Sea caves on Paxos, the turquoise water of Antipaxos, a night beneath Corfu’s Venetian fortress, and a return through the islands closest to home. Our longest route from Vliho Bay.
This is the route for crews with time to spare. The first leg heads north through the Lefkada canal to Paxos, Antipaxos and Corfu. The second brings you back south through the Central Ionian: Meganisi, Fiskardo on Kefalonia, Vathy on Ithaca, and Kalamos.
It includes two open-water passages of 30 to 40 nautical miles, so it suits experienced crews or anyone sailing with one of our skippers.
First leg · North Ionian
Second leg · Central Ionian (14-day plan)
Distances are approximate. Your skipper adjusts each day to the forecast, so treat this as the ideal plan rather than a fixed schedule.
Sailing the 10-day version? Follow Days 1 to 9, then on Day 10 sail from Lefkada town straight back to Vliho Bay (about 9 NM). Days marked “14-day plan” are for the longer charter.
Check in at our pontoon from 18:00 on Saturday, settle into your cabins, and let the base team walk you through the yacht. With up to two weeks ahead, it’s worth stocking the galley well tonight.
Skipper’s tip: Order provisions at least 48 hours ahead so they are waiting on board when you arrive.
The biggest day of the trip. Head north past Lefkada town and through the canal, then out into open water for the crossing to Paxos. Gaios, the island’s main harbour, sits in a narrow channel sheltered by two small islets.
Skipper’s tip: The floating bridge at the Lefkada canal opens on the hour. Time your arrival and hold off the entrance until it swings open.
A short hop south to Antipaxos, where Voutoumi and Vrika beaches have some of the clearest turquoise water in the Ionian. After lunch, sail up Paxos’s west coast past its sea caves to the sheltered, horseshoe-shaped bay of Lakka.
Skipper’s tip: Paxos’s west coast is exposed to the afternoon NW wind. If it’s already building, skip the caves and return along the sheltered east coast.
Sail north to Corfu and arrive beneath the massive walls of the Old Fortress. Corfu Town is Venice without the canals: elegant, bustling and historic.
Skipper’s tip: Try for a berth at Mandraki Harbour, inside the Old Fortress. It’s members only but often takes visitors; if it’s full, NAOK Yacht Club is your best bet.
Explore on foot: the UNESCO-listed Old Town, the Venetian fortresses, and the Liston arcades, where people still drink ginger beer, a leftover British tradition, while watching cricket on the town green.
Skipper’s tip: Use the day to restock. Corfu Town has the best shopping on the route before you head back to the small islands.
A short sail up the north-east coast, the stretch known as “Kensington-on-Sea”, to Kalami, where Lawrence Durrell lived in the famous White House, now a restaurant. Anchor in deep blue water with green hills behind you.
Skipper’s tip: Kalami offers excellent protection from the NW wind, which makes it a comfortable overnight anchorage.
Hop round to Agni Bay next door for the most famous seafood lunch in the North Ionian, stepping off your stern onto a taverna jetty. Then head south past Corfu Town to Petriti, a small fishing harbour on the island’s quieter south-east coast.
Skipper’s tip: Call ahead to reserve a lazy line at one of the Agni tavernas. The jetties fill quickly at lunchtime.
Cross back to Paxos and its east coast, where Loggos is a tiny harbour village with a waterfront of tavernas and bars. A relaxed day before the long run south.
Skipper’s tip: The quay in Loggos is small. Arrive early, or anchor off and take the dinghy in.
The second long passage, back south to Lefkada. Tie up in Lefkada town, where the busy main street and waterfront cafés are a lively contrast to the small islands.
Skipper’s tip: Plan to reach the canal on the hour for the bridge opening. Crews on the 10-day plan sail on to Vliho the next morning.
Back into the sheltered inland sea, past our base, to Meganisi. Little Vathy has the best dining scene in the Little Ionian, with superyachts and flotillas side by side on the quay.
Skipper’s tip: For luxury facilities, dock at Odyseas Marina. For the heart of the action, go stern-to on the town quay.
South to Kefalonia’s northern tip and Fiskardo, the only village on the island to survive the 1953 earthquake. Its colourful Venetian waterfront is the liveliest harbour in the South Ionian.
Skipper’s tip: Fiskardo gets very busy. Arrive before 14:00 to find a spot with long lines to the rocks on the north side.
Round the north of Ithaca to Gidaki, often voted the island’s best beach, for a lunchtime swim. Then sail into Vathy through its winding natural channel, which suddenly opens into a huge, sheltered bay.
Skipper’s tip: The afternoon Maestro wind can funnel down the valley into Vathy. Make sure your anchor is well set before you go ashore.
A last full day of sailing, north-east to Kalamos. This mountain island is covered in pine forest down to the water, and its harbour town is quiet, with stone houses and family tavernas along the quay.
Skipper’s tip: Harbourmaster George is famous for meeting incoming yachts and helping with lines. Give him a wave on your approach.
A morning swim in one of Kalamos’s pine-fringed coves, then the short sail west past Meganisi and back into Vliho Bay after two weeks on the water.
Skipper’s tip: Yachts are due back at base by 16:30. Leave by late morning to cross before the afternoon breeze builds.
A predictable NW breeze, typically Force 3–5, builds in the afternoon and dies down at night. Plan longer legs for the morning and enjoy the sailing when it fills in.
A mix of everything: marina berths in Lefkada town and Corfu, taverna jetties at Agni, small quays on Paxos, and nights at anchor. Arriving early matters most in Corfu Town, Loggos and Fiskardo.
The two long passages, north to Paxos and back south to Lefkada, are the days to watch. Start at first light when the wind is lightest, and let your skipper pick the best forecast for each crossing.
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View CatamaranNot sure where to start exploring Lefkada, the amazing Ionian islands, and hidden coves? Our team has lived and sailed the region for years, offering insider knowledge every step of the way.
We love the Ionian and we love sailing. Our local crew and instructors strive to make your vacation seamless, safe, and unforgettable.
Direct communication, transparent pricing, and instant support from our base manager to ensure easy planning from initial inquiry to embarkation.
Our fleet catamarans undergo strict commercial inspections and maintenance, featuring solar upgrades, upgraded power systems, and premium safety gear.
Starting directly from sheltered Vliho Bay, you gain immediate access to Meganisi, Ithaca, Kefalonia, and Paxos without wasting time motoring against heavy open seas.
Protected from all sides, Vliho Bay in Lefkada offers calm waters and instant access to the South Ionian island archipelago.
Location: Vliho, Lefkada Island, Greece
Coordinates: 38°41'N 20°43'E
Operating Season: April – October
Google Maps: Sail2day Lefkada base
Charter Base InfoReal stories from charter guests and sailing students
Tell us your dates and crew size, and our team in Vliho Bay will match you with a catamaran and adjust this route to suit your group.