One of the most spectacular trips I turned up is G Adventures' Greek Islands Adventure for $695 plus a small local payment. This is an amazing deal that includes eight days aboard a 49-foot yacht, the services of a full-time captain, and a guaranteed departure regardless of group size (with a maximum group size of eight).
There are multiple itineraries to choose from, but the one that caught my eye is the Santorini-to-Mykonos route. These are two iconic Greek islands. Ring-shaped Santorini is known for its high cliffs and volcanic caldera, Mykonos for its whitewashed houses and fascinating archeological sites. The itinerary is just a starting point, however. "We go off the beaten path," says Kira Zack, G Adventures's communications manager. "For example, an impromptu stop on an island for a local festival, remote villages, going to a deserted beach, or wherever the wind takes us."
"You will not find a better deal," says Benjamin Weiher, who worked as a senior tour leader for G Adventures during the company's inaugural Greek sailings in 2004. "Unless you have enough people to fill up your own yacht, and the capacity to book and organize, there is no other way ... to put a person or a couple onto a sailing yacht in Greece for a comparable price."
The price of the trip does not cover food, which travelers instead purchase on their own during stops at the islands' taverna-lined harbors. G Adventures suggests setting aside about 200 euros for meals (see xe.com for current exchange rates).