Ionian Sailing Itineraries

Ionian sailing itineraries offer short distances, sheltered waters and an easy mix of islands and mainland stops, making them ideal for relaxed cruising.

This page suggests 1‑week sailing itineraries, as weekly charters are the most common. Most charter boats are rented from Saturday afternoon to Friday evening / Saturday morning, so the itineraries below follow that rhythm. For longer holidays, you can easily combine these routes.

The guide is divided into Central Ionian and North Ionian, based purely on distance rather than administrative or historical boundaries. The natural dividing line is between Antipaxos and Lefkada, where a gap of about 30 NM separates the island groups — a significant distance for typical Greek cruising.

All distance/time calculations assume an average sailing speed of 6.5 knots, which reflects the typical speed of a charter monohull in the Ionian. Distances have been rounded to the nearest mile and times to the nearest five minutes.

Central Ionian

Area Overview

The Central Ionian covers the chain of islands located between Lefkada and Kefalonia, known for their short distances, sheltered anchorages, and relaxed sailing.
This area includes:

• The largest islands of Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca.
• The smaller islands of Meganisi, Kastos and Kalamos

Base

The standard charter base for the Central Ionian is Lefkada Town. All suggested itineraries below assume a start and finish in Lefkada.
You can also start from Preveza, another major charter hub.

Itinerary 1: Central Ionian Essentials

This itinerary covers the must‑see destinations of the Central Ionian. The suggested route covers the east coast of Lefkada, the north coast of Kefalonia, and circumnavigates Ithaca and Meganisi.

There are many possible alternatives along the way, so be sure to read the dedicated island pages and the daily description below the map. Don’t hesitate to adjust your plan depending on the weather or your mood.

• Total distance: 109 NM — Average daily distance: 15.5 NM
• Total sailing time: 16:45 — Average daily sailing time: 2:25

DAY	ROUTE	DISTANCE (NM)	TIME (h:mm)
1	Lefkada Town → Vathyavali (Mainland)	7	1:05
2	Vathyavali → Skorpios → Papanicolis Cave (Meganisi) → Helen’s Bay → Sivota (Lefkada)	16	2:30
3	Sivota → Myrtos (Kefalonia) → Assos	24	3:40
4	Assos → Foki → Antri (Ithaca)	22	3:25
5	Antri → Gidaki → Kioni	12	1:50
6	Kioni → Ambelakia (Meganisi)	17	2:35
7	Ambelakia → Lefkada Town	11	1:40

• Day 1: Since you will probably start your trip in the afternoon, anchor in the nearby roadstead at Vathyavali or Varko.
• Day 2: Sail south for your first swim stop at Skorpios. Afterwards, continue to Papanicolis Cave in Meganisi. If you have the time and the mood, make an additional swim stop at Helen’s Bay or Papageorge’s Cove. For the night, take shelter in the hospitable bay of Sivota (Lefkada) — not to be confused with Sivota on the mainland. Fill your water tanks here, as you may not have access to water again during the next few days.
• Day 3: Sail directly to the quaint village of Assos in Kefalonia, where you will spend the night. Assos also offers a pleasant beach. If you want to visit more places during the day, you can stop at the famous Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia or the Standing Stones Beach before leaving Lefkada.
• Day 4: Visit one of the beaches on the eastern coast of Kefalonia, such as Foki, Agia Anna, or Platy Limani. Continue to Antri in Ithaca, where you will spend the night anchored in the roadstead.
• Day 5: Sail along the east coast of Ithaca, which features many excellent anchorages for swimming: Pera Pigadi, Lygia Channel, Kaminia, Sarakiniko, Filiatro, and Gidaki are all fine options. For the night, head to the scenic village of Kioni. Don’t arrive late, as it tends to fill up quickly. If you need fresh water, stop at Ithaca’s capital Vathy, or spend the night there instead.
• Day 6: Sail straight to the wonderful north‑east coast of Meganisi. You can easily spend the entire day and night in one of its many coves. Ambelakia Bay is the most common choice. If you want to explore a bit more before crossing to Meganisi, consider stopping at Marmakas Bay or Three Beaches Bay in Ithaca.
• Day 7: Return to Lefkada Town.

Itinerary 2: Central Ionian — Short Distances

This itinerary is designed to minimize daily sailing distances while still showcasing the diversity of the Central Ionian. Over seven relaxed days, you will visit Lefkada, Meganisi, Kastos, and Kalamos, combining short passages with frequent swim stops, sheltered anchorages, and atmospheric island villages.

• Total distance: 65 NM — Average daily distance: 9 NM
• Total sailing time: 10:00 — Average daily sailing time: 1:25

DAY	ROUTE	DISTANCE (NM)	TIME (h:mm)
1	Lefkada Town → Vathyavali	7	1:05
2	Vathyavali → Skorpios → Spartochori (Meganisi)	7	1:05
3	Spartochori → Desimi (Lefkada) → Sivota	8	1:15
4	Sivota → Helen’s Bay (Meganisi) → Porto Leone (Kalamos)	12	1:50
5	Porto Leone → Kastos Village	6	0:55
6	Kastos Village → Asprogiali (Kalamos) → Ambelakia (Meganisi)	14	2:10
7	Ambelakia → Lefkada Town	11	1:40

• Day 1: Since you will probably start your trip in the afternoon, anchor in the nearby roadstead at Vathyavali or Varko.
• Day 2: Sail south for your first swim stop at Skorpios. Afterwards, continue to Spartochori in Meganisi where you will spend the night.
• Day 3: Sail to Desimi Bay in Lefkada for your morning swim. Rouda Bay is also a good alternative. Spend the night in the bay of Sivota (Lefkada) — not to be confused with Sivota on the mainland. On the way, you can visit the caves along the southeastern coast of Lefkada.
• Day 4: Visit Helen’s Bay on Meganisi. A little to the north, you can also make a short stop at Papanicolis Cave. After your swim, sail to Porto Leone on Kalamos and spend the night anchored in the roadstead.
• Day 5: Sail to Kastos Village, where you will spend the night. If you wish to circumnavigate Kastos, you can round the island from the southern side, as the distance is similar. The north‑eastern coast offers several coves well suited for swimming. Be sure to consult the island’s dedicated map.
• Day 6: Visit Asprogiali on Kalamos for your morning swim, then sail to the beautiful north‑east coast of Meganisi. You can easily spend the entire day and night in one of its many coves — Ambelakia Bay is the most common choice.
• Day 7: Return to Lefkada Town.

North Ionian

Area Overview

The North Ionian includes:

• Othoni, Erikousa, and Mathraki — collectively known as the Diapontia Islands
• Corfu (Kerkyra) — the largest and most developed island in the region
• Paxos and Antipaxos — separated by just 1 NM
• The mainland coastline opposite Corfu, Paxos, and Antipaxos.

Base

The standard charter base for the North Ionian is Corfu, with most fleets operating from Gouvia Marina, just north of Corfu Town. All suggested itineraries below assume start and finish in Gouvia.

You can also start from Lefkada or Preveza, both major charter hubs, but from there the southernmost point of the North Ionian (Antipaxos) is about 30 NM away — doable, but longer than ideal for a relaxed weekly loop.

Itinerary 3: North Ionian Essentials

This option keeps distances short while still enabling you to visit all the must‑see destinations in the North Ionian.

• Total distance: 95.7 NM — Average daily distance: 13.7 NM
• Total sailing time: 14:45 — Average dialy sailing time: 2:06

DAY	ROUTE	DISTANCE (NM)	TIME (h:mm)
1	Gouvia (Corfu) → Messonghi	13	2:00
2	Messonghi → Sivota (Mainland)	15	2:20
3	Sivota → Prapa Mali → Parga	12	1:50
4	Parga → Voutoumi (Antipaxos) → Gaios (Paxos)	15	2:20
5	Gaios → Caves in Paxos → Lakka	11	1:40
6	Lakka → Corfu Town	26	4:00
7	Corfu Town → Gouvia	5	0:45

• Day 1: For a quick escape from everyday routine, I usually prefer a quiet roadstead for the first night. Since you will probably depart in the afternoon, sail to one of the nearby beaches on Corfu’s protected eastern coast. Besides Messonghi, which I suggest, there are other fine options such as Moraitika, Notos, and Alikes.
• Day 2: Sail to Sivota on the mainland (not to be confused with Sivota in Lefkada) and explore the various points of interest presented in the main guide. For the night, either dock at the Sivota Retreat Hotel or anchor freely between Sivota and the islet of Ag. Nikolaos.
• Day 3: Visit one of the many beaches along the Epirus coast. Prapa Mali is my personal favourite, but there are more than ten other excellent options. After lunch, sail to Parga and anchor freely in Valtos Bay. Be sure to arrive early, as Parga is definitely worth your time.
• Day 4: Take the hint from the classic local joke — “the best beach of Paxos is in Antipaxos” — and sail to the magnificent Voutoumi Beach. After lunch, head to the capital of Paxos, Gaios. Arrive early to secure a safe spot.
• Day 5: Visit the sea caves on the western shore of Paxos. Round the island from either the south or the north, depending on the wind. If you choose the southern route, the anchorage between Mongonisi and Kaltsonisi is scenic and worth the small detour. In the afternoon, continue to Lakka and anchor in the roadstead.
• Day 6: Enjoy the only long leg of the route: the passage to historic Corfu Town, which is absolutely worth a full day. You can optionally stop for a quick swim at one of the many beaches on Corfu’s east coast.
• Day 7: Return to Gouvia Marina.

Itinerary 4: Corfu Circumnavigation and the Diapontia Islands

This itinerary allows you to circumnavigate Corfu and visit the Diapontia Islands.

• Total distance: 126 NM — Average distance per day: 18 NM
• Total sailing time: 19:30 — Average sailing time per day: 2:50

DAY	ROUTE	DISTANCE (NM)	TIME (h:mm)
1	Gouvia (Corfu) → Corfu Town	10	1:35
2	Corfu Town → Messonghi → Petriti	8	1:15
3	Petriti → Lakka (Paxos)	18	2:45
4	Lakka → Palaiokastritsa (Corfu)	33	5:00
5	Palaiokastritsa → Porto Timoni Ammos (Othoni)	18	2:45
6	Ammos → Aspri Ammos → Erikousa Port	11	1:40
7	Erikousa Port → Gouvia	28	4:20

• Day 1: Start your trip by visiting historic Corfu Town, which should not be missed. You can leave your boat securely in Gouvia Marina and reach the town on foot or by taxi.
• Day 2: Sail south along Corfu’s protected eastern coast. Stop for a swim at one of the Messonghi or Moraitika beaches. After lunch, continue to the nearby village of Petriti. If there is no space at the dock, or if you prefer not to pay for it, anchoring in the roadstead is an excellent alternative.
• Day 3: Continue south toward Paxos. Before leaving Corfu, you may stop for a morning swim at Alikes beach. Once in Paxos, anchor in the beautiful and well‑sheltered bay of Lakka.
• Day 4: Sail along the western coast of Corfu until you reach Palaiokastritsa, and take some time to explore the various options it offers.
• Day 5: For your morning swim, visit scenic Porto Timoni from the western side. Afterward, sail to Othoni island and moor in its only port, Ammos. Keep in mind that you will be traveling against the prevailing north‑westerly afternoon wind, so it is wise to depart early from Porto Timoni. Along the way, you can also stop for a swim at the island of Mathraki — its entire northeast coastline forms the protected Portello beach.
• Day 6: Visit nearby Aspri Ammos Beach for a morning swim. Afterward, sail to Erikousa. The island’s small port offers a pleasant beach and a relaxed atmosphere.
• Day 7: Return to Gouvia Marina. If time and weather conditions allow, consider a short detour to the scenic Cape Drastis on Corfu’s northern coast — it lies only a couple of miles off your course.