Lefkada Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes
Lefkada’s position as the gateway to the southern Ionian makes it ideal for both day charters along the dramatic west coast and multi-day island-hopping voyages south through Ithaca, Kefalonia and beyond. The routes below cover different ground and can be combined.
Day Charter Routes
West Coast Cliffs Day Charter
Depart D-Marin Lefkas and cruise south through the Lefkada Channel into the open Ionian. Round the southern tip and head north along the dramatic western coast. Stop at Porto Katsiki for a morning swim beneath the 100-metre white cliff. Continue north to Egremni for a second swim and a chef-prepared lunch on the aft deck. Pass Kathisma Beach and return through the channel by late afternoon. Total: roughly 40 nm, 7–9 hours.
Meganisi and Skorpios Day Charter
Cruise south from D-Marin Lefkas to Meganisi (4 nm, 15 minutes). Explore the Papanikolis Cave by tender, then anchor in a sheltered bay for a morning swim. Cruise to Spartochori, Meganisi’s hilltop village, for a waterfront lunch. In the afternoon, cruise past Skorpios – the Onassis island – and anchor nearby for sundowners and the famous story. Return to Lefkada by evening. Total: roughly 15 nm, 6–8 hours.
3-Day Lefkada Yacht Charter Itinerary: Lefkada, Meganisi and Kastos
Day 1: West Coast and Porto Katsiki
Board at D-Marin Lefkas. Cruise through the channel and south around Lefkada’s tip to Porto Katsiki. Arrive early for a swim at the iconic beach before the day boats appear. Continue north along the cliff coast to Egremni for a second swim and lunch on the aft deck. Round the island and anchor in the sheltered bay of Sivota on Lefkada’s south-east coast for a quiet dinner at a waterfront taverna – grilled fish, horiatiki salad, and a cold Mythos beer as the fishing boats return at dusk.
Day 2: Meganisi
A short cruise south to Meganisi (4 nm). Spend the morning exploring the Papanikolis Cave by tender, then anchor in Atherinos Bay for a swim in water so clear you can see your anchor on the bottom. Walk up to the village of Spartochori for a coffee with views across to Lefkada. After lunch onboard, cruise to Meganisi’s port of Vathi for a gentle afternoon stroll through the village. Dinner at a harbourside taverna on fresh-grilled fish and local olive oil.
Day 3: Kastos and Return
Cruise east to the tiny island of Kastos, roughly 10 nautical miles from Meganisi. Kastos has a population of around 70, one small harbour, and some of the most unspoilt swimming in the Ionian. Anchor off the island’s southern coast for a morning swim in turquoise water, then visit the small village for a coffee and a taste of island life at its most authentic. After a farewell lunch on the aft deck, cruise back to Lefkada (15 nm, about one hour).
4-Day Lefkada Yacht Charter Itinerary: South Through the Ionian – Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos
Day 1: Lefkada to Ithaca
Depart D-Marin Lefkas and cruise south-east to Ithaca, roughly 25 nautical miles (about 90 minutes). Enter the deep, sheltered harbour of Vathi – the legendary home of Odysseus. Go ashore to explore the tiny town, visit the small archaeological museum, and walk to the Church of the Taxiarchis with its ornate Venetian bell tower. In the afternoon, cruise to Gidaki Beach on the north-east coast – a secluded pebble cove accessible only by boat. Swim in quiet water as cypress trees cast shadows across the shore. Dinner onboard in Vathi harbour.
Day 2: Kefalonia – Fiskardo and Melissani
Cross the narrow strait to Kefalonia (3 nm from Ithaca). Head to Fiskardo at the northern tip – the only village to survive the 1953 earthquake, with pastel-coloured Venetian houses and one of Greece’s most photogenic harbours. Anchor and go ashore for a morning coffee. Visit Foki Beach for superb snorkelling among rocky formations (parrotfish, moray eels, octopus). Take an excursion to the underground lake of Melissani, where sunlight streams through a collapsed cave roof onto turquoise water. Dinner at Tassia’s – legendary harbourside restaurant, famous for fresh lobster and Kefalonian meat pie.
Day 3: Kefalonia South Coast
Cruise south along Kefalonia’s dramatic west coast. Stop at Myrtos Beach – a sweeping crescent of white pebble beneath towering cliffs, regularly voted one of the best beaches in Greece. Anchor for a morning swim and marvel at the vivid turquoise gradient of the water. Continue south past the port of Argostoli (Kefalonia’s capital) to Antisamos Beach on the east coast – the filming location for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001). Swim in the clear bay, and your crew shares the story of the ancient Roman shipwreck (approximately 2,000 years old) visible on the seabed. Anchor overnight in Argostoli or Sami harbour.
Day 4: Zakynthos
Cruise south to Zakynthos, roughly 8.5 nautical miles from Kefalonia’s southern tip (30 minutes). Head to Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach on the north-west coast – the rusting MV Panagiotis on white sand between towering limestone cliffs. Take the tender ashore for the charter’s most dramatic beach moment. Continue to the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari, where morning light creates vivid blue reflections. Cruise south to Marathonisi Island in the National Marine Park for a farewell snorkel alongside Caretta caretta loggerhead turtles. Dinner on the aft deck – 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 Lefkada–Meganisi–Kastos route with the 4-day southern route (Ithaca, Kefalonia, Zakynthos) for a comprehensive 7-day charter covering the entire southern Ionian chain without repeating a single stop.
