The Ionian Islands, set off the west coast of Mainland Greece, are the perfect place for an Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Charter. Most of the islands are short distances apart making a great itinerary for the beginner or seasoned sailor. With hundreds of anchorages to choose from, deserted quiet harbours, lively seaside resorts, historical villages and clear blue seas you will be spoilt for choice. There are airports on most of the islands so you can pretty much choose your own itinerary depending on how long you want your vacation to be... take a look at a sample 7 days here...
Day 1: Corfu is the ideal place to start a charter. It has an international airport which is not far from Corfu Town where there is a lovely anchorage off the Old Fortress that you can spend your first night. Your Captain will meet you ashore and take your group to board the boat by dinghy, be welcomed aboard with cocktails and nibbles and spend the afternoon at your leisure, starting to relax whilst your crew tend to your every need. Enjoy your first dinner prepared by your chef and settle into life onboard, if you are feeling energetic your Captain can take you ashore after dinner for an evening stroll around Corfu Town.
Day 2: Woken up to the smell of Coffee and something baking, your Chef will have prepared your first breakfast. Your Captain will likely get the chart out and discuss some options with you and give you a short safety briefing before setting sail to the Sivota Islands just off the mainland coast of Greece and the village of Mourtos. Mourtos is very picturesque. It is lovely to walk around, have a drink in one of the taverna's and do a spot of shopping. There are several nice anchorages to choose from in between the islands. They are generally well protected and offer good flat calm water, ideal for spending the afternoon enjoying a range of water sports.
Day 3: Another morning sail to the island of Paxos where you can stop and anchor for lunch on the south side and take a look at the several caves on the coast. Take a kayak, a paddleboard - or even a snorkel and mask and explore! After an afternoon swim you can take the boat around the north side of Paxos to Longos, a small fishing village with white washed houses huddled around a miniature harbour under olive-clad slops, here you can spend the night and enjoy what delicious meal your Chef may have prepared for you.
Day 4: You might want to opt for a big breakfast at this mid week point with a little longer sail to Vasilikki on the island of Lefkas- or even opt for a lunch under way. Arriving in Lefkas mid afternoon you can jump in to the beautiful clear water in this harbour. If you feel like stretching your legs you can take a hike ashore and visit the site of a temple dedicated to Apollo or if you are feeling energetic hire a windsurf in one of the top ten spots in the world!
Day 5: Winds may not be too favorable for a sail this morning but you can admire the views as you motor through the Stenon Meganisiou the straight between Meganisi and Lefkas, one of the loveliest channels in the Ionian. There are several spots to choose from on Meganisi, being well protected, most of the bays fringed by olive and cypress with clear blue water. These are a stunning place to spend the afternoon in the water or chilling on deck.
Day 6: Heading further south are the Islands of Ithaca and the largest of the Ionian Cephalonia. Both rugged and steep, Cephalonia is home to the highest mountain of the Ionian Islands, Mount Nero. Fiskardho, on Cephalonia is a lovely place to stop and explore, with picturesque 19th-century houses set amid green pine groves. There are a number of bays to choose from in this area which are pretty much deserted and ideal if you are looking for a quieter spot. You could also check out one of the anchorages in Ithaca, perhaps visit Port Polis where a local school teacher looks after a small museum housing a collection of items from excavations on the supposed site of odysseus palace or if you feel like heading over to the NE side try Frikes, postcard stuff! Set at the bottom of a wooded ravine with a stream running down to the sea. A couple of windmills also sit above the village on a rocky cragg.
Day 7:Assuming you are flying out of Preveza on the mainland (there are many options available for arrival and departure which can be discussed when planning your charter) it is time to start sailing north again. From Cephalonia you will sail up to Lefkas and perhaps anchor in the seaside town of Nidri. It is a lovely place to spend your last night and only a short taxi away from the airport.
Day 8: One last breakfast, One last swim... Time to pack up and say good bye to your home for the past week, your crew and the islands.... until next time!
Getting There: Corfu, Cephalonia, Kythira, Zakynthos and Preveza (about 20km from the northern end of Lefkas) all have airports. It is a great idea to do a one-way charter flying into Corfu for example and flying out of one of the smaller islands further south. Try looking at sites such as http://www.skyscanner.com for the best deals.
Weather: Winds are consistent in the Summer Months and from June until the end of September the prevailing wind direction is NW to WNW. Generally it arrives in the afternoon and dies at Sunset. The climate is mainly sunny with little rain and temperatures regularly reach up to 32C plus in July and August.
If you are interested in a Yacht Charter in the Ionian Islands, get in touch using the Contact Us Form or take a look at the different boats available in Greece using the Yacht Search Page on our website http://www.jkyachtcharters.com/.
Kelly Coop - Owner JK Yacht Charters - For further information regarding a Yacht Charter in the Ionian Islands or anywhere else in the Mediterranean or Caribbean please get in touch by emailing me at info@jkyachtcharters or go to our website at http://www.jkyachtcharters.com/
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