Two weeks to sail the whole Ionian chain, from the deep blue of Antipaxos to the Blue Caves of Zakynthos, by way of Homer's Ithaca and the charming villages of Kefalonia. A gentle Maestro and closely spaced anchorages make this the great Ionian circuit, ambitious without being a long-haul passage. Around 330 miles, detailed below.
In brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Corfu, Preveza or Lefkada (one-way possible) |
| Access | Direct flights to Corfu (CFU), Preveza (PVK), Kefalonia (EFL) |
| Total distance | ~330 NM |
| Sailing time | ~68 h over 14 days |
| Duration | 14 days / 13 nights |
| Level | Intermediate (gentle Maestro, but real mileage) |
| Recommended boat | 42-46 ft monohull or catamaran |
| Best time | May to October |
| Winds | Maestro from the NW, a 10-18 kt thermal breeze |
| Indicative budget | ~1,400 to 2,400 € per person over two weeks (see Sailing budget in Greece) |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Corfu · Paxos · Antipaxos · Parga · Lefkada · Meganisi · Ithaca · Kefalonia · Zakynthos
Weather month by month
| Month | Maestro | Air | Sea | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Light | 21-24° | 19-20° | Green, calm |
| June | Steady | 26-28° | 22-23° | Ideal |
| Jul-Aug | Steady NW | 29-32° | 24-25° | Warm, busy |
| September | Easing | 26-28° | 24-25° | Ideal |
| October | Light | 22-24° | 22-23° | End of season |
The two-week route
| Day | Leg | NM | Anchorage | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Corfu to Paxos (Gaios) | 28 | Gaios (channel) | Excellent |
| D2 | Paxos, Antipaxos, Parga | 20 | Parga (bay) | Good |
| D3 | Parga to Lefkada (Nidri) | 35 | Nidri, Lefkada canal | Good |
| D4 | Nidri to Meganisi | 6 | Spartochori / Vathy | Very good |
| D5 | Meganisi to Ithaca (Vathi) | 15 | Vathi roadstead | Very good |
| D6 | Ithaca to Fiskardo (Kefalonia) | 12 | Fiskardo | Good |
| D7 | Fiskardo to Agia Efimia / Sami | 15 | Sami | Good |
| D8 | Sami to Zakynthos (north) | 35 | north coast, Blue Caves | Moderate |
| D9 | Zakynthos, Navagio and south | 20 | Zakynthos harbour | Good |
| D10 | Zakynthos to Argostoli | 30 | Argostoli (lagoon) | Very good |
| D11 | Argostoli to Ithaca (Kioni) | 25 | Kioni | Very good |
| D12 | Kioni to Lefkada (Vasiliki) | 20 | Vasiliki | Good |
| D13 | Lefkada to Paxos / Parga | 40 | Paxos | Good |
| D14 | Paxos to Corfu | 28 | base | n/a |
| Total | ~330 |
Highlights
Antipaxos has the most transparent water in Greece, an almost unreal green over the beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi.
The Lefkada canal and its swing bridge open the door to the southern Ionian; Meganisi and its coves are a haven of sheltered anchoring.
Ithaca, Ulysses' island, is best enjoyed at the roadstead of Vathi and the little harbour of Kioni, one of the prettiest in the Ionian.
Kefalonia combines the postcard village of Fiskardo, the Melissani cave and Myrtos beach, often ranked among Europe's finest.
Zakynthos closes the loop in style: the Blue Caves in the north and Navagio, the shipwreck beach at the foot of white cliffs, an emblem of Greece.
Technical points and cautions
- Navagio (shipwreck beach): an exposed open roadstead, by day only and in calm seas, often swelly. Admire it, do not linger.
- Laganas (south Zakynthos): a protected nesting zone for the Caretta caretta turtle; navigation is regulated from May to October (speed limits, no anchoring on seagrass). Check before entering.
- Maestro: a NW thermal in the afternoon, so plan the long legs for the morning.
Practical checklist
- Licence: coastal licence plus ICC plus VHF Short Range Certificate.
- Provisioning: well-equipped harbours (Lefkada, Fiskardo, Argostoli, Zakynthos), take on water and fuel regularly.
- TEPAI and the usual papers.
Booking and preparation
- Compare boats available from Corfu, Preveza or Lefkada.
- Charter insurance recommended.
- Flights: Corfu (CFU), Preveza (PVK) or Kefalonia (EFL) direct.
- Shore activities: the Blue Caves and Navagio on Zakynthos, the Melissani cave on Kefalonia.
See also: the guide Sailing the Ionian Islands and the article How much does a week's sailing in Greece cost.
Nautical data: Ionian distance tables, harbour offices of Lefkada, Fiskardo, Argostoli, Zakynthos. Weather: HNMS. Laganas turtle-zone rules to be checked before departure.
A word from the crew
Logbook. The Ionian is sailed to the rhythm of the maestro, the afternoon thermal that gets up like clockwork. We've rarely slept better than at anchor off Meganisi, engine off, cicadas ashore.
The mistake to avoid. Treating the run down to Zakynthos as a formality. The south is more exposed and short of shelter; pick your window for the crossing from Lefkada to Kefalonia.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: Fiskardo and the coves of Meganisi. What we skip: insisting on anchoring under the Navagio at Zakynthos, spectacular but open and rolly.
Our verdict. Beauty 5/5. Anchorages 4/5. Ease 4/5. Crowds 3/5. Verdict: easy, green Greece, ideal over a fortnight for anyone who wants to sail without the stress of the Meltemi.
