Athens: Saronic & Argolic Gulf
Sail along the coast of the Peloponnese and visit beautiful islands such as Hydra, Poros and Spetses. Average daily distance: 15-25 NM. Suitable for sailors of all levels.
Sail along the coast of the Peloponnese and visit beautiful islands such as Hydra, Poros and Spetses. Average daily distance: 15-25 NM. Suitable for sailors of all levels.
When you go sailing for two weeks from Athens or Aegina, you will mainly sail through the Saronic and Argolic Gulf. We sail flotillas here every week from the beginning of July to the end of August.
Are you curious about what a flotilla sailing holiday with Portokali could look like? Then read the example route below for a nice impression of the atmosphere. Please note that this is only an example route, purely to give an idea. We never have the routes of our flotillas fixed, so that we can optimally adapt to the wind and the wishes of the group. Every flotilla trip with Portokali is different and it is also perfectly possible to join the same flotilla several times and still discover different places. After all, there is so much beauty… You can never see it all in one go!
Athens โ Aegina (18 nautical miles)
After an extensive briefing from the flotilla management in which we were told exactly what we can expect in the coming two weeks, the moment has finally arrived: let go and head out to sea. Rest. It’s unbelievable what a different world you immediately find yourself in. For the first day, Aegina, the island of pistachios, is circled as the final destination. Dine with your feet in the sand and a sunset as only possible in Greece.
Aegina โ Epidaurus (14 nautical miles)
From the pistachios we continue our course to a place with a lot of history. Epidaurus is known for its immense theater (seating 14,000 people) from the 4th century BC. It is the best preserved theater in Greece and still hosts performances in the summer. Still, we postpone our visit until the next morning, when it is a little cooler. After arrival we start with a swim from the beach and spend the rest of the afternoon picking oranges and pomegranates in the orchard next to the harbor.
The route continues under the booking module…
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Epidaurus – Vathi (9 nautical miles) Since we are going on an excursion to the theater in the morning, a short sail is scheduled for the afternoon so no one has to rush.
We cross over to the Methanon peninsula and dock in the mini town of Vathi.
Here the restaurant is literally two head rolls from the gangway and is also the only place in this area with a shower in the small harbor.
That this is then little more than a garden hose behind a palm tree only shows how charming and authentic this place still is. Vathi – Poros (18 nautical miles) From the eternal calm in Vathi, it’s nice to switch once again to a bustling town.
Poros is the perfect choice: A cozy boulevard with an endless array of bars, restaurants, stores and beautiful (super) yachts.
Especially if you walk to the little church at the top of the mountain, you have a beautiful view of all the life going on below you.
In the evening, we enjoy real Greek specialties and finish with one of the best ice cream parlors in the area.
Poros – Dhokos (16 nautical miles) As we leave Poros we will make sure the supplies in each boat are well stocked.
This is because tonight we will spend the night on an uninhabited island.
With all boats in a large raft in a beautiful bay.
Everyone cooks something on board and then we have a floating dinner where everyone joins together to have a bite to eat.
After dinner a refreshing swim under the stars and then sleep in a silence that can only be found in a few places.
The “alone in the world feeling” in optima forma. Dhokos – Portoheli (10 nautical miles) This morning’s briefing is aboard the mother ship.
Simply because there is not a single cafe to be found within a 5 mile radius.
Today a short stretch of 10 miles to Portoheli Bay.
If we arrive a little on time, we will have a nice spot at the quay.
Otherwise free at anchor and take the dinghy to shore.
Also nice.
This town is popular with many famous people and it is pretty soon clear why: nice cocktail and wine bars, good restaurants and some luxury resorts fill this large bay.
Portoheli – Astrous (20 nautical miles) Today a nice crossing to the other side of the Argolic Gulf.
The little port of Astrous consists of a large pier that shields the yachts from the open sea.
Opposite is a nice little beach with several restaurants serving delicious fresh fish.
After dinner it is definitely recommended to have a cocktail at the cocktail bar on the corner of the pier.
Beautiful views of both the little harbor and the entire Argolic Gulf. Astrous – Nafplion (11 nautical miles) Nafplion is the ancient and first capital of Greece.
A place with a rich history that can be seen everywhere.
Even as you approach the harbor, you sail past a large fort on a small island just before the entrance.
This is a kind of foretaste of the really big fortress from the time of the Venetian occupation at the top of the mountain.
The 857 steps it takes to see this up close are well worth it.
The view from this point is also breathtaking.
Once back from this climb, there are plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from in one of the beautiful marble streets.
Nafplion – Khiladia (20 nautical miles) Most people know Khiladia by another name.
Namely, the turtle bay.
When you visit Khiladia, you must do your best if you do not want to see turtles.
Everyone here is anchored freely in a large bay and during the anchor drinks on the aft deck, a turtle’s head almost always pops up to say hello.
So be careful when you jump off the boat not to land on a turtle… Khiladia – Ermioni (22 nautical miles) The briefing today will be at a special location in a giant cave on the other side of the bay, 5 minutes away by dinghy.
The destination will be Ermioni North, the relatively quiet side of the village.
In South are the bars and most of the boats, in North is only the oldest taverna of the Argo/Saronic Gulf of more than 100 years old.
So we can have a great meal, spend the evening socializing on the other side of the hill, and later return to the tranquility on our own yacht.
Ermioni – Russian Bay (21 nautical miles) Fortunately there is a good butcher in Ermioni, because today we will again go shopping for a floating dinner.
After a nice trip we sail through “the street of Poros” past the town, and end up in a beautiful bay.
Here we will build a raft on the rocks and trees with all our boats and provide a dinner together under the stars.
Of course we end the day with a splash and this time we are accompanied by luminous plankton, very special! Russian Bay – Perdika (12 nautical miles) The last port before Athens… perdika is on the southwest coast of Aegina, the island where we started this trip.
An authentic, small fishing village where the water seems even clearer than in any other place.
One more time enjoying that beautiful sun setting in the sea, while we enjoy all the good things Greece has to offer in a little restaurant next to our yacht. Perdika – Athens (22 nautical miles) A nice trip to end the vacation.
Due to the predominantly northwest wind in this part of the Saronic Gulf, this is a wonderful half-wind crossing to Athens.
A little more watching out for the freight traffic in the channel to Pireaus and, for the last time for now, spotting dolphins from the foredeck.
In the evening we all wonder why we don’t stay another week…
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