Islands 7Day Itinerary

Day 1: Island arrival The red-roofed houses of Skiathos Town meander up the hill from the harbor and a small peninsula separates the picturesque fishing port from the quay and the well-equipped yacht marina where M/S Turkish Delight will be located. The old quarter of the town has classic Greek homes with lovely gardens hidden away in the maze and labyrinthine of back streets. Skiathos Town was home to one of ’s most famous writers – Alexandros Papadiamantis – and there is a museum dedicated to him that is worth a look. You can climb the hill at the little islet of Bourtzi for a magnificent view of the port or, if you’re feeling less energetic, sit at one of the tavernas that surround the port and look up at the hill instead. Skiathos Town has a wide-range of restaurants and, as you would expect, the selection of fresh fish is excellent. The nightlife is good with all tastes from jazz to blues to rock and disco catered for in the various bars and clubs. There’s a bus that shuttles around the island pretty regularly or you can hire your own transport to explore the densely wooded interior or magnificent beaches around the North side of the island.

Day 2: Glossa, Watch out for dolphins as you sail east from Skiathos to neighboring Skopelos, which is more rugged and less developed than Skiathos. The island is covered in forests of pine but here are also olive groves and orchards of the plums and citrus fruits for which Skopelos is famed. Skopelos has been occupied at various times by the Romans, Venetians, French and Ottomans, and its entire population is said to have been slaughtered by the pirate-admiral Barbarossa in the sixteenth century. Things are quieter these days, although there was a fair amount of excitement on Skopelos a couple of years back during the filming of Mamma Mia in various locations on the south-west coast of the island when Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep and the rest of the film’s starry cast took up residence. Glossa, with its hillside houses distinguished by painted wooden trim and grey slate roofs, is one of the prettiest – and sleepiest! - towns in the Sporades. Located near the northwest tip of the island, Glossa is much more rural and less developed than Skopelos Town, the main settlement of the island. There are a couple of tavernas serving local specialties such as pork with prunes and in the small main square on one of the higher hillside terraces of the village the locals sip coffee and click their beads under the shade of a large mimosa tree.

Day 3: Panormous Skopelos After a morning sail we will arrive to the seaside village of Panormous, which lies on the southwestern coast of the island of Skopelos. This anchorage is located alongside a beach of sparkling white pebbles, pristine turquoise water and under sweeping green hillsides covered in pine and olive trees. The main beach shelves steeply but there are a few smaller, sandier bays nearby – Kastani beach is one of the best on the island and other wonderful beaches include Milia and Adrines. Even in the height season you will be able to discover one to call your own! Adjacent to Panormous is Blo, one of the most beautiful natural ports in the world – said to resemble a green lake in the midst of a pine forest. This is a favorite among the locals because of the clear emerald and turquoise sea and enchanting beaches all set against a backdrop of outstanding un spoilt natural beauty.

Day 4: Peristiri Island Peristiri is located right opposite Alonissos and is another beautiful and remote uninhabited island in the Sporades. Some Alonissans cross over from the bigger island to tend to olive groves on Peristiri but you are unlikely to encounter many other visitors, other than a few other charterers in the know. There is a lovely bay at the southern end where you can relax with a barbecue and enjoy the peace and serenity of this lovely part of the world.

Day 5: Steni Vala Alonissos Steni Vala is another beautiful anchorage with a shop so the crew can provision if they need a few things. On land there is also a couple of café-bars, three tavernas, and a scuba-diving outfit that offers expeditions around the nearby islets. There are two beautiful beaches within easy reach – at Glyfa, just north, and at Ayios Petros, a ten-minute path-walk south of the town where you can see panoramic views. Steni Vala is a perfect place for kicking back and relaxing on the deck of the beautiful M/S Turkish Delight.

Day 6: Loutraki (Skopelos Isl) Loutràki has grown into a modest tourist resort and the town is now well known for its vast natural springs, therapeutic spas and was the first resort to be recorded in the annuals of world history. For all sight seekers, there is a monastery named Osios Patapios located about 6 miles North West of Loutràki on Geraneia mountain, offering a gorgeous view of the whole area. Situated on the east coast of the Golf of Corinth, this city was know as Thermae in ancient times. A unique combination of climatological conditions and natural surroundings, makes Loutràki a privileged place to relax and enjoy.

Day 7: Return to Skiathos Early in the morning M/S Turkish Delight will set sail back to the main port of Skiathos where you will have a wonderful brunch before departing to the airport from the local marina. We will say our good byes and reminisce about the wonderful week we all had together in the Sporades Islands, Greece.