Ionia: perfect place for sailing

Sailing routes in the Ionian Sea

There are three large islands that are included in most of the yacht routes:

1. Corfu. It is the northernmost Ionian island and the most popular tourist destination in Greece. There is an international airport here and every year more than a million people visit Corfu. Some guests come to Corfu to climb Mount Pantokrator and visit the Transfiguration Monastery. Other visitors are interested in picturesque resort villages. But if you have only few hours for a walk, it is better to go to the city of Corfu which fully consists of sights. Here is Artemision built in the 6th c. BC, the ancient fortress founded by the Byzantines, the Museum of banknotes, the Cathedrals of St. Spyridon, Panagia Spiliotissa and much more. There is a wide choice of private yachts for rent and if it is a meeting point of your journey then you will be pleased with the numerous anchorages and comfortable Gouvia marina.
2. Preveza. It is located at the entrance of the Amvrakikos Gulf. Skippers have to be on the look-out to get into the bay and pass half a mile of a narrow passage between the shelves. There is an airport on Preveza which accepts charter flights from many European cities. As for the sights, the ruins of Nikopol, the largest among remaining ancient Greek cities, are the most famous. Also, the river Acheron flows on Preveza, the one that supposedly leads to the underworld. The choice of boats is quite modest, so to start from Preveza you need to take care of the charter in advance.
3. Lefkada. The name is translated as “white”. This is the color of numerous local rocks. Lefkada is a part of the continent, separated from it by a canal that the Corinthians dug up. There are the Archaeological and Ethnographic museums, a gallery of post-Byzantine art, several churches and the fortress of St. Maura on Lefkada. All summer the festival of theater and folk dances is held here. The eastern and southern coasts are suitable for mooring as one could find numerous harbors and marinas.

Other famous sights of Ionica are the pine forests of Kefalonia which are called the most beautiful ones in the world, the blue caves of Zakynthos and the ancient olive groves of Kastos.

The Ionian Sea consists of two parts: north and south. With a two-week yacht charter, you can get around all regions.

Best sailing routes in the Ionian Sea:

7 days:

• Port of Lefkada — Sivota — Vasiliki — Paxos — Mourtos — Parga — Port of Lefkada
• Corfu, Gouvia — Sagiada — Erikussa — Paxos — Parga — Mourtos — Corfu

14 days: 

• Port of Lefkada — Palairos — Kalamos — Kastos — Poros — Nikolaos — Keri — Vromi — Argostoli — Assos — Fiskardo — Sivota — Meganisi — Port of Lefkada