Skiathos Full-Day Sailing Cruise with Lunch

Skiathos Town harbour and the Paraliakos waterfront

Skiathos Town spreads over two low hills on the south-east coast of the island, its white houses and red-tiled roofs looking down on a harbour divided by the Bourtzi, a small peninsula shaded by pines where a Venetian fort once guarded the entrance. The town was rebuilt here in the 1830s, when islanders moved down from the old fortified Kastro on the north coast, and the harbour has been the heart of island life ever since.

Your sailing cruise starts from the Paraliakos waterfront at 10:00. The crew welcomes you on board, shows you the deck, the toilet and the swim equipment, and the yacht motors out of the harbour before raising sail. Arrive about 15 minutes early to settle in. As you leave, look back at the town and the bell towers rising above the harbour, one of the classic views of the North Sporades.

Tsougria islet: swim and snorkel stop

Tsougria is the largest of the small islets that lie just east of Skiathos harbour, an uninhabited island of pine and juniper with a long sandy beach on its western side and a smaller islet, Tsougriaki, alongside it. The islets are part of a protected nature area, which keeps the water remarkably clear: the sandy seabed shows every shade of turquoise, and small fish gather around the rocks at each end of the bay.

The yacht anchors off the beach for a long swim stop. This is the best place of the day for snorkelling, and the crew hands out masks, snorkels and flippers, the paddleboard and floating swim aids for anyone less confident in the water. If you are looking for a Tsougria island trip without a crowded taxi boat, arriving under sail and swimming straight off the deck is the most pleasant way to see it.

The Dasia islets off the coast of Skiathos

The waters around Skiathos are dotted with small islets, and the yacht sails past the Dasia islets, whose name comes from the Greek word for forest. Low, rocky and covered with pines and shrubs that reach down to the water, they show the coastline of the Sporades as it looks without any building, with tiny coves and sea-worn rocks in shades of grey and gold.

This part of the day is about the sailing itself. With the sails up and the engine off, you can sit at the bow, help the crew with a rope if you wish, or simply lie on the deck mattresses in the shade of the bimini and listen to the water. Depending on the wind, the captain may stop for a quick dip or for some fishing with the gear kept on board.

The coast of Skopelos and a quiet bay

Across the narrow strait to the east lies Skopelos, the greenest island of the North Sporades, its slopes covered with Aleppo pines, olive groves and plum orchards that run almost to the sea. Its south-west coast is a chain of pebble beaches and sheltered coves, many of them reachable only by small boat, with water so clear that the anchor is visible on the seabed.

The captain chooses a quiet bay according to the wind, and the yacht anchors for the second swim stop of the day. Lunch is usually served around this time: a meal cooked on board by the crew, with snacks and dessert, water and soft drinks. Skiathos to Skopelos sailing on a calm afternoon, with the forest reflected in the water, is the moment most guests remember.

Life on board the sailing yacht

The yacht is a large sailing boat with a shaded deck, mattresses and cushions, a deck speaker, a toilet and Wi-Fi, so the day feels relaxed even in the heat of July. Lunch is cooked on board and served with snacks and dessert, and water and soft drinks are included throughout the cruise. The English-speaking captain and crew explain the route, look after swimmers and are happy to answer questions about sailing.

In the late afternoon the yacht turns back towards Skiathos, sailing along the island's south coast with its beaches and pine-covered headlands, and returns to Skiathos Town harbour after about 7 hours at sea. For a group of friends or a family celebration, there is also a private option that reserves the whole yacht for your party on the same route.