National Geographic Adventure World's Wildest New Trips 2005
It’s always been easy to visit the Greek Islands by public ferry, but it’s never been easy to escape overtouristed port towns once you land. Enter G Adventures’ two new Athena 44 sailboats, which have room enough for ten passengers plus crew, and have a mission, it seems, to hit every obscure island and village in the Aegean Sea. “We want to get to the actual communities, not just the big ports,” says company president and CEO Bruce Poon Tip.
Anyplace ending in “-os” –Andros, Komolos, Leros, Serifos, Sifnos, Syros, Tinos, and Tiros, to name just a few-appears to be on G Adventures’ itinerary. In the summertime, the Athenas run in a loop from east to west and back again, allowing passengers to hop on for one, two, or three weeks. Most nights, you’ll sleep in the ship’s comfortable berths, anchored in a secluded bay or village harbor. The day’s route-including ports of call-is determined by the captain based on weather and passenger preference. In the Cyclades Islands, only 24 out of 39 of which are inhabited, Naxos’s whitewashed, mazelike village of Hora is a probable stop. Samos, one of the Dodecanese Islands near Turkey, has vineyards and olive trees-plus a favorite windsurfing spot on its far side. Almost everywhere you sail are magnificent ruins, low-key local tavernas, fresh seafood, and, yes, deserted beaches. $775 for eight days; 800-465-5600; www.gadventures.com.