7-Day Greek Cyclades Luxury Yacht Charter Itinerary

Home to Mykonos and Santorini, the most famous of all Greek islands, it’s no wonder that the Cyclades are one of the great superyacht cruising grounds of the world. In the Cyclades, you’ll float through an archipelago of whitewash and windmills, Aegean blue domes and pink bougainvillea, and swim in crystal clear water of every shade of emerald, turquoise and sapphire.

The Cyclades and superyachts are a match made in heaven, with designer boutiques and clifftop spa hotels aplenty, and sophisticated beach clubs where the beautiful people dance in a summer rain of champagne.

Yet for all the glitz and glamour, a yacht charter in the Cyclades promises something else as well: spectacular beaches only accessed by yacht or donkey path, ancient temples crumbling into the dust, and rustic tavernas in fishing villages that have barely changed with the passage of time. Promising a mesmerising combination of authentic Greek island life and the jet-set experience, the Cyclades truly have it all.

Day 1: Athens-Kea

Begin your yacht charter in the dazzling ancient city of Athens, where you’ll definitely want to explore the Acropolis and Parthenon (at the very least!) before joining your yacht in Piraeus at midday. Enjoy an elegant lunch onboard as the yacht gets underway for your first stop, the lovely island of Kea, passing the cliff-top Temple of Poseidon on the way.

Kea is a quiet beauty at the westernmost point of the Cyclades. Swim off the yacht in crystal clear waters, have a drink in a beachside taverna, stroll through valleys filled with almond orchards and wildflowers, or explore the capital of Iloudria, a whitewashed hill village set out like an amphitheatre next to a ruined Venetian castle.

Day 2: Kea-Syros

The yacht will get away early and cruise to Syros, a green and hilly island where the grand architecture tells a story of the days when this was one of the wealthiest ports in Greece. The capital Hermoupolis cannot fail to impress with its colourful buildings, historic alleyways, and pale blue domes: a jumble of lively beauty overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

The coast has plenty of beaches and coves to enjoy, but be sure to end the day at one of the authentic tavernas by the busy waterside back in Hermoupolis, watching the brightly painted fishing boats bob at anchor and tucking into small plates of crispy fried saganaki and herby grilled octopus. Those looking for the “real” Greece will find it here in Syros, and it’s a lovely contrast to your next stop, the glamorous island of Mykonos.

Day 3: Syros-Mykonos

Arriving in Mykonos by lunchtime, it’s hard not to feel a thrill as you see the famous whitewashed village and thatched windmills come into view. Possibly the most famous Greek island of them all and certainly one of the most drop-dead gorgeous, Mykonos promises the best of the superyacht lifestyle, with designer boutiques, fine dining restaurants, glamorous beach bars and A-list nightclubs.

Spend a decadent afternoon at Nammos beach club before indulging in a spot of boutique shopping in Mykonos Old Town, where Lalounis, SohoSoho, and Louis Vuitton hang their designer shingles along the whitewashed laneways.

Head back to the yacht to dress up and indulge in some sunset cocktails, before stepping off the passerelle to dine at one of Mykonos’ great restaurants, such as Nobu Matsuhisa, Ambrosia, Kiku, or La Medusa. As the night gets late, hedonists looking for a party will make a beeline for Astra, before heading on to Cavo Paradiso, the ultimate Mykonos nightclub.

Day 4: Mykonos-Delos- Naxos

Enjoy a lazy morning lie-in as the yacht gets underway for Delos, an island once believed to be the birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis. Delos was so sacred in ancient times that no one was permitted to be born or to die on the island, and the entire Cyclades archipelago takes its name from this island, as “Cyclades” means circle, with Delos the focal point at the middle.

Today, the island is littered with classical statues and ruined mansions like an open-air museum, making Delos a must-visit destination for the history lover.

After cooling off with a swim and some lunch on deck, the yacht will continue its cruise to Naxos, where you’ll find some of the best sandy beaches in the Cyclades, and a lovely green landscape of vineyards, olive groves, and high mountain villages.

The capital of Hora delights with its gorgeous waterfront and steep cobbled streets, while the west coast promises secluded private coves only reachable by yacht. That “real” Greece we were talking about earlier? Naxos delivers it in spades.

Day 5: Ios or Paros

We hope you rested well on Naxos, for today brings you to the famed party island of Ios, where you can move effortlessly from yacht to beach club to nightclub, mojito firmly in hand. Have a stroll through the pretty old town before hitting fashionable Milopotamus beach to start the party. When night falls, head back to town to enjoy the many bars and clubs that make this island one of the party destinations of Europe.

If you’re more interested in breathtaking clifftop villages and quiet islands, we suggest that you visit Paros instead, where you can stroll through flowery streets, watch fishermen mend their nets as they have for millennia, and drop anchor at one of the enchanting, tiny islands that lie off the coast.

Day 6: Santorini

The sight of Santorini looming up in the distance may well break your heart. The most dramatic of all the Greek islands, Santorini is a volcanic caldera born of fire, with whitewashed villages sitting atop soaring cliffs, and narrow donkey trails winding down to striking beaches of red and black sands.

One of the most romantic destinations of earth, Santorini is a place to stroll the cobblestone and bougainvillea lanes of Oia village before finding a clifftop terrace to enjoy a cocktail, watching the sun sink into the Aegean and painting sea and sky every shade of fire.

Whether you want to shop, spa, or dine, this is the ultimate boutique island with lots of luxury options, but there’s a quiet side too, with ancient vineyards, beautiful walking trails, and the buried Minoan city of Akrotiri to explore.

Day 7: Disembark in Santorini

Wake up early to swim off the back of the yacht in the deep blue waters— knowing that you’re swimming in a volcanic crater is quite a thrill. Have a long, leisurely breakfast, drawing out the last few hours on your yacht before disembarking at midday and waving goodbye to the crew as you speed away in the tender.

After one last look at that heart-stopping view from the cliffs of Santorini, head to the airport to fly home, looking down at the stunning Cyclades archipelago that you just floated through on a superyacht, in a haze of happy days.

To find out more about what you might see and do on a Greek Cyclades yacht charter, contact one of our Denison charter specialists: