Sailing the Sporades: a 7-day itinerary from Volos

The Northern Sporades are the green corner of the Aegean: pine forest down to the water, short hops between islands, and the largest marine park in Greece around Alonissos, home to the Mediterranean monk seal. A sailing week from Volos starts in the sheltered Pagasetic Gulf, runs out through the Trikeri channel to Skiathos, then on to Skopelos and Alonissos, with a night in a marine-park bay before the long run home. Expect about 140–150 nautical miles in a week.

Where to charter a yacht for the Sporades?

The charter base for this area is Volos, at the top of the Pagasetic Gulf, where you can book a yacht charter in Volos and sail straight out to the islands. Some boats are also listed on the islands themselves, see boat rental on Skiathos and boats on Skopelos, or browse every base on our Greece yacht charter page. Charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday. To go bareboat, the skipper needs a licence the charter company accepts (see our guide to the boat licence in Greece and the ICC certificate); otherwise hire a skipper or take a crewed yacht.

A 7-day sailing itinerary from Volos

Distances below are approximate, from harbour to harbour along a sensible route. Plan every leg with up-to-date charts and a pilot book, and ask the base for its latest local notes.

Day 1: Volos to Palio Trikeri (approx. 14 nm)

Leave Volos after the Saturday check-in and cross the Pagasetic Gulf south to Palio Trikeri, the gulf's only inhabited island: about 2.5 km², olive groves, around 80 residents and no cars at all. The small harbour has fish tavernas and moorings for only 6–7 sailing boats, so arrive early. If it is full, sail on to Agia Kyriaki, the fishing harbour of Trikeri at the mouth of the gulf, which has ready-made moorings near its fish tavernas.

Tip: walk up from Agia Kyriaki to Trikeri village on Fourtouna hill, around 300 m above the sea, for the view over the gulf and the Aegean.

Day 2: Palio Trikeri through the Trikeri channel to Skiathos (approx. 25 nm)

Head out of the gulf past Agia Kyriaki and east through the Trikeri channel between Pelion and northern Evia. Skiathos is the first island. Stop for a swim off Koukounaries on the sheltered south coast, the island's most famous beach, with the Natura 2000 Strofylia lagoon behind it. Then continue round to Skiathos town, which is built in a sheltered bay and has one of the largest natural harbours in the Aegean. Overnight in the town harbour.

Tip: the Old Port is where the evening starts.

Day 3: Skiathos to Glossa and Panormos, Skopelos (approx. 12 nm, plus approx. 6 nm for Lalaria)

If the sea is flat, first run east along the north coast of Skiathos to look at Lalaria, the white-pebble beach with its natural stone arch. It can only be reached by sea in calm weather, and taking pebbles is forbidden. Then cross to Skopelos. Loutraki, the port of Glossa village, makes a good stop ashore. For the night, carry on down the west coast to Panormos and the narrow bay of Blo next to it, a favourite and safe anchorage for sailors.

Tip: if the meltemi is blowing, skip Lalaria and go straight to Skopelos.

Day 4: Panormos to Skopelos town (approx. 10 nm)

A short day around the south of Skopelos, the largest and greenest island in the Sporades, with a swim off beaches such as Stafylos. Skopelos town (Chora) is one of the island's two ports, a protected traditional settlement built like an amphitheatre above the harbour. Overnight in the town harbour.

Tip: the Mamma Mia! chapel of Agios Ioannis at Kastri is on the north coast near Glossa, 110 steps up a rock.

Day 5: Skopelos town to Alonissos and Kyra Panagia (approx. 20 nm)

Cross to Alonissos and stop at Patitiri, its main port and the seat of the marine park's management unit. Then sail north-east into Zone A of the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades to Kyra Panagia. This is one of the few places in Zone A where yachts may stay overnight: in the two shallow bays of Agios Petros (south) and Planitis (north), anchoring and overnight stays are allowed, but you stay on board. A Zone A entrance ticket is required (see Rules below).

Tip: by day you may also anchor off Monastiri beach and walk the marked path to the post-Byzantine monastery, between sunrise and sunset only.

Day 6: Kyra Panagia via Steni Vala to Skiathos (approx. 30 nm)

Make an early start to Steni Vala on the north-east coast of Alonissos, a small natural harbour and safe refuge for fishing boats and yachts, with fish tavernas and MOm's care centre for injured and orphaned seal pups. Then head south-west, back past Alonissos and Skopelos, to Skiathos town for the night, or stay in Steni Vala if the weather is against you.

Tip: this is the longest day on the islands. If the northerly is blowing, most of it is downwind.

Day 7: Skiathos to Volos (approx. 35 nm)

Back through the Trikeri channel and up the Pagasetic Gulf to Volos. It is a long day, so leave early, have lunch in Agia Kyriaki or anchor off the Pelion coast near Milina, and check with the base when the yacht must be back and refuelled.

Shortcut: if the forecast is poor or you want shorter days, skip Kyra Panagia. Spend night 5 in Patitiri or Steni Vala and sail Alonissos to Skiathos on day 6 (approx. 20 nm).

Rules and safety in the Sporades

The National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades was Greece's first marine park. It covers more than 2,200 km² of sea and land: Alonissos, six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Psathoura, Piperi, Skantzoura and Gioura) and 22 islets. It is managed by a unit of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) based in Patitiri. The rules that matter for a yacht:

• Zone A (Piperi, Psathoura, Gioura, Kyra Panagia, Skantzoura, smaller islets and the surrounding sea) needs an entrance ticket from the official ticket portal; check the current terms before you go.
• Piperi is the strictly protected core of the park: no vessel may come within 3 nautical miles of its shores.
• Speed: in Zone A, no more than 10 knots within 0.5 nm of the coast.
• Overnight stays in Zone A are generally prohibited. The exceptions for yachts are Agios Petros and Planitis on Kyra Panagia. Psathoura (Mandraki), Skantzoura (Limani) and Monastiri on Kyra Panagia are daytime-only stops. On Gioura, anchoring is only allowed while visits to the Cyclops cave are permitted.
• Wildlife: anchor only in designated places, never approach caves where seals or birds nest, and do not disturb marine life. Spearfishing and scuba diving are prohibited in Zone A, recreational fishing is rod and line only, and camping and fires ashore are prohibited throughout the park.
• Zone B (the coast and waters of Alonissos) follows national rules for leisure boating.

Read the zone rules on the park's official site before you sail.

Elsewhere, normal Greek rules apply. Keep at least 200 m from swimmers and do no more than 5 knots within 200 m of the shore at bathing beaches. You can rent small motorboats without a licence (outboard up to 30 hp on a conventional hull, 15 hp on a RIB, V-hull or multihull), but for a bareboat charter yacht the skipper needs a recognised licence, and the ICC is the safest choice. The charter company checks it at the base. With a hired skipper, nobody on board needs one. Details are in our guide to the boat licence in Greece.

Wind: the meltemi (Etesian wind) is the Aegean's dry summer northerly, blowing periodically from about mid-May to mid-September. In the North Aegean it usually comes from the north-east, and outbreaks are most frequent from mid-July to mid-August. It reaches the Sporades, so north-facing spots such as Lalaria become untenable when it blows. Check the Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecast every morning.

Best time to sail the Sporades

The Greek warm, dry season runs from about April to October, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, and the charter season follows it. The hottest spell is usually late July to early August, which is also the peak of the meltemi. For lighter winds and quieter harbours, choose May, June or September. In July and August, expect fresher sailing and plan to arrive at small harbours such as Palio Trikeri and Steni Vala early.

FAQ

How many days do you need for the Sporades from Volos?

A week covers Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos, which lie no more than 15–20 nm apart. Getting from Volos to the islands takes most of a day each way, so with fewer days skip Kyra Panagia.

Can you anchor anywhere in the Alonissos marine park?

No. In Zone A, anchoring is limited to named bays. Overnight stays for yachts are only allowed in Agios Petros and Planitis on Kyra Panagia, and Piperi is off-limits within 3 nm. Zone B around Alonissos follows normal Greek rules.

Do you need a ticket to sail into the marine park?

Yes, for Zone A. Entrance tickets are sold online through NECCA's portal. Buy one before you sail into the outer islands.

Will I see monk seals?

Possibly, but don't go looking: the park holds the most significant monk seal population in the Mediterranean, and approaching seal caves is forbidden.

Is the Pagasetic Gulf good for a first charter?

Yes. It is sheltered and calm, so the first and last days are gentle, and Palio Trikeri, Agia Kyriaki and Milina make easy stops if the open Aegean is too rough.

For more sailing weeks, see our guides to Halkidiki, Sithonia and Mount Athos and the Saronic Gulf from Athens. Before you go, read what to bring on a yacht charter.