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Small Cyclades Kayak Circumnavigation
Small Cyclades Kayak Tour and Circumnavigation of Irakleia, Schinoussa, and Koufonisi. As we glide through the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, we will discover the beauty held within the remote islands of the Small Cyclades.
Lodging | Activities |
|---|---|
Family Owned Inns | Kayak |
From | Duration |
|---|---|
Naxos | 8 Days, 7 Nights |
Skill Rating | Van Supported |
|---|---|
2 | Yes |
Single Supplement | Price |
|---|---|
$700 | $3,995 |
Included
Guides, ground transportation, support vehicle only on Naxos, lodging, meals per itinerary (B, L, D), all basic kayaking equipment, instruction and entry fee into ruins.
Not Included
Air or ferry to Naxos, lunches and drinks, personal clothing and accessories, entry fees into ruins, full medical, baggage and trip cancellation insurance, airport taxes and gratuities. Solo occupancy supplement not included.
Upcoming Dates:
September 25-October 2, 2026
October 2-9, 2026
June 21-28, 2027
ITINERARY
Day One: A Northwest Passage Guide will meet you upon arrival in Naxos, and transfer you to our accommodations in Agiassos Bay. Here you will practice paddling skills and become acquainted with the gear you will be using throughout the trip. After working up an appetite in the bay, we will get to know each other a little better and discuss trip logistics over sunset drinks and delicious, locally sourced dishes at dinner. (D)
Day Two: After breakfast we begin our first full day on the water. We bid farewell Naxos as we embark on our first open water crossing to the island of Irakleia. Once ashore we will enjoy lunch at a beachside taverna and settle into our accommodations. Before tucking into a delicious dinner in the port town we will stretch our legs on a sunset hike and explore the beautiful island of Irakleia by land. (B, D)
Day Three: Today we will complete our first circumnavigation of the trip by paddling all the way around Irakleia. The varied, marvelous coastline is a dream paddling environment: rock gardens, craggy headlands, high rise bluffs and spectacular views of the many, many surrounding islands. After roughly 15 miles of paddling, we will dine and rest in Irakleia once again. (B, D)
Day Four: Today we will complete both an open water crossing and another circumnavigation. After departing Irakleia we cross a small stretch of open water and land our kayaks on the island of Schinoussa, our home for the night. But we’re not done paddling yet! We will paddle the entire coastline of the island stopping for lunch along the way. We end our paddling day at the gorgeous and off-the-beaten-path beach of Lio Liou. We will drive or walk into town amongst the rolling farmland of Schinoussa, a wonderful backdrop for sunset drinks and dinner. (B,D)
Day Five: Today we will explore the coastline of both Kato (Lower) and Pano (Upper) Koufonissi. After crossing from Schinoussa, we hug the sandstone-rich coastline of Kato Koufonissi and travel amongst arches, bluffs and rock gardens. After refueling with a coffee stop, we press on to Pano Koufonissi where we will stop for lunch before circumnavigating the entire island. After setting into our beachside accommodations we will head into town where you will have the opportunity to dine where you choose. The vibrant port town of Koufonissi buzzes with local energy and is a great place to shop for gifts and mementoes. (B)
Day Six: Since we will stay in Pano Koufonissi again tonight, you have the option to rest on the beach or explore the grandiose, uninhabited island of Keros. Strewn with ruins from the over 4,500 year old Minoan civilization, the totally undeveloped and magnificently mountainous Keros is a treasure for any traveler. High ceilinged sea caves and towering bluffs line the coast of Keros. After stopping for a picnic lunch we will complete our circumnavigation of Keros and return to Pano Koufonissi. Tonight we enjoy dinner as a group in the island’s port town. (B, D)
Day Seven: After breakfast we bid farewell to the Small Cyclades and embark on our return crossing to Naxos. After stopping for lunch along the way we will return to Agiassos Bay, where we spent our first evening of the trip. Overlooking the islands of Paros and Antiparos, we will enjoy dinner as evening falls once more on the Aegean Sea. (B, D)
Day Eight: Having added our voyage to the annals of this incredible waterway five millennia after the first Minoan sailors, we must now part ways until our next paddling adventure! A Northwest Passage guide will transfer you to the Naxos ferry port or airport. (B)
* Note: This is our intended itinerary for this exploratory trip. 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.
My wife and I just returned from our Kayaking Adventure in Crete. While I'm
seldom at a loss for words, there are things about this trip that are
difficult to convey accurately. In many ways, I felt as if I was transported
back in time 2000 years...only I still had internet access and could watch
Greek pro soccer on a flat screen HD TV at a seaside taverna, that was only
accessible on foot or by water. It was an odd and beautiful juxtaposition of
the ancient and the modern that was totally natural, comfortable and most of
all fun.
By way of background, my wife and I are mid fifties and pretty active. We are
regular gym goers, ski 45 to 50 days a season and paddle the quiet waters
around our home near Long Island Sound in Southeastern Connecticut regularly.
Neither of us had ever been to Europe and after building careers, raising
kids and putting them thru college, now was our time. So there was a lot of
anticipation and build up to this trip. I can say unequivocally that it
exceeded my expectations.
Our trip was guided by Northwest Passage founder and owner Rick and his
assistant guide Emily. Rick is a pretty interesting guy. A middle American
small business owner and family man who's job happens to be leading adventure
trips around the world to places like Crete, Italy and the North and South
Pole to name just a few. Having done this trip for many years he definitely
has it dialed in. Totally on top of the situation both on and off the water,
you always felt he was in complete control. Emily was as adorable as she was
competent and friendly. Together they made the whole trip move seamlessly.
But for me, the star of the entire experience is the water around the island.
I had always held a vision of that water based on travel photos that I have
seen, but no photo can do it justice. The beautiful, warm, crystal clear aqua
seas around Crete are simply magnificent. When the sun is overhead and the
water is calm you can see down over 100 feet or more. When the sun changes or
the wind kicks up they can change to sapphire or inky black. And around every
turn there is endless variations of rock, cliff and sea formations that I
never tired of looking at. The paddling could be challenging at times (we hit
some pretty strong headwinds on a few occasions)but I never felt anxious or
uncomfortable. Each day the paddling was broken into 3 legs and anyone who
chose to could opt out if they didn't want to paddle one or more sections.
Between Rick and Emily they adapted to both the individual and group needs,
so I think that everyone got as much or as little as they wanted on any given
day.
On land the accommodations were clean, comfortable and waterfront. The food
was simple, local, fresh and delicious. They people were universally friendly
(I suspect due largely to the fact that Rick has been there so many times
that when we walked in it was like the return of the prodigal son). Best of
all, our group brought together a diverse selection of strangers who finished
the week treating each other like friends and family. It was as completely
authentic and unpretentious an experience as I can imagine having.
If you want to sit on a beach all day and have a cabana boy bring you Rum
Punch while you are on vacation, this might not be the trip for you. If, on
the other hand, you want to literally immerse yourself in some of the most
beautiful water in the world, experience life like a local and finish each
day with that wonderful fatigue that comes from doing a vigorous but fun
activity all day long (and makes that first cold beer taste like heaven) this
is your adventure. My sincere thanks to Rick, Emily and all the Northwest
Passage staff for truly making this the trip of a lifetime!! Rob and Ann
Keville, East Lyme, CT.
Our Belize kayak and camping trip was not what anyone expected due to unseasonably windy, rainy and cool weather. But we had a grand adventure nonetheless! How many times in your life do you get a chance to help a Belizean captain right and bail his swamped boat? Learn the ebb and flow of life on a tiny uninhabited Caribbean island? See a tiger ray leaping from the water trying to shake off the eel attached to its middle? Backpedal furiously to avoid a collision with a huge loggerhead turtle swimming your way as you snorkel? Eat comforting conch stew at a picnic table, the taste heightened by the sweetness of plantains and sharpness of the ubiquitous Marie Sharp's hot sauce? We experienced all that and much more with our small group this February. Our guide and fearless leader CP was perpetually cheerful and accommodating even as we confronted multiple days of high seas after landing on Moho Caye. He gave us opportunities to kayak whenever conditions permitted but also kept us safe. The local support team of Ian and his son Shane were steady and resourceful even under adverse circumstances. In addition to providing information, guidance and motor transport when needed, they fed us well, including platters of fresh fruit and hot fry jacks cooked in a primitive outdoor kitchen. This was our fourth trip with Northwest Passage, and we are on the lookout for our next one. As always, the company and its excellent staff provided a personalized, unique and fun adventure trip. Derek Belize 2026
My son and I had a fabulous time. Crystal clear water for paddling and swimming. Great scenery. Clean, comfortable accommodations. Wonderful professional, competent, helpful, friendly and enthusiastic guides Chris and Sean. I'd do it again in a heartbeat but I think next time I'll try a different trip.
By Chuck F on Sep 30, 2024
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