I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many beautiful places and have some great experiences. Being a travel agent, I’ll take any opportunity I can get to try something new and discover something that offers my customers that little bit different.
Well, this was an experience that catapulted straight to the top of my list.
Immersive experiences, some of the most beautiful locations I’ve seen and a sense of flexibility that kept that relaxing holiday feel throughout. Add in a small group, an experienced local skipper, a host looking after us on board and an itinerary that takes you beyond the usual tourist trail, and I quickly understood the appeal of travelling with Intrepid.
For anyone looking for a different way to experience the Greek Islands, this kind of trip is an absolute no-brainer.
Discovering The Destinations
We were sailing through the Sporades Islands with Intrepid, visiting Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos aboard a catamaran.
I’ve done plenty of boat trips over the years, but this was completely different because the yacht wasn’t simply transporting us between places. It was our home for the week.
And that’s where I think the Intrepid experience really comes into its own.
You’re travelling as a small group with people who know the area. Our skipper Nikos wasn’t simply getting us from A to B. He knew the islands, the conditions, the places to eat and the little spots we probably wouldn’t have discovered by ourselves.
Our host, Fotis, looked after us on board and prepared our meals, while we could concentrate on enjoying the experience.
We’d wake up on the water, sail somewhere new, stop for a swim, have lunch on board and perhaps head ashore later to explore.
There was an itinerary, but it never really felt like we were following one.
That’s something I particularly appreciated. On so many organised trips, you know you’ve got half an hour here, an hour there and then it’s time to move on. This had structure without feeling overly structured.
What is it like travelling as a Small-Group Tour?
There were only a handful of us sharing the yacht, and I think that’s a huge part of what makes this style of Intrepid trip special.
You’re experiencing everything together, whether that’s sitting around the table for lunch, heading ashore for dinner or jumping into the sea from the yacht.
There’s a lovely social side to it, but because the days are so relaxed, it never felt forced.
The small-group format also meant we could experience places in a completely different way. We visited a monastery where another group eventually left and suddenly it was practically just us there.
Those quieter, more personal experiences are difficult to replicate when you’re travelling as part of a much larger group.
Some of the Best Greek Food I’ve Had
I have to mention the food because it was exceptional.
Fotis prepared beautiful Greek dishes from a tiny galley, including recipes passed down from his grandmother. What he managed to produce in such a small space was seriously impressive.
There were platters filled with different dishes, fresh ingredients and plenty of variety throughout the week.
It was personal too. At the beginning of the trip, we were asked about dietary requirements and what we liked and didn’t like and the meals were catered around that. It was just such a nice touch.
Plans weren’t set in stone either. On one occasion, the intention was to buy meat locally, but the team met a fisherman and decided fresh fish would be on the menu instead.
That combination of local knowledge and flexibility ran throughout the whole trip.
When we went ashore, Nikos seemed to know someone everywhere. We experienced everything from simple traditional Greek tavernas to beautiful restaurants, and we weren’t left trying to work out where was worth visiting ourselves.
Going Beyond the Usual Greek Island Holiday
This was probably one of the biggest selling points for me as a travel agent.
An Intrepid sailing trip isn’t simply about seeing several Greek islands. It’s about how you experience them.
Travelling by yacht opened up beautiful beaches, quiet bays and little corners that aren’t necessarily accessible by car. We sailed through the National Marine Park of Alonnisos and Northern Sporades, visited a monastery and discovered places largely untouched by mass tourism.
You have the adventure of independent travel, but you’re not actually having to organise everything independently.
The route, sailing and practicalities are being taken care of, and you’ve got people with local knowledge there to guide the experience.
For someone who wants to be a little more adventurous without worrying about how they’re going to get from island to island or find those lesser-known places, I think that’s a massive advantage.
And Then There Were the Islands…
Skiathos was beautiful.
I remember looking around on that first day and thinking how lovely it was.
Then we reached Skopelos and somehow it got even better.
Visiting the famous Agios Ioannis chapel from Mamma Mia! was certainly memorable.
Later, we were sitting in Skopelos Town having a cocktail when Mamma Mia! was being projected onto a wall nearby. You’re sitting there on the island where it was filmed, watching the film with a drink in your hand. Those are the little moments you remember.
But then we arrived in Alonnisos.
The Old Village is genuinely up there with the prettiest places I’ve ever visited.
Every corner we turned seemed to reveal another beautiful view. We arrived while it was still daylight and watched the village change as evening arrived and all the little lights came on.
It had atmosphere without feeling overwhelmingly busy, and I’ve already been looking at going back.
Who Would I Recommend This Intrepid Trip To?
I’d particularly recommend it to someone who has done the more traditional holidays and wants something different.
You don’t need any sailing experience. That’s the beauty of having an experienced skipper and host with you.
You get local knowledge, small-group experiences, fantastic food, beautiful destinations and access to places you may never have discovered on your own, without having to organise all the logistics yourself.
For me, it’s that combination of adventure, expertise and flexibility that makes it work.
Would I Sail With Intrepid Again?
Without hesitation.
When you break down everything you’re getting, from your accommodation and meals to your skipper, host, sailing and the destinations you’re able to experience, there’s a lot included.
But the real value is in the experiences.
I came home having discovered three fantastic Greek islands, eaten some incredible food, experienced proper sailing and visited places I might never have found on a traditional holiday.
And as a travel agent, that’s exactly why experiencing a trip like this first-hand is so valuable. I now know what living aboard the yacht actually feels like, who I’d recommend it to and what makes an Intrepid sailing adventure different from simply booking an island-hopping holiday.
After years of travelling and being lucky enough to experience some extraordinary destinations, it takes something special to shoot straight to the top of my list.
This did exactly that.