Kefalonia & Ithaca

The classic harbours are Fiskardo and Assos on Kefalonia and Vathy, Kioni and Frikes on Ithaca. Fiskardo, at the northern tip of Kefalonia, kept its Venetian-era houses after the 1953 earthquake and is the liveliest stop, with waterside tavernas and a busy quay. Assos, on the west coast, is a small village below a Venetian fortress on a green peninsula. On Ithaca, Vathy lies at the end of a deep natural bay and is the island's main town, while Kioni and Frikes are small, picturesque harbours in the north. Between them you will find turquoise coves for swimming stops, many of them easiest to reach by boat. In high season, arrive in the early afternoon to find space on the quay, or choose a quiet anchorage nearby and take the dinghy ashore.

From Marina Perigiali, the northern harbours of Kefalonia and Ithaca are about 15 to 25 nautical miles away, a half-day sail for a catamaran in normal conditions. The route leads south past Meganisi and out of the Inland Sea into more open water, so it is the first real passage of many Ionian weeks. A typical plan spends the first night or two in the Inland Sea, crosses to Fiskardo or Kioni, continues to Vathy or Assos, and returns north via Meganisi. The leg south usually runs with the afternoon breeze behind you; plan the return north for the morning, before the north-westerly maistro builds. In one week you can combine both islands with Meganisi and Kalamos without long days, and still keep a spare day for weather or a second night in a favourite harbour.

Yes, for crews with some sailing experience. The passage from Lefkada crosses open water where the afternoon maistro can reach Force 5 and raise a short, steep sea, especially in the channel between Kefalonia and Ithaca, so you should be comfortable reefing and handling the boat in a fresh breeze. Harbours such as Fiskardo and Kioni are busy in summer and require mooring stern-to or anchoring with a line ashore, which takes practice. Greek charter rules require a recognised sailing licence and a second crew member with sailing experience for any bareboat charter. If your group is less experienced, a skipper for €210 per night takes care of passage planning and mooring, so you can enjoy the islands without the stress. A skipper also knows which harbours still have space and which bays give the best shelter overnight.