Sailing in Greece; Exploring the Cyclades
- Vessel: Zorba
- Where: Naxos, Greece
- Duration: 8 days
- Embark: Naxos - 6 August 2022, 17:00
- Disembark: Naxos - 13 August 2022, 09:00
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Set the sails in Greek sunshine as Zorba shows you the very best of the lesser Cyclades Islands from the island of Naxos.
Join modern yacht Zorba in her home country of Greece as you get ready to enjoy an authentic Greek sailing holiday around the truly beautiful archipelago of the Cyclades. Hop aboard Zorba in the heart of the Cyclades on the island of Naxos.
Dotted South off mainland Greece, the Cyclades are made up of around 220 islands, with a mix of both inhabited and uninhabited. This sailing holiday concentrates mostly on the Lesser Cyclades. A smaller cluster of islands circulating the island of Naxos and often referred to as the pearl of the Cyclades.
- Fully Crewed Sailing Yacht
- Island Hopping & Historical Exploration
- Great for Families & Groups
- Shoreside Taverna’s
- Suitable for Beginners
- Whole boat Yacht Charter available
- Sail area & highlights
- Gallery
- Life on board
- Travel planning
- The boat
- FAQs
- What's included
- Boat schedule
Your Sailing Area
Exploring the Lesser Cyclades under sail
Aga and Greg, the skippers of Zorba have topped the Lesser Cyclades (also referred to as the Small Cyclades) as one of their favourite sailing areas and you’ll quickly see why! From anchoring in beautiful deserted bays with crystal clear water, to discovering ancient ruins and historical sites, you’ll experience the very best of the unique Greek culture. The focus of this trip is to explore the untouched side of the Cyclades, away from the tourist hustle and bustle. Your route will entirely depend on the wind and weather and also the feeling of all the guests onboard.
For the island lover and adventure traveller, this chain of small, secluded islands is quite simply, paradise. In the Lesser Cyclades, it’s all about switching off and adapting to island time. The magical combination of sailing, swimming, siestas, a good book and generous taverna meals will make you forget what day of the week it is. The flash boutiques, pumping nightclubs and selfie-stick-wielding crowds of Mykonos and Santorini are a million miles away.
Spend your days with a balance of sailing and exploring; snorkel in bays and caves, discover a WWII plane wreck, wander local villages and enjoy traditional Greek tavernas, of which Aga and Greg know the very best!
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Greek Island highlights
The sandy shores and crystal clear waters of Iraklia offer a great first stop. Offering a historical walk to the Cave of the Sacred Icon of Agios Giannis – an initial scramble through the entrance leads to a sequence of caves full of stalactites and stalagmites.
The islands of Kufonissi (with its Caribbean-like turquoise water) and Schinoussa offer a truly unique and traditional Greek island experience. The dramatic mountain island of Amorgos is home to a breathtaking monastery carved into the rock, where the monks are waiting for you at the top with delicious psimeni (spiced “baked” raki) and loukoumi (Greek Delight you might say) after your stair climb.
If guests are up for more sailing miles, Zorba may visit Ios and Folegandros offering one of the most scenic old towns (Choras) in the Cyclades. On the way back to Naxos, Paros (with its quieter sister Antiparos) offers guests a chance to visit and feel the “real Greece” with its relaxed local atmosphere. Near Antiparos, the islands of Despotico and Strongili, known for their unspoilt nature and protected species under the Natura 2000.
Zorba
Guest berths: 10 Rig: Sloop
Zorba lives up to her name as she takes guests on unforgettable, authentically Greek sailing holidays!
Built in 2007, Zorba is a modern and comfortable Beneteau Cyclades 50.5. She has five private cabins for guests, made up with four doubles and one twin bunk cabin; all share 3 bathrooms with showers. With a generous saloon and a well-equipped galley, Zorba was built with charter and guest comfort at the forefront of her design. A further skippers cabin with a separate entrance means guests have full and free use of the communal spaces. With a dropped transom and outdoor seating area at the stern, Zorba gives guests the perfect access to that crystal clear Mediterranean water!
A sailing holiday in Greece with Zorba is accessible to all ages and abilities. Her simple rig makes her an easy sail with winch systems and modern navigation equipment. That being said, she’s a great boat to sail whether you’re an experienced sailor looking for some sunshine or a novice wanting to try something new. Her owners and skippers absolutely love what they do and that’s very evident for guests to see and even better to experience first hand. They are well tuned to all abilities and ages, from family charters with young children to groups of friends or voyages for couples and solo travellers. They tailor every trip to suit their guests needs so if you simply want to sit back, enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine and enjoy the cuisine of the local tavernas – that’s fine too!
A sailing holiday on Zorba is certainly one that will leave you with long-lasting memories. Read more about what to expect from Life on Board Zorba here.
Among all the standard safety equipment required for charter, Zorba has a dinghy with a Tohatsu outboard engine, gas cooker and gas stove, refrigerator, ample storage space, 3 independent tanks of water (1000 litres each) a 400 litre fuel tank and portable air conditioning.
Deck plan

LIFE ON BOARD
Sailing with Zorba in Greece is one that will leave long-lasting memories and will more than likely see you longing to return. A modern Beneteau Cyclades 50.5, Zorba is owned, managed and skippered by couple Aga and Greg who share a real passion for Greece both from the water and on the land. Comfortable, relaxed and offering an abundance of sunshine sailing, Zorba is the perfect yacht to show guests a truly authentic sailing holiday in Greece. A typical say will see guests spend a few hours sailing before anchoring up in crystal clear waters to explore historical ruins ashore, sun-bathe or snorkel away the afternoon. Hoist the sails again to find a new spot for the night before enjoying dinner ashore in a traditional Greek Taverna, specially hand-picked by Aga and Greg.
Your sailing holiday in Greece is truly as you make it. Zorba is a fun and simple boat to sail and can be sailed by Greg alone if guests prefer a more relaxing experience. That being said, the larger Saronic Gulf gives some great winds for sailing for those wanting to learn the ropes in a safe and supported environment.
MEET YOUR SKIPPERS
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
FAQ
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Are all meals included?
Yes
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Are there any added extra's?
No
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Can you cater for dietary needs?
Yes - please specify at time of enquiry
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What language is spoken onboard?
English/Polish
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What are the sleeping arrangements?
4x double cabins, 1x twin bunk cabin
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How many toilet/showers does she have?
3
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Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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Is there WIFI?
No
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Are there life jackets provided?
Yes
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Are Waterproofs provided?
No
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Do I need sailing experience?
No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.
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Will I be sea sick?
Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.
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Is bedding included?
All bedding is included but please bring towels.
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Is offshore sailing insurance required for Zorba's voyages?
No - but you will still need coastal sailing insurance in addition to your usual travel insurance.
Gallery
imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageTravel Planning
From: Naxos
To: Naxos
To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.
BY AIR:
Flights go direct to Athens International airport from London Stansted with Ryanair, and London Gatwick with Wizz Air, British Airways and easyJet.
From here you can either catch a connecting flight internally to Naxos with Sky Express or get a Blue Star ferry from Piraeus, which is approximately a 1 hour bus ride on the X96 (airport shuttle/express) from Athens International.
STAY IN NAXOS:
Try Hotel Grotta, Naxos Antony Suites or Nastasia Village Boutique Hotel.