A new way to travel this summer: Oroko launches its sailing collection
Travel that flows by sea, from quiet anchorages to open coastline
There’s a certain ease that comes with travelling by sea.Â
Days begin slowly, often at anchor. You swim before breakfast, linger over lunch on deck, and arrive into harbours just as the light starts to soften. Places you thought you knew feel different when approached from the water and the journey itself becomes part of the experience.
This summer, Irish travel company Oroko is introducing its Sailing Holiday Collection – a series of privately designed yacht journeys across Greece, Croatia and Italy.
Each journey is built around a simple idea: take the most rewarding stretches of coastline in Europe and experience them at the right pace, with everything arranged in advance. Private crewed yachts, carefully planned routes, time ashore and the kind of detail that makes a holiday feel easy from the start.
No two holidays are the same. Some stay close to shore, moving easily between islands and harbours, while others cover more ground. Some centre on food and time ashore, others on swimming, sailing and switching off. Each one is shaped so the journey flows naturally, day by day.
Here are four of the journeys to consider for summer.
Just beyond Athens, The Saronic Islands offer one of the most relaxed ways to experience Greece by sea.
The islands sit close together, which means shorter sailing days and more time to enjoy each stop. Poros, Hydra and Spetses each bring something different – from elegant harbour towns to quiet coves where you can swim straight from the boat.
Days fall into an easy rhythm. Mornings on the water, afternoons exploring ashore, evenings spent in small harbours where dinner stretches late. It’s a natural starting point for anyone new to this style of travel, and one that feels easy to settle into from the first day.
Further into the Aegean, the Cyclades feel bigger, brighter and more dramatic.
Here, the sailing becomes part of the experience. Crossings open out into wide stretches of sea, and each island brings a distinct change of scenery – from the whitewashed streets of Mykonos and Naxos to the volcanic coastline of Milos.
There’s a stronger sense of movement to this journey, balanced by time at anchor and unhurried evenings ashore. It’s well suited to those who want to see a different side of the Greek islands, with a little more variety from day to day.
The Amalfi Coast has long been one of Italy’s most sought-after summer destinations, and it takes on a different character when experienced from the water.
Over the course of a week, the coastline unfolds naturally – Positano, Capri, Procida and Amalfi, each approached by sea. There’s time for long lunches on board, swimming in quiet bays and stepping ashore to explore historic towns.
Food is central to the experience. Evenings are spent out, with recommendations shaped around the places worth booking, from relaxed waterfront trattorias to more refined tables overlooking the coast.
You move between it all almost without noticing – from deck to town, from lunch to evening, from one view to the next.
Croatia's Dalmatian Coast is made for this kind of travel. Islands are close enough to move between easily, but varied enough that each day feels different. One morning might begin in a quiet bay, the next in a historic harbour town. Over the week, routes typically take in islands such as Vis, KorÄŤula, Hvar and BraÄŤ.
The pace is steady and unforced. There’s time for swimming, paddleboarding and exploring ashore, with evenings that tend to revolve around simple waterfront restaurants and the atmosphere of the harbour. It’s the kind of route that makes the most of being on the water without ever overcomplicating it.
What makes these journeys work is how they’re put together. Everything is arranged in advance – from the yacht and crew to transfers, time ashore and the overall route – so the days can unfold without overplanning. You move when it feels right, stay longer when a place suits, and let the rhythm of the trip take shape naturally. For many, it’s a different way to think about a summer holiday. Less about where you stay, and more about how you move through a place.
To plan your own sailing journey, speak to an Oroko travel designer at 01 2600 240 or visit orokotravel.ie
