SeaTV · Sporades Islands · Marine Park
Kyra Panagia Anchorages — Inside the Alonissos Marine Park
Hidden inside the National Marine Park of Alonissos, the island of Kyra Panagia offers some of the most remote anchorages in the Northern Sporades. No marinas, no towns, almost no infrastructure — just wild bays, protected waters, and a true marine park atmosphere.
This is not Sporades sailing as most charter weeks experience it. Kyra Panagia is about preparation, respect for a protected marine park, and choosing the right anchorage for the right conditions. Sailors who come prepared find quiet bays, reliable holding, and a rare sense of isolation that’s increasingly difficult to find anywhere in the Mediterranean. The island sits north of Alonissos in Greece’s first National Marine Park (established 1992), the largest protected marine area in Europe and habitat of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
⚠ Critical preparation before arrival:
→ Marine Park permit required · buy online BEFORE arrival
→ No mobile signal in parts of the island — can’t buy permit on arrival
→ No marinas, no towns, no services — stock everything ahead
→ Landing may be restricted at some anchorages
→ Planitis SE departure can be rough in strong N winds even when anchorage is calm
⚓ Quick Facts
Position
North of Alonissos · inside Marine Park
Park established
1992 — Greece’s first marine park
Permit cost
~€33.50 boat + €5.50/person
Mobile signal
Weak / unavailable in parts
4 main anchorages
Agios Petros · Kyra Panagia Bay · Planitis SE · Planitis
Infrastructure
None — pure marine park
Marine Park Permit — Buy Before Arrival
Critical: There is no phone signal in parts of Kyra Panagia. Sailors must buy the marine park ticket online before arrival. Trying to buy on the spot is risky — coverage gaps and the absence of any village or office mean the practical answer is: get it sorted before you sail in.
Typical reported fees:
→ ~€33.50 per boat
→ ~€5.50 per person
Charter companies can usually handle permit logistics if you tell them about the planned route in advance.
What not to expect: No marinas. No towns. No restaurants, supermarkets, fuel quays, or repair facilities. Protected-area rules apply — landing may be restricted at some anchorages depending on the zone (the park is split into Zones A and B; Zone B allows controlled sailing access, Zone A is more restricted).
1. Agios Petros Anchorage
Best Known Marine Park Anchorage · NW Wind Protected
Agios Petros — The Headline Stop
Why stop here: One of the best-known anchorages in the park. Good protection from N and NW winds, helped by a small islet that reduces swell.
Anchoring: 4–7 m · sand · very good holding.
Atmosphere: Wild, quiet, distinctly protected. The marine park’s most attractive anchorage for sailors looking for a peaceful stop in natural surroundings.
⚠ Notes: Marine park permit required · landing may be restricted · typical permit cost €35–40 depending on vessel and crew.
2. Kyra Panagia Bay Anchorage
Monastery Bay · Sand & Seagrass · Stern Lines Useful
Kyra Panagia Bay — Monastery, Goats, Wild Horses
Character: Peaceful anchorage surrounded by hills and natural coastline, with very little human development.
Anchoring: 5–7 m · sand with seagrass patches · reliable holding.
Style: Some skippers anchor normally; others use a stern line to the rocks depending on position and conditions.
Ashore: A steep path leads up from the beach to the working monastery. Goats and wild horses are often seen on the hills above the bay — the most evocative shore-day experience in the Sporades.
⚠ Wind warning: In NW winds this anchorage may become uncomfortable — move to Agios Petros or one of the Planitis options.
3. Planitis Bay — South East
Lake-Calm Inside · Rough Departure in N Winds
Planitis SE — “Anchoring on a Lake”
Why stop here: Excellent protection from wind and swell. Many sailors describe it as feeling almost like anchoring on a lake once inside.
Anchoring: 5–12 m · mud or sand · excellent holding.
Water clarity: Often murky due to muddy bottom. Don’t expect snorkelling-grade visibility.
Facilities: None at all. Pure anchorage.
⚠ Critical departure warning: If strong N winds develop, the narrow entrance channel can become rough, making departure difficult even when the anchorage itself still feels protected. Plan exit timing carefully.
4. Planitis Anchorage
Large Quiet Bay · Strong Shelter · Confused Wind at Entrance
Planitis — Large, Quiet, Untouched
Character: Large quiet anchorage surrounded by untouched nature. One of the most peaceful stops around Kyra Panagia.
Anchoring: 5–8 m · sand mixed with mud · very good holding.
Shelter: Strong shelter even when winds increase outside.
Water clarity: May appear unclear.
⚠ Wind quirk: Wind gusts can become confused near the entrance — anticipate variable angles on approach.
Pro Tips for Kyra Panagia
Buy the permit before you sail in. Don’t gamble on mobile signal at the anchorage. Charter company can usually handle it if you flag the route in advance.
Stock everything before arrival. No water-fill, no fuel, no provisions, no spares. The point of a marine-park stop is the isolation — but it requires preparation, not a quick run to a shop.
Match anchorage to wind. Agios Petros for N/NW. Kyra Panagia Bay if it’s calm (or move out if NW builds). Planitis SE for the strongest shelter — but watch the departure window.
Time the Planitis SE departure. If a strong N is forecast, leave before it builds. The narrow entrance becomes rough even when the anchorage stays calm — a real “trapped behind a window” risk.
Walk to the monastery from Kyra Panagia Bay. The steep path up from the beach leads to a working monastery and the bay’s signature view. Wear proper shoes — the path is uneven.
Watch for wild horses. The hills above Kyra Panagia Bay are home to feral horses and goats — uniquely Sporadean wildlife, photographs from the cockpit are part of the experience.
Dark sky and silence. No light pollution, no road noise, almost no other boats once the day-trip catamarans leave. Plan an evening on deck — the stargazing is some of the best in the Aegean.
✅ Safety Checklist for the Marine Park
▢ Marine Park permit purchased online before departure
▢ Zone A vs Zone B boundaries plotted
▢ Full provisioning & water completed before arrival
▢ Fuel topped up at last available port (Patitiri / Skopelos)
▢ Wind forecast checked for Planitis SE departure timing
▢ Mobile signal limitations understood — primary comms via VHF
▢ Stern lines ready for Kyra Panagia Bay rock attachment
▢ Backup plan if all 4 anchorages prove uncomfortable (Patitiri retreat)
Emergency & Service Numbers
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal — primary comms in the park
Coastguard Working (VHF Ch. 12): Per region
Alonissos Port Authority (Patitiri): Closest active port · VHF Ch. 12 / 16
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Drone passes over Kyra Panagia Bay with the wild horses on the hills, the Agios Petros islet shelter, the lake-calm waters of Planitis SE, and the dark-sky atmosphere of evening at the marine park. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Sailing into the Marine Park?
Permit ahead · stock ahead · plan ahead. Then four anchorages of pure Aegean isolation.
“Kyra Panagia is what Greek marine-park sailing actually feels like — no marina, no town, no signal. Permit bought ahead, water tanks full, anchor set in mud or sand. The wild horses on the hills, the steep climb to the monastery, the silence at night. The Sporades’s most memorable anchor.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Sporades Edition
