Private yacht day trip from Hydra with swimming stops
Private boat departure from Hydra port towards Poros and untouched coves, with scheduled swimming stops, snorkelling and lunch on board. Ideal for small groups and couples.
Hydra and Poros are neighbouring islands separated by barely a few nautical miles, and sailing between them is one of the loveliest plans in the Saronic Gulf. This private yacht trip is designed for couples, families or small groups who want a day at sea with the comfort of having the boat to themselves: a skipper on board, a route you can shape, swimming stops in untouched coves and food cooked or served on deck. It is the “luxury day” plan on Hydra and one of the classic gifts for anniversaries and special occasions.
Departure is from Hydra’s main port (you can also book it from Athens with stops along the way) and the day usually lasts 6 to 8 hours. The typical itinerary includes a first stop at a cove on the south side of Hydra (Bisti, Agios Nikolaos or Limnioniza, depending on the wind), a second stop for a swim in more open water, the crossing to Poros with lunch on board, a walk around Poros harbour (1 to 2 hours), and the return to Hydra at sunset around the north side of the island. The skipper adapts the route to the sea conditions and the group’s preferences: if you would rather have more time in the water and less in port, that is fine; if you want to see more islands, that works too.
What the price includes (from 180 to 250 € per person in groups of 4 to 6, less per head in larger groups): skipper and crew, fuel, snorkelling gear for every passenger, towels, drinks (water, soft drinks, beer and local wine), lunch on board (Greek salads, feta, cured meats, bread, fruit, sometimes seafood or grilled fish depending on the boat), and normally a mid-afternoon stop for Greek coffee. Not included: premium drinks (champagne and imported wines are paid for separately), the skipper’s tip (between 30 and 100 € for the day, depending on group size and how happy you are), and any food or drink ashore during the stop in Poros.
On the pain points: the price is high, but compared with a day of sunbeds plus lunch plus cocktails at any expensive resort in the Cyclades, it usually works out similar and the experience is far more memorable. This is not the backpacker option: if you are travelling on a tight budget, look at the group caique excursion, which is a very different format but much more affordable. A word on seasickness: although the Saronic Gulf is calm, light yachts move more than big ferries; if you are prone to it, take a travel-sickness tablet at breakfast, sit on the main deck looking at the horizon and eat lightly before boarding. Book ahead: in July and August the good yachts sell out two or three weeks in advance; in May, June, September and October there is usually more availability.
Who is it for? Couples on honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary, families with the budget and children over 8 (with small children the day is long), groups of friends splitting the cost, and travellers combining Hydra with Spetses, Poros or Aegina on a longer trip. For many visitors it turns out to be the strongest memory of the island: a day with no phone, no cars (a paradox: the yacht has an engine too, but sitting on deck you do not notice it), swimming in water that looks like a swimming pool and eating slowly with the coast in view. If you are only going to do one paid activity on your trip to Hydra and the budget allows it, this is probably the best candidate.