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Sailing itineraries Ionian Sea

The fertile islands of the Ionian sea - covered in pine, cypress and colourful fields of flowers

- are in direct contrast with the adjacent barren mountainous mainland of Greece. Likewise the architecture of the picturesque ports is different, featuring red-tiled houses in eclectic Italian and French styles.

Erosion of the Ionian coastline - Rock formations

These scenic surroundings - together with favourable winds - proof an ideal sailing ground with two charter bases, Corfu and Lefkas

. Especially Lefkas port is ideally located amidst a plethora of beautiful ports and bays, and a 1-week itinerary can be very short in overall distance. A 2-weeks cruise, however, is much more interesting:

Beauties like Zakynthos are well in reach;
Better change to avoid the Ionian charter milk run;
Time for onshore excursions;

Therefore itineraries G, H, I, J and of course a one way itinerary Corfu to Lefkas are recommended

The Ionian Islands

The following table gives the characteristics of the Ionian Sea and you might also want to compare the other Greek sailing areas

with the Ionian Sea. More dark blue stars the better

Characteristics		Ionian Islands
Easy access by plane or ferry
Unspoiled by tourism
Beautiful ports
Amenities and tavernas
Ancient Greek sites
Mediaeval sites
Secluded anchorages
Spectacular scenery
Easy sailing conditions
Fertile and lush vegetation
Wildlife

The sailing itineraries

The following itineraries are based on both the experiences of my visitors as well as my own experiences as a captain. These routes are biased towards tranquil and unspoiled ports rather than touristy hubs like Nidri or perhaps Argostoli. Please toggle between the itineraries with the A through L buttons in the clickable map below or by simply clicking a

button in a table. The Winds button, also in the clickable map, will give you the prevailing wind directions of the typical Ionian summer wind, the Maistro.

1 week Lefkas-Lefkas				1 week Lefkas-Lefkas
	Day	Port	NM		Day	Port	NM
	1	Lefkas port			1	Lefkas port
	2	Palairos	11		2	Kalamos	21
	3	Kalamos	16		3	Kastos	5
	4	Kastos	5		4	Astakos	11
	5	Sivota	13		5	Frikes	25
	6	Meganisi	8		6	Meganisi	16
	7	Lefkas port	11		7	Lefkas port	11
			64				89

1 week Lefkas-Lefkas				1 week Lefkas-Lefkas
	Day	Port	NM		Day	Port	NM
	1	Lefkas port			1	Lefkas port
	2	Sivota	16		2	Sivota	16
	3	Vassiliki	9		3	Eufimia	24
	4	Paxos	51		4	Poros	12
	5	Mourtos	11		5	Kastos	24
	6	Parga	11		6	Meganisi	12
	7	Lefkas port	32		7	Lefkas port	11
			130				99

1 week Corfu-Corfu				1 week Corfu-Corfu
	Day	Port	NM		Day	Port	NM
	1	Corfu/Gouvia			1	Corfu/Gouvia
	2	Mourtos	22		2	Sagiada	10
	3	Parga	11		3	Erikoussa	31
	4	Paxos	13		4	Paxos	53
	5	Petriti	19		5	Parga	13
	6	Sagiada	14		6	Mourtos	11
	7	Corfu/Gouvia	10		7	Corfu/Gouvia	22
			89				140

2 weeks Lefkas-Lefkas				2 weeks Lefkas-Lefkas
	Day	Port	NM		Day	Port	NM
	1	Lefkas port			1	Lefkas port
	2	Kalamos	21		2	Meganisi	11
	3	Kastos	5		3	Kastos	12
	4	Astakos	11		4	Frikes	16
	5	Poros	27		5	Fiskardo	16
	6	Eufimia	12		6	Paxos	51
	7	Fiskardo	14		7	Petriti	19
	8	Frikes	16		8	Corfu	12
	9	Kioni	2		9	''	--
	10	Sivota	11		10	Sagiada	8
	11	Meganisi	8		11	Plantaria	11
	12	''	--		12	Mourtos	6
	13	Palairos	8		13	Parga	13
	14	Lefkas port	11		14	Lefkas port	24
			146				199

2 weeks Lefkas-Lefkas				2 weeks Corfu-Corfu
	Day	Port	NM		Day	Port	NM
	1	Lefkas port			1	Corfu/Gouvia
	2	Palairos	11		2	Petriti	15
	3	Kalamos	16		3	Mourtos	12
	4	Kastos	5		4	Parga	11
	5	Poros	24		5	Lefkas	32
	6	Nikolaos	18		6	Meganisi	11
	7	Keri	22		7	Kalamos	13
	8	Vromi	19		8	Sivota	14
	9	Argostoli	26		9	Paxos	49
	10	Assos	23		10	Paleokastrita	40
	11	Fiskardo	9		11	Erikoussa	19
	12	Sivota	13		12	Sagiada	36
	13	Meganisi	8		13	Corfu town	8
	14	Lefkas port	11		14	Corfu/Gouvia	3
			205				263

3 weeks Lefkas-Lefkas				3 weeks Corfu-Corfu
	Day	Port	NM		Day	Port	NM
	1	Lefkas port			1	Corfu/Gouvia
	2	Parga	24		2	Petriti	15
	3	Mourtos	13		3	Mourtos	13
	4	Petriti	13		4	Parga	13
	5	Corfu	14		5	Lefkas	24
	6	''	--		6	Palairos	11
	7	Sagiada	11		7	Meganisi	8
	8	Paxos	29		8	''	--
	9	Antipaxos	3		9	Kalamos	13
	10	Vasiliki	43		10	Kastos	5
	11	Assos	15		11	Poros	24
	12	Argostoli	23		12	Eufimia	12
	13	Vromi	26		13	frikes	20
	14	Nikolaos	13		14	''	--
	15	Astakos	43		15	Vassiliki	9
	16	Kastos	11		16	Antipaxos	43
	17	Kalamos	5		17	Paxos	3
	18	Meganisi	13		18	Paleokastrita	37
	19	''	--		19	Erikoussa	17
	20	Vlikho	5		20	Sagiada	36
	21	Lefkas port	10		21	Corfu/Gouvia	8
			314				311

Ionian winds and weather

Early in the day - especially near North Corfu and in the Corfu Channel, a dense fog may reduce visibility to about ½ mile. The afternoon sun will soon burn it off.
Be aware of possible violent gusts on the leeward side of the islands due to high land, for instance the eastern coastlines of Ithaca and Zakinthos.
The Maistro fair-weather-wind (Maistros or Maestral) is the usual breeze in July and August. This pleasant north-west wind rises in the afternoon and usually dies at sunset. Clouds near the summits act as a tell-tale for the stronger version.
In early and late season the Maistro is less developed and sometimes fails to blow. At this time depressions may cross the area, which will often bring strong to gale force southerlies that can abruptly swing around to strong northerlies.
Less frequent are the westerly winds (moderate to strong) off the west and south Peloponnese coast.
Early in the evening katabatic winds could develop off the high mainland mountains usually from the north-east, possible reaching 6 Bft (25 knots) and lasting 2 to 3 hours.
Strong southerlies could turn to the north possibly increasing in strength as well.
In the spring - not later than May - the Scirocco or Sirocco - another southern wind - can bring humid heat and the red sand of the Sahara. The humidity often results in low stratus clouds.

Unsorted tips

To sail clear of the Ionian Charter Milk Run try to embark on another day than Saturday, or sail for more than one week. Most milk runs start at Lefkas and follow variations of my A, B and D itineraries, focussing on Lefkas island, Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia instead of Kalamos, Kastos and the Greek mainland.
The beautiful estuary of the Ambracian Gulf or Amvrakikos Bay, just east of Preveza, is a less-travelled nature reserve well worth visiting. There are a couple of interesting anchorages and two secluded little ports (Menidion and Votsina). The shallow waters of the Gulf are surrounded by lagoons and marshlands and home to the endangered Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) as well as small populations of Caretta Caretta turtles, Spotted Eagles (aquila clanga), Lesser Spotted Eagles (aquila Pomarina) and Pygmy Cormorants.
Though less frequented by charter yachts, there are a couple of ports south of Zakynthos and along the Peloponnese coast, that are worth the extra mileage:
Kyparissia port is a sweet town plus chora with a Byzantine-Frankish fortress and stunning green fields all around (see aerial photo).
Pylos port and bay - although boosting a marina - is quite charming, with French allure and an impressive Venetian castle.
Methoni port is even further south and is known for its wines and pork. A delightful place with - again - a Venetian fort and fertile orchards.
Koroni, on the south coast of the peloponnese, is a bustling must-see town set within and next to a fabulous Venetian Fortress with good restaurants near the harbour.
A 2-weeks itinerary Corfu-Lefkas opens up a lot of possibilities: Day 1: Corfu, Day 2: Sagiada, Day 3: Erikoussa, Day 4: Othoni, Day 5: Paleokastritsa, Day 6: Mourtos, Day 7: Parga, Day 8: Paxos, Day 9: Fiscardo, Day 10: Astakos, Day 11: Kalamos, Day 12: Kastos, Day 13: Meganisi, Day 14: Lefkas. You could also include the Ambracian Gulf or the island of Ithaca.
The transfer from Levkas to Corfu takes about 3½ hours by taxi and ferry. Costs: 1 taxi /4 persons EURO 80 and ferry per person EURO 3.

Imray Tetra chart G11 North Ionian Islands Covers the islands of Erikoussa, Othoni, Kerkira/Corfu, Paxos, Lefkas and the Ambracian Gulf east of Preveza. Plans O. Gouvion (N. Kerkira), Vorion Stenou Kerkiras, Limin Kerkiras (N. Kerkira), Limin Alipa (N. Kerkira), O. Lakka (N. Paxoi), Limin Paxon (N. Paxoi) Insets Amvrakikos Kolpos, Nisos Othonoi. Scale 1:182,400
Imray Tetra chart G12 South Ionian Islands The islands of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos, Atoko, Ithaka, Kefalonia and Zakynthos/Zante, as well as the coastline between Preveza and Oxia plus the northwest corner of the Peloponnese. Plans Kolpos Aetou (N. Ithaki), Dhioriga Levkadhos (Levkas Canal), O. Argostoliou (N. Kefallinia), O. Zakinthou (N. Zakinthos). Scale 1:188,200
Ionian from Amazon.co.uk Ionian from Amazon.com This 6th edition (2008) has been extended and now covers the area from Corfu to Zakynthos plus the adjacent mainland coast to Methoni on the western Peloponnese. The Ionian has seen a burgeoning development of facilities for yachts since the last edition was published. This new edition records the latest information on harbour changes and improvements. Ionian contains detailed information on many of the smaller harbours and anchorages that are not covered in the Greek Waters Pilot.

I have also uploaded a list of handy GPS waypoints for the Ionian for you. For everything else: feel free to contact me ...

Sailing resources

Charter guide :

Assisted bareboats
Bareboat requirements
Choosing a charter yacht
Catamarans & monohulls
Prevent seasickness
Greek sailing areas
When to sail in Greece
Yacht charter provisioning
Itineraries Ionian
Itineraries Argo-Saronic
Itineraries Cyclades
Flights & ferries

Yacht charter companies

Tower of winds
Acropolis

Greece :

Ionian Islands
Dodecanese Islands
Cyclades Islands
Northern Sporades
Peloponnese – Athens

Turkey :

Izmir – Bodrum
Bodrum – Marmaris
Marmaris – Fethiye
Fethiye – Antalya

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