The North Aegean Region is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece, and the smallest of the thirteen by population. It comprises the islands of the north-eastern Aegean Sea, called the North Aegean islands, except for Thasos and Samothrace, which belong to the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace .The North Aegean islands are a number of disconnected islands in the north Aegean Sea, also known as the Northeast Aegean islands.

The main islands in the northeastern Aegean Sea and along the Turkish coast are the Greek islands of Samos, Ikaria, Chios, Lesbos, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios, Psara, Fournoi Korseon, Oinousses and the Turkish islands of Imbros (Gökçeada), Tenedos (Bozcaada) and the Rabbit or Tavşan Islands.The main islands in the Thracian Sea in the far north are the Greek islands of Samothrace and Thasos.

The North Sporades, or simply the Sporades , group of islands, is maybe the second most popular cruising area in the Aegean after the Cyclades.
The Sporades islands are green and lush with many deep coves suitable for anchorage.
The best times to cruise in the North Sporades are in the late Spring, May and June, and in the early autumn, September and October. You are less likely to encounter strong meltemi winds and also all the anchorages are less crowded.
The worse time to be cruising the North Sporades is during the month of August. In August all the harbors and anchorages, even the most remote, will be crowded as this is the prime vacation time in Greece and the rest of the EU. Meltemi also , is strong in August.