Explorer yachts bring long range and expedition capability to the Cyclades, opening lesser-visited corners of the archipelago that conventional charter vessels cannot easily access. With extra fuel capacity, robust tenders, and crews trained in remote anchorages, an explorer yacht in the Cyclades is a platform for genuine discovery among the outer islands and sea caves that mark the edges of this remarkable group. The Cyclades feel different from an explorer vessel. The meltemi that sends other yachts running for shelter is simply weather to navigate around. An explorer can push south to the island of Anafi, where a near-vertical cliff rises 400 metres from the sea and there is no tourist infrastructure to speak of. It can anchor off the pumice beaches of the Christiana islets west of Santorini, or hold position in the swell off the submerged caldera at Nea Kameni while guests dive in the warm volcanic water. The fleet of around three explorer yachts that visit the Cyclades ranges from 40 to 70 metres, with large garages for submersibles, dive compressors, and expedition kayaks. Weekly charter rates run from roughly 100,000 euros for smaller explorer vessels to over 300,000 euros for the largest, plus the customary 30 percent advance provisioning allowance. The season runs from May to October, with spring and autumn often the best months for explorer itineraries when winds are calmer and anchorages less crowded.
