I was feeling slightly apprehensive going into this trip. I was really excited, but there were a few things at the back of my mind that I thought might hold me back.
I struggle with swimming in the sea, I was worried about seasickness and, having never done anything quite like this before, I just generally wasn’t sure what to expect.
I won’t spoil too much, but this trip completely changed all of those thoughts.
After a week sailing around the Greek Islands with Intrepid, I’d gone from worrying about getting into the sea to swimming, paddleboarding and attempting to snorkel. I couldn’t recommend pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and doing a trip as amazing as this enough.
My First Taste of Life on a Yacht
Our adventure began in Skiathos, where even arriving at the airport was an experience. The runway is incredibly close to the sea and only has a 10 minute transfer to the port.
It wasn’t long before we met our skipper, Nikos, and host, Fotis, and stepped aboard the catamaran that would become our home for the week.
My biggest packing tip would be to bring a soft bag and pack far less than you think you’ll need. Most days you’re living in swimwear anyway!
After our initial safety briefing, we quickly settled into yacht life. Even things that initially seemed unfamiliar, from crossing the gangplank to watching the anchor being dropped, soon became completely normal.
The Thing I Was Most Nervous About: The Sea
This was probably my biggest personal challenge.
Before the trip, the sea genuinely scared me, so the thought of spending a week surrounded by it was definitely playing on my mind.
The difference was that there was absolutely no pressure.
At every swim stop, I could decide whether I wanted to get in or stay on board. There wasn’t a feeling that everyone had to do everything together.
Slowly, I found myself wanting to try more.
I went swimming. I tried paddleboarding. I even gave snorkelling a go.
For me, simply being comfortable putting my face in the water felt like an achievement.
By the end of the week, I couldn’t believe how differently I felt about being in the sea.
What About Seasickness?
This was another thing I’d convinced myself might be a problem.
We had a couple of slightly choppier days, and initially I took a seasickness tablet because everyone else was. Eventually, I decided not to take one because I wanted to find out whether I actually got seasick.
It turned out I didn’t. I felt completely comfortable and, importantly, completely safe.
The Food Was Amazing
The food became a huge part of the experience.
Fotis prepared different Greek dishes throughout the week, including recipes passed down from his grandmother, all from a surprisingly small galley.
There was a really personal approach too. At the beginning of the trip, we talked about what we liked, disliked and couldn’t eat, and meals were adapted around us.
It also wasn’t a case of following the same menu every week. One day, the plan was to buy meat locally, but after bumping into a fisherman, they changed their minds and bought fresh fish instead.
That summed up the whole holiday for me. There was a plan, but everything felt natural and flexible.
When we ate ashore, Nikos seemed to know people everywhere we went. We experienced everything from traditional Greek tavernas to beautiful restaurants, and I loved that variety.
Falling in Love With the Sporades Islands
I knew the Greek Islands would be beautiful, but I wasn’t prepared for just how beautiful.
We started in Skiathos, and I remember thinking it was gorgeous. Then we reached Skopelos. Then Alonnisos.
Somehow, they just kept getting better.
As a huge Mamma Mia! fan, visiting the famous Agios Ioannis chapel on Skopelos was a massive moment for me. Standing there and realising I was actually somewhere I’d seen so many times on screen was incredible.
That evening, we were in Skopelos Town having cocktails when Mamma Mia! was projected onto a white wall. Being on the island and suddenly watching the wedding scene felt surreal.
But Alonnisos completely blew me away.
The Old Village is genuinely one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The views were incredible, and everywhere we turned there seemed to be another pretty street, little shop or bar.
What surprised me was that there was still plenty of atmosphere without it feeling overcrowded. You could find lively bars, traditional music and quieter places all within the same evening.
I would go back in a heartbeat.
Seeing Greece From the Water
One of the biggest differences with this trip is that you can reach places you’d probably never discover on a normal Greek island holiday.
We sailed through the National Marine Park of Alonnisos and Northern Sporades, stopped in beautiful bays and found swimming spots that you really need a boat to experience properly.
And the stops didn’t feel rushed. We could swim, have lunch and then decide to jump back in again.
There was an itinerary, but it rarely felt like we were following one.
Even when conditions meant our skipper needed to change the plan, we simply moved on to somewhere that worked better. That flexibility made the whole experience feel much more like genuine sailing rather than an organised excursion.
Would I Recommend an Intrepid Sailing Holiday?
100%.
I think you need to go into it with an open mind and be prepared for something different.
You’re living in a smaller space, spending lots of time with the same group and embracing a much more relaxed way of travelling. For me, that became part of what made it so special.
You eat together, explore together and experience things together. There’s a real sense of community that you don’t always get on a traditional holiday.
And if there’s something making you hesitate, whether that’s swimming, sailing or simply worrying that it’s outside your comfort zone, don’t immediately assume it isn’t for you.
I did exactly that.
I went into the week thinking I might be seasick, scared of the water and completely out of my depth.
I came home saying something I genuinely never thought I’d say:
I’m a boat person.
This wasn’t the type of holiday I would ever have chosen for myself before.
Now? I’d do it again without a second thought.