Greece. 7 day route to the Ionian Islands

On the first day, you’ll have a few important tasks: accept the yacht, settle on board, and check up the equipment. After that, you can enjoy some leisure time and take a walk in Lefkada, enjoying its picturesque sights and stopping to try local cuisine.

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands. According to one theory, its name derives from that of the mythological hero Kephala, a fearless hunter captured by the Goddess of the Dawn, Eos. Nature and history have been equally generous to the island resulting in magnificent beaches, lush green valleys, colorful villages with their centuries-long traditions, and splendid churches, temples, and castles. Kefalonia’s main attractions are as follows: the lake at Melissani Cave, the archaeological museum in Argostoli, the Monastery of St. Gerasimus of Kefalonia near Valsamati, the beautifully-preserved Venetian settlement in the village of Fiskardo, and the Manzavinos winery near Lixouri. The island’s most famous and popular beach is Myrtos; it’s earned the Blue Flag, an article in Forbes, and has dazzling seawater that swirls all shades of blue. No less popular is Xi beach with its strikingly deep orange sand and brilliant white cliffs.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Ithaca is one of the most famous of the Greek isles. The name is familiar to virtually everyone who’s ever heard of the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer, for Ithaca is the birthplace of the legendary hero king, Odysseus. But archaeologists hold differing opinions regarding his exact place of residence, with possible versions ranging from Alalcomenes to Stavros. Today’s attractions include an archaeological museum, a bust of Odysseus, the ruins of the ancient settlement of Pilikata, and numerous caves also mentioned in myths, such as Marmarospilia, the cave of nymphs. In 2010, the archaeologist Thanasis Papadopoulos announced that he had found the ruins of a three-story building in Ithaca Odysseus’ palace with a staircase set deep in a cliff. The palace is located not far from the village of Eksogi and forms part of the School of Homer archaeological park. The island’s present-day capital is Vathi. It spreads out along the shores of a convenient, welcoming cove and naturally began to attract the attention of yachtsmen. The venetians built this stunning city and left a distinct imprint on its architectural style. You’ll see it clearly in the charming two-story houses with tiled roofs and narrow balconies as they ring the cove like an amphitheater. All tourist life is centered in Vathi, with the rest of Ithaca left in tranquility and peace.

The only way to visit the uninhabited island of Atokos is by yacht. It’s the westernmost Ionian island and though privately owned by the shipping magnate Panayiotis Tsakos, it’s still open to visitors. Here, you can go diving or stop at one of the island’s many coves to spend a couple of hours at the beach. And if you find yourself deeply in love with the island, you could always buy Atokos yourself – the Tsakos family recently put it up for sale.

The tiny island of Kastos can’t give you hundreds of sightseeing spots or tourist infrastructure, but it can still bring you joy. Its most frequent visitors are yachtsmen. In the high season, from May to September, the population of Kastos grows dramatically. The recreational options are pretty standard: strolling through the olive groves, touring ancient ruins, fishing and swimming at the local beaches.

In the winter, Kalamos is home to no more than six hundred inhabitants, but in the summer that number swells to include bright-eyed tourists – proving that there’s still demand for Greece’s authentic and tranquil towns. In the sunny months, yachts sail in a steady stream into the port, and the island’s guests languidly dine on shoreline cafes. The main – and virtually only – attraction on Kalamos is its eponymous city on the east coast. Kalamos doesn’t have an infrastructure quite as developed as the neighbouring islands do, so if you wind up with more than a few hours to spend on Kalamos, you could make the side trip to the village of Kefali – or what’s left of it anyway. In 1953, an earthquake destroyed this Venetian settlement, once called Porto Leone. Only its church survived, which continues to function to this day.

Your voyage is coming to an end. Prepare the yacht for transferring back over to the charter company, assess the equipment’s operation, and resupply water and fuel. After handing the vessel over successfully, take leisurely walk through Lefkada and don’t forget to pick up souvenirs for your friends.