Sailing the Ionian Sea: a 7-day loop from Lefkada
Sailing the Inner Ionian between Lefkada, Ithaca and Kefalonia means short hops between green islands and a summer wind with a timetable: calm mornings, a north-westerly maistro of 3 to 5 Beaufort in the afternoon and quiet nights. A typical week leaves Lefkada town for Meganisi, Kalamos and Kastos, crosses to Ithaca and Fiskardo, and returns via Sivota and Skorpios. Most legs are 5 to 20 nautical miles.
Where to charter a yacht for the Ionian?
Lefkada is the main charter hub of the Ionian: see all yachts on our Lefkada page, or look at the bases around it: Nydri and Vliho on the island's east coast, Palairos on the mainland opposite, and Preveza north of the Lefkada canal. For other areas, browse all of Greece. You can book charter yachts from these bases on Ship O'Hoi, bareboat or with a skipper. Charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday. To sail bareboat, the skipper needs a licence the charter company accepts: read our guides to the boat licence in Greece and the ICC certificate. If nobody on board has one, hire a skipper or book a crewed yacht.
A 7-day sailing itinerary from Lefkada
The Greek National Tourism Organisation suggests almost this exact route in its guide to sailing the Ionian Sea: the Prigiponisia islets off Nydri, Meganisi, Kalamos and Kastos, Fiskardo and Ithaca. The loop below starts at the marina in Lefkada town. Distances are rough chart estimates: plan every leg with up-to-date charts, a pilot book and the morning forecast.
A word on the canal: a floating bridge at the northern end of the Lefkada canal joins the island to the mainland. Heading south from Lefkada town you do not pass it, but yachts from Preveza, or crews heading north to Paxos and Corfu, do. The bridge swings open only at set times. The Municipality of Meganisi describes openings on the hour by day and on request at night, but the Lefkada Port Authority sets the timetable, it changes with the season and during works, and boat passage has been suspended before when the bridge's certificate expired. Check the current times with your base before planning a transit.
Day 1: Lefkada town to Meganisi (Spilia or Vathy)
Approx. 11 nm. Motor down the canal and sail south along Lefkada's east coast, past Nydri and the Prigiponisia islets, to Meganisi, whose north coast is cut by fjord-like bays. Overnight in Spilia bay below the village of Spartochori, which the island's own tourism site calls a serene anchorage popular with yachts, or in Vathy, a fishing village whose harbour is a favourite stop for yachts. Tip: a light aircraft that ditched around 1971 lies in shallow water at the edge of Vathy harbour, easy to see from a dinghy.
Day 2: Meganisi to Kalamos (Porto Leone)
Approx. 9 nm. A short hop south-east to Kalamos, between Meganisi, Kastos and the Akarnanian coast. Besides its main village and Episkopi on the north coast, Kalamos has the bay of Porto Leone in its south-east. Anchor in Porto Leone for the night. Tip: this is a quiet day, so leave in the morning calm and use the afternoon maistro only for the last miles.
Day 3: Kalamos to Kastos and on to Vathy (Ithaca)
Approx. 19 nm. Kastos, which the tourism organisation calls pristine, with untouched beaches and sea caves, is only a few miles south of Kalamos: stop for a swim and lunch. Then cross west to Ithaca and follow the long inlet on its east coast to Vathy. The Municipality of Ithaca calls Vathy a natural harbour known since Homeric times for its shelter, protected from every wind except gusty north-westerlies, with a long waterfront for many yachts. Tip: there is no water or electricity on the quay, but a filling station for fuel and water at Mylos in the north-east of the harbour.
Day 4: Vathy to Kioni
Approx. 5 nm. A short day up Ithaca's east coast to Kioni, a small, steep-sided bay with a village. The water is deep: the municipality advises dropping anchor in about 10 to 20 m and warns that boats may need a second anchor, because the prevailing west-north-westerly blows down from the steep slopes in gusts. Tip: arrive by early afternoon, before the gusts start and the best spots are taken.
Day 5: Kioni to Frikes and Fiskardo (Kefalonia)
Approx. 8 nm. Round the north of Ithaca past Frikes, a natural harbour with a quay in front of the village, safe except in north-easterly and easterly winds. Then cross the strait to Fiskardo on the northern tip of Kefalonia, one of the few places on the island that escaped the earthquake of 1953. Fiskardo gets very busy: the tourism organisation itself advises moving on if it is too crowded to anchor. Tip: arrive around midday, and keep Frikes as your plan B.
Day 6: Fiskardo to Sivota (Lefkada)
Approx. 11 nm. Sail north-east up the strait to Lefkada's south-east coast and into Sivota, a narrow bay that the Municipality of Lefkada describes as fjord-like and a safe anchorage for many boats, with fish tavernas in the small harbour. Overnight at anchor in the bay. Tip: if you detour into Vasiliki bay just to the west, the National Observatory of Athens warns of an afternoon mountain gust there that can jump from calm to 6 Beaufort in minutes.
Day 7: Sivota to Skorpios, Nydri and Lefkada town
Approx. 19 nm. Sail east and north to the Prigiponisia and stop off Skorpios for a swim, as the tourism organisation suggests. Skorpios is a private island, once owned by Aristotle Onassis, so admire it from the water and do not land. Continue past Nydri and deep, enclosed Vliho bay, then up the east coast and back into the canal. Tip: fill up with fuel before you return, and check your charter contract for the return time.
| Leg | Distance | Overnight | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lefkada town – Meganisi | approx. 11 nm | Spilia anchorage or Vathy harbour | Fjord-like bays on the north coast |
| Meganisi – Kalamos | approx. 9 nm | Porto Leone bay (anchor) | Quiet bay in the island's south-east |
| Kalamos – Kastos – Vathy | approx. 19 nm | Vathy harbour, Ithaca | Swim stop at Kastos, Homer's harbour |
| Vathy – Kioni | approx. 5 nm | Kioni bay (deep anchoring) | Deep bay under steep slopes |
| Kioni – Frikes – Fiskardo | approx. 8 nm | Fiskardo, Kefalonia | Village that survived the 1953 earthquake |
| Fiskardo – Sivota | approx. 11 nm | Sivota bay, Lefkada | Fish tavernas in a fjord-like bay |
| Sivota – Skorpios – Lefkada | approx. 19 nm | Base marina | Swim stop off Onassis' island |
Rules and safety in the Ionian
- Natura 2000: much of the Inner Ionian around Meganisi, Kalamos and Kastos is protected under Natura 2000, says the Municipality of Meganisi, for its seagrass meadows and one of the Mediterranean's last common dolphin populations. Anchor on clear sand, not on seagrass, and keep your distance from dolphins.
- Swimmers and the shore: under Greek port rules you keep at least 200 m from bathing areas and slow to 5 knots within 200 m of the coast. Our boat licence guide explains this.
- Licence: without a licence you may only drive small motorboats (outboard up to 30 hp on a conventional hull, 15 hp on a RIB, V-hull or multihull). For a bareboat charter the skipper needs a recognised licence (the ICC is the safest choice), and the charter company checks it. With a hired skipper, nobody on board needs one.
- The canal bridge: the Lefkada Port Authority (Hellenic Coast Guard) controls boat passage through the floating bridge. Pass only at the set times and wait well clear. The Region of the Ionian Islands has confirmed that the harbourmaster once suspended openings when the bridge's inspection certificate expired, so check the current status.
- Ferries: ferries run from Nydri to Meganisi and from Vasiliki on Lefkada to Fiskardo and Frikes. Keep clear of them in the channels and harbour entrances.
- Winds: the maistro is a north-westerly thermal breeze. According to the National Observatory of Athens (meteo.gr), the water is usually calm until noon, the breeze builds from about 13:00, settles at 3 to 5 Beaufort in the afternoon and dies at sunset. In harbours like Vathy and Kioni it comes down the hills in gusts, as the Municipality of Ithaca warns.
- Anchoring: many Ionian bays are deep and narrow. Crews often anchor and take a line ashore so the boat cannot swing: practise this early in the week.
Best time to sail the Ionian
The sailing season runs roughly from May to October. From late May to September the maistro is reliable: calm mornings, a sailing breeze in the afternoon and quiet nights, which suits crews on a first bareboat charter. Popular harbours such as Vathy and Fiskardo fill up in summer, so arrive early in the afternoon. From October onwards the thermal breeze stops. According to the National Observatory of Athens, southerly winds become more frequent and can push a heavy swell into anchorages that were like lakes in summer, with local thunderstorms and poorer visibility. In October, stay flexible and pick harbours sheltered from the south.
FAQ
Is the Ionian good for a first sailing holiday?
It is one of the gentler areas in Greece: short distances, sheltered water between the islands and a moderate, predictable summer wind. The main challenges are afternoon gusts in harbours and deep anchoring. Without sailing experience on board, hire a skipper.
Can I sail Lefkada in one week without crossing the floating bridge?
Yes. Lefkada town marina lies south of the bridge, and the whole loop in this guide runs to the south. You only need the bridge if you start in Preveza or head north towards Paxos and Corfu.
Can I land on Skorpios?
No. Skorpios is privately owned. You can anchor off and swim, but not go ashore.
How windy is the Ionian in October?
The afternoon maistro fades after September; expect more changeable weather with southerlies and swell in some anchorages. Check the forecast every morning.
How far is it from Lefkada to Ithaca and Kefalonia?
Vathy on Ithaca is roughly 15 nm from Kastos, and Fiskardo on Kefalonia is about 11 nm from Sivota on Lefkada: an easy half-day sail each.
More sailing guides
Sail further south with our guide to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos, or north with Corfu and Paxos. Before you go, read what to bring on a yacht charter.
