The Sporades Travel Facts for Yachts

Fact File for The Sporades

For centuries Greece has been identified with the sea and sailing. With over 2000 islands and countless miles of coastlines to explore, Luxury Charter Group can tailor-make yacht charters to suit a wide range of holiday experiences. The Sporades consist of 24 beautiful islands, of which only four are permanently inhabited: Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros. With dense vegetation, rocky landscapes and pure blue seas, the Sporades are a truly alternative sailing destination.

COORDINATES: 39º70N, 23º43E

LANGUAGE: Greek

LARGEST ISLAND: Skyros

WEATHER: This area has consistently gentle winds with average temperatures during the cruising season in the mid to high 20's C (77-84F).

BEST TIME TO CHARTER: June-September

AIRPORTS: The Skiathos National (JSI) and Skyros National (SKU) airports offer daily flights to Athens on Olympic Air.
The Athens International Airport (ATH) offers international flights to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Paris, and more. Airlines from Athens include: Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa

TIME: UTC+2 (winter), UTC+3 (summer)

CURRENCY: EUR; major credit cards including American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted and ATMs are available on the islands.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V, 50 Hz

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

1 Jan New Year's Day
6 Jan Epiphany
25 Mar Independence Day
Mar/Apr Orthodox Good Friday
Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
May/Jun Orthodox Whit Monday
15 Aug Assumption
28 Oct Ochi Day
25 Dec Christmas
26 Dec Glorifying Mother of God

MAIN PORTS AND MARINAS: Skiathos Town, Koukounaries; Skopelos Town, Glossa, Panormos;
Steni Vala, Patitiri (Alonissos); Linaria Port (Skyros)

RECOMMENDED BEACHES: While Skiathos is the most popular island, the rest are more family-oriented with less-crowded beaches. Beaches are mostly sandy but there are also pebbled ones. Rousum Gialos in Alonissos, Molos beach in Skyros, Bay of Panormos in Skopelos, Koukounaris Bay in Skiathos

CULTURAL: Greece is a country of great interest and diverse cultures influenced by its strategic location between the East and the West. Greeks are very proud of their history and rich cultural heritage and are strongly influenced by the Greek Orthodox Church. Dress is mostly casual and smoking is prohibited inside public transport and buildings.