The Saronic Gulf loop is the best balance of easy access and quality sailing in Greece. In seven days from Lavrion you take in five islands of completely different character, on already-blue water but without the Cyclades Meltemi. It is the ideal first Greek charter. Full detail below.
In brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Lavrion (Athens) |
| Access | Fly to Athens (ATH), then 30 min by taxi or shuttle to Lavrion marina |
| Total distance | ~128 NM (loop) |
| Sailing time | ~26 h over 7 days |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Level | Beginner to intermediate |
| Recommended boat | 36-44 ft monohull or catamaran |
| Best time | April to October |
| Winds | Meltemi from the NE, softened by the Peloponnese, 12-20 kt |
| Indicative budget | ~700 to 1,100 € per person (see Sailing budget in Greece) |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Lavrion · Aegina · Agistri · Poros · Hydra · Spetses · Dokos
Weather month by month
| Month | Wind | Air | Sea | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April-May | Light | 20-24° | 18-19° | Fine season, few crowds |
| June | Steady NW | 26-28° | 21-22° | Optimal |
| Jul-Aug | Meltemi NE 15-25 kt | 30-33° | 23-24° | Peak season |
| September | Easing | 26-28° | 24° | Excellent |
| October | Variable | 22-25° | 22-23° | Still very good |
Day by day
Day 1, Lavrion to Aegina, 20 NM, ~4 h
Anchorage: Aegina harbour (alongside) or the south bay.
Ashore: the Temple of Aphaia, a beautifully preserved Doric temple from the 6th century BC (30 min by taxi); the pistachio market on the quay, the best in Greece.
Warning: busy quay, arrive early for a berth.
Day 2, Aegina to Angistri, 8 NM, ~2 h
Anchorage: off Skala, a quiet sandy beach.
Ashore: a relaxed feel, swimming, your first grilled octopus of the week. The perfect day to settle into the boat.
Day 3, Angistri to Poros, 20 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: the channel between Poros and the Peloponnese (Galatas) narrows to 200 m; lemon groves scent the air in spring.
Anchorage: the lively Poros harbour, or the calmer Askeli bay.
Warning: watch the ferries in the channel, motor through.
Day 4, Poros to Hydra, 12 NM, ~3 h
Anchorage: Hydra harbour, or the Mandraki anchorage 1 NM to the east, calm.
Ashore: no cars or scooters at all, only donkeys; 18th-century sea captains' houses, listed since 1959; Leonard Cohen lived here in the 1960s.
Warning: the harbour fills before 11am in July-August, arrive early or head straight to Mandraki.
Day 5, Hydra to Spetses, 18 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: along the Peloponnese coast, deeper blue water.
Anchorage: the old harbour (Paleo Limani) or Baltiza bay.
Ashore: Spetses, the island of horse-drawn carriages and grand houses, active in the 1821 War of Independence.
Day 6, Spetses to Dokos, 5 NM, ~1 h
Anchorage: the north cove of Dokos, a deserted island, wild anchoring on sand.
Ashore: nothing, and that is the point: a few goats, clear water, and beneath the surface the oldest known shipwreck in the world (around 2200 BC).
Day 7, Dokos to Lavrion, 45 NM, ~9 h
Sailing: the longest leg, Meltemi from the NE often on the nose. Cast off before 7am for the morning calm, tacking in 10-12 mile boards if it builds. A lunch stop at Aegina is possible.
Summary table
| Day | Leg | NM | Time (~5 kn) | Anchorage | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Lavrion to Aegina | 20 | ~4 h | Aegina harbour | Good |
| D2 | Aegina to Angistri | 8 | ~2 h | Skala | Good |
| D3 | Angistri to Poros | 20 | ~4 h | Poros / Askeli | Very good |
| D4 | Poros to Hydra | 12 | ~3 h | Hydra / Mandraki | Moderate |
| D5 | Hydra to Spetses | 18 | ~4 h | Old harbour / Baltiza | Good |
| D6 | Spetses to Dokos | 5 | ~1 h | North cove | Good (wild anchorage) |
| D7 | Dokos to Lavrion | 45 | ~9 h | base | n/a |
| Total | ~128 | ~26 h |
Practical checklist
- Licence: coastal licence plus ICC plus VHF Short Range Certificate.
- Provisioning: water and fuel at Poros and Aegina; little at Dokos.
- TEPAI and the usual papers on board.
Booking and preparation
- Compare boats available from Lavrion.
- Charter insurance recommended.
- Flights: to Athens (ATH).
- Shore activities: the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina, the car-free lanes of Hydra.
See also: the guide Sailing the Saronic Gulf and the article How much does a week's sailing in Greece cost.
Nautical data: Saronic Gulf distance tables, harbour offices of Poros, Hydra, Spetses. Weather: HNMS. Dokos archaeology: Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities.
A word from the crew
Logbook. Hydra, a harbour with no cars or scooters, where you motor in among the donkeys and the terraces. We learned there that a tiny harbour can be worth every anchorage.
The mistake to avoid. Counting on a berth in Hydra harbour on a summer evening. It's tiny, expensive and swept by ferry wash; aim early, or anchor at Mandraki just next door.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: Hydra's old town after dark. What we skip: Aegina can be trimmed to a provisioning stop if time is short.
Our verdict. Beauty 4/5. Anchorages 3/5. Ease 4/5. Crowds 3/5. Verdict: the perfect ground for a first week, short hops and plenty of shelter, within reach of Athens.