Sailing Greece - Lefkada and the Ionian Islands
- Greece, Ionian Islands
- 7 days cruise
- 17 reviews
- Shared cruises may require a minimum number of guests.
- Price may vary depending on the cabin type, occupancy and cruise date.
- Reservations are subjected to acceptance after availability checks. In case, the selected cruise is not available we will contact you with similar offers.
- Price may vary depending on the cruise date.
- Reservations are subjected to acceptance after availability checks. In case, the selected cruise is not available we will contact you with similar offers.
Your sailing trip
Clear turquoise waters, charming little villages, spectacular countryside and a pleasant north westerly breeze, make of the Ionian side of Greece a sailor’s paradise!
Located at the western side of mainland Greece and stretching all the way from Corfu in the north to Zante in the south, the Ionian Sea is one of our favorite cruising areas while sailing Greece, so we’ll try to describe the islands for you here, although it’s difficult to put in words their real beauty!
One thing that makes the western side of Greece different is the lush vegetation, which consists mostly of olive groves, vineyards, a variety of fruit trees but also pine and cyprus forests. And all that, thanks to the high rainfall that this area receives in the winter, between November and March.
With the exception of the two bigger and more touristy islands (Corfu and Zante), the rest are off the beaten track and the best way to visit them is by yacht, as they don’t even have ports or airports. The locals who are mostly fishermen and farmers are very laid back and friendly, so we are not surprised when we often hear our guests mention that during their evening walk they were invited by an old lady to her garden for a cup of coffee!
The history of these islands goes back a few thousand years, so there are a few archaeological sites in the area, although they are not as big and important as the ones you would find on the Greek mainland. Rather than big and impressive temples, archaeologists in this area have discovered mostly objects and smaller buildings. An island well known for its ancient history is Ithaca (the island of Homer’s Odysseus), where you can visit the small museum with all the findings from the excavations, but also the remains of the palace. Ancient Olympia (the birth place of the Olympic Games) is also in the Ionian Sea, situated on the west coast of the Peloponnese (the southern part of the Greek mainland).
It is very famous worldwide and one of the most impressive archaeological sites to visit when sailing Greece, but as it is at the southern Ionian (on the latitude of Zante) you would need a two week cruise in order to visit it, or a one week cruise where you should be prepared to spend longer days at sea.
Itinerary
Cruise price details
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Accomodation on selected shared cabin, check out single use and details
Entire yacht price
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Cruise activities and tips
Travel activities
Cuisine on board
During your cruise you will enjoy the beauty of the Greek Islands, but you will also taste some of the nicest homemade dishes of the Mediterranean cuisine...many of our guests call our crewed yacht charters ‘gourmet cruises’!!! It is a fusion of dishes from the Mediterranean countries, always using fresh organic products and of course our homemade extra virgin olive oil. It is served tapas style with a variety of appetizers, salads and main dishes in the middle of the table, so everyone can help themselves to whatever they like. Lunch is accompanied by a carefully chosen local wine or a cold beer. Below you will get an idea of Alicia’s recipes, but please keep in mind that there is not a set menu and the dishes you will have on a specific cruise depend on the month of the year and the sailing area, as they are made with local seasonal products. From the nice aromas coming out of the galley in the afternoon everyone onboard is trying to guess what the meal will be, but it’s not until lunchtime that we find out! Alicia is the chef/hostess onboard our yacht Velos, but her recipes are also prepared by the chef/hostess on our smaller yacht Alexandros, as she is trained by Alicia. If you have any food allergies or intolerances it is not a problem, but it will be great if you could let us know in advance so we can accommodate for that. Our Greek Island cruises are half-board and if you decide to spend one or more nights in a secluded bay, you can also have your dinner onboard for a cost of 30 Euro per person, minimum 4 people (sundowner cocktail, appetizers, main dishes, wine or beer and desert).
A typical day
When you arrive onboard the first evening and after a welcome drink, everybody will sit around the chart and we will inform you about the area and all the possible places to visit. After discussing everybody's preferences a general itinerary will be drawn. However our experience has shown that during your cruise it may alter slightly, as you will get new ideas along the way! After all, a yachting holiday is all about freedom and exploration! A typical day on our Greek Island cruises, starts in the marina of a little village where you spent the previous night (or anchored in a remote bay if you decided to stay there!). After a good night's sleep onboard our sailing yacht, you help yourself with breakfast on deck. Normally around 9:30 we set sail. With the gentle breeze that prevails in the Greek Seas during the summer months, you will have a comfortable sail to a bay of your choice either on the same island or another one, where you can swim in the emerald waters of the Greek Seas, snorkel and explore or just relax reading your book. Around 1 pm, lunch is served at the cockpit. In late afternoon it's a good time to weigh anchor, hoist the sails again and let the local breeze do its magic and take us to a picturesque little village on another island. We'll be there around 5 o'clock which will give you plenty of time to explore the place and experience the local culture. Later you can head for dinner to one of the tavernas, where you will have the opportunity to taste the Greek cuisine, famous for its delicious plates.
Travel organizer tips
To join one of our Greek Island cruises you can take a charter flight from London Gatwick or Manchester airport to Preveza (airport code: PVK), which is situated just 20 kilometers north of Lefkas town. These flights are always on Sundays and some of the airlines you can use are First Choice, Monarch Airlines, Thomas Cook, Astraeus and British Midland. From there you can use the transfer service that runs non-stop between Lefkas town and the airport with taxis and minibuses, at a cost of 10 Euro per person. Your driver will be waiting for you outside the 'Arrivals' hall, holding a sign with your name on it and you will be taken directly to the yacht. The drive is 20-30 minutes and if you are interested in using this service please let us know and we will book it for you.
You can fly from your country to Athens and then take the bus to Lefkas, as it is connected to the mainland via a causeway and a bridge.
The bus departs from Athens central bus station 4 times per day, 7 days per week, at 07:00, 13:00, 16:30 & 20:30. For your return journey back to Athens, the bus departs from Lefkas at 09:30, 12:30, 16:30 & 17:15.
The buses are modern and comfortable, the route will take you through some very nice countryside of mainland Greece and the journey duration is 5 hours including a stop halfway for 20 minutes, for refreshments and toilet. The ticket is 33 Euro.
When you arrive in Lefkas, you can use the local transfer service to get from the bus station to 'Margarita' which is a cafe/taverna just across the quay from where our yacht is moored. You can sit there for lunch or a cold drink until boarding time. The cost is 8 Euro for a group of up to 4 people and your driver will be waiting for you at the 'Arrivals', holding a sign with your name on it. The drive to the town quay is only a few minutes and if you are interested in using this service please let us know and we will book it for you.
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- Shared cruises may require a minimum number of guests.
- Price may vary depending on the cabin type, occupancy and cruise date.
- Reservations are subjected to acceptance after availability checks. In case, the selected cruise is not available we will contact you with similar offers.
- Price may vary depending on the cruise date.
- Reservations are subjected to acceptance after availability checks. In case, the selected cruise is not available we will contact you with similar offers.