The extended variant of the Sporades, pushing into the heart of the marine park and returning via the Pelion peninsula on the mainland: the greenest Greece, pines down to the water, deserted coves and the hope of glimpsing a monk seal. Around 100 miles from Skiathos, blending the three classic islands, the Alonissos marine park and the wooded coast of the Pagasetic Gulf. Intermediate. Full detail below.
In brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Skiathos; Volos variant |
| Access | Fly to Skiathos (JSI, seasonal) or Volos via Athens |
| Total distance | ~100 NM (loop) |
| Sailing time | ~22 h over 6 sailing days |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Recommended boat | 40-46 ft monohull or catamaran |
| Best time | May to September |
| Winds | Meltemi from N-NE in the afternoon, gentler than in the Cyclades |
| Indicative budget | ~700 to 1,100 € per person all in |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Skiathos · Tsougria · Skopelos · Alonnisos · Kyra Panagia · Peristera · Steni Vala · Skantzoura · Trikeri
Weather month by month
| Month | Wind | Air | Sea | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Light | 21-24° | 18-19° | Nature, calm |
| June | Moderate | 26-28° | 21-22° | Ideal |
| July | NE Meltemi in the afternoon | 29-31° | 23-24° | Breezy |
| August | Firm | 29-32° | 24-25° | Book early |
| September | Easing | 25-28° | 23-24° | Ideal |
| October | Variable | 21-24° | 21-22° | End of season |
What to understand about the area
The marine park, regulated. The northern zone of Alonissos (Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Piperi) is a national marine park: some islands are off-limits or need a permit, and speed and anchoring are controlled. Check at Alonissos before going in.
A gentler Meltemi. The prevailing wind is an afternoon NE thermal, generally more manageable than in the Cyclades, though it can raise a short sea between the islands.
Pelion, the mainland side. The Pagasetic Gulf and the Pelion coast offer wooded, sheltered anchorages, a gentle contrast to the islands.
Day by day
Day 1: Skiathos to Tsougria / Koukounaries, 6 NM, ~1 h 30
Sailing: a warm-up around Skiathos.
Anchorage: Tsougria islet or Koukounaries bay, pale sand.
Plan B: Kolios bay.
Warning: air and sea traffic around Skiathos, keep a watch.
Day 2: Skiathos to Skopelos, 16 NM, ~3 h 30
Sailing: east to the most wooded island.
Anchorage: Skopelos harbour (quay) or Agnontas and Panormos to the south, very sheltered.
Ashore: the amphitheatre town of Skopelos, monasteries.
Warning: Skopelos harbour is exposed to the NE, prefer Panormos in strong wind.
Day 3: Skopelos to Alonissos (Patitiri), 10 NM, ~2 h
Sailing: a short crossing to the gateway of the marine park.
Anchorage: Patitiri (harbour) or Steni Vala bay to the north-east.
Warning: check the park rules at Patitiri.
Day 4: Alonissos and marine park (Kyra Panagia, Peristera), 16 NM, ~3 h 30
Sailing: a nature day in the permitted zone of the park.
Anchorage: Kyra Panagia bay (superb, if permitted) or Peristera island, bottle-green water.
Warning: respect the off-limits zones (Piperi, Gioura, the core of the park).
Day 5: Peristera to Steni Vala / Skantzoura, 12 NM, ~2 h 30
Sailing: coasting the coves of Alonissos and the islet of Skantzoura.
Anchorage: Steni Vala (tavernas) or a wild Skantzoura anchorage.
Warning: open anchorages, judge by the wind.
Day 6: Alonissos to Pelion (Trikeri), 25 NM, ~5 h
Sailing: a crossing to the mainland and the entrance of the Pagasetic Gulf, the longest leg.
Anchorage: Palaio Trikeri island or Trikeri bay, very sheltered and wooded.
Plan B: Vathoudi bay.
Warning: time the leg for the afternoon thermal.
Day 7: Trikeri to Skiathos, 18 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: back to the base via the north of the gulf. Refuel before handover.
Variations and personalisation
Classic version (3 islands). Stay on Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos with the marine park, without the mainland loop: short legs, ideal for discovery (see the 7-day Sporades itinerary).
Nature version (this one). Add the permitted core of the marine park and the Pelion peninsula for a dose of wooded mainland.
Pelion-from-Volos version. Base at Volos, explore the Pagasetic Gulf first (Trikeri, Amaliapoli) then the islands.
By season. May-June and September for calm and nature; July-August for a firm thermal.
Summary table
| Day | Leg | NM | Time (~5 kn) | Anchorage | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Skiathos to Tsougria | 6 | ~1 h 30 | Tsougria / Koukounaries | Good |
| D2 | Skiathos to Skopelos | 16 | ~3 h 30 | Skopelos / Panormos | Good |
| D3 | Skopelos to Alonissos | 10 | ~2 h | Patitiri / Steni Vala | Good |
| D4 | Marine park (Kyra Panagia) | 16 | ~3 h 30 | Kyra Panagia / Peristera | Variable |
| D5 | Peristera to Skantzoura | 12 | ~2 h 30 | Steni Vala / Skantzoura | Moderate |
| D6 | Alonissos to Pelion | 25 | ~5 h | Palaio Trikeri | Very good |
| D7 | Trikeri to Skiathos | 18 | ~4 h | Base | n/a |
| Total | ~100 | ~22 h |
Practical checklist
- Licence: coastal licence plus ICC plus VHF Short Range Certificate.
- Marine park: check the permitted and off-limits zones at Alonissos before entering.
- TEPAI and the usual papers on board.
- Provisioning: shop at Skiathos, Skopelos and Patitiri.
Booking and preparation
- Compare boats available from Skiathos or Volos.
- Consider charter insurance (deposit waiver).
- Flights: Paris to Skiathos (JSI) or Volos via Athens.
- Ashore: Alonissos marine park, Skopelos town, Pelion villages.
See also: the classic Sporades itinerary and the guide Sailing the Sporades.
A word from the crew
Logbook. The marine park north of Alonissos is pure silence: bottle-green water, deserted coves, and that gentle tension of watching for a monk seal. Then the swing to Pelion, its pines down to the sea and its wooded anchorages, another Greece.
The mistake to avoid. Entering the marine park without knowing the off-limits zones. Piperi and Gioura are protected; check at Patitiri and respect the limits.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: Kyra Panagia and the islet of Palaio Trikeri. What we skip: the packed beaches of Skiathos at peak hours, gorgeous but saturated in August.
Our verdict. Beauty 5/5. Anchorages 4/5. Ease 3/5. Crowds 2/5. Verdict: green, natural Greece at its best, a gentle, restorative week between marine park and wooded mainland.
Nautical data: Sporades distance tables, harbour offices of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. Regulations of the Northern Sporades National Marine Park. Weather: HNMS, 2025 averages.
