Ionian Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Corfu Town and Paleokastritsa

Board at Gouvia Marina on Corfu. Spend the morning exploring Corfu’s UNESCO-listed Old Town: the Venetian Old Fortress, the Liston promenade, the Church of Agios Spyridon, and the narrow kantounia lanes. Return to the yacht for lunch, then cruise north-west to Paleokastritsa (12 nm), a cluster of six turquoise bays beneath dramatic green cliffs, with the 13th-century Theotokos Monastery perched on the headland above. Anchor in the main bay for a swim and snorkelling over rocky reef. Dine onboard as the sun sets behind the Adriatic horizon.

Paxos

Cruise south to Paxos (30 nm from Corfu, under two hours). Arrive at Lakka Bay, a horseshoe harbour surrounded by olive groves at the island’s northern tip. Swim in the crystal-clear bay, then take the tender ashore for a coffee and a stroll through Lakka’s tiny lanes. After lunch onboard, cruise along Paxos’s dramatic western coast: sheer limestone cliffs plunging into deep blue water, with sea caves large enough to enter by tender, the most impressive are the Erimitis cliffs and Ipapanti Cave, where the light plays extraordinary tricks on the water. Anchor for the night in Gaios, Paxos’s charming capital, a Venetian harbour protected by two pine-covered islets. Dine at a harbourside taverna on fresh fish, local olive oil and Paxos’ own white wine.

Antipaxos and Return to Corfu

A short 3-nautical-mile cruise south brings you to Antipaxos, an island of barely 20 permanent residents and some of the most extraordinary water in the Mediterranean. Anchor off Voutoumi Beach, fine white sand meeting turquoise shallows that fade to deep blue, for a morning of swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding in what many charter guests say is the most beautiful bay they have ever seen. Your chef prepares a leisurely lunch on the aft deck. In the early afternoon, set course for Corfu (30 nm, under two hours), arriving back at Gouvia Marina by late afternoon with the Venetian skyline of Corfu Town visible across the bay.

Lefkada and Meganisi

Board at D-Marin Lefkas Marina. Cruise south through the narrow Lefkada Channel and into the open Ionian. Your first stop is the tiny island of Meganisi, just 4 nautical miles south, a green, deeply indented island with three villages and some of the Ionian’s most sheltered anchorages. Anchor in the deep blue bay of Atherinos, swim in water so clear you can see the anchor 10 metres below, and visit the Papanikolis Cave by tender, a large sea cave reportedly used to hide a Greek submarine during the Second World War. After lunch onboard, cruise around to the port of Vathi on Meganisi for a gentle evening stroll and fresh-grilled fish at a waterfront taverna.

Ithaca

Cruise south-east to Ithaca, roughly 25 nautical miles (about 90 minutes). Ithaca is small, mountainous and deeply atmospheric, the legendary home of Odysseus, who spent ten years trying to return here after the Trojan War. Enter the harbour of Vathi, one of the most sheltered natural harbours in Greece, surrounded by green hills so steep they seem to wrap around the bay. Go ashore to explore the tiny town: whitewashed houses, a small archaeological museum, and the Church of the Taxiarchis with its ornate Venetian bell tower. In the afternoon, cruise to the southern tip and anchor off Gidaki Beach, a secluded pebble cove accessible only by boat, backed by cypress and olive trees. Walk to the Fountain of Arethusa, a natural spring associated with the Odyssey, and swim in quiet water as the afternoon light filters through the trees.

Kefalonia

Cross the narrow strait to Kefalonia, just 3 nautical miles east. Head to Fiskardo at the island’s northern tip, the only village to survive the devastating 1953 earthquake, with its pastel-coloured Venetian houses, cypress-lined harbour and excellent restaurants. Anchor in the harbour and take the tender ashore for a morning coffee and a walk along the waterfront. Visit Foki Beach nearby for superb snorkelling among rocky formations where parrotfish, moray eels and octopus are common. After lunch, take an excursion inland to the underground lake of Melissani, where sunlight streaming through a collapsed cave roof illuminates turquoise water in an almost supernatural display. Return to Fiskardo for dinner at Tassia’s, the legendary harbourside restaurant run by cookbook author Tassia Dendrinou, famous for her fresh lobster and Kefalonian meat pie (kreatopita).

Zakynthos

Cruise south to Zakynthos, roughly 30 nautical miles from Fiskardo (about two hours). Your first stop is Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach on the north-west coast, approach from the sea, anchor in the bay, and take the tender to shore. The rusting MV Panagiotis sits on white sand between towering limestone cliffs in one of the most dramatic beach settings anywhere. After your visit, cruise south along the western coast to the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari on the north-east tip, sea caves where the morning light creates vivid blue reflections on the cave walls and water. Continue south to the National Marine Park around Marathonisi Island for the charter’s finale: snorkelling in warm, shallow water alongside Caretta caretta loggerhead turtles. Your crew serves a farewell dinner on the aft deck as the sun sets over the Ionian, fresh Zakynthian seafood, local olive oil, and a glass of Verdea, the island’s traditional white wine.

Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day northern Ionian route (Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos) with the 4-day southern route (Lefkada, Ithaca, Kefalonia, Zakynthos) for a comprehensive 7-day charter covering the entire Ionian chain from Corfu in the north to Zakynthos in the south, without repeating a single island. Your Boatcrowd charter specialist can arrange a one-way itinerary with embarkation in Corfu and disembarkation in Zakynthos (or vice versa).