Sailing Destinations in the Ionian: Lefkada

What is better than exploring the picturesque harbours and emerald waters of the Ionian while sailing a boat? The Ionian Sea is the ideal destination for those who plan to embark upon a sailing voyage and enjoy a unique vacation experience.

In our series of articles about destinations in the Ionian, we will introduce different sea routes and places that you can visit during your holidays. So, ahoy! Let the journey begin… Next Stop: Lefkada.

Lefkada

Being the perfect canvas for inspiration, Lefkada is the island of poets where the beauty of nature prevails. Starting from the east coast, which is extremely popular with sailors owing to the fact that it is usually protected from the occasional, strong, western winds, you find Vasiliki and Nydri, both of which offer safe anchorages and well-organised marinas. Nydri, in particular, is an ideal place to stop and enjoy good food and cosmopolitan wanders.

Continuing your journey northwards, you pass the canal that separates Lefkada from the mainland. Since the canal is not too deep and can get crowded, we recommend that you pay extreme attention.

Eastward of Lefkada lie the Prigkiponisia, a group of small, green islands of which the most popular are Skorpios, Madouri and Meganisi. With the creation of the new modern marina in Vathi, Meganisi offers an exciting anchorage where you can enjoy impressive beaches like Porto Elia and Ambelakia, as well as small green bays and caves formed on rocky shores. While in the area of Meganisi, don’t miss the chance to visit the small, well-wooded islands of Kalamos and Kastos which are accessible only to those who travel by yachts.

Of course you should also grasp the opportunity to visit Ithaca, the kingdom of Odysseus. There, in the main harbour of Vathi you will find a safe and hospitable environment. Ithaca is not as popular with tourists as are the neighbouring islands but it offers a dramatically beautiful scenery and marvellous blue waters. If, on the other hand, you feel like going to a more touristic island which is equally beautiful and exotic, you can continue your voyage to Kefalonia and moor to Fiskardo’s picturesque harbour which is the northernmost tip of Kefalonia and an all sailors’ meeting point. Two other spots that are favoured by sailors as safe anchorages are Agia Efimia to the east and Lixouri to the west. There you will discover sandy beaches and scattered islands which offer an ideal environment for solo dives and absolute peace…