From Skopelos: Private Full-Day Sailing to Alonissos

The best part of this sailing day is the freedom to make the sea your schedule. You leave Skopelos in the morning, sail toward Alonissos and the National Marine Park, then choose where to stop for swimming, paddleboarding, breakfast, and lunch. Alexandra and Andoni run the boat with a personal touch, serving homemade food and adjusting the route to the weather.

I like two things right away: the private format for up to eight people, and the flexible stops. You are not pushed from one fixed bay to the next. I also like that the food is part of the day, with Greek yogurt at breakfast and a traditional lunch featuring fresh ingredients and family olive oil. The main consideration is price: at $1,478.66 per group, this makes the most sense when shared by a full party of eight.

Key Points Before You Book

• Private yacht for up to eight: Your group has the boat to itself, rather than joining a large scheduled cruise.
• Alonissos Marine Park: Swimming stops take place among the Northern Sporades, with the exact bays chosen according to weather and your wishes.
• Flexible time in the water: You can swim, relax, use the SUP boards, and take an additional swim stop before returning.
• Breakfast and Greek lunch included: Expect homemade yogurt, drinks, salad, and traditional food made with local ingredients.
• Convenient Skopelos departure: Meet at Kardous Sailing Skopelos beside the cruising yacht Thasos in Skopelos Port.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, so keep some flexibility in your holiday plans.

Leaving Skopelos on the Cruising Yacht Thasos

Your day begins at 10 a.m. at Kardous Sailing Skopelos, in Skopelos Port. The meeting point is easy to reach and close to public transportation, which removes some of the usual guesswork from a boat excursion.

The boat is the cruising yacht Thasos. Since this is a private activity, only your own group participates. That matters if you are traveling with family or friends and want to talk, eat, swim, and choose the pace without sharing the day with a large crowd.

The morning departure gives you a full stretch of daylight on the water. From the port, you head toward Alonissos and the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades. The plan is not locked into a rigid minute-by-minute program. Alexandra and Andoni discuss the day with you, then shape the route around the weather and your interests.

That flexibility is useful in the Sporades. A bay that looks perfect on a calm morning may be less comfortable if the wind changes. Let the skipper make the final call on the exact anchorage. You are paying for a private sailing day, not a promise that one particular cove will always be used.

Breakfast in the National Marine Park

The first stop is an anchorage selected for swimming. The scheduled stop is about 45 minutes, though the exact position and timing can change to suit your group. The appeal is simple: clear water, a boat-based breakfast, and your first chance to settle into the rhythm of the day.

Breakfast includes homemade Greek yogurt, one of the small details that gives the outing a local feel. This is not just a quick packaged snack before the main activity. Food is part of the hospitality offered on board, and the family connection continues through the olive oil used in the later meal.

A 45-minute stop is long enough for a swim and a relaxed breakfast, but you should not expect an extended beach visit here. The plan centers on anchoring and enjoying the water from the yacht. If you prefer sand under your feet, ask about the possible stops when you meet the skipper, but the route remains dependent on conditions.

The Marine Park setting adds a sense of place. You are not simply taking a short boat ride along the Skopelos coast. You are crossing toward the waters around Alonissos, where the day is built around quiet bays and open-sea sailing.

Choosing Your Own Swim and Lunch Stops

The central part of the day lasts about an hour and a half, with stops selected from several secluded bays and beaches. You can swim, rest on board, use the SUP boards, and have lunch without being hurried from one activity to another.

I like this part of the plan because it gives you room to read the mood of your group. An energetic party can spend more time in the water. A family or mixed-age group may prefer a slower stop with lunch and a short paddle. The schedule is described as fully flexible, so you can work with the skipper rather than follow a fixed checklist.

SUP boards are available for use, and snorkeling gear is also provided according to the information supplied by the operator’s guests. Bring a willingness to get wet, but remember that the actual stop and water conditions can vary. The experience is about enjoying the sea, not completing a set number of water sports.

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the day. The food includes fresh ingredients, drinks, a traditional Greek spread, and a much-praised salad. The family’s own olive oil adds a personal detail you will not get from a generic buffet cruise.

You should think of this as a generous meal served on a boat, not a restaurant lunch with unlimited choices. If someone in your group has strict dietary needs, ask about them before booking. The supplied information confirms the style of food, but it does not give a full menu or list of dietary accommodations.

A Final Swim Before the Sail Home

Depending on the weather and your wishes, the skipper may add another swim stop before the return to Skopelos. This stop is listed at about 45 minutes, giving you one last chance to enter the water or simply enjoy the boat at anchor.

The word may matters here. The extra stop depends on how the day has gone, the available time, and sea conditions. That is part of the private-tour tradeoff. You get more control than on a standard group cruise, but you also need to accept that the route is not guaranteed in exact detail.

After the final stop, you sail back to Skopelos Port in the afternoon. The return is described as relaxed, so the ride back is part of the experience rather than a rushed transfer. You finish where you started, at the Kardous Sailing meeting point.

What the Hosts Add to the Day

Alexandra and Andoni are central to the character of this outing. Their role is more than getting you from one island to another. They handle the route, set out the equipment, serve the meals, and help create the easygoing tone that makes a private sailing day work.

The personal details are worth noting. You may find homemade Greek yogurt at breakfast, family-produced olive oil with lunch, and a camera used to take group photographs. Those touches help turn a boat charter into a shared day with a local family rather than a bare-bones transport service.

The hospitality is also useful in practical ways. You can discuss where to swim, how long to stay, and how much activity suits your group. The skipper still has the final say when safety and weather are involved, but you are not treated as a passenger on a fixed conveyor belt.

The boat also works well for a larger private party. A group of eight can split the advertised price to about $184.83 per person, assuming all eight places are filled. That is not a small expense, but it compares more favorably when divided among family or friends who would otherwise book several smaller activities.

Is $1,478.66 Good Value?

The price is charged per group, with up to eight people included. At full capacity, the cost works out to roughly $185 each. For four people, it is about $370 per person, and for two people it is about $739 each. Those figures show why the size of your party is the key value question.

You are paying for a private yacht, a skipper, a full day on the water, flexible swimming stops, SUP use, breakfast, lunch, and the ability to shape the route. The price also covers the privacy of having only your own group on board. That can be worthwhile for a birthday, family day, or a group that wants control over the schedule.

For a couple, the cost is harder to justify unless a private yacht day is a major holiday priority. A shared sailing trip would usually be the more economical choice, though it would not offer the same control or privacy. The supplied information does not provide a shared alternative from this operator, so compare the price with your own group size before committing.

The food helps the value, but it should not be the only reason to book. The real product is time on the water around Alonissos, with a skipper who can change the plan as conditions shift. If your group wants a set sightseeing route with many formal attractions, this may feel too loose. If you want swimming, sailing, and good meals, the format fits better.

Who Will Enjoy This Sailing Day Most?

I would recommend it most strongly to friends or families who can fill several places on the yacht. The private setup gives you space to talk, eat, swim, and rest without having to match the habits of a large group.

It also suits people who value swimming more than sightseeing. The day is built around clear water, secluded bays, SUP boards, and time at anchor. You are not promised a long visit to a town or a list of historic sights.

The outing can work for a mixed group because the pace is flexible. Some people can swim or paddle while others relax on board. Most people can participate, according to the supplied activity details, but the information does not specify special accessibility equipment or detailed mobility arrangements. If that is important for your group, ask the operator before booking.

This is less suitable if you need a guaranteed route, a fixed lunch menu, or a precise finish time. Weather can change the plan, and the exact stops are selected during the day. Bring a calm attitude toward changes, and the flexibility becomes an advantage rather than a problem.

Practical Details That Matter

The advertised start time is 10 a.m. at the Kardous Sailing Skopelos meeting point in Skopelos Port. The activity ends back at the same meeting point in the afternoon.

The overall experience is described as a full-day sailing cruise, while the booking information gives an approximate duration range of one to eight hours. Since the route and stop lengths depend on weather and your group’s preferences, confirm the expected timing when you receive your booking confirmation.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. English is offered, and the activity has a mobile ticket.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The operator can also cancel because of poor weather or because a minimum number of participants is not reached. In either case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should You Book Kardous Sailing?

Book it if you have a group that can share the cost and your ideal Skopelos day involves swimming in quiet bays, fresh Greek food, and a flexible route. The private yacht, personal hosting from Alexandra and Andoni, and Marine Park setting give the day a clear sense of occasion.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple and price is your main concern. The cost becomes much more reasonable with eight people and much harder to defend with two. Also skip it if you need a fully fixed schedule or a guaranteed set of stops.

For the right group, this is a strong choice for a sea day around Skopelos and Alonissos. You get a comfortable base on the water, time to swim and paddle, and food that feels connected to the family running the boat. Keep your plans flexible for weather, fill as many seats as possible, and let the skipper shape the day.

FAQ

Where does the sailing trip begin?

It begins at Kardous Sailing Skopelos beside the cruising yacht Thasos in Skopelos Port, Skopelos 370 03, Greece.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 10 a.m.

Where does the activity end?

The sailing day ends back at the meeting point in Skopelos Port.

How many people can join?

The activity is private for your group, with up to eight people included in the advertised price.

Is the boat shared with other groups?

No. Only your private group participates in the activity.

What language is offered?

The activity is offered in English.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Breakfast is served on board during the first stop, and homemade Greek yogurt is included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on board during the flexible swimming and SUP portion of the day.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The exact sailing route, stops, and timing are adjusted according to your preferences and weather conditions.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time to receive a full refund.