The trip begins in the late afternoon in Paroikia, the main port of Paros, with its characteristic open bay and lively promenade. After boarding our fast cruiser boat 43, a welcome toast breaks the ice: we introduce ourselves, place our luggage in the cabins.

As soon as the last lights of sunset tinge the hills of Paros with orange, we cast off for a short sail to Antiparos. It's time to dive for the first swim of the holiday in the clear waters of the strait between two islets. It is the welcome that the Aegean Sea reserves for those who know how to wait for it.

The evening ends at anchor, with dinner prepared on board by the skippers. Table set in the cockpit, stars overhead, the silence of the sea around: a perfect start to the cruise

We leave Antiparos early in the morning with a route to Schinoussa, one of the lesser-known pearls of the Small Cyclades. Sailing, with the wind typically crosswind or upwind wide, promises to be fast and engaging: excellent for those who want to take the helm or learn how to use the sails.

Schinoussa is an island that mass tourism has not yet reached. The roads are still partly unpaved, the rhythms of life sleepy and quiet. The Chora, a handful of white houses along the main road, transports those who arrive there to another era.

We anchor in the beautiful bay of Livadi for lunch on board and a relaxing afternoon of swimming and reading. In the late afternoon, a panoramic walk takes us to Chora for an aperitif in one of the outdoor cafes, where the colors of the island and the evening breeze make everything more beautiful.

Dinner on board, cooked by the skippers with fresh local products, lulled by the quiet of the bay.

Short and pleasant sail to Koufonissi (or Kato Koufonissi), the smallest and liveliest island of the Small Cyclades. Here the sea reaches shades of turquoise and emerald that are difficult to forget.

The day is dedicated to pure relaxation: we drop anchor a few meters from a beach of fine white sand, in very shallow and transparent waters. The afternoon is spent swimming, snorkeling and siestas in the shade of the sail.

In the late afternoon we move to Koufonisia for a more mundane evening. The island has a double character: quiet and genuine during the day, lively and welcoming in the evening. Dinner in a typical tavern on the port, between grilled fresh fish and local wine, in the company of fishermen and the lucky few who have discovered this corner of Greece.

Today one of the most exciting stops of the entire cruise awaits us: Keros. An uninhabited and remote islet, Keros is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Aegean: thousands of Cycladic marble idols have been found here, now exhibited in the major museums of the world.

The navigation from Koufonissi is short but often intense, with the Meltemi blowing decisively between the islands. We anchor in deep blue waters, surrounded only by rock and silence. Lunch on board and long swims in this corner of wild and unspoiled sea.

In the evening, the sky far from any light pollution turns into a spectacle: shooting stars, the Milky Way, the constellations that Greek sailors learned to read millennia ago. Dinner on board, under this same sky.

Today's stage depends on weather conditions. If the wind and the sea allow it, we go as far as Amorgos, the wild and fascinating island of the Cyclades; alternatively, we stay in the archipelago of the Small Cyclades and head for Iraklia.

Amorgos: Arid and rocky island, where the intense blue of the sea contrasts with the barren landscapes and the austere beauty of the area. We anchor in the large bay of Katapola and in the afternoon we venture towards the famous monastery of Hozoviotissa, set in the rock 300 meters above the sea.

The almost 400 steps leading to the entrance are rewarded with a breathtaking view and the warm welcome of the monks, who offer guests a glass of Rakomelo and fruit sweets. One of the most unforgettable experiences in the entire Aegean.

Today I sail to Ios, an island with a dual character: wild and mountainous in the south, where remote bays can only be reached from the sea, worldly and lively in Chora in the north, famous throughout the Mediterranean for its nightlife.

We anchor in one of the magnificent bays of the south of the island, accessible only by boat: lunch in the cockpit with our eyes wide open on a panorama that seems painted. The afternoon is all ours between swimming and relaxing.

The final sail takes us to Santorini, one of the most iconic and scenic places in the Mediterranean. As we get closer, the black cliffs overlooking the sea begin to loom on the horizon: the thrill of getting there by boat, slowly, without haste, is something unrepeatable.

We sail in the caldera of Santorini from north to south, passing under the imposing volcanic walls and admiring the white villages of Oia and Fira clinging to the overhangs. A spectacle that no photograph can really reproduce.

We anchor in front of the beach of Akrotiri, in the south of the island. From here, those who want can visit the famous archaeological site of Akrotiri, the "Pompeii of the Aegean", or simply enjoy the red sandy beach not far away.

The evening is our last together: farewell dinner on land, in a Greek tavern, between toasts and memories of a week spent between wind, sea and unforgettable islands.