The Beauty of Greece

Circle the Cyclades anti-clockwise, cruising past Kythnos and Serifos to sophisticated Sifnos. Climb to medieval hilltop Kastro for spectacular views of neighboring Milos, your next port of call. Swim ashore to the beach havens of Vathi and Platys Gialos, then reward yourself with seafood at one of the restaurants lining cosmopolitan Kamares.

Cruise toward Milos, the island of love. As you approach the island, step up on deck to appreciate the rousing colors of the cliffs. Drop anchor and take the tender to discover the sea grottoes and beaches tucked in between. Explore the ancient ruins up in Plaka before stepping back on board for a sunset cocktail while watching the stunning colors change as the sun dips into the ocean.

Vertiginous Santorini is one of the Cyclades’ most popular islands. Take the cable car to Fira and browse designer boutiques along its cobbled streets. Many of the island’s finest restaurants are found in top hotels, including Homeric Poems, perched on the edge of the Firostefani cliff with spectacular caldera views.

Dip your toes in the sands of the stunning beaches around the satellite islands of Thirassia, Palea and Nea Kameni, before heading north for a peaceful night’s anchorage at Ios. The island is adorned with small coves, countless chapels (in fact, the island has 365 churches), olive trees and vineyards. Sip a sundowner in the town of Chora, watching the sky turn to a fiery red as the sun sets.

Spend the day enjoying all manner of watersports anchored off Paros before cruising to the small fishing village of Naoussa. Quiet by day, the village transforms in the evening, with restaurants and bars open until the early hours. The main port and island capital Parikia can on first impression seem rather disappointing, but step behind the seafront and you will find a pretty town.

For 25 years, sun-drenched Mykonos has welcomed the jet set, earning its reputation as the St. Tropez of the Eastern Mediterranean. Enjoy a hedonistic long lunch at Nammos on Psarou Beach, the Greek answer to Le Club 55. As at many Mykonos beach clubs, lunch often gives way to dancing on tables late into the afternoon. At sunset, a lively hubbub fills the maze-like alleys of Mykonos Old Town.

Cruise towards the ancient island of Syros, stepping ashore to walk the sacred grounds of Delos. The island is reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and was a center for trade and worship as far back as the ninth century BC. Ruins and temples remain today. Visit the capital of Ermoupoli before an overnight cross to Athens.