Greek Island Trifecta

Part of the Saronic Islands, Agina, Agistri and the tiny Moni islands feel like a Greek Island trifecta. After a few days exploring Athens, it’s time to take a break from the history and crowds. My sister, Michelle & I, book ourselves onto a boat tour for a day a sea, sailing the Greek Islands.

All Aboard

The wind is soft, the sky is cloudless, and the scent of sunscreen and sea salt hangs in the air. We are stretched out on the sunbeds of a classic sailing boat, leaving Athens behind for the day. The hum of the city fades into the distance as we glide across the Saronic Gulf. We’re bound for a Greek Island trifecta that promises history, nature and a combination of turquoise water and timeless charm.

This isn’t one of those bustling ferry trips to Hydra or Spetses. Today is slower, more intimate. There’s something about being at sea, really at sea, that feels completely freeing. We don our sunglasses, feel the breeze lift our hair and watch the Aegean shimmer. It delivers on every shade of blue as we sail toward our first destination: Aegina.

Aegina: Of Temples and Time Travel

Often overlooked in favor of its more glamorous neighbors, Aegina is, in many ways, the quiet achiever of the Saronic islands. While it’s known today for pistachios and neoclassical mansions, its history runs deep – tied to myth, trade and conflict since antiquity.

Our captain moors the boat at a small pier and we walk along the nearby street sampling pistachio liqueur, pistachio crunch and pistachio butter. After picking up a pistachio gelato, the local speciality, Michelle and I set off to explore the Temple of Aphaia.

Temple of Aphaia

Perched high on a pine-covered hill in the northeastern part of the island, it’s one of Greece’s most extraordinary ancient sites, and somehow, still a secret to many. The drive up is steep but short and when we reach the summit, the view stretches all the way to the Acropolis in Athens and across the water to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. Together, the three temples once formed what’s thought to be a “sacred triangle” of ancient power.

The Temple of Aphaia predates the Parthenon by several decades. Built around 500 BC on the site of an earlier temple, it is dedicated to the enigmatic goddess Aphaia, a deity worshipped only on Aegina. Local legend says she was a Cretan huntress who fled to the island to escape the unwanted attention of King Minos and vanished into thin air, hence her name, meaning “the invisible one.”

Walking among the surviving Doric columns, it’s easy to feel the layers of time. The proportions are elegant, the lines harmonious, and the setting, on the wooded hill overlooking the sea, feels chosen by the gods themselves. We linger a little, not just to absorb the history but to admire the way the golden stone glows in the late morning light. The temple is quiet, with only a handful of other visitors and the sense of peace is almost spiritual.

Moni: Uninhabited and Unspoiled

Back on the boat, we sail southwest to the tiny island of Moni, visible in the near distance like a green hump rising from the sea. It’s uninhabited – no roads, no cars, no cafés. Just forested hills and a small rocky shoreline where wild goats roam and peacocks occasionally strut.

We drop anchor just off the coast and dive straight in. The water here is impossibly clear, brilliant blue with sandy shallows that give way to darker indigo depths. We swim lazily around the boat, groups float laughing on noodles and couples float together in the sunshine. There’s no rush. Time seems to stretch on this part of the journey, slowed by the gentle rocking of the boat and the hush of nature and sea all around.

After our swim, lunch is served on deck. Fresh Greek salad, tzatziki, dolmas and a hearty bean stew with lovely flatbread. There is barbequed chicken but I have gone gone veg this week in solitude with my sister. The simplicity of it all makes it perfect.

Agistri: Sun, Sea and Small Delights

Our final stop is Agistri, a tiny island tucked behind Aegina, known for its crystal-clear waters, pine forests and laid-back vibe. As we approach Skala Port, the water turns a surreal shade of turquoise and we can see straight down to the white sand beneath the surface. Boats bob gently in the shallows, and onshore, a string of tavernas and souvenir shops lines the waterfront.

We head first to Aquarius Beach, just a short walk from the port. The beach is narrow but pristine, with dotted pine trees providing natural shade and the scent of sap hanging in the air. We swim again, because how could we not? Then, after a suitable amount of time floating in the shallows, we towel off and wander the streets of Skala.

The town is impossibly cute: whitewashed buildings with blue shutters, flower pots spilling with bougainvillaea and shopfronts displaying everything from hand woven beach bags to little jars of local honey. We pick up a few souvenirs, walk around the church where the whitewashed walls bounce summer afternoon sun back at us and look longingly at a quiet taverna where I imagine staying put in the garden sipping cold lemonade and watching the shadows lengthen.

Agistri feels like a place untouched by hurry. Everyone smiles. No one rushes. Even the cats seem more relaxed here.

Return to the Wind

Eventually, as the sun begins to sink lower in the sky, we return to the boat and begin the sail back to Athens. The sea is calm now, the light softer, golden. Michelle and I curl up on the sunbeds again, wrapped in towels and sleepy from sun and sea. The conversation is minimal. It doesn’t need to be anything more than the sound of the waves and the quiet understanding that today has been special.

We watch the islands recede behind us: Aegina with its ancient mystery; Moni with its quiet wildness; Agistri with its easy charm and know that although we’ve only scratched the surface, the Saronic Gulf has given us a memory stitched together from sunlight, mythology and rare sisterly joy.

This isn’t just a day trip. It’s a reminder of how much beauty lies within reach of Athens. A sailing adventure like this doesn’t demand much – just curiosity, a good hat and a willingness to follow the wind.

And that’s more than enough.

Good To Know

We booked our all day cruise on Calypso B via Vitor.com. It was a bit more pricey than some day trips but made good on the promise of all day beer and wine and a hearty lunch.

Would I Return?

Yes.