boat, there are two options:
At Athens airport or In Athens city
Can I book on my own?
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Who is running the trip?
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
What is the official travel advice?
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
What vaccinations do I need?
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
How are the trips priced?
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
Why are your adventures only for adults?
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
Who else will be on my trip?
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
What's the weather like?
The Cyclades Islands are known for their warm and sunny weather. We run this trip throughout the Spring, Summer and Autumn. The average temperatures during these months are typically up in the mid- to high-20s/low-30s°C (70-80°F) during the day and in the low- to mid-20s°C (60-70°F) at night. July and August can be warmer than this, and April and October can be cooler, especially at night.
Whilst unlikely, should adverse conditions prevail, your guide will have a back-up plan, such as mooring in a different bay on alternative sides of the islands. On very rare occasions, it is up to the judgement of the skipper to alter or cancel a sailing route.
What's the carbon footprint for this trip?
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 199kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
- A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Still Undecided?
A few other trips to tickle your fancy




