Cyclades wildlife sailing holiday
- May - Oct
- 2 to 6
- 7 days
- Customizable
"Sail & discover the unique wildlife and nature of the Cyclades & participate in our efforts to protect them…"
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A sailing holiday is an adventure for the whole family… Dive off the boat into the crystal clear waters, hold the helm, trim the sails, spot dolphins, row the dinghy to a secluded bay, lie on deck with your book, swim ashore for ice cream… sailing offers something for the whole family!
During our Cyclades Wildlife Sailing holiday you will not only experience the magic of sailing from island to island, you will also discover the unique wildlife and nature of the Cyclades and participate in our efforts to protect them.
Elusive threatened species, such as the Loggerhead sea turtle and the Mediterranean Monk seal, as well as beautiful endemic species, such as the Milos Wall lizard and the Milos viper, are waiting for you to discover them and contribute towards their survival.
Dolphin and bird spotting, hiking through untouched paths in search of unique species of animals and plants are only a few of the activities you could participate…
Under the guidance of our experienced naturalist guide, you will be introduced to the tens of endemic species, both from the animal and plant kingdoms, which exist only in this small corner of the globe.
Here is a sample of what you will experience during our Cyclades Wildlife Sailing holiday…
Join our Cyclades wildlife sailing holiday and you will:
Discover the unique wildlife and nature of the Greek islands by participating in activities adapted to suit every age!
Join our conservation efforts to protect and support the local environment!
Discover the Cyclades and experience the traditional culture and way of life in the small, remote islands,
Experience numerous activities such as sailing, hiking, swimming and snorkelling, scuba diving (optional), dolphin spotting, birdwatching…
Sail to remote solitary beaches and coves with crystal clear waters,
Walk to magical parts of the islands and enjoy unique landscapes and sceneries,
Learn about the local herbs and plants, birds and other members of the animal kingdom, above and below the water!
Sample organic, home-made food locally produced wherever you eat,
Experience customs and traditions, cultural happenings, local feasts with Cycladic music and dance,
7-day adventure holiday adapted to fit your schedule…
Our sailing yacht Tahita
Tahita is a Jeanneau Sun Kiss 45, one of the most exceptional and elegant classical models created by Jeanneau, known and recognised for its strength and sailing capabilities, for sailing as well as cruising the world over.
Tahita can accommodate 6 guests plus the crew in its 4 double cabins. There are 2 toilets/showers and a stern shower on the diving platform. In order to guarantee the maximum space and comfort for our guests, we accept up to 6 guests each week.
For groups of 8-10 guests, we use several other sailing yachts or catamarans according to the size and budget of each group. Drop us an email at info@nofootprint.gr and we’ll send you full information on Tahita and other available sailing yachts…
Minimum age requirement
There is no minimum age requirement. Our youngest client was 3 years old and our oldest 82. For small children our guide can organise fun games during the week i.e. treasure hunt on the beach.
Where to meet us
We start our holidays from Syros, Paros or Milos depending on the week. All three islands are easily accessible from Athens, Mykonos or Santorini, which have international airports.
From Athens, ferries take between 3 and 4 hours to reach the islands. Ferries from Mykonos to Paros and Syros take up to 1 hour and ferries from Santorini to Paros and Milos take 2-2.5 hours. Fees range between 20 and 60 EUR per person, depending on the ferry. Children pay reduced fees.
Please send us your flight information and we’ll help you with your travelling arrangements.
Sailing itinerary
We don’t follow exactly the same route every week and every itinerary may change due to the weather and other factors beyond our control. Remember that we cannot sail against the weather! There are many picturesque fishing ports and bays to moor and you won’t be disappointed. The safety and enjoyment of our guests is our primary concern.
Tailor-made and flexible itineraries are available based on the needs of our guests.
The combination of sailing, wildlife observations, natural beauty and culture will make our Cyclades Wildlife Sailing holiday unforgettable for you and your family.
We organise our Cyclades Wildlife Sailing holiday between May and October.
The best time to visit:
- May to June: for wild flowers, end of bird’s spring migration, sunshine and moderate temperatures. As it’s out of high season and there are more opportunities for wildlife observations. The Easter period is recommended as it’s one of the most important celebrations in Greece and you’ll have the chance to experience traditional feasts and gatherings.
- July to August: for sunny weather, warm seas, water sports and summer festivals.
- September to October: for warm seas, gentle weather, autumn flowers and bird’s autumn migration. Also out of high season so more opportunities for observations. Grapes and olive harvests.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@nofootprint.gr
CYCLADES WILDLIFE SAILING HOLIDAY FEES
Option A: Join our wildlife sailing solo (for single parents)
All prices are per person for 2 people sharing a double cabin.
- May, June, October: €774 per person
- July, August, September: €860 per person
Option B: Booking as a group your exclusive wildlife sailing adventure
The price for the hire of our sailing yacht Tahita for a week is:
Boat: EUR 391/day EUR 2,737/week
Skipper: EUR 180/day EUR 1,260/week
Total: EUR 571/day EUR 3,997/week
We offer a special discount of 20% (that’s EUR 800 off) if you book a 2nd week or if you join us during the months of May, June & October.
The discounted fee is: EUR 3,197/week
Biologist/environmentalist guide fee: EUR 800
Total EUR 3,997/week or 661 per person (6 guests)
We offer flexible and tailor-made itineraries, group and special offers. Please contact us for further information…
The Cyclades Wildlife Sailing holiday fees include:
- Skipper
- Naturalist/Biologist Guide
- Marine & ecology presentation
- 12% VAT
- Breakfast (self-service)
- Snorkeling equipment
The above fees don’t include:
- Fuel, skipper’s meals, end cleaning & port fees (around EUR 90/week per guest to be paid by cash upon arrival)
- Provisions (lunch & supper)
- Travel insurance (please arrange your own)
- Scuba diving (EUR 40/dive)
Itinerary
By late noon you’ll anchor at one of Schinoussa’s beautiful bays and enjoy the rest of the day diving off the boat, swimming and snorkelling at its crystal clear waters. In the evening, take the 10-min path to the picturesque main village and try traditional ‘meze’ at the local ‘kafenio’.
The typical vegetation of the ecosystems here is phrygana. You’ll be surprised to discover that even a tiny rocky islet may be home to tens of invertebrate species and even to many vertebrates including birds, such as chukars, shags, but also Eleonora’s and Peregrine falcons and even the majestic Griffon vultures. Reptiles include geckos, Balkan Rock lizards, Sand boas… And lets not forget the endemic flowers growing here, which include a variety of unique orchids, crocuses, knapweeds, mulleins, bellflowers and many more!
Sail towards the remote bay of Alimia where you can snorkel above a WW2 hydroplane. Continue to the small fishing port of Ag. Georgios. Early in the evening hike towards the largest cave in the Cyclades, St. John’s cave, to admire its stalactites. On your way back to the main village, enjoy the sunset from the top of the hill. End the walk at the local tavern, famous for its traditional home-made dishes!
At night you will be a witness to a unique spectacle: the glowing sea. A myriad of minuscule planktonic crustaceans produce light thanks to the phenomenon of bioluminescence. Fresh fish and other delicacies coming from the sea are on the menu today.
MOm, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, aspires to see Kimolos amongst the protected marine areas of Greece, as the second largest European population of the Mediterranean Monk seal lives and breeds in the Kimolos-Polyegos island complex. Though the Mediterranean Monk seal is not exactly sociable, we have spotted it in several occasions and who knows… we may be lucky again!
Spend one night on the anchor at the remote bay of Polyegos and enjoy a barbecue on the beach under the starry sky! The 2nd night we’ll spend it at Kimolos island in order to explore in the evening one of the most beautiful ‘choras’ (main village) in the Cyclades!
Milos features a quite unique fauna, with the Milos viper one of its most interesting as well as rare animals in Europe. Its population is estimated to be less than 4,000 individuals and is strictly protected by a Presidential Degree. The Milos Wall lizard, the extremely rare Milos Grass snake and Milos Green lizard are three important endemic species of the Milos archipelago. Milos, as the rest of Cyclades, lies along the Aegean migratory route for European birds that fly southwards to spend the winter in Africa. Our observation point will be the small brackish lake of Achivadolimni (‘lake of shells’ in Greek), where wading birds can be observed (herons, waders, the occasional Glossy ibis e.t.c.). All the aforementioned animals, plus the Stripe-neck terrapin, can be found here, in this small oasis of water and vegetation in the midst of the general Cyclades aridness.
This marks the end of our wildlife exploration or “biodiversity project”. Please note that photographs of cetaceans and other interesting fauna and flora you’ve taken during your sailing adventure might be of great relevance to scientists in their researches. You can contribute by sharing with us your photos at the end of the holiday.
Walk to the top to the Castle to watch the sunset and farewell dinner at the beautiful village of Plaka.
We’re as flexible as the weather!
The above itinerary is an example of what you will experience during our Cyclades Wildlife Sailing holiday… We don’t follow the same route every week and every itinerary may slightly change due to the weather and other factors beyond our control. Remember that we cannot sail against the weather! We will do our best. Everything else is KISMET!
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Have a Question?
Feel free to reach out and we're happy to answer any questions you may have.
“I cannot thank you enough for our fantastic holiday; we thoroughly enjoyed our time on board. We were so fortunate to find such a knowledgeable professional skipper, who I have to be honest we both felt tremendously safe with throughout the week..! Andrea was superb, his knowledge and passion really brought the whole experience of the beautiful Cyclades to life. His patience with our questions and enthusiasm for the flora, fauna and local Greek way of life never wavering.
Very many people have asked how the trip went, we have enthused greatly about the sailing, walking and wildlife and how we would love someday to return or for some of our friends to enjoy the stunning scenery, so thank you all once again and we hope to see you sometime soon. Take care.”
