Paros Sailing Trip to Iraklia, Schinoussa and Naxos

Most boat days on this site head for Antiparos, the Blue Lagoon and Despotiko. The Paros sailing trip goes the other way. It leaves Piso Livadi on the east coast of Paros and sails to two of the Small Cyclades, Iraklia and Schinoussa, then back by way of Naxos.

The boat is a spacious sailing boat with an experienced skipper, and the day is built around the sea rather than the sights: three swim stops, snorkelling, lunch on board and the long sail in between. The listing names English and Greek for the live guide.

If you are comparing Paros sailing day trips, check three things first: how far the boat goes, where it leaves from and what lunch is. On this one the answers are three islands, Piso Livadi and a meal prepared on board.

The Paros sailing trip costs $191 per person on the shared boat. That price covers the sail with the skipper, the three stops, lunch prepared on board and local white wine or beer, plus fruit dessert at Naxos. Over 9 hours it works out at about $21 an hour.

Three things the listing does not mention, so plan for them yourself. There is no transfer: Piso Livadi is a 20 to 30 minute drive or taxi ride from the main resorts. Snorkel gear is not listed, so pack a mask if you have one. And the listing offers a private version of the same day; its price is not shown here, so check it on the listing.

Free cancellation applies, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps when the weather changes the plan.

The Antiparos lunch cruise is the most booked trip on this site: 652 reviews at 5.0, $213 per person for 7 hours. It runs on a traditional wooden boat of 66 feet for up to 25 guests, leaving Antiparos at 9:30 or Pounta at 10:00.

The day stays close to home: a swim at the Blue Lagoon (Panteronisia) with snacks and ouzo or wine, the caves under the white cliffs at Mastichari, where you can try jumping off the rocks, lunch on Despotiko with grilled fish or chicken souvlaki, and a last swim at Faneromeni Bay. Water is included, plus three drinks of your choice.

Kerrin from the United States summed it up: «We saw some really cool spots only accessible by boat and got to swim in 4 different spots.»

So the choice is about distance. The Paros sailing trip costs $191, $22 less than the cruise per person, runs two hours longer and goes to islands the cruise never reaches. The cruise has the reviews, the bigger boat and more drinks.

The private boat from Naousa costs $1,110 per group, up to 5 people, rated 4.8 from 25 reviews. You choose a half day or a full day, between 4 and 7 hours, and the route covers Antiparos, the Blue Lagoon and Despotiko with the temple of Apollo, plus caves and snorkelling. Snacks and wine are on board; lunch at a tavern in Antiparos town is optional.

Jennifer from the United States liked how the day bent to her group: «He customized the day around what we wanted and brought nice drinks and fresh snacks.»

For five people the private boat comes to about $222 each, close to the Paros sailing trip, but for two it is $555 each. Choose it for privacy and a route built around you; choose the sailing day for the Small Cyclades.

Book the Paros sailing trip if you want the Small Cyclades and a real day under sail: $191 per person, 9 hours, lunch on board and three islands.

Book the Antiparos lunch cruise if you want the most reviewed day on this site. Book the private boat if your group wants the boat to itself.

The sailing day is the long one. Our top pick, the Antiparos lunch cruise, costs $213 per person with 652 reviews, the most booked on this site. See it next to the sunset trips, the snorkel boat and the self-drive boats in our list of ten trips.