Ionian Island Destinations
Discover the world’s most beautiful sailing waters within reach of Lefkada island
Lefkada
Lefkada is the ideal homeport for exploring the Ionian Sea — accessible via a floating bridge and blessed with some of Greece’s most dramatic landscapes. The island is home to the legendary beaches of Porto Katsiki and Egremni, with their white cliffs and turquoise waters. Inland, traditional villages like Karya and Vafkeri offer authentic Ionian culture.
On the eastern coast, the cosmopolitan resort of Nidri buzzes with tavernas, shops, and a vibrant waterfront promenade. The southern bay of Vasiliki is world-famous among windsurfers, while sheltered anchorages at Nikiana and Poros make perfect overnight stops for sailors.
With Lefkada as your base, every Ionian adventure begins and ends in paradise.
Meganisi
Nestled between Lefkada and the Greek mainland, Meganisi is a hidden gem that rewards those who seek unspoiled beauty. Its coastline is decorated with fjord-shaped coves and turquoise bays — some accessible only by sea — making it a favourite among sailors who know the Ionian well.
The charming village of Vathi unfolds along one of the largest natural harbours in the world, lined with traditional tavernas and whitewashed houses. Don’t miss the Papanikolis Cave — a vast sea cave named after the WWII submarine that sheltered there, large enough to sail a yacht inside.
The small islet of Thilia, just offshore, is an ideal first-night anchorage on a Meganisi loop, while the bays of Atherinos and Elia offer spectacular swimming in complete tranquillity.
Ithaca
Mythical home of Odysseus, Ithaca stretches 23 kilometres through the heart of the Ionian Sea. Its emerald waters, rugged coastline of over 100 kilometres, and serene atmosphere make it one of the most beloved sailing destinations in Greece.
The capital, Vathi, is a postcard-perfect port town with two-storey Ionian houses framing a deep, protected bay — ideal for overnight mooring. The amphitheatrically built village of Kioni is considered one of the most beautiful in the Ionian, with colourful houses cascading down to a tiny harbour.
Ithaca’s hidden bays — Gidaki, Sarakiniko, Afales — offer pristine beaches with almost no facilities, giving sailors the rare luxury of genuine solitude in crystal-clear waters.
Kefalonia
The largest of the Ionian Islands, Kefalonia lies just 3.5 hours south of Lefkada and rewards the journey with extraordinary beauty. Despite its worldwide fame, the island has successfully preserved its authentic character — its waters remain crystal clear, its villages unspoiled by mass tourism.
Fiskardo in the north is the jewel of the Ionian — a perfectly preserved neoclassical village that escaped the 1953 earthquake, where colourful houses line a romantic harbour filled with charter yachts. Agia Effimia offers an excellent protected anchorage with easy access to the lush interior.
Hidden bays like Antisamos — a lush green amphitheatre above turquoise water, featured in the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin — and the seal-inhabited cove of Foki make Kefalonia unforgettable for every sailor who anchors here.
Zakynthos (Zante)
Zakynthos — or Zante — is one of Greece’s most iconic islands, and arriving by private yacht puts you in the privileged few who experience it at its very best. The legendary Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) is only accessible by sea: a dramatic cove framed by towering white cliffs, with a rusting shipwreck on a beach of sugar-white sand.
The ethereal Blue Caves in the north offer a once-in-a-lifetime swimming experience, where sunlight refracts through the sea caves in an otherworldly blue glow. The island is also home to the endangered Caretta-Caretta loggerhead sea turtle, which nests on its southern beaches — an encounter not easily forgotten.
With a well-protected main port and several excellent anchorages, Zakynthos makes a perfect destination for a 7-day Ionian charter that ventures further south.
Plan Your Ionian Journey
Tell us your dream itinerary and we’ll make it a reality. Whether it’s a week exploring the northern Ionian or a grand tour to Zakynthos, we’ll chart the perfect course.