Sporades


These islands are famous as tourist destinations particularly for sailing.

Sporades is an archipelago consists of a cluster of small islands with only 3 inhabited ones offering amazing options for sailing yacht charters. This group of islands is located off the eastern coast of mainland Greece, north of the Aegean. The islands are filled with thick and lush vegetation and the terrain are mostly mountainous.

The popular islands in the Sporades group are Alonissos, Skopelos, Skiathos. These islands have ample facilities like tavernas, restaurants, shops and hotels. Skopelos on the other hand, offers a quiet and calm retreat with its picturesque and tranquil ambiance.

Admire the clear blue seas and the panoramic views of charming little villages. If you are lucky enough you might see some dolphins in Sporades and might sail along with your rented yacht!

Sporades is also a popular destination for sailing in Greece due to the fine sailing condition in the area. The popular ports are those of Skopelos town and Glossa in Skopelos island while Hora of Skiathos is the main port of Skiathos island.

Skiathos has an international airport and boasts some of the best beaches in Greece making it one the most popular package holiday destinations of all the Greek islands.
Neighbouring Skopelos also attracts hordes of summer visitors but Alonnisos and Skyros are both relatively unspoilt and appeal to independent travellers seeking tranquility and age-old island traditions untainted by mass tourism.

Its waters are teeming with fish, the seafood is remarkable: lobster, octopus, and huge prawns often baked with cheese and fresh tomatoes.

Of course, there are other places for you to moor and anchor your luxury yacht aside from these ports.

They are situated across the port town of Volos on the eastern coast of mainland Greece. Positioned at the foot of Mt Pelion on the Pagasitic Gulf, Volos is a good base for enjoying the sea, the wooded slopes and green valleys that surround it.


EVIA

Evia is the second largest island in Greece. The narrow channel that separates it from the mainland is only 40 meters wide. The waters here travel at speeds of up to 8 miles per hour, changing direction every 6 hours. The landscape in Evia is rich and varied with pristine inland villages and scenic mountain roads, gorgeous sandy beaches and steeping cliffs.

The picturesque town of Kymi is built on a cliff 250m above the sea. The port of Kymi (Paralia Kymis), 4km downhill is the only natural harbor on the precipitous east coast. Set on the wide Karystian Bay below Mt Ohi (1398m) is Karystos, the most attractive of the southern Evia resorts.


SKIATHOS

Much of pine covered Skiathos is blessed with exquisite beaches of golden sand. Not surprisingly it is one of Greece’s premier resorts. The island has only one settlement, the port and capital, Skiathos Town, on the southeast coast. The north coast is precipitous and less accessible.
Most people come to the island for the beaches and nightlife, but the truly curious will discover some picturesque walks, hidden valleys and quiet beaches. Skiathos town has twin harbors divided by Bourtzi islet, which is reached, by a narrow causeway.
With some 65 beaches to choose from, many of which are only accessible by boat, beach hopping on Skiathos can be a fulltime occupation. On the south coast the pine fringed, long and sandy Vromolimnos Beach, has been awarded an EU blue flag for cleanliness, while Koukounaries Beach, which is backed by pine trees and a lagoon and is touted as the best beach in Greece. Koukounaries is a horseshoe shaped beach lined with pine trees with golden sand. In back of the pines is a gorgeous lake Other beaches with thick pine forests and sand dunes are, Krassa (Banana Beach), Ag Elenis and Mandraki.
Lalaria, on the north coast, is a striking beach of pale gray pebbles, much featured in tourist brochures Sailing around the island you will find on the northport Galazia Spilia (blue cave) and nearby Skotoni Spilia (dark cave). When you become accustomed to the dark your eyes will behold a breathtaking spectacle.

Opposite is Tsougria a very pretty little green island with pure white sand. You can also view Skiathos property for sale if you are interested in houses and real estate in Skiathos.


SKOPELOS

This lush green paradise is heavily pine forested, the sheltered southeast coast harbors many beaches, most of which are pebbled, while the northwest is exposed with high cliffs. It lies between Skiathos and Alonissos. The tourist development has not affected its intensely traditional character. Skopelos Town is most captivating. It skirts a semi circular bay with dazzling white houses that and clambers in tiers up a hillside, culminating in a ruined fortress.
Skopelos’ beaches are almost all on the sheltered southwest and west coasts. Limonari and Millia are considered the islands best. Agnontas is a leeward bay 8km out of Hora. Panoramos is the most beautiful bay on the island with a wonderful sandy beach and opposite a little green island. Milia is the largest and most beautiful sand beach on Skopelos opposite of which is the lush islet of Dasia.
You can also view Skopelos property for sale if you are interested in houses and real estate in Skopelos. With your boat you can get to know the entire coastline, including deserted shores to the northeast and visiting Trypti cave will prove rewarding.

Other beaches include, Chysi Mila, Kokkinocastro, and Tzorti Gialos, Leptos Gialos, which have pure white sand. Kokkinonsi a small island where finds from the Paleolithic period were discovered.


ALONNISOS

The water around this serene, green island has been declared a marine park, and is the cleanest in the Aegean. Every house has a cesspit, so no sewage enters the sea. Old Alonnisos is a tranquil picturesque place with lovely views. Most of the beaches are on the east coast, which means they avoid the strong summer meltemi winds. Kokkinokastro Beach was once the site of the ancient city Ikos; there are remains of the city walls and a necropolis under the sea.


ISLETS AROUND ALONISSOS

Alonissos is surrounded be eight uninhabited islets. Piperi, to the northeast of Alonissos is a refuge for the Mediterranean Monk seal (monachus monachus) and it is forbidden to set foot there. Kyra Panagia has good beaches and two abandoned monasteries. It is the largest of the islets, with three bays, Agios Petros (sandy beaches), one to the north, with a marvelous enclosed harbor and a smaller one to the east where a 16th century monastery is.

Psathoura has the submerged remains of an ancient city and the brightest lighthouse in the Aegean Peristera has several sandy beaches and the remains of a castle. Other islets include: Pappous, Skantzoura, Psathouropoud, Gioura, Adephi.


SKYROS

Skyros is some distance from the rest of the group; it also has a different atmosphere, reminding you more of the Cyclades than the Sporades. Skyros Town is a striking, dazzling white town of flat-roofed Cycladic style houses draped over a high rocky bluff. The resort of Magazia is at the southern end of a splendid, long sandy beach; Molos is at the northern end of the beach.
Beaches At Atsitsa, on the west coast, there is a tranquil pebble beach shaded by pines. To the north is the even less crowded beach of Kyra Panagia. At Pefkos there is another good but small beach and taverna. Farther east is the pebble and sand beach at Kalamitsa. Opposite, are the small, uninhabited islets of Valaxa and Skyropoulo.