Cyclades travel guide

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Cyclades travel guide

The Cyclades translate as ‘a circle of islands’ and the Greek gods must have had a perfect view from up there on high to see this lovely layout of island idylls encircling their sacred island of Delos. This centerpiece is uninhabited except for keen archaeologists working on what is thought to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.

No matter which islands you go to, the Cyclades all have that cyclical effect. You will want your vacation to go on forever and ever.

There are actually over 200 Cycladic Islands, the main ones being Naxos, Santorini, Paros and Mykonos. They are submerged mountainous terrain, although two of them, Milos and Santorini, are volcanic and all are, of course, island-hopping heaven. They can be hiked or cycled, kayaked or snorkelled. Read more about the best ways to explore in our Cyclades travel guide.

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Are/are not

Cyclades vacations are…

journeys back in time, through Hellenic havens packed with heritage, hiking routes and the ultimate in vacation hedonism.

Cyclades vacations are not…

what Mykonos has gained a bad reputation for. They are tranquil and stunning. And even Mykonos has myriad marvels, away from the drinking strips.

Things to do in the Cyclades…

These islands are Hellenic hiking at their finest, most of them boasting mountains and volcanic peaks. You can spend a week hiking the highlights of Paros, Santorini and Naxos, for example. Walk up to the highest point in the Cyclades on Naxos, Mount Zas at 1,004m, or to the volcanic caldera on Santorini , visiting Venetian settlements and whitewashed villages en route. Paros has myriad ancient walking trails connecting remote traditional villages and, of course, like all the islands, some stunners of beaches. And the smaller Western Cyclades are a whole other world for those who are prone to walking wanderlust, with Natura 2000 protected landscapes peppered throughout. It’s an archipelago, so not surprisingly the top thing to do here is island hopping, with a small ship cruise or sailing vacation around the serene spots of the Cyclades. Start in Mykonos, and then leave behind the worshippers of Bacchus, Greek god of wine, to go on your own Poseidon adventure, sailing to Santorini, Syros, Seriphos or Siphnos. There are over 200 islands, so there is probably one for every letter in the alphabet. Most sailing vacations include some hiking or cycling when you drop anchor, so be prepared to use those land legs too. Small cruise ships sleep a maximum of 49 people – so none of your floating hotel business. Just blissful boating all the way.

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Things not to do in the Cyclades…

Assume that they are just for summer. Book a bargain springtime flight to Athens and then hop over to Naxos for empty hiking trails and beaches on this and all the other Cyclades. The only thing that is busy at this time of year is the flora, all bursting into life on the mountainsides. Autumn is also gorgeous, and the sea temperatures sublime. The nights may be closing in back home, but the Cyclades are still open for business.

Mess with nature. These islands are very precious in terms of natural resources and many of them, such as Milos and Syros, have EU protected zones on them known as Natura 2000. Adhere to Leave No Trace practices, taking everything that you brought on to the island off again if possible, as waste and recycling can be an issue. Water is also a problem in the height of summer, so even though it’s hot, resist the urge to take multiple daily showers. Bring a refillable water bottle, and ask your vacation company if the tap water is drinkable. With pure mountain sources, it often is. Be brazen about the heat, especially in the height of summer and keep hydrated at all times. If you are sailing, you may not realise how hot you are getting. Carry a hydration backpack if you are going hiking as well as salts, just to be safe.

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Written by Catherine Mack

Cyclades travel guide