The central Cyclades loop, from Mykonos, without the windward slog up to Santorini: the sacred ruins of Delos, the villages of Paros and Naxos, and the wild escape of the Little Cyclades. Around 120 miles in the Aegean's most iconic triangle, with superb anchorages and shorter legs than the grand tour. The Meltemi calls the shots, so you take it downwind heading south and climb back in the morning. Intermediate. Full detail below.
In brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Mykonos; Paros or Lavrion variant |
| Access | Fly to Mykonos (JMK); base at Tourlos harbour |
| Total distance | ~120 NM (loop) |
| Sailing time | ~26 h over 6 sailing days |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Level | Intermediate (Meltemi in summer) |
| Recommended boat | 42-46 ft monohull (windward ability) or catamaran |
| Best time | June and September |
| Winds | Meltemi from N-NNW, 15-25 kt, gusts F6-7 in July-August |
| Indicative budget | ~750 to 1,200 € per person all in |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Mykonos · Delos · Paros · Antiparos · Naxos · Koufonisia · Schoinoussa · Iraklia
Weather month by month
| Month | Meltemi | Air | Sea | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Light to moderate | 22-24° | 18-19° | Cool water |
| June | Moderate | 26-28° | 21-22° | Ideal |
| July | Strong (20-30 kt) | 29-31° | 23-24° | Confident crews |
| August | Strong to very strong | 29-31° | 24-25° | Book early |
| September | Easing | 26-28° | 23-24° | Ideal |
| October | Variable | 22-24° | 21-22° | End of season |
What to understand about the area
A loop that avoids the hard beat. By staying in the triangle Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and the Little Cyclades, you avoid the punishing climb back from Santorini. The returns north are still made in the morning, in the calm.
Delos, a day stop. The sacred islet is visited by day, anchoring at Delos or nearby Rinia; no safe overnight shelter, you sleep elsewhere.
The Little Cyclades, the contrast. Just south of Naxos, Koufonissia, Schinoussa and Iraklia offer silence and turquoise water, a few miles from the crowds.
Day by day
Day 1: Mykonos to Delos then Paros (Naoussa), 20 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: a short visit to Delos in the morning (anchor at Delos or Rinia), then downwind to Paros.
Anchorage: Naoussa bay in northern Paros, or Parikia harbour.
Plan B: Kolymbithres bay, granite coves.
Warning: Delos is open, do not leave the boat unattended or sleep there.
Day 2: Paros to Antiparos, 8 NM, ~2 h
Sailing: a short crossing to the neighbouring island.
Anchorage: Antiparos harbour and anchorage, pale sand.
Plan B: the deserted Despotiko bay opposite.
Warning: the Paros-Antiparos channel is shallow in places, follow the buoyage.
Day 3: Antiparos to Naxos, 14 NM, ~3 h
Sailing: east to the largest of the Cyclades.
Anchorage: Naxos harbour (Med-mooring) or the southern anchorage of the bay, calmer.
Ashore: the Portara at sunset, the Venetian Kastro.
Warning: the Naxos quay rolls in a NW Meltemi.
Day 4: Naxos to Koufonissia (Little Cyclades), 15 NM, ~3 h
Sailing: down to the Little Cyclades.
Anchorage: Koufonissia harbour and anchorage, translucent water.
Plan B: neighbouring Schinoussa or Iraklia.
Warning: few quay spaces, arrive early.
Day 5: Koufonissia to Schinoussa / Iraklia, 8 NM, ~2 h
Sailing: coasting between the Little Cyclades.
Anchorage: Schinoussa bay (Mersini) or Agios Georgios on Iraklia.
Warning: limited facilities, stock up at Naxos.
Day 6: Little Cyclades to Paros, 20 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: the climb north, to plan for the morning against the Meltemi.
Anchorage: Parikia or Naoussa (Paros).
Plan B: cut along the east coast of Naxos if the wind builds.
Warning: a windward leg, leave early.
Day 7: Paros to Mykonos, 18 NM, ~3 h 30
Sailing: the last climb north to the base, morning preferred. Refuel before handover.
Variations and personalisation
Discovery version. Stay on Mykonos, Delos, Paros, Naxos in a tight triangle, without going down to the Little Cyclades: shorter legs.
Adventure version. Push one night to Amorgos from the Little Cyclades, more exposed but spectacular.
Paros or Lavrion base variant. From Paros, the same loop recentred; from Lavrion (Athens), add Kythnos or Syros on the way out.
By season. June and September for a tenable Meltemi; avoid August for a novice crew. The central loop stays gentler than the Santorini route.
Summary table
| Day | Leg | NM | Time (~5 kn) | Anchorage | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Mykonos, Delos, Paros | 20 | ~4 h | Naoussa | Good |
| D2 | Paros to Antiparos | 8 | ~2 h | Antiparos | Good |
| D3 | Antiparos to Naxos | 14 | ~3 h | Naxos | Moderate |
| D4 | Naxos to Koufonissia | 15 | ~3 h | Koufonissia | Good |
| D5 | Koufonissia to Schinoussa | 8 | ~2 h | Schinoussa / Iraklia | Good |
| D6 | Little Cyclades to Paros | 20 | ~4 h | Paros | Moderate |
| D7 | Paros to Mykonos | 18 | ~3 h 30 | Base | n/a |
| Total | ~120 | ~26 h |
Practical checklist
- Licence: coastal licence plus ICC plus VHF Short Range Certificate.
- Weather: plan the northward climbs (D6, D7) for the morning.
- TEPAI and the usual papers on board.
- Provisioning: shop at Mykonos, Paros and Naxos; scarce in the Little Cyclades.
Booking and preparation
- Compare boats available from Mykonos or Paros.
- Consider charter insurance (deposit waiver).
- Flights: Paris to Mykonos (JMK).
- Ashore: the archaeological site of Delos, the Portara of Naxos, Little Cyclades beaches.
See also: the Cyclades Paros-Santorini itinerary, the Western Cyclades and the guide Sailing the Cyclades.
A word from the crew
Logbook. Anchoring off Delos at first light, alone on the water before the tourist caiques, and walking the ruins of Apollo's city: few Greek islands give that feeling. Then fleeing the Mykonos crowd for the silence of Koufonissia, a few miles and a world away.
The mistake to avoid. Trying to climb north in the afternoon. The Meltemi turns Days 6 and 7 into an ordeal; climb at first light.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: Delos at dawn and the water of Koufonissia. What we skip: the expensive, noisy nights of Mykonos, we touch it just for the airport.
Our verdict. Beauty 5/5. Anchorages 4/5. Ease 3/5. Crowds 3/5. Verdict: the iconic Cyclades without the hard beat from Santorini, the best central loop for a comfortable crew.
Nautical data: Cyclades distance tables, harbour offices of Mykonos, Paros and Naxos. Weather: HNMS, 2025 averages.
