Family Greek Coast Caique Cruise

This seven-night tour with Explore Worldwide sails the coast of Evia aboard a traditional wooden caique. Starting in Karystos, the route takes in the bay of Panagia with its terrapin turtles and quiet fishing village charm, before moving south to Porto Buffalo where the private lagoon invites a beach stop and the chance to dive from the boat’s top deck. Later days call at Nea Styra, where olive valleys rise above clear waters, and Marmari, a well-loved fishing village with rocky shores for swimming.

Among the archipelagos of Petali, once a royal retreat and now home to a mix of artistic and shipping families, the boat anchors for a slow afternoon of sea and sun, snorkelling in water clear enough to see the seabed below. The journey ends with a visit to the Venetian Castello Rosso fortress, perched to guard the sea passage between Europe and Asia, then a final swim in Karystos bay’s deep blue waters. The small group enjoys a pace that’s unhurried but never slow, backed by a captain with two decades’ experience and a boat that feels like a home rather than a vessel.

Each day blends swimming, snorkelling and shore visits with local tavernas, and, while the boat has eight cabins, there’s room to find a private spot on deck or under the stars. Weather shapes the final route, a reminder that sea travel rarely obeys a strict schedule, but also can reward patience with unexpected moments.