Sailing the Saronic Islands

It’s a pirate life for me …

What better way to spend the summer, than on a boat in Greece? And that is exactly what I did in August! With London’s weather being consistently unpredictable (sorry London), I booked myself on a sailing trip with Medsailors. An entire week exploring Greece’s Saronic Islands; immersing myself in its crystal-clear waters, delectable cuisine and getting some much-needed Vitamin-SEA!

What is Medsailors?

Medsailors is a NZ owned company that operates week long sailing trips across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, check out their routes here. Rather than offering the crowded, large cruise boats, their adventures get you closer to the ocean with an authentic yacht experience. When booking your trip, you can select your boat from premier, premier plus or the luxurious catamaran. With all yachts accommodating 8 passengers with a qualified skipper to help you master the Mediterranean seas.

For ultimate holiday vibes, we signed up for their top of the range catamaran and boy, was it worth it. We had multiple decks to sunbathe, read, relax and eat without stepping on anyone’s toes. All the yachts come equipped with paddleboards and snorkelling gear for guests but I would highly recommend also bringing along some inflatables to relax on.

Now, you don’t need to know how to sail to do a trip with Medsailors. We assisted our wonderful skipper, Gerard, with sailing the catamaran but he definitely did most, if not all of the work. We helped out where we could, whether this was assisting with the anchor, attaching lines or helping with meals. And if you’re interested in sailing, the skippers are more than happy to take you under their wing and teach you a thing or two.

Where are the Saronic Islands?

The Saronic islands are a collection of isles that lie off the coast of Athens, providing a quick island escape from the mainland. Each island boasts their own, unique vibes with incredible Greek culture and cuisine.

What did you get up to?

Our sailing adventure took us to explore the islands of Aegina, Spetses, Poros, Agistri and the Argolid Peninsula. Departing from Athens, we set sail for the island of Aegina, with our first port of call being Perdika, a small fishing village. Diving straight into the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean, we knew this week was going to be one to remember. Embracing the incredible yacht life, we relaxed on-board, watching epic sunsets on deck with cocktails in hand. Our evening was spent sampling authentic Greek cuisine and getting to know our crew mates in a traditional taverna by the seaside.

Onward we sailed, to the Argolid Peninsula, docking in the village of Ermioni. This quaint seaside town provided us with an afternoon of exploring the island’s natural beauty and stunning traditional architecture before heading for drinks and dinner by the port. Unlimited meze style dinner overlooking the ocean as the sunset on day two could not have been more perfect. For unrivalled food and spectacular views over the bay visit Kavos Restaurant.

Yet another day, yet another island. Day three had us setting sail for Spetses. Having banned cars from the island; Spetses has managed to preserve its authentic charm. Wandering into town along the coastal road, the only transport options you will come across are mopeds, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. Although the island used to be quite undiscovered, it has increased in popularity in recent years. Wanting to explore the island, we tried to hire mopeds, but this proved to be quite difficult, with all of the mopeds having already been rented. So, we went ‘old school’ and hired good old bicycles. Obviously, this limited us as to how far we could explore but it still got us to Vrelos Beach for afternoon cocktails and swims. The town is also great to explore on foot, with plenty of unique stores to browse through, as well as infinite dining options.

With a slight change in itinerary, day 4 took us to the island of Poros. We were due to visit the island of Hydra, but to due unforeseen circumstances we were rerouted to our next destination, Poros. With an afternoon of sun baking, swimming, water sports and exploring, what more could you want?

For the best views over the old town and the bay, navigate yourself through the little lanes and up the narrow stairways to the Clock Tower. After a fun-filled afternoon exploring this beautiful island, you just can’t beat watching the sunset over the Med with some good tunes, delicious bevvies and quality friends.

For an unforgettable dinner, wander over to Poseidon Tavern. This authentic taverna; listed as one of the best, serves delectable fresh seafood, scrumptious vegetarian dishes and mouth-watering traditional favourites. Make sure to order the lamb kleftiko, for the best meal you will have in Greece!

As an addition to our itinerary; having been altered earlier on, we set sail for Epidavros on the Argolid Peninsula. Docking in the bay, we took the dingy to shore for village explorations. The small town didn’t take long to wander through, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the incredible fresh seafood, and of course, gelato. After satisfying our appetites we wandered around the harbour to the ruins of the Ancient Acropolis of Epidavros, to admire yet another Mediterranean sunset. This town was much quieter than the previous ports, offering up a perfect night for stargazing.

Credit to Lil for this epic shot! Only took us three attempts haha

With our sail, slowly coming to an end, we sailed back towards Athens but not before one final night in Agistri. After the most epic week exploring the Mediterranean, it was only right to tie it all up with an unforgettable toga party. Greek dancing, traditional plate smashing and toilet paper dress up competitions were just the start. The evening was the best send off, to the most remarkable week.

With careful contemplation to commandeer the yacht and continue sailing around Greece, we unfortunately had to head back to the mainland and leave the yacht life behind.

When the week was over, we had made new lifelong friends, whom had shared in so many unforgettable memories. This trip is one I am still raving about, and will forever be upset about coming to an end. How does one get over that? Well you book another trip with Medsailors, don’t you?

That’s right Medsailors, I’m coming back. Lookout Italy 2018! Who’s with me?

Make sure you also check out Lil & James' epic videos of our Greek adventure