Salamina & Corinth Canal

The first stop on this westward sailing cruise is Salamina island, site of the famous naval Battle of Salamis in 480 BC when the outnumbered Greeks defeated the Persians.   This forever changed the course of Western Civilization.  Until today the people of Salamina still celebrate the victory, as this video indicates.  The yacht will linger in the heavenly blue waters of Kanakia Bay for swimming, snorkeling, fishing or hiking and biking in the trails of the pine forest that reach to the sea.

The thrill of the day is sailing through the Corinth Canal. When the isthmus was cut in 1893 it basically turned the Peloponnese peninsula into a mega-island. The Canal is 6.40 kilometers long (4 miles) which takes about a half hour to cross from the eastern entrance at the Saronic Gulf to the western entrance at the Akrokorinth Gulf.   The Canal is 21.40 meters wide (70 feet) with cliffs 63 meters high (206 feet). Sailing the Canal’s narrow passage is a unique experience to be so enclosed by land on both sides.

From the Canal, guests go to Ancient Corinth by vehicle or with option to bike there. The bike route to Ancient Corinth is 13 kilometers plus an additional four kilometers for ambitious riders ascending Acrokorinthos Fortress.   Corinth was an important city in ancient days with 90,000 residents during the Greek period, and a surge to 100,000 – 700,000 residents during the Roman period (compared to 58,000 residents today).   Most of the ruins at the archaeology site are from the Roman era. St. Paul preached here and possibly penned one or more of the Epistles to the Corinthians. The Corinth Museum has exquisite pieces and rates as much viewing time as the grounds themselves.

Sitting almost 1900 feet high, the Akrokorinthos Fortress is visible for miles around. Akrokorinthos was occupied by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Frankish crusaders, Venetians and Turks.   The fort offers an invigorating opportunity to explore the sprawling grounds with spectacular panorama views of both the Corinth Gulf and the Saronic Gulf underscoring its strategic location.

CRUISE ITINERARY

• 08:00   Transfer from central Athens by vehicle to the yacht’s home port, Alimos Marina, 20 minutes drive.   see map on right
• Boarding upon arrival and mandatory safety lesson.
• 09:00  Departure.   Sailing to Salamina takes one hour
• Spend an hour in Kanakia Bay in Salamina, swiming, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, biking
• Sail to Corinth Canal.   En route guests are served lunch, a buffet lunch of Greek fare on board the yacht and may eat either outdoors in the front or rear decks or inside in the salon
• Cross the Corinth Canal from Saronic Gulf to Akrokorinth Gulf
• Visit Ancient Corinth and museum.  Travel by vehicle or bike 15 kilometers (9 miles) plus optional mileage to pedal up Akrokorinth Fortress 4 km (2.50 miles)
• Vehicle transfer Corinth to central Athens
• 18:00 Arrive central Athens

CRUISE INCLUSIONS

• Vehicle transfer from central Athens to Alimos Marina
• Vehicle transfer from Corinth to central Athens
• Entry fees to Ancient Corinth
• Vehicle transport Corinth
• Hybrid bicycles, helmets, water bottles (active group)
• Traditional Greek lunch aboard yacht
• Snorkeling gear, fishing gear

CRUISE NOTES

Bring towel, swim wear, a hat, sun glasses and sun screen  For bikers, wear appropriate shoes.

On the yacht rubber soled footwear only, or barefoot.