Lefkada – sometimes known as Lefkas – is one of the most beautiful of the Ionian Islands, famous for its white cliffs and beaches. A popular destination due to its location around other Ionian Islands, sailing in Lefkada is a great pastime, as it offers some of the best boat trips you can have among the Greek Islands. One popular week-long route is from Lefkada to the nearby island of Kefalonia, which you can read all about below.
Day 1: Lefkada -> Fiskardo
25.5NM – 4 hours and 15 minutes
Set off from the most popular Lefkas Marina based north of the island, and travel to the northernmost village in Kefalonia, Fiskardo. This harbour village is one of the most popular places to visit on the island, in large part due to its beauty with the village being uniquely designed with Venetian architecture. With its natural harbour, Fiskardo is a great place to visit on a charter, with many amazing seaside restaurants and cafes where you can relax and watch as the luxury yachts dock in the harbour.
Fiskardo is known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, which can make the services quite expensive, however for a more affordable option for how to spend your day, visit one of the many beautiful beaches on the island, such as the famous Myrtos Beach.
Day 2: Fiskardo -> Argostoli
31NM – 5 hours and 10 minutes
From Fiskardo, dock in the popular Argostoli Harbour, and enjoy the town of Argostoli. Full of beautiful beaches, this is the best place in Kefalonia to stop and enjoy some time at the beach, including the popular Makris Gialos Beach, where you will find a water sports centre, and can enjoy some of the water sports on the island, such as sea kayaking, water skiing and waterboarding. Around this area, you can also find some beautiful wildlife, such as the turtles.
One of the most interesting parts of the area is the nearby De Bosset Bridge, which offers stunning views of the landscape and is the longest stone bridge over the sea in the world.
Day 3: Argostoli -> Svoronata
5.4NM – 50 minutes
Head down to the bottom of the island if you want to explore some more of the incredible beaches of the island. While Argostoli has some beautiful beaches, Svoronata has long stretches of sand and several beaches, which means you are likely to find a beach you like, such as the famous Avithos Beach which is home to some amazing tavernas, or Amandakis Beach, which is located on a rock rather than sand and offers an incredible scuba experience.
The area is also a great place to moor as you explore the nearby attractions, such as the well-known Castle of Agios Georgios which is located only a little further inland, and is a beautiful area to look over the island, with the buildings and churches in the interior being preserved and a wonder to look at.
Day 4: Svoronata -> Sami
30NM – 5 hours
The next stop on the route is the incredible coastal town of Sami, with only 1000 inhabitants, most of which are in the trade of agriculture and fishing. As such, the food in Sami is some of the best on the island, with some lovely restaurants and cafes located along the waterfront.
While the town is a great place to spend some time, the real draw of the area is the surrounding hills and coves to discover. These coves offer some of the island’s best swimming and diving experiences, with unique scenery such as the almost clear blue water, stalactites, and stalagmites that litter the cave walls. Two of the most popular caves in the area include the Melissani Cave which is a beautiful cove to sail through on a small fishing boat, or swim and dive in, or the impressive Drogarti Cave, where you can explore the underground chambers, and even listen to the incredible acoustics in some of the concerts which take place from time to time.
Day 5: Sami -> Ithaca
16.8NM – 2 hours and 45 minutes
After exploring the beautiful island of Kefalonia, why not stop off at the nearby island of Ithaca? Only a short distance away, Ithaca is a great place to explore with incredible beaches and towns. Home to Odysseus, Ithaca is rich in culture and history, and there are attractions on the island, such as the Folklore and Nautical Museum of Ithaca, or the Stavros Archaeological Museum. With some amazing bays and harbours, it is a great place for a day stop, and a great break for a day at the beach after some busy days exploring Kefalonia.
Day 6: Ithaca -> Meganisi
17NM – 2 hours and 50 minutes
From Ithaca, head over to Meganisi, the closest island to Lefkada and the last stop before you get back. Meganisi is an underrated island packed with natural beauty, with only two traditional villages on the island, which means you can experience authentic Greek life for the day. The unspoiled landscape and beaches are some of the best parts of the island, with many secluded coves to visit which can only be reached by foot or boat. Due to its proximity to Lefkada, Meganisi is an amazing day trip from the island, which you can learn more about in our dayboat route from Lefkada.
Day 5: Meganisi -> Lefkada
10.7NM – 1 hour and 45 minutes
Finish your day back where you started in Lefkada, a great place to spend the night, with some popular bars and clubs where you can dance the night away, with Lefkada being one of the best party islands in Greece.
