One-week sailing trip through the western Cyclades from Marina Lavrion, with stops at Makronisos, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos and Cape Sounion.

Highlight of the trip: a freshly caught tuna, eaten in the bay of Loutra on Kythnos. Plus secluded anchorages, the Cycladic village of Chora on Serifos, the special anchorage at Cheronissos Beach on Sifnos, and a finale with a view of the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

Sailing area: Mediterranean, Aegean
Country: Greece
Departure: Lavrion Marine
Destination: Lavrion Marine
Route: Lavrion → Makronisos → Kythnos (Loutra) → Kythnos East (secluded anchorage) → Serifos (Livadi/Chora) → Sifnos (Cheronissos Beach) → Kythnos (Merichas) → Cape Sounion → Lavrion
Nautical miles: 150
Travel dates: 09.05.2026 – 16.05.2026
Sailing yacht: Monohull, Bavaria Cruiser, 45 feet
Charter company: Daydream Yachting
Organiser: Skipper-Alliance

Lavrion: The ideal starting harbour for the Cyclades
Lavrion Marina is just 45 minutes from Athens Airport, making it an excellent starting point for a sailing trip through the Cyclades. There's a supermarket on site for provisions, or alternatively the online shop Balaskas delivers the essentials straight to the boat. Anyone who orders in advance gets out of the harbour much more quickly, gaining valuable extra time on the water.

First night at Makronisos
On Saturday afternoon we set off straight from Lavrion, heading for the north-east side of Makronisos for our first night. With light thermal winds of barely more than 2 Bft, we were even able to set the sails briefly in the late afternoon. In the evening we cooked together, and the crew got to know each other over the stove — a relaxed start that gives you an extra day on the water instead of spending the first evening in harbour.

Kythnos and Loutra: catching the tuna
The next day we sailed on in lovely wind from the north-north-west, the typical Meltemi at around 5 to 6 Bft, passing Kea on course for Kythnos. Along the way we caught a tuna, which we filleted and ate shortly afterwards in Loutra on Kythnos — raw as sashimi, and Mediterranean style with olive oil and lemon. You can find the full story in our blog article on culinary sailing in the Cyclades.

A secluded bay on the east side of Kythnos
On the third day, there was just a short hop to the eastern tip of Kythnos. Several deeply cut bays are found there, well sheltered from the north wind, though southerly winds are rare in the Cyclades anyway. In the evening, in a secluded bay, there was a campfire with the leftover tuna from the day before, along with the spontaneous rescue of a goat that had got tangled in a fence — an experience that made this sailing holiday truly special.

Serifos: Livadi and the town of Chora
With a lovely following wind, we carried on to Serifos, an island I was visiting for the first time myself and which won me over immediately. The well-organised marina at Livadi offers power and water, and it's worth booking a berth in advance. From there, the public bus runs up to Chora Serifos for €3.50, offering a wonderful view and genuine Cycladic charm.

Cheronissos Beach on Sifnos
At the very northern tip of Sifnos lies Cheronissos Beach — not a classic harbour or bay, and mooring there isn't entirely straightforward when the Meltemi is blowing strong, but the spot is well worth the visit. Especially out of season, it's wonderfully peaceful there, almost like stepping back 30 years, with your feet right in the sand.

Back to Kythnos: Merichas harbour
After an early start and a sunrise at sea, we motored for a while until a southerly breeze of around 3 Bft picked up in the afternoon. With the Code Zero up and doing around 7 knots, we reached Merichas harbour on Kythnos on a lovely reach — a simple, loosely organised harbour that works perfectly well out of season. In high season, though, you'd want to arrive early to be sure of a spot.

Cape Sounion: rounding off with the Temple of Poseidon
The last stop before returning to Marina Lavrion was Cape Sounion with the Temple of Poseidon, a classic finale for trips heading towards Lavrion or Alimos. With a north-northerly wind gusting Force 5 to 6 and a taut close-hauled course, at times under third reef, the final day of sailing really put the crew to the test once more. Anchored offshore, there are one or two tavernas right on the beach, and in the evening the illuminated temple makes for one of the finest endings a sailing trip in Greece can offer.

Return to Lavrion
The following day it was back to Marina Lavrion for check-out and the journey home.

Conclusion
A sailing trip through the western Cyclades from Lavrion combines short, easily plannable stages with a wide variety of facets: secluded anchorages on Kythnos, the lively Chora on Serifos, the special anchorage of Cheronissos Beach on Sifnos, and a finale at Cape Sounion. For anyone seeking a culinary experience alongside the sailing, such as the freshly caught tuna from Loutra, this sailing area comes highly recommended in the off-season.