SAIL GREECE : Archaeological Adventure Cruises...

Spend two weeks in the Aegean exploring some of the three thousand magical Greek islands on a luxury yacht. Learn the ropes and the skill of navigating as you are the crew. Enjoy the crystal-clear Greek waters and warm sunshine. Discover the ancient ruins; the temple of Aphaia on Aegina, the entombed town of Akrotiri on the volcanic island of Santorini and at Delos, walk the streets of a thriving city of the 6th century B.C. Islands include; Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Milos, Ios, Paros, Mykonos, Kithnos, enchanting Kea and more! OR: Spend a week to ten nights on a luxury yacht exploring the ancient islands and coast of the Peloponnese. Immerse yourself in traditional Greek life. Each day is a new port with a new adventure! Islands include; Aegina, Poros, Bourtzi, Spathi, Hydra, Dokos, Spetses and the majestic Peloponnese coast! The Saronic and Argolic Gulfs and the Aegean islands also offer golden beaches, secluded coves, cozy tavernas and fabulous night-life!

May through October 2001

Atlantic 61, 55 & 49 for groups of 7-12 and the Beneteau 400, 42S7, 440, 461 and similar Greek designs for groups of 5-7. Private cabins with double or single berths, some with private washrooms, complete galleys with refrigeration & stove and spacious saloons for dining. Most two week tours in 2000 will be aboard a newer model Beneteau Oceanis 461 with 6 guest sailors aboard.

Skipper / guide, breakfast, lunch & non alcoholic refreshments, snorkeling gear, motorized inflatable, yacht damage insurance and port fees! Airport transfers can be arranged.
*The evenings are spent ashore with dinners at inexpensive local tavernas.

2 week cruise: USD$ 2295.00 - 1 week cruise: USD $1395.00 - 10 night: USD$ 1795.00.
A 10% early booking discount is offered if deposit is received before Dec 30 2000. Prices do not include airfare.

Bookings are accepted on space availability on a first come first serve basis. Reservations can be secured by a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the cruise price. The balance of payment is due two months prior to the departure of the cruise. Cabins usually have double bed berths so singles requiring a cabin to themselves will be charged a single supplement of 50% of the cruise price. Payments can be made by cheque in US dollars or by credit cards, Visa and American Express (a 3% surcharge is added to credit card purchases).

The adventure begins in Athens where you can be met at the airport and brought directly on board the yacht, or if you decide to arrive early, accommodations can be arranged near the Acropolis in the Plaka, a charming and safe tourist district in the heart of Athens. The Plaka is a pedestrian area full of tavernas (Greek restaurants), souvenir & clothing shops and friendly Athenians. It is generally worth staying a few days in the city to see the sites -the Acropolis, Agora (ancient marketplace) and the National Archæological Museum among other attractions. Two good restaurants in the Plaka are the Garden of Eden (Vegetarian) and the central Byzantino Taverna.

On Saturday afternoon we sail from Athens, on the first leg of the cruise, to the island of Aegina (3 hrs) where dinner is served at The Fish Market Taverna, a local restaurant at one end of the actual fish market. On the menu are the freshest shrimps, kalamari, swordfish, and delicious local fish soups and stews. Crew mates can then wander the streets of this, the old capital of modern Greece, and see the tower where the first government held office. Aegina was the source of the first minted Greek coins and the island still boasts the best pistachio nuts in the world!

The next morning awake to priests chanting and the carillons of church bells. Attend mass or visit the famous Temple of Aphaia (by bus) dedicated to the daughter of Leto -the goddess Aphaia. The temple built in the Doric order dates from the early 5th century B.C. and is the best preserved in the Greek islands! In the afternoon we sail to Poros (3hrs) where you can swim in a shallow bay and spend the afternoon exploring this picturesque port town which was sacred to the god of the sea Poseidon. In the evening try some local retsina, a Greek wine with a hint of pine flavour (pine resin was originally used for preserving and sealing the tops of ceramic amphoras used for transporting wine) and then enjoy a splendid meal under a roof of grape vines at the Garden Taverna. After dinner the Sailor’s Bar awaits the real sea salts for a nightcap!

The yacht is underway early as we motor through the narrow channel between Poros and the majestic Peloponnese coast for a breakfast rendezvous at Bourtzi Island (20 minutes away). Bourtzi offers a nice morning swim or snorkel and an abandoned Venetian fort -great for a morning hike! After breakfast we sail on to the tranquil splendor of Spathi island (1.5 hrs) for lunch -excellent snorkeling over a sandy bottom! After lunch set sail for the famous island of Hydra (2hrs). One of the most picturesque harbor towns in Greece, Hydra, offers visitors art expositions, fabulous local handicrafts and exquisite clothing and jewellery (stop by local Greek designer Paris Kotsavasiliadis’ store Stigma, for a chat over some Greek coffee!). Hydra is known as a refuge for artists including part-time resident Leonard Cohen. In the last century Hydra figured prominently in the Greek War of Independence and provided a powerful fleet of naval vessels. We spend two nights at Hydra allowing lots of time to explore. On the second day visit the uninhabited island of Dokos for a picnic. Little known, deserted, Dokos harbours Early Hellenic II ruins and the resting place of the oldest known shipwreck (1500 B.C.) in an enchanting bay -great snorkeling!

*On the one week to ten-night cruise, after visiting Aegina, Poros, Bourtzi, Spathi, Hydra and Dokos we visit the island of Spetses home of Bouboulina, the Greek heroine who was instrumental in liberating Greece from the Turks. We then sail down the Argolic Gulf stopping at Karakas bay for a swim and then on to Nauplion -the original capital of Greece. At Nauplion you can explore a fantastic Venetian Citadel (Palamidi), perched high above the coast, by climbing over one thousands steps -or you can take a cab! Taxis are also used to travel inland to discover the historically important sites of Mycenae, Tiryns, and the tomb of Agamemnon. On the return to Athens stop in at Ermioni and hike through the magical forested peninsula. On the last day listen to a pin drop from any seat in the theatre at the most famous of all Greek amphitheatres, Epidauros. The Peloponnese coast offers sweeping forested mountain ranges, quaint coastal villages and towns with traditional Greek life. The one week and ten-night cruise covers between 150 and 300 kilometers round trip depending on the pace you want.

On the two week cruise the yacht departs Hydra at 6:00 AM for the long haul out into the Cycladic (circular) islands (9-12hrs) and arrives before sunset at the volcanic island of Milos. The yacht is moored at Adamas port and we can take a taxi to visit a Roman amphitheatre, some early Christian catacombs and the site of the discovery of the Venus of Milos, before enjoying a magical evening meal at Ergina’s mountain top taverna overlooking a huge volcanic crater. Ergina’s is the best taverna on the tour featuring over thirty local Milos delicacies.

After a late breakfast and exploration of the port of Adamas we sail for the southwest tip of Milos (3.5 hrs) and the fantastic cliffs of Kleftiko -a set of bays surrounded by 150-foot cliffs riddled with swim-through sea caves. Spend a night at anchor eating a dinner cooked on board while counting shooting stars in the bright Aegean night sky.

From Kleftiko the yacht sails east to the resting place of Homer at Ios (7hrs) where we are berthed for two nights. Ios offers the nicest beach in the central Aegean -Milopotas, great scuba diving with the Ios Diving Centre (Ios’ crystal clear water provided the location for the award winning underwater film The Big Blue), exquisite dinning and live entertainment at Frogs Restaurant and Club at the harbour and notorious night-life at a multitudes of discos and clubs up on the chora (hilltop town). On day 8 crew members can take an early morning hydrofoil or ferry to the volcanic island of Santorini, rumoured to be the lost land of Atlantis! Santorini is one of the most beautiful of all the Greek islands and offers fantastic archaeological treasures, such as the entombed town of Akrotiri, incredible black sands -Perissa Beach, excellent wine tasting at some of Greece’s best vineyards and great shopping at Thira, for jewellery and Greek art. Those who jump-ship and visit Santorini can return the same day on a ferry watching the sun set into the golden Aegean, or stay overnight in one of Santorini’s warm guest houses or hotels returning to the yacht the following day.  

From Ios we tack north for a lunch stop and swim at Andiparos. After lunch we navigate the ‘14 foot Passage’ and head for Parikia town on the island of Paros (6hrs). On Paros there are archaeological sites within walking distance of the harbour, as well as the best bargain shopping in the Cyclades. A variety of restaurants offer Greek, Vietnamese, Lebanese and Italian cuisine. We suggest the Barca Rosa for great thin-crust pizza and a spectacular view of the sunset.

Sailing north we visit the best-known and cosmopolitan of the Greek islands -Mykonos (4hrs). The yacht drops anchor meters off the gorgeous beach of Ornos Bay . Ornos was one of the shooting locations of the acclaimed film Shirley Valentine. Here we have two nights, allowing a day for exploring the labyrinth of streets in the town of Mykonos where you can find great shopping, dining and nightlife, as well as great photo opportunities. Mykonos also boasts the world-famous beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise. Snorkeling and scuba diving are available with Lucky Scuba Divers -(the best scuba diving in Greek waters). Guided by veteran Greek navy seal, Chrisanthos Politopoulos you can dive at Prasonisi on reefs south of the ancient port of Delos. This area is the resting place of many ancient shipwrecks and the sea bed is covered with amphora and pottery! If you’re not a diver, spend a morning walking through the streets of a city that was thriving 2500 years ago. At the centre of the Cycladic islands is Delos island which is a thirty minute ferry ride from Ornos. Delos was the most important and sacred place of ancient Greece -birth place of Artemis, goddess of the hunt and fertility, and Apollo the god of light and truth. Delos was also the commercial and religious centre of the Aegean and it has remained in an excellent state of preservation. Walk the Street of the Lions to the Agora (ancient marketplace) or pass from room to room in palaces once owned by powerful maritime traders. Discover temples and statues which date back to 500 B.C. as well as Roman amphitheatres and baths. End the afternoon by climbing sacred Mount Kynthos, for a divine panoramic view of the Cycladic islands. The yacht is moored at Ornos Bay, which is the safest anchorage on windy Mykonos. All activities, including diving, visiting the beaches and going to Delos are done from Ornos Bay by small ferry boats which collect you directly from the yacht. Porto Ornos Taverna offers one of the finest menus found on the two-week trip and is two minutes away by dinghy.

From Mykonos we sail west to Kea (7 hrs) keeping a watch for dolphins on the way! Little-known Kea is surprisingly one of the most interesting ports of call on the cruise. Around the bay of Agios Nikolaous one can find the deserted ruins of a Bronze age, Minoan temple site c.2000 B.C. and over the rolling hills, at Kefala, a Neolithic site c.3000 B.C. awaits interested hikers. Watch the sun set over the Aegean from the enchanting hilltop town Ioulis, built on a summit where the inhabitants were safe from pirate raids. On Kea the chora is little changed, there are no tourist signs and minimal English is spoken by the locals. An enchanting walk through Ioulis and the valley beyond brings you to a special feature -the Petrified Lion. Carved out of a solid rock and 21 feet long the sculpture is one of the best examples of ancient Greek carving and is dated c.600 B.C. There are other items of historical interest within the chora including a small museum, Venetian, Byzantine, Turkish and Hellenistic architecture and a night club set in a Medieval building with frecos painted on the walls! Excellent food is available at Nikos’ Taverna, steps from the gang plank at the harbour town Vourkari.

On the last day we sail the waters of the Kea channel to Cape Sounion (3hrs) on mainland Greece, where we anchor in the shadow of the famous Temple of Poseidon (444 B.C.). A short trek up the hill to the temple and the whole Aegean is at your feet. Back on board we follow the coastline to arrive at our berth on Friday afternoon. We can celebrate the end of the trip at Vassili’s Taverna and sleep aboard Friday night. Disembarkation and farewell is at 9:00 o’clock Saturday morning. The two-week cruise covers between 400 and 600 kilometres round trip so it is a challenging sailing adventure!

These are the proposed itineraries which include some gorgeous beaches, quaint harbour towns and many of the most important archaeological sites of the Saronic Gulf and central Aegean. However, the actual itinerary can be changed to include, exclude or prolong stays at particularly interesting ports of call. Changes to the itinerary are made using the ancient Greek democratic process! Customised itineraries can be arranged for groups booking their own private yacht.

Two week cruises in May, June and July will feature the Atlantic/Magic 49. The yacht was built in 1995 at the Atlantic/Magic shipyards in Greece. This sporty sloop is designed for the Aegean sea and comes with a fully battened main sail, furling genoa, auto pilot, double helm (for racing), large spray hood and can attain a cruising speed of 10 knots! The yacht has four double cabins (forward cabins have double beds below and bunk beds above for singles) with private washroom facilities as well as a single bow berth for crew. The large, open, teak cockpit features a reverse stern for easy access to the water and forward there is a teak sun deck. Other features include a complete galley with electric refrigerator and icebox, double sink, bar counter, GPS plotter and stereo with cockpit speakers. The yacht will accommodate up to 7 guests. For groups of up to 8- 10 the Atlantic 55 and/or 61 will be used. These 26-30 ton sloops have two forward furling sails and a furling mainsail -a total of 188 square meters of sail! The yachts feature 4 identical double bed staterooms and one forward bunk berth cabin with private washroom facilities. The 16 foot wide beam allows for a fully equipped galley including a refrigerator & freezer, a microwave and double sink. The saloon has a large dining table, storage cabinets and a hi-fi sound system. The spacious cockpit topside has an external refrigerator and a weather resistant sound system. Smaller groups can be accommodated aboard Bénéteau yachts, such as the Oceanis 321, 351, 400 & 440 or the First 42S7 and 45F5. All yachts offer spacious double cabins with 1-2 washrooms, full galleys and roomy saloons. Both the main and forward sails on most of the yachts are self-furling making cruising easy. All yachts used by HI Tours Inc. meet the safety standards required by Greek maritime law. Emergency life rafts, life jackets, first-aid kits and the standard safety equipment for sailboats are all part of the inventory.

On most two-week cruises your Captain and guide is Steven J. Parry, an RYA certified skipper with the British Department of Transport. He is a member of the Canadian Power Squadron and attended the J -World Sailing School. Steven is also a certified PADI Divemaster trained in first-aid. This will be his eighth year working professionally in the Greek sailing industry and the ‘Archaeological Cruises’ are based on his experience in the region. Steven is convinced that exploring the enchanting Greek waters by private yacht is one of the best vacation experiences possible. Other captains are; Theodore Zappas and Emilio Panoussopoulos who are excellent skippers and experienced guides. *Additional captains and mates (if necessary) are provided by our representatives in Greece and are experienced and certified local sailors who have been chosen for their special knowledge of the waters and the local sites and attractions.

Charter sailing can be affected by the weather. The seas in the Saronic and Aegean are generally calm in May, June and July. In August and September the god Zephyr (god of wind) is responsible for the famous ‘Meltemi’ wind. This is typically a northeasterly which can develop into 6-8 Beaufort. The Aegean can be flat like a mirror, but a short chop of 1 meter is common. When Poseidon (the god of the sea) gets restless 3 to 4 meter swells can develop. This is a challenge but not a problem for the larger yachts used for the ‘Archaeological Cruises’. One spare day may be kept on all cruises in case of a delay due to bad weather. As in all sailing holidays rough weather conditions may alter the proposed itinerary.

This type of adventure holiday is both relaxing and demanding. Bad weather combined with longer crossings can make for fatigue. Long crossings are broken up by several day stops to rest but this is not a cruise ship holiday it is a hands on adventure where guest are invited to take part in all aspects of life aboard ship from helping serve the two light meals each day to raising sail. Group dynamics are generally very good but it is necessary to develop respect for fellow crew mates and captain. Guide books are recommended for learning about the sites. Captain's do not always visit sites with crews and are not trained archaeologists. Crews discover sites with guide books in hand and professional guides can be hired at most sites.

Porpoise and dolphin that often swim at the bow while we sail. Hawksbill and Loggerhead turtles still swim and sun themselves in Greek waters. Sardines, tuna, swordfish and mackerel are also often seen on the surface. Scuba diving is available at Athens, Milos, Ios and Mykonos and divers can see moray eels, eagle and sand rays, octopus, kalamari, crayfish, rock lobster, crabs, triton and nautilus shells, Nudibranchs, jellyfish, scorpion fish and many other colorful fish. The only danger is stepping on a sea urchin! Sea sponges and incredibly colorful coral encrustations cover rocks and caves. Fantastic archaeological treasures can be seen on many dives. Wreck diving is offered at many locations in Greece. *N.B. artifacts must not be touched or taken.

The two healthy meals served aboard each day consist of the following: Breakfast: coffee / tea, freshly baked bread or pastries, cereal and fresh tropical fruit. Eggs can also be prepared. Breakfast is usually served while moored or anchored prior to departing for the next destination. Lunch: consists of vegetable and pasta salads, cheeses and cold cuts, fresh bread and fruit. Lunches are usually served under the boom tarp while anchored in secluded bays. Stops are often made for lunch and a swim & snorkel. Liquids such as juices, soft drinks, ice tea and water are included and stowed on board. Alcohol can be purchased at reasonable prices on all inhabited islands. The galley is always well stocked in the event that we decide to eat dinner on board under the stars.

As a result of the adventurous nature of this type of holiday all guests aboard HI Tours & Poseidon Charters cruises will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to departure on the cruise. Guests are advised to get medical, cancellation and property insurance for peace of mind while cruising. The yachts are all fully insured for damage but guests are not covered under these policies.

We also offer many land tour arrangements, hotel & island packages which can be combined with cruising. Bareboats, flotilla sailing, power boats, luxury launches, classic and traditional motorsailers and cruise ships are also available. Please contact us!