Casting off from Athens in mid-afternoon, once you’re settled on board, checked in and provisioned, head for Aegina. Drop anchor with your chartered yacht or sailboat on the island’s north-east side. Aegina lies mid-Saronic Gulf and makes the perfect first-night anchorage close to Athens—great for escaping city bustle and ticking off an early leg. Several coves, or Agia Marina bay, are fine spots to rest after the trip.

Today’s leg is a little longer, so an early start is best—if you’re morning people! Hydra bans vehicles; transport is by donkey or water-taxi. The island is full of lovely corners. In Hydra Town, near the cathedral, right on the quay—where you’ll step ashore from your crewed gulet or chartered sailboat—stands Xeri Elia Douskos restaurant, serving delicious Greek fare.

After enjoying Hydra’s many nooks, you can set course for Spetses. This island is much greener than its nearby neighbours, with plenty of pines, fine-sand beaches and beautiful coves. If you visit beaches such as Paralia Zogerias, you’ll notice boats moor the Greek way: drop the anchor, back the stern towards shore and secure a couple of lines ashore. Other beaches you can visit are Agios Mamas in town, Agioi Anargiroi and Agia Paraskevi on the island’s west side, and near the town you’ll also find College Beach and Agia Marina. Cars are not allowed on Spetses either; locals get around by motorbike or bicycle. The capital is well worth a stroll if you feel like stretching your legs.

Hermione is on the mainland, but it’s well worth a visit and conveniently lies on your northbound route, sparing you an extra-long leg to Poros—though the choice is yours. The harbor is well sheltered and offers several anchorages for an overnight stay. The local beaches are gorgeous, and the old town—with its historic sites—plus the lively nightlife make the area especially appealing.

This leg is also a little longer. Poros is an island, yet it is almost attached to the mainland: the capital lies just 300 metres from the Peloponnese peninsula and the town of Galata. On the island’s southern side you’ll find the most sheltered areas, although stunning coves ring the entire coast and, depending on wind direction, provide excellent refuge.

On our second stop at Aegina we recommend mooring your chartered yacht in the capital, on the island’s north-west side. Here you can visit the town, stroll its charming shop-lined streets, enjoy fresh fish in tavernas, or pick up the souvenir for family or friends that you missed at previous stops. As a curiosity—and if time allows—Coloni Hill, north-west of the harbour, is home to the Temple of Apollo.

Remember that today you should be back in Athens by around five p.m. If you feel like it, after leaving Aegina in the morning, a good plan is to reach the city early and wander its streets or visit the monuments you couldn’t see on arrival. The city offers countless options and a wealth of archaeological remains; it’s hard to decide what to see and what to save for another time. Tip: don’t miss the night-time panorama of Athens from Lycabettus Hill.

This morning you’ll need to disembark from your chartered boat. If there’s anything left to see in this magnificent city and you have time before catching your flight home, now is the moment to enjoy and explore it. There is so much history in its streets and in its impressive monuments.

*The route we suggest is purely indicative; you are free to choose whichever itinerary best suits your wishes. Any errors in the content will not be grounds for complaint. If you’d like more information or our advice on adjusting this route, we are at your disposal to help. We can arrange a virtual meeting with all members of your group. If you charter a boat with a skipper, he or she may change the planned itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances and/or factors beyond the organiser’s control.