This page contains affiliate and referral links. If you charter, book, or buy through them we earn a referral fee, paid by the broker or platform, at no cost to you. We have not adjusted our rankings for the referral rate. Full breakdown on our how-we-make-money page.
The Sporades at 40 to 50m is the Aegean's quietest bracket destination and the one the fleet treats as an off-meltemi alternative to the Cyclades. A 40 to 50m motor yacht running a Sporades-anchored week in 2026 peak August costs $170,000 to $250,000 per week plus 30 percent APA, takes 10 to 12 guests, and embarks at Skiathos on the western end of the chain or repositions from Athens through the Evia channel. The active 40 to 50m fleet calling the Sporades through July and August is roughly 8 yachts, the thinnest pattern in any Greek bracket because the destination's marine park rules at Alonissos restrict the anchorage pattern and the day-boat tourism economy is concentrated at Skiathos.
Why the Sporades works for the bracket
Skiathos New Port handles the bracket's alongside at the outer pier for up to 50m stern-to, dredged to 6m, with provisioning and shore power. Skopelos Town pier takes 40 to 45m at the outer alongside but above 45m the operating pattern moves to anchor in the bay outside. Patitiri on Alonissos handles up to 40m at the pier with the bracket above 40m anchoring in Steni Vala or in the Peristera channel.
The anchorages run Koukounaries and Lalaria on Skiathos for the south-coast swim rotation, the Skopelos Sea Cave at Tripiti, Glysteri on Skopelos for the protected swim anchor, Steni Vala and the Peristera anchorages for the Alonissos rotation, Kyra Panagia inside the National Marine Park (permit required) for the deep northeast routing, and Skyros at the chain's southern end for the off-route extension. The Sporades summer wind pattern carries the meltemi at 12 to 22 knots from the north on the days, lighter than the Cyclades by 4 to 6 knots on average and considerably more sheltered by the chain's east-west axis.
Weekly rate map for 2026 season
Rates below are for peak weeks (mid-July through end of August) for the 2026 Greek season, before APA at 30 percent and gratuity at 10 to 15 percent. The Greek cruising tax (TEPAI), Skiathos and Skopelos port fees, the National Marine Park permits at Alonissos, and the Skyros routing fees run through the APA.
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht and large catamaran (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 to 43m | $170K to $205K per week | $150K to $185K per week |
| 43 to 47m | $195K to $230K per week | $170K to $205K per week |
| 47 to 50m | $215K to $250K per week | $185K to $220K per week |
The Sporades prices 8 to 12 percent below the equivalent Cyclades week at the same LOA because the programme is quieter, the social density runs lower, and the bracket-fit charter-client pattern is more selective. For corridor context see the Greece bracket page, the Saronic Gulf bracket, and the 30 to 40m Sporades bracket.
What the bracket buys you in this bracket
Cabins. 5 cabin layouts dominate, with the pattern running multi-couple seven-night Sporades weeks that base at Skiathos and rotate Skopelos and Alonissos.
Crew. 9 to 11 on motor yachts. The Sporades workload runs lighter than the Cyclades because the meltemi profile is calmer, the passage distances inside the week run shorter (15 to 40nm legs), and the dinner shore-runs are contained at Skiathos Old Port, Skopelos Town, and Patitiri. The marine park permits at Alonissos add a captain-task day for the Kyra Panagia routing.
Tenders. A primary 9m fast tender plus a 6 to 7m beach-landing secondary. Koukounaries and the Skopelos sea-cave run the secondary at low speed and the Skiathos Old Port dinner runs the primary.
At-anchor stabilizers. Mandatory but the running cost runs 60 to 70 percent of the Cyclades equivalent because the meltemi profile is calmer and the anchorages run more protected by the chain's geography.
Helipad. Less useful than in other Greek brackets because Skiathos handles full fixed-wing arrivals at its international airport (1.6km from the New Port) and the Athens reposition by sea is workable. Touch-and-go helipad is not a peak-pricing differentiator in the Sporades.
Trip shapes that fit the bracket
The Skiathos and Skopelos seven-night. Embark Skiathos New Port, Koukounaries day-anchor, Skopelos Town for one night with the Glysteri swim and the Skopelos Sea Cave morning, Patitiri on Alonissos for two nights with the Steni Vala rotation, Skyros for one night, return Skiathos. Seven nights. The bracket fits this routing and Alonissos anchors the midweek.
The full Sporades marine park ten-night. Embark Skiathos, Koukounaries and Lalaria for one night, Skopelos and the sea cave for two nights, Alonissos and Steni Vala for two nights, marine park permit routing to Kyra Panagia for two nights, Skyros for two nights, return Skiathos. Ten nights. A bracket-fit that takes the full chain including the marine park interior.
The Sporades and Pelion mainland seven-night. Embark Skiathos, Koukounaries day-anchor, Skopelos Town for two nights, Pelion peninsula at Trikeri and Pteleos for two nights, return Skiathos via Alonissos for one night. Seven nights. A week that pairs the chain with the mainland Pelion coast.
For destination context see Charter Sporades, Charter Greece, and Best charter yachts Greece.
What the bracket does not do well in the Sporades
Marine-park routing without the permit confirmed in writing. The Alonissos National Marine Park inner zone requires written advance permit and the captain's clearance: a bracket that arrives without the paperwork loses the destination's most interesting anchorage at Kyra Panagia. We would pass on any peak-week booking that does not have the permit confirmed.
Single-island Skiathos-only weeks. The destination's value runs east into Skopelos, Alonissos, and the marine park, and a Skiathos-only week loses the bracket's footprint. The bracket's case at the Sporades is the chain rotation, not the embarkation island.
Late August Skiathos Old Port social pattern. The town runs thin compared with the Cyclades and the bracket-client looking for a Mykonos shore-evening should book the Mykonos bracket page. We would pass on any plan that anchors a Sporades week on Skiathos Old Port nightlife as the trip's social spine.
Our pick
For two couples, seven days in early August, Sporades chain with two nights at Skopelos and two nights at Alonissos: a 43m motor yacht with 5 cabins and at-anchor stabilizers, embarkation Skiathos, round trip. Budget $205K plus APA, all-in roughly $275K. Booking lead time: 7 to 10 months.
For a family of 10, ten days in late July, full chain with marine park interior at Kyra Panagia: a 47m motor yacht with 6 cabins, twin tenders, marine park permit pre-confirmed, embarkation Skiathos, round trip. Budget $235K plus APA, all-in roughly $315K. Booking lead time: 9 to 12 months including the permit lead.
For a friend group of 8, seven days in mid-September, Sporades shoulder routing with the meltemi off-cycle: a 42m motor yacht with 5 cabins, embarkation Skiathos, north chain rotation. Budget $175K plus APA, all-in roughly $235K. Booking lead time: 6 to 9 months.
Build, refit, what to ask
The Sporades 40 to 50m fleet runs Aegean tonnage that positions out of the meltemi-heavy Cyclades pattern. Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Heesen, Codecasa, Mondomarine, and a smaller Turkish-yard share dominate the calling pattern. A 2017 to 2024 build with at-anchor stabilizers, twin tenders, and a refit within 24 months of the booked week is the zone. We would pass on any unit booked for the Sporades without confirmed marine park permits in the captain's file if the routing includes Kyra Panagia, on any peak-week booking whose Alonissos anchorage plan has not been positioned in writing, and on any unit whose tender complement is single-tender at this LOA.