Sail the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs of Greece
The suggested itinerary is intended to give you an idea of
the places we could visit on the cruise. For more information
on the area read about the
Saronic & Argolic Gulfs
Suggested Itinerary
Sailing cruises in the Saronic Gulf start and finish from
our base in Athens.
A 12 day cruise offers the opportunity
to cruise both the Saronic and the Argolic Gulfs, visiting
the islands and ports of the Pelopenese. For those who wish
to sail further, the islands of Kea, Kithnos and Serifos are
also within easy reach.
Our ports of call could include
Epidavros
Methana
Vathi
Aegina
Poros
Hydra
Spetses
Navplion
Astros
Leonidio
Monemvasia
A 6 day cruise offers a shorter
cruise within the Saronic Gulf.
See our Maps of Greece to see the cruising area in more detail.
The itineraries are only suggestions and we aim to tailor the cruise to your interests.
The Saronic and Argolic Gulfs
The Saronic Gulf is the area closest to Athens and between
the Greek mainland and the Pelopenese. The Argolic Gulf is
further south on the east side of the Pelopenese. Aegina is a small Saronic island
boasting neoclassical architecture and ancient sites including
the Doric temple of Athena Aphaia, the Monastery Agios Nektarios
and the Temple of Apollo. Aegina is famous for its crops of
pistachio. Hydra, also in the Saronic,
lies just off the Pelopenese coast. Hydra is completely traffic
free, even bicycles are banned. Transport is by donkey or
water taxi. The main town is extremely picturesque, full of
red-tiled houses and stone-paved narrow alleys. It used to
be the destination of fashionable artists during the sixties
and has kept a highly cosmopolitan character. Ermioni is located at the stem
of a wooded headland on the Pelopenese mainland. Despite its
proximity to Athens the place is tranquil and unspoiled. In
earlier times Ermioni was of some importance as shown by the
ancient mole and walls near the end of the headland. Spetses,
the ancient Pityousa (Island of Pines), is a hilly and wooded
island and is the southern most of the Saronic Islands boasting
beautiful beaches. No motor vehicles are allowed on Spetses
apart from public service vehicles. Navplion old town is on a peninsula
jutting into the gulf that forms a naturally protected bay
overlooked by the fortress of Palamidi. Navplion is one of the
lovliest towns in Greece. The old city with its neoclassic houses,
picturesque streets, wooden balconies and Turkish
fountains. Syntagma Square with its mosques and pavement
cafes is like a fairy land. The Archaeological Museum in
Syntagma Square is housed in an imposing Venetian building. It houses finds from various periods and
frescoes from Mycenae and Assini. There is also a Folk Art Museum
on Vas Alexandrou street.
Mycenae the capital of the great
Helladic civilization of 1650 to 1100BC, is north of Navplion
and can be reached by taxi or bus. Astros is built on
hills around a sandy bay. A medieval castle on
top of the hill provides a panoramic view over the gulf. The place is alive with fishermen.
Approximately 4 km from the village is Moni Loukous, a large monastery, which is well worth a visit. Epidavros (Epidaurus) sited
directly below Mt. Arahneo which is mentioned by Aeschylus
in his tragedy Agamemnon. The theatre of Epidaurus, dating from 300 BC,
is the most famous and best preserved of all the ancient theatres in Greece.
Built of limestone, it can seat 12,000 spectators.
