Ios-Sikinos Circumnavigation

Join us as we explore the overlooked islands of the Cyclades! On this adventure we will circumnavigate Ios and Sikinos, sister islands off the coast of Santorini. Ios has what every Greek island should; unspoiled beaches, turquoise waters, ancient ruins and, of course, great nightlife. With only one village on the island, Chora, Ios became famous during the 70's for the fantastic parties held on the village beaches, which has since become island tradition. There truly is something for everyone on this tiny island, and as we circumnavigate the coast of Ios, you will discover an island rich with secluded beaches and rocky formations- perfect for cliff jumping or simply a fresh view of the landscape.

To compliment the vibrant energy of Ios, we will hop back into our kayaks to explore the quiet and untouched island of Sikinos. With one harbor town and a small village up in the hills, Sikinos has less than 300 inhabitants and only two roads. Ancient ruins and agricultural terraces harken back to more prosperous times and awaken the spark of curiosity in any traveler who has the opportunity to explore a land unchanged by the modern world.

Day 1:  Your Northwest Passage Guides will meet you on the beautiful island of Ios.  As there is no airport on the island, it can be accessed by ferry from Santorini.  We will meet you at the docks and transport you to our hotel in the village of Chora.  Exact meeting time will be determined once travel arrangements have been made.  After we settle into our accommodations there will be time in the afternoon to explore the village and possibly get out on the water to conduct our introductory sea kayaking clinic. As evening falls, we will get to know one another and discuss the planned itinerary over sunset drinks and a delicious dinner on the coast. (D)

Day 2:  After a restful night and an energizing breakfast, we will hop into our kayaks for our first day out on the water.  We begin our circumnavigation of Ios by heading southeast along its coast.  As we pass numerous isolated and pristine beaches we will have our choice of where to stop for a picnic lunch and a dip in the Aegean Sea.  Our destination for the day is the small fishing village of Manganari, located on the southern point of Ios.  From there we will return to our hotel, and regroup later to enjoy a hardy dinner of fresh, local cuisine and see what the famed nightlife of Ios has to offer.  (B, D)

Day 3:  After breakfast we will return to Manganari, round the southern point of Ios and continue up the western coast of the island.  Along this portion of coast there are many inlets to explore.  We will glide past long stretches of white sand beach, as well as smaller beaches isolated by rock formations.  We will spend the day exploring the best of them, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way.  We will end our day of paddling at Agia Theodoti beach, where our van will meet us and transport us back to our hotel.  As usual we will spend the evening at leisure, enjoying the Greek culture, food and hospitality.  (B, D)

Day 4:  Today we will rise, enjoy our delicious Greek breakfast and launch our kayaks with a renewed enthusiasm, for today is the day we complete our circumnavigation of Ios!  We will launch from Agia Theodoti beach, and paddle the remainder of the island.  Another sublime day of picnics, secluded beaches, swimming and paddling awaits us.  At the end of our day we will paddle right into Chora, and celebrate our speedy circumnavigation in the appropriate Ios fashion - on the beach!  Dinner is on your own tonight, giving you a choice of the numerous restaurant possibilities in town, as well as a chance to set your own schedule for the evening.  (B)

Day 5:  Heading out form Chora Bay, we will cross the four miles of open water to Sikinos for our second circumnavigation.  Once we have reached the eastern tip of Sikinos, we will follow the southern coast of the island to the main port of Alopronia.  As this is one of our shortest days there will surely be time to investigate this quiet and unspoiled island.  We will enjoy a traditional dinner at one of the tavernas in Alopronia, enjoying the unique pace of life on Sikinos.  (B, D)

Day 6:  Today is sure be a long, but rewarding one.  Due to the steep nature of the terrain in this last leg there are fewer resting points, but strengthened and rejuvenated from the past week on Ios, it will seem like a breeze!  On the north coast of the island we will stop for a picnic lunch. By the end of the day we will have completed our circumnavigation of Sikinos, and have become familiar with its remote beauty.  Back in the Port of Alopronia a well earned shower, dinner and bed awaits us all... (B, D)

Day 7:  On our last full day, we will return to Ios.  Once again paddling the four mile stretch of open water back to Chora, we will end our week of exploration and kayaking.  As this is a shorter day, people will have the option to continue kayaking in the area, stay in town to sight-see and shop, or simply relax on the beach.  In the evening we will enjoy our celebratory dinner and reminisce on our favorite memories from our adventure in the Cyclades. (B, D)

Day 8:  After breakfast we gather our belongings and bid farewell to this incredible island. We transfer you to the airport so that you can make any connecting flights. (B)


* Note: This is our intended itinerary. As with any adventure travel, the forces of nature can be unpredictable, causing us to make adjustments and changes to the itinerary. Rest assured that our many years of exploring have provided us with numerous options if changes need to be made. If it is too windy to paddle, various hiking, cultural and historical options will make you glad for the winds.

This is all you will need - anything else is unnecessary baggage and will only be extra weight to carry.

• 3-7 t-shirts, some synthetic for paddling
• 1 shirt, long sleeved
• 2-3 pair shorts (some quick drying)
• Sun/rain hat
• Sneakers/cross trainers hiking; some prefer hiking in Tevas or other sandals with socks
• Rain gear just in case! (Paddling jacket works well as an alternative, or windbreaker jacket)
• 1 pair sport sandals; Tevas, water socks, etc. (Paddling booties are great!)
• Bathing suit(s)
• Underwear, socks
• Casual clothes for evenings (shorts/summer dresses are fine!)
• Clean change of clothing for the trip home

Miscellaneous

• Passport (be sure to check expiration date)
• Toiletry kit- toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, sunscreen, face cream, nail clippers, moleskin, baby powder, soap, washcloth (most hotels don’t provide them) etc.
• Personal medication kit- ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamins, band-aids, Dramamine®, cold/sinus meds if prone to colds
• Daypack/fanny pack for hiking options
• Collapsible walking stick for optional hikes
• Sunglasses Chums/Croakies® to keep glasses on your head are imperative
• Water bottle (optional- bottled water is plentiful and cheap)
• Small dry bag with carabiner clip (clear ones are very useful)
• Headlamp for sea caves
• Camera, film, waterproof container
• Paddling gloves (for the tender of palm- not neoprene but any open fingered glove can help e.g. biking gloves etc)
• Small towel (e.g. PackTowel® works well)
• Small travel alarm clock

Optional Equipment

• Guidebooks
• Mask and snorkel (can be purchased inexpensively)
• Field glasses – binoculars
• Your own Paddle/PFD- we will supply paddles and PFD’s for group but, if you prefer your own paddle and PFD, feel free to bring them along
• Ziploc® storage bags (to keep stuff extra dry in dry bag)