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Greece, the land of many islands, is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Many of those islands, such as Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and others in the Aegean Sea, have been on well-trodden itineraries for decades; other islands have only been discovered by the world at large in more recent times.

Greek islands extend further than the Aegean, however. The western Greek islands of the Ionian Sea are calmer, greener, and just as dramatic in landscapes. It is here that passengers on one of Sea Cloud Cruises‘ yachts find Mediterranean bliss on the golden beaches or at the waterfront tavernas of Kefalonia. Whose main town, Fiskardo, is a picture-perfect embodiment of Greece’s idealised. Small in scale but big enough to be a destination in its own right, Fiskardo is a delightful port where real shops, markets, and bakeries are still found amid the restaurants and boutiques geared more to visitors than locals. South of Kefalonia is the small island of Paxos and the stunning Voutoumi Beach on the even tinier Antipaxos, reached by water from a Sea Cloud yacht.

: Vouloumi Beach, Antipaxos, a hidden gem accessible only by small yachts

: After a day of sightseeing and swimming, an elegant Sea Cloud dinner awaits

Aside from the busy port of Piraeus near Athens, ports on mainland Greece are often overlooked in favour of the island destinations. There are excellent places to visit on the mainland, especially in the Peloponnese region. Foremost among them is Epidaurus, one of the most impressive archaeological sites of Ancient Greece. Easily accessible from the port of Nafplio, Epidaurus is one of Greece’s most impressive sights. The most significant feature of the site is the main theatre, which is still intact after 2300 years and is still used for concerts, plays, recitals, and other cultural events to this day. As in any well-built theatre, the excellent acoustics allowed (and still allow) actors and singers to be heard even at the farthest reaches of the upper levels. It is rare to find ancient archaeological sites of this scale in the middle of a nature park, making this UNESCO World Heritage Site all the rarer for its sublime setting. The Gymnasion and the Stadion, which were at one time used as training grounds for a sporting elite who benefited from the splendid isolation and fresh air to focus on their athletic pursuits, evoke images of well-toned and oiled athletes honing their bodies to be the best they can be. Unsurprisingly, this sanctuary of health was named in honour of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine.

: The uncrowded grand theatre at Epidaurus

: Kayak gelateria in Fiskardo serves exotic flavours with big smiles

: Inside the museum at Epidaurus

Travellers on a Sea Cloud vessel will benefit from the low number of fellow passengers and the more personal atmosphere created by that. The crew are extremely friendly and helpful, the service impeccable, and the ships’ huge sails are impressive. In these times when huge ships with thousands of passengers are well publicised, it pays to pay attention to the small companies whose cruises are sought after by sophisticated travellers in the know.