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15 Days In The Ionian

Day 1: Athens - Corinth Canal crossing - Galaxidi (75 nautical miles)

Corinth Canal: This canal unites the Saronic Bay with the Bay of Corinth, minimizing the distance in miles between the islands of the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. Its brzidge connects Peloponnese to Attica and was completed in 1882, after 13 years of excavations.

Galaxidi: A beautiful town surrounded by lovely beaches and taverns. Meander through the streets or simply visit the local marine museum. The wealth and grandeur of this picturesque port have a long history and tradition for ship building.

Day 2: Galaxidi – Sami (88 nautical miles)

Sami: is the most significant harbor on the island with links with Italy, Patras and Corfu. The area combines an extended coastline and a most interesting inland. Along the coastline one finds landscapes of exceptionally beauty such as Paliouras and Antisamos Beach, as well as the small lake of Karavomylos.

 

Day 3: Sami – Meganisi (30 nautical miles)

Meganisi: The largest of the group of islets in the southern part of Lefkas. There are three villages with traditional seaside taverns and few but hospitable inhabitants. (Scorpios and Meganissi description as above).

Day 4: Meganisi – Skorpios - Lefkas (11 nautical miles)

Skorpios: is one of the most famous private islands in the world. The island lies in the Ionian Sea off the western coast of Greece and is mainly known as the private island of the late Greek shipping billionaire Aristotle Onassis. Lefkada: is a mountainous island, covered with dense vegetation to the east and south. Its eastern coast slopes gently down to the sea, which is sheltered from the wind and dotted with thickly wooded islets. The most famous of these are Skorpios, Madouri and Sparti. In contrast, the west coast is steep, with a few stunted pine trees and lined with spectacular stretches of endless golden beach. Few miles from Skorpios, on the eastern coast of Lefkada island, you will go to Nidri, one of the most popular holiday spots on the island. Nidri was the home of the German archaeologist Dorpfeld, who maintained that Lefkada was in fact none other than Homer’s Ithaki.

Day 5: Lefkas – Antipaxi - Paxi (34 nautical miles)

Antipaxi: Inhabited by merely 120 persons, Antipaxi is a quiet and remote paradise with beautiful beaches and clear blue waters.

Paxi: This Island’s history has been closely related to that of Corfu, evident from the Venetian castle built on the isle of St. Nicholas. Nature has proven to be more than gracious to this small island. Secluded bays are on the east of the island, while the west is dominated by steep hills covered by olive trees producing one of the finest olive oils available in the world.

Day 6: Paxi – Corfu (31 nautical miles)

Corfu: Considered to be the most international island of the Ionian, Corfu is a small paradise on earth. From Paleokastritsa to Kanoni, from the Achillion to Pontikonissi and the northern coast, one will find scenic coves and vegetation that drops into the deep blue sea. On this cosmopolitan island it is easy to combine relaxation with intense night life.

Day 7: Corfu –Sivota (21 nautical miles)

Sivota: is a scenic coastal village with rare natural beauty situated in Thesprotia, north of the Ionic Sea.

Day 8: Sivota – Parga (14 nautical miles)

Parga: This Island is an exceptional place of rare beauty. The clear waters have rich vegetarian, ideal for those who enjoy snorkeling. The city is built on the remains of a Venetian castle and overlooks numerous evergreen islets with picturesque streets.

Day 9: Parga – Nidri (Lefkada) (39 nautical miles)

Nidri: Along with Lefkada Town, Nidri is one of the main yachting destinations in the Ionian Sea. It’s location on the East Coast of Levkas means that the sea is usually calm, and it is an ideal place to learn to sail.

Day 10: Nidri – Kalamos – Kastos (17 nautical miles)

Kalamos: is a tall mountain range which floats on the sea, its northern side overgrowing with towering, thick pine trees. Even at the first sight from a distance, then, Kalamos captivates with its unusual, wild landscape.

Kastos: is an island that lies southeast of Lefkada. The unique small coastal settlement is in the middle of the east side of the island in a well protected bay with a sandy beach. Kastos offers a wide variety of watersports, fishing, swimming, long walks between its stone houses, oil groves, old oil presses and a windmill standing over the village, the only one in Lefkada’s prefecture whose mechanism is still preserved.

Day 11: Kastos – Fiskardo (18 nautical miles)

Fiskardo: the island’s northernmost port, and is a well known anchorage for yachts.
Fiskardo is perhaps the island’s most picturesque town, as the English traveller Miller contended in the 19th century.

Day 12: Fiskardo – Ithaki (14 nautical miles)

Ithaki: Unspoiled by tourism, this island is a serene and remote paradise. Ithaki is the homeland of Odysseus, the hero that Homer praised. The mountainous terrain blends softly into numerous bays while her capital Vathi overlooks the remains of the two fortresses at the entrance of the harbour.

Day 13: Ithaki - Zakinthos (41 nautical miles)

Zakinthos: Called “Fiorro di Levante” meaning the “Flower of Orient,” offers a variety of beautiful flowers, a glorious past, and local music called the “kantades”- is heard almost every night. It is not easy to forget the emerald sea, the pine covered hills, or the hospitable openhearted - inhabitants.

Day 14: Zakinthos - Nafpaktos (56 nautical miles)

Nafpaktos: Two magnificent towers right at the entrance of her port overlooked by an Acropolis - located amidst seemingly evergreen hills - face the visitor right after entering her port, which is surrounded by cafes and numerous bars.

Day 15: Nafpaktos - Corinth Canal crossing – Athens (97 nautical miles)

Courtesty of Atalanta Marine of Athens, Greece

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