Sailing in Argolida

The islands and islets of the Argosaronikos and the Argolic Gulf will offer you amazing experiences when you visit them by boat. You can dock at Porto Heli, where there is a tourist boat shelter, and at Ermioni. Don’t miss sailing around Dokos, internationally known for the shipwreck discovered at a depth of 15-32 m. It is the oldest in the Mediterranean and has been dated to the Early Bronze Age, 2,200 BC.

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The images and experiences that the large and small islands of the Argosaronic and Argolic Gulf will offer you when you visit them by boat will be unforgettable. You can dock at Porto Heli, where there is a tourist boat shelter, and at Ermioni.

From Tolo you can easily get to the nearby cosmopolitan islands of Hydra and Spetses. A very nice cruise is to the nearby islands of Romvi, Daskalio and Koronisi, which adorn the bay of Tolo.

In Romvi, there is a small harbour, so you can dock and walk around the small island. As you will see, capers grow everywhere, and it preserves the remains of a Venetian fortification. From its hills you will enjoy views of Tolo. Rombi is declared an archaeological site and a game refuge. On its back side there is a forest with wild olive trees.

Daskalio islet, apart from swimming, is also ideal for hiking.

Koronisi features steep cliffs full of prickly pear trees. Atop there is the chapel of Agioi Apostoloi where many people come to celebrate their wedding.

From Ermioni to Dokos. The rocky and uninhabited small island of Dokos is 8 miles away from Ermioni and has a great history. Sailing there you can stop at the rocky islet of Kounoupi for a first dive. Dokos is declared an archaeological site and became internationally known for the shipwreck discovered at a depth of 15-32 m. It is the oldest in the Mediterranean and has been dated to the Early Bronze Age, 2,200 BC.

The sunken merchant ship was carrying, among other things, obsidian from Milos and millstones. Stone anchors and tools have been discovered, along with pottery.

How was the wreck found? Peter Throckmorton, a researcher and founding member of the Institute for Enalian Archaeological Research, discovered scattered pottery in 1975 in Skintos Bay. And so, in the following years the autopsy and research was carried out under the scientific direction of archaeologist George Papathanasopoulos. The excavations continued between 1989-1992.

The name Dokos was given to the islet during the Byzantine period, while in antiquity it was called Aperopia. It is a passage to Hydra, at a strategic point between the Argolic Gulf and the coast of eastern Laconia. According to the Institute of Enalian Archaeological Research, settlement began in the Neolithic period (4th millennium BC).

In the bay of Skintos where the wreck is located you can moor and snorkel, but you cannot dive unless you have a special permit. With a mask you will also explore the seabeds around the islet which have a rich underwater life.

From Porto Heli. You can circumnavigate the lacy coastline to the SE, including the islet of Hinitsa (Alyoussa in ancient times).  

Learning to sail
At Porto Heli and Ermioni, you can enjoy sailing alongside the experts. There are training and practice schools, where experienced instructors will introduce you to the magical world of sailing and then you will set sail!

Location

Find the destination on the interactive map below.