Greek Cyclades Yacht Charter Itinerary: 7 Days (2026–2027)
The Cyclades are the classic Greek island run — white villages, brown hills, and water that is colder and clearer than most of the Mediterranean. The meltemi dictates the route more than any guidebook does, so treat this as a plan your captain will reorder around the wind.
This is the route as we would actually plan it, and it matches the week set out on our Greek Cyclades charter page. It is a starting point, not a fixed schedule — your captain sets the final plan around weather and berths.
Greek Cyclades itinerary at a glance
| Region | Mediterranean |
|---|---|
| Length | 7 nights |
| Route | Round trip |
| Embark | Lavrio |
| Disembark | Lavrio |
| Distance | two longer open-water legs; the rest are short |
| Season | June or September; the meltemi blows hardest in July and August |
The route, day by day
Day 1: Lavrio to Kea
Board at Lavrio on the Attica coast and cross to Kea, the closest of the Cyclades to the mainland, for a first swim and dinner aboard.
Day 2: Kea to Syros · open water, started early
East while the wind is lightest. Ermoupoli is the capital of the Cyclades: neoclassical squares and a working town rather than a resort.
Day 3: Syros to Mykonos
Walk Mykonos Town late in the afternoon, when the light is off the water: Little Venice, and the windmills on the ridge above it.
Day 4: Mykonos to Delos and Rineia · short run
A guided morning on the archaeological site at Delos. In the afternoon, anchor off Rineia, uninhabited and just west; its bay at Skinos holds in a meltemi.
Day 5: Rineia to Paros
South to the Venetian harbour at Naoussa. Ashore, the choice is the inland villages, the marble quarries at Marathi, or a beach day.
Day 6: Paros to Kythnos · the long leg
West across open water, started at dawn. The anchorage at Kolona, a sandbar joining Kythnos to a small islet, is the reward.
Day 7: Kythnos to Lavrio
A last swim at Kolona, then the short crossing back to Lavrio to disembark.
Which yachts suit this route
This week works on anything from a 45ft catamaran to a large motor yacht — the difference is comfort, speed and how much of the day you spend under way. Catamarans sit shallower and stay steadier at anchor. Motor yachts cover the longer legs faster and leave more of the afternoon for the shore.
See what we have available on our Greek Cyclades page, search the full fleet by size and budget, or browse by shipyard.
Planning notes
Two things are worth settling early. Dates first — the best yachts on this route book months ahead for peak weeks. Then your priorities: diving, beaches, food ashore and nightlife pull a week in different directions, and it is easier to build around two of them than to chase all four.
We have been arranging charters since 1992 and we have been aboard these boats. Tell us roughly what you want and we will tell you honestly which yachts fit and which do not.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for a Greek Cyclades charter?
Seven nights is the standard charter week and the length this route is built around. Ten to fourteen nights lets you add the quieter anchorages and sit out weather rather than sailing through it. A long weekend works but cuts the route roughly in half.
When is the best time to charter in the Greek Cyclades?
June or September; the meltemi blows hardest in July and August. Shoulder weeks either side of peak are materially cheaper and noticeably quieter at the popular anchorages, with weather that is usually just as good.
Is this itinerary fixed?
No. It is a plan, not a schedule. Your captain reorders or substitutes days based on wind, sea state and berth availability, which is the advantage of a crewed charter over a fixed cruise. Tell us which part matters most and we will make sure it survives any reshuffle.
What does a charter on this route cost?
Rates depend on the yacht rather than the route. Across our fleet the weekly base rate starts around €10,000 for a smaller yacht and runs into six figures for a large superyacht, before expenses. On top sits an Advance Provisioning Allowance covering fuel, food, drinks, dockage and local taxes — usually 25–35% — plus crew gratuity. Our charter cost guide has the detail.
Plan your Greek Cyclades charter
Send your dates and party size and we will come back with real availability and real numbers. Start a charter inquiry or call 1-561-463-6840.