A yacht charter in the North Eastern Aegean takes you to the least crowded corner of the Greek sailing map. Five large islands, Limnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria, lie in a long chain close to the coast of Asia Minor. They are green, mountainous and lived-in all year round, with working harbours, village festivals and local food rather than resort strips. For crews who have already sailed the Cyclades or the Ionian, this is the authentic Greece that few charter boats ever reach.
Why choose a yacht charter in the North Eastern Aegean
- Quiet harbours in high summer. Even in August you share most quays with fishing boats and ferries, not flotillas.
- Big, varied islands. Each island is large enough for several days: castles, mountain villages, hot springs and long beaches.
- World-class heritage. The Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos, the monastery of Nea Moni on Chios and the Petrified Forest of Lesvos.
- Distinct local flavours. Mastic from Chios, ouzo from Plomari on Lesvos, Muscat wine from Samos and Limnos.
- A real passage. Open-water legs between the islands suit experienced crews looking for proper sailing.
The North Eastern Aegean islands at a glance
- LimnosVolcanic and flat, with the castle of Myrina, sand dunes and the huge natural harbour of Moudros Bay.
- LesvosThe third largest island in Greece: two deep enclosed gulfs, Molyvos castle, olive groves and ouzo.
- ChiosMedieval mastic villages, a UNESCO-listed Byzantine monastery and the claimed birthplace of Homer.
- SamosGreen and mountainous, a mile off Turkey, with the ancient harbour of Pythagorio and Samos Marina.
- IkariaWild and steep, famous for longevity, hot springs and all-night summer village festivals.
Sailing the North Eastern Aegean islands
The islands run roughly north to south, so most routes treat them as stepping stones along the coast of Asia Minor. Below they are listed from north to south, the direction in which the prevailing wind carries you.
Limnos
Limnos sits alone in the north Aegean between Chalkidiki and the Dardanelles. Its capital, Myrina, lies beneath a fortified Venetian and Byzantine castle, and the island's wide Moudros Bay is one of the largest natural harbours in the Aegean. Ashore you find sand dunes, the prehistoric settlement of Poliochni and vineyards producing Muscat and Limnio wines. Limnos is the natural first stop for crews sailing south from Chalkidiki.
Lesvos
Lesvos, also called Mytilene after its capital, is big, green and deeply Greek. Two almost landlocked gulfs, Kalloni and Gera, cut into its southern coast. The castle village of Molyvos crowns the north, the Petrified Forest near Sigri is part of a UNESCO Global Geopark, and Plomari is the home of Greek ouzo. Eresos, in the west, was the birthplace of the poet Sappho.
Chios
Chios lies south of Lesvos, only a few miles off the Turkish coast. The south of the island grows the mastic tree, whose resin is found nowhere else in the world, and the fortified mastic villages of Pyrgi and Mesta are among the most unusual in Greece. The 11th-century monastery of Nea Moni is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chios Town is the main harbour, with smaller ports around the coast.
Samos
Samos is the island of Pythagoras and Epicurus, separated from Asia Minor by the Mycale Strait, barely a mile wide. Pythagorio has a harbour in use since antiquity and the modern Samos Marina, and the nearby Eupalinos Tunnel and Heraion are UNESCO-listed. The island's sweet Muscat wine is famous across Greece. Samos is also the closest North Eastern Aegean island to the Dodecanese.
Ikaria
Ikaria is a long granite ridge rising out of the sea where, in myth, Icarus fell. It is known for the long lives of its people, its hot springs at Therma and its summer village festivals. Agios Kirykos and Evdilos are the main harbours. The north coast is exposed to the meltemi, so plan Ikaria for settled weather and check the forecast before committing to a night there.
How to reach the North Eastern Aegean by yacht
Because the islands have no charter base of their own, every North Eastern Aegean route begins with a passage. There are three realistic starting points:
- From the northPorto Koufo in Chalkidiki is about 96 km (roughly 52 nautical miles) from Limnos. Sailing south from here keeps the meltemi behind you.
- From the CycladesMykonos in the Cyclades is about 123 km (roughly 66 nautical miles) from Chios. Ikaria is a useful stop on the way north.
- From the DodecaneseKos in the Dodecanese is about 100 km from Samos, the shortest route into the southern part of the group.
The meltemi blows from the north through high summer, so the northbound leg is always the harder one and the run back south is fast and comfortable. Because of the distances involved, a two-week charter gives the most relaxed pace, and many crews choose a skippered or crewed yacht for the open-water passages. Experienced skippers can take a bareboat and plan the route themselves.
Sail the North Eastern Aegean islands
Tell us your dates, crew and experience, and we will suggest a realistic route and the right base and yacht for the passage.
When to sail the North Eastern Aegean
This is open water, so the weather window matters more here than in the sheltered Ionian or Saronic. Read up on the winds in Greece and on Greek climate and weather before fixing a route, and build a spare day into any plan.
Lighter winds, green hillsides and quiet harbours. The best window for the passage north.
Strong northerlies and fast sailing. Keep dates flexible and plan to finish with the wind behind you.
The wind eases, the sea is at its warmest and the islands empty out. Ideal for a relaxed island circuit.
Check the weather forecast sources for Greece every morning, and ask the local port authority for the latest bulletin before any long crossing.
Explore the North Eastern Aegean islands
Each island has its own detailed guide with harbours, anchorages and sights ashore. The North Eastern Aegean is part of the wider Aegean Sea sailing area.
Chios Island, Greece
Yacht charter to Chios brings you to one of the largest and least crowded islands in the Aegean…
Ikaria Island, Greece
Yacht charter around Ikaria takes you to the wildest island in the eastern Aegean, a long granite…
Lesvos (Mitilini) Island, Greece
Yacht charter to Lesvos opens up the third largest island in Greece, a big, green and deeply Greek…
Limnos Island, Greece
Yacht charter around Limnos takes you into the emptiest corner of the Greek sailing map. This large…
Samos Island, Greece
Yacht charter around Samos takes you to the far eastern edge of the Aegean, where a green…
Sailing itineraries in Greece
North Eastern Aegean yacht charter FAQs
Which islands are in the North Eastern Aegean?
The main North Eastern Aegean islands for sailing are Limnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria. They lie in a chain close to the coast of Asia Minor, between Chalkidiki in the north and the Dodecanese in the south.
Is there a charter base in the North Eastern Aegean?
No. The islands are reached on passage from Nautilia bases elsewhere: Porto Koufo in Chalkidiki, about 52 nautical miles from Limnos; Mykonos in the Cyclades, about 66 nautical miles from Chios; or Kos in the Dodecanese, about 100 km from Samos.
How long should a North Eastern Aegean charter be?
Two weeks is ideal, because every route starts with an open-water passage from the nearest base. One week is possible if you focus on one or two islands, such as Limnos from Chalkidiki or Samos from Kos, and have a settled forecast.
How does the meltemi affect sailing in the North Eastern Aegean?
The meltemi blows from the north in July and August, often strongly. Sailing north is hard work, while sailing south is fast and comfortable, so plan routes that finish with the wind behind you and keep a spare day for waiting out strong wind.
When is the best time to sail the North Eastern Aegean?
May, June and September are the best months: warm, comparatively settled and quiet. July and August bring the strongest meltemi, and October offers warm seas and empty harbours, with fewer places open ashore.
Do I need a skipper to sail the North Eastern Aegean?
Not if you hold a valid sailing licence and have open-water experience, but many crews choose a skippered or crewed yacht because of the long passages and the meltemi. A local skipper also knows the best harbours and anchorages.
