Sailing tour around Lindos with food and drinks

The best part of this Lindos sailing trip is that you are not simply carried past the coast. Skipper Georgios invites you to raise the sails, trim the lines, and steer the yacht when conditions allow. Between sailing stretches, you stop at clear-water coves, caves, and beaches that are hard to reach from land.

I like the small scale, with a maximum of 13 passengers and usually around 10. I also like the easygoing food and drink setup: Greek lunch, salad, fruit, water, wine, beer, soft drinks, and prosecco are included according to the option you book.

The main consideration is that the route depends heavily on wind and sea conditions. A listed swim stop may change, and the engine may be needed when the wind is weak, while last-minute bookings made less than 12 hours before departure may not include lunch.

What makes this Lindos sailing trip worth your time

• Hands-on sailing: Help with the mainsail and jib, then take the wheel under Georgios’s direction.
• Swim stops by boat: Visit Red Sand, Agathi caves, Lindos Bay, St. Paul’s Bay, Navarone Bay, Stegna caves, or other stops chosen for the day.
• Food included: Expect Greek lunch, salad, and fruit, with complimentary drinks depending on your selected package.
• Comfortable yacht: The boat has bed-like cushions, a large swim platform, and room to relax between stops.
• Small-group feel: The yacht can hold 13 people, though the usual group is closer to 10.
• Flexible trip lengths: Options range from about three hours to a full day, with morning, afternoon, and sailing-only choices.

Setting out from Lindos jetty

You meet at the big jetty near Pallas Beach, by Gin Tonic Lindos. There is no standard hotel transfer included, though pickup may be available for an added charge depending on where you stay.

The boat leaves from the Lindos area, and the first moments give you a chance to settle in, find a cushion, and listen to Georgios’s safety instructions. He is the skipper, host, and one-man crew, so expect a personal approach rather than a formal tour with separate staff for every task.

The yacht is designed for a relaxed day on the water. You have a broad swim platform at the rear, cushions for sunning or resting, and snorkeling equipment on board. Noodle-style floats and a waterproof camera are also provided.

Before departure, arrive with a towel and follow the practical boat rules. You need to board sand-free, keep the walkways clear, return snorkeling gear to its basket, and leave the rear of the yacht open during mooring. Jumping into the sea while the boat is moving with the engine on is not allowed, which is sensible but worth explaining to children before you leave the jetty.

Learning to sail with Georgios

This is not a sailing lesson in the formal, classroom sense. It is a holiday cruise where you can take part as much or as little as you like.

Georgios handles the boat and decides when the conditions are right. If you want to participate, he may show you how to help raise the mainsail and work with the jib. You may also steer for a while under his supervision. Several guests have particularly enjoyed this part, including one quick sailing lesson for a passenger’s husband and another chance for a guest to captain the boat on the return leg.

If you prefer to sit back, that is fine too. You can stretch out on the cushions, sit on the swim platform with your feet in the water when the boat is safely stopped, or watch the coast pass under sail.

The quiet is one of the pleasures here. When the sails are doing the work, the trip becomes calmer than a standard motorboat outing. You hear the water and the rigging instead of a constant engine. The engine is still used when anchoring, searching for suitable wind, or making progress would otherwise be too slow, so the sailing-only option is weather dependent rather than guaranteed from the moment you leave.

Red Sand Beach and the first swim

On the 10am route, the first planned stop is Red Sand, reached after about 80 minutes on the yacht. You get roughly 40 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

The color of the shore and the clear water make this a good first stop. It gives you time to cool off after boarding and to test the mask and snorkel before the day gets underway. If you like to take your time in the water, 40 minutes is long enough for a proper swim rather than a rushed dip.

The exact order can change. Georgios chooses the stops based on wind, waves, and safe anchoring. That flexibility is useful, but you should not treat the printed route as a fixed promise. The trip is at its best when you accept that the skipper may swap one cove for another.

Snorkeling equipment is included. If a mask, snorkel, or float is faulty, return it to Georgios for a replacement. You are not charged for equipment damage caused by a fault, but you are expected to handle everything carefully and return it to the basket after use.

Agathi caves and a Greek lunch

The boat then makes a short 20-minute run toward Agathi Beach and its caves. This stop also allows around 40 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

The caves give this part of the route a different feel from a simple beach stop. You can swim near the rock formations, look below the surface, and enjoy a more sheltered setting if conditions permit. The itinerary also uses Agathi caves on the three-caves route, paired with Stegna caves and Lindos caves.

After the morning swimming, lunch is served on board or during a sheltered stop. The included meal is described as Greek lunch with salad and fruit. Food examples from the day can include a filling baked Greek dish such as pastitsio, along with fresh fruit and salad.

This is a practical inclusion, not just a decorative snack. Several hours of swimming and sun can make you hungry, and having lunch already arranged means you do not lose time returning to shore. Fruit may be served during the morning, while the main meal comes later.

If you book at the last minute, less than 12 hours before departure, lunch may not be available. If the meal matters to you, book earlier and confirm the exact food and drinks included in your chosen option.

Lindos Bay and the return under sail

The standard itinerary continues toward Lindos, with another 80-minute stretch aboard the yacht before a 40-minute swim and snorkeling stop in Lindos Bay.

This is where the famous coastal setting comes into view from the sea. You get a different angle on Lindos than you do from the village or the road. The white buildings and rocky coast make more sense from the water, and the stop gives you time to swim rather than simply take photographs as the boat passes.

After the Lindos Bay swim, the yacht spends about 15 minutes returning to the jetty. If the wind is useful, Georgios raises the sails and lets you enjoy the final part under sail.

That closing stretch can be one of the nicest parts of the day. The pace slows, the engine may fall quiet, and you can watch the coastline without trying to fit in another attraction. If you want to steer, ask Georgios when the conditions allow. He is open to teaching and sharing sailing basics, but the skipper remains responsible for the boat.

Other routes: caves, bays, and sunset light

The 10am route is only one choice. A three-caves option visits Agathi caves, Stegna caves, and Lindos caves, with swimming and snorkeling at each. This is a good pick if you care more about rock formations and water access than about spending time at one named beach.

A sailing-only option leaves at 10am and raises the sails soon after departing. It is the purest choice for anyone who wants the sailing itself to be the main event, but it depends most on the wind. If there is not enough wind to make acceptable progress, the engine will be used.

A longer 9am itinerary may include Stegna Caves, Red Sand, Agathi Caves, Haraki, and Navarone Bay or the Blue Lagoon and St. Paul’s Bay. This is the better fit if you want a full day with more locations and more time on the water. The tradeoff is simple: more stops can mean less time at each one.

The 4pm departure is designed around afternoon and early evening light. It leaves Lindos at 4pm, stops at Navarone Bay from about 4:30 to 5:15, sails toward St. Paul’s Bay, then allows an hour at St. Paul’s Bay before returning around 7pm.

St. Paul’s Bay is especially appealing for an afternoon outing because the schedule gives you a substantial swim and snorkeling period rather than a brief photo stop. The late departure may also suit you if you want a quieter day before sailing, though it offers less total time than the morning trips.

Food, drinks, and what the price covers

At about $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Lindos coast, but it includes more than a basic boat transfer. The skipper, fuel, insurance, food, drinks, snorkeling gear, and floats are part of the package.

Drink inclusions depend on the option you choose. Available drinks can include prosecco, beer, wine, soda, and bottled water. Some packages limit alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks to four per person, while others offer unlimited drinks. Read the selected option carefully rather than assuming every departure has the same arrangement.

The food adds real value. Buying lunch and drinks separately at a waterfront stop can quickly increase the cost of a day out, and bringing your own supplies does not give you the same convenience. The meal is also served during the sailing schedule, so you are not giving up a swim stop to find a restaurant.

Stand-up paddleboards, a seascooter, and fishing rods cost extra. The listed prices are 30 euros per day for a paddleboard, 70 euros per seascooter battery cycle, and 30 euros per day for fishing rods. You do not need these extras to enjoy the trip, and the included snorkeling gear is enough for a basic look below the surface.

How crowded and comfortable is the yacht?

The maximum capacity is 13 passengers, but the usual number is around 10. That matters. You get more personal space than on a large excursion boat, and Georgios can speak with people directly instead of making every instruction over a loudspeaker.

Still, this is a shared yacht, not a private charter unless you book the whole boat. You may share the cushions, swim platform, and meal space with other people. If you want complete control over the route, music, meal timing, or departure time, a private booking would be a different product.

The yacht has bed-like cushions, which make the longer sailing stretches easier. You can lie back between swim stops instead of sitting upright on a hard bench. The swim platform is useful for getting in and out of the water, but you should keep the aft area clear during mooring.

The boat is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also listed as unsuitable for people over 80, so check carefully if you are booking for an older family member.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would choose this sailing tour for couples, families with confident swimmers, and small groups of friends who want more than a simple coastal cruise. It works particularly well for people who like a little participation, since you can learn basic sailing tasks without committing to a full sailing course.

It also suits anyone tired of large, impersonal boat excursions. Georgios is present throughout the trip, and his approach combines boat handling, local coastal knowledge, and a willingness to let you take the wheel when safe.

You should think twice if you dislike swimming, get uncomfortable on boats, or want a strict timetable. At least two swim stops are planned, and much of the day centers on getting into the water. Routes shift with conditions, so this is not the right choice if you need every named beach and cave to be guaranteed.

Bring a towel, and consider sun protection, a hat, and a dry bag for small belongings. Those last items are practical suggestions for a day in the sun and spray, though only the towel is specifically required.

Booking details that matter

Trips can last from about three to eight hours, depending on the package. Starting times vary, so check the available departure when booking rather than assuming every trip leaves at 10am.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Passenger names and passport or ID numbers are requested under local safety laws.

The host speaks English and Greek. The activity has a 4.8 rating from 54 ratings, and 93 percent of people gave the transport a perfect score. The strongest pattern is clear: guests especially value Georgios, the clean yacht, the food, the number of swim stops, and the chance to steer.

Should you book the Lindos sailing tour?

Book it if you want a personal day on the water with a real sailing element, not just a ride between beaches. The combination of Georgios’s hands-on instruction, a small group, included lunch and drinks, and several swim stops makes the $76 starting price good value.

Choose the morning route for the fullest classic outing, the three-caves option for rock formations and snorkeling, the sailing-only package for wind-powered travel, or the 4pm trip for St. Paul’s Bay and afternoon light.

I would skip it only if you want guaranteed stops, dislike getting wet, need wheelchair access, or prefer a large boat with plenty of space. For everyone else, this is a relaxed and active way to see Lindos from the side most land-based visitors miss: from the water, under sail, with lunch waiting on board.

FAQ

Where does the sailing tour begin?

The meeting point is the big jetty near Pallas Beach, by Gin Tonic Lindos.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $76 per person. The final price and inclusions can vary by package.

How long does the sailing trip last?

Available options range from about three to eight hours. Starting times depend on the selected package.

What food is included?

Food on board includes a Greek lunch, salad, and fruit. Last-minute bookings made less than 12 hours before departure may not include lunch.

What drinks are included?

Depending on the option booked, complimentary drinks can include prosecco, beer, wine, soda, and bottled water. Some options limit drinks to four per person, while others offer unlimited drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and noodle-style floats are included. A waterproof camera is also provided.

Can I steer the yacht?

You may be able to steer under Georgios’s supervision. You can also help raise the mainsail and work with the jib when weather and safety conditions allow.

Which places might the boat visit?

Possible stops include Red Sand, Agathi Beach and caves, Lindos Bay and caves, Stegna caves, Navarone Bay, St. Paul’s Bay, Haraki, and the Blue Lagoon. The skipper sets the final route according to the weather.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included as standard. Pickup may be available for an additional charge, depending on your location.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel. You should also follow the boat rules, arrive sand-free, keep the yacht tidy, and follow the skipper’s instructions at all times.