Greece Sailing Adventure: Kefalonia to Corfu
Greece Sailing Adventure: Kefalonia to Corfu
8 Days Starting in Kefalonia and ending in Corfu
Visiting: Kefalonia, Atokos, Kastos, Kalamos, Ithaca, Skorpios, Meganisi, Lefkada, Antipaxos and Paxos, Paxos – Corfu, Corfu
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZSRK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 8
Age range:
15-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Take a relaxing sailing trip through some of the most beautiful Greek islands in the Ionian Sea. On this 8-day trip from Kefalonia to Corfu, you’ll journey to some secluded coastlines, private islands, verdant rolling hills and orchards, historic Venetian architecture, warm and inviting tavernas and some of the world’s most transparent azure waters. Each day, swim in picturesque bays, watch the sunset on the deck of your group’s sailing boat and spend the night on the town, exploring everything these islands offer. Explore Atokos, Kastos, Kalamos, Othaca, Skorpios, Meganisi, Lefkadas, Paxos and Antipaxos, and their winding shores, white sands, comfortable beaches and coves that are only seen by boat.??
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Kefalonia
Location: Kefalonia
Accommodation: Overnight boat
Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. Your sailing adventure begins on the biggest and one of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea – Kefalonia. Famous for its delicious wine – primarily Robola and Mavrodafni – Kefalonia is also home to a beautiful national park, white sand beaches and friendly locals. If you have the time, why not stay a few extra days and explore the island to its fullest, or you could visit Melissani Cave? You’ll have a welcome meeting at 4 pm this afternoon to meet your group and trip leader. This will take place at Sami Port, at the Taka Taka Mam (where you can grab an iconic souvlaki, too). Head out for some food shopping after with your group for some supplies. Tonight, you’ll head on a night out with your fellow travellers.
Day 2 - 3 : Atokos, Kastos, Kalamos And Ithaca
Location: Atokos, Kastos, Kalamos, Ithaca
Accommodation: Overnight Boat
This morning after breakfast, you’ll head towards Fiskardo – with hills carpeted by cypress and olive trees, this fishing village is so beautiful that it was added to Project Natura 2000 for its protection. Declared as having ‘great natural beauty’, this harbour town has iconic Venetian architecture and is one of the only islands with its original buildings still standing. Explore the lush, verdant hills surrounding a winding coast that stands on the northern tip of Kefalonia and maybe take a swim to wash the day off in between.
Over the next two days, you’ll be exploring the beautiful islands of Atokos, Kastos, Kalamos and Ithaca at the group’s desired pace. Spend your days lounging on the boat’s deck, swimming in the glittering blue waters, eating out at local tavernas and watching sunset on the deck or the sands of a nearby beach.
Visit remote Atokos – one of the most secluded of the Echinades Islands. A pebbled beach and small flat hinterland make Atokos, now a private island owned by the shipowner family of Panayiotis Tsakos. The tiny islet is uninhabited except for a few goats that roam freely. On the island, there is the small chapel of St. John and the beach at One House Bay. Atokos is inside a Natura 2000 protected area, and as such, the waters and surrounding environment are nothing short of stunning.
Visit Kastos – where you’ll find peaceful beaches and a simple island lifestyle. Kastos is one of the smallest of the Ionian islands, with only a few hundred people living here, making it the perfect spot if you’re looking for some relaxation and peace.
Visit Ithaca – this beautiful island is famously the homeland of Odysseus (Ulysses), the hero of the Homeric poem Odyssey. Ithaca is where the faithful Penelope waits patiently for twenty years for her husband to return from the Trojan War. Surrounded by lush green vegetation, European architecture and the deep-blue sea, you’ll see why this place caused such inspiration.
Day 4: Skorpios – Meganisi
Location: Skorpios, Meganisi
Accommodation: Overnight boat
This morning, you’ll head to Skorpios – primarily known as the private island of the late Greek shipping billionaire Aristotle Onassis, bought in 1963 for numerous high-profile parties. This was also the site of Onassis’ wedding to the former United States First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. Now, the island is owned by the Russian oligarch and art collector Dmitry Rybolovlev. Stop for a swim by the island before heading to the bays of Meganisi. This remote island is located between Lefkada and the Greek mainland. Untouched by mainstream tourism, it provides amazing crystalline waters and secluded coves that can only be reached by boat! Except for its two traditional villages and the small number of facilities they offer, the island is unspoiled. Take some time to explore the beautiful bays and then dock in the marina of the small fishing village of Vathi closeby.
Day 5: Lefkada
Location: Lefkada
Accommodation: Overnight boat
You might want to get up early this morning to see the sunrise on the deck or take a quick dip before breakfast. Today, you’ll sail north, passing through the north channel and docking in the beautiful marina of Lefkada. Featuring sheer cliffs and turquoise waters, this island’s busy streets are perfect for a blissful beach day or night out on the town. Lefkada is also home to some dense forests and world-famous beaches, which you have undoubtedly seen photos of (spoiler alert – it’s better in real life!). You’ll wander the busy streets with your group, find some delicious Greek food to feast on and maybe grab a cocktail (or two), before spending the night on the boat.
Day 6: Antipaxos And Paxos
Location: Antipaxos and Paxos
Accommodation: Overnight boat
This morning, get an early start as you sail towards Paxos – the smallest of the Ionian islands – and Antipaxos – its sister island. Paxos is a unique blend of enchanting verdant landscapes set in an azure sea. Inhabited by some of the world’s most charming and hospitable people and constantly bathed in European sunshine, this is a gorgeous place to explore. Two miles south, Antipaxos is a small island home to some of the finest beaches in the Ionian Sea with transparent ocean and white sands. Antipaxos doesn’t have its own permanent population, but many Paxiots own vineyards and cottages here. Stop to take a refreshing swim in the glittering water before arriving in Gaios, the main port and the centre of life in Paxos. When you approach Gaios from the north, you’ll enter a beautiful river-like passing through the islands of Panagia, where you can see a monastery of the Virgin Mary and the pine-covered island of St. Nicholas with its 1423 Venetian castle hidden in the trees. Explore the village of Gaios and the stunning coastline with your group tonight.
Day 7: Paxos – Corfu
Location: Paxos – Corfu
Accommodation: Overnight boat
Enjoy breakfast on the boat this morning and then set sail to the other most beautiful island in the Ionian belt – Corfu. Flanked by two imposing Venetian fortresses, Corfu’s town features winding medieval lanes, a French-style arcade and the grand Palace of St. Michael and St. George. When you arrive, you might like to swim and then walk the winding streets to see all the town's Venetian influences and gorgeous architecture. Liston is one of the most popular pedestrian streets on the island and a perfect meeting place for tourists, right next to the famous Spaniada Square. Maybe stop for a Greek coffee and some people-watching among the great seaside atmosphere. Tonight, hit Corfu’s main town for a final night out and farewell dinner with your group.
Day 8: Corfu
Location: Corfu
After breakfast this morning, disembark at Gouvia marina in Corfu and say goodbye to your skipper and fellow travellers. If you are flying out today, your trip leader can help you organise a taxi to the airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Overnight boat (7 nights)
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Fully Guided
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
What's Not Included
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Insurance
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International Travel
Transport
- This is a sailing adventure so our time is spent on board a monohull yacht. You may be asked to assist on-deck, particularly when coming into or leaving port. No experience is necessary, but getting to know some 'sailing language' might help to get you into the spirit of the adventure.
- Bow - front of the boat
- Stern - rear of the boat
- Port - left
- Starboard - right
- Deck - outside, upper area of the boat
- Hull - the main part or body of the boat
- Keel - part of the boat under water that keeps the boat stable and stops it capsizing
- Mainsail - the large sail attached to the mast and boom
- Mast - the big vertical pole that supports the mainsail
- Boom - the big horizontal pole attached to the mainsail, coming off the rear of the mast (swing from side to side)
- Jib, headsail, genoa, foresail - smaller sail near the front of the boat
- Sheet - ropes used to control the sails
- Booty - another word for pirate treasure
- Lines - other ropes on the boat (ropes are never called ropes on yachts)
- Spinnaker - large extra sail
- Trim the sails - adjust the position of the sails when the wind changes strength or direction
- Tiller or wheel or helm - used to steer the boat
- Helmsman - person steering the boat
- Running - sailing with the wind
- Tack - turning the bow of the boat when sailing through the wind
- Jibe - turning the stern of the boat when sailing through the wind
- Figure-eight knot - the stopper: often used at the end of lines to stop them getting away.
- Bowline (knot) - strong and dependable knot that is commonly used
- Clove Hitch (knot) - not as secure it is often used to attach an object to a line
Accommodation
- ACCOMMODATION ONBOARD THIS SAILING YACHT
- This trip is accommodated entirely on board a yacht of 48ft It is equipped with 2 double share cabins, 2 twin bunk cabins and 4 shared bathrooms with showers. Our boats are real yachts and this is a real sailing trip. Yachts are designed to keep sleeping areas to the absolute minimum of space, while maximising common areas as much as possible.
- Rooms are allocated on arrival by our skipper according to group composition, which means it is not possible to reserve or guarantee any specific berth or cabin. Single passengers will be paired up with another passenger of the same gender, this may mean sharing a double cabin with a double mattress. Everyone including the skipper shares the bathrooms on board.
- While not everyone may feel entirely comfortable living in such close quarters, those who are looking to revel in the adventure and exhilaration of an authentic sailing trip usually find any discomfort from cramped living conditions is more than made up for by the whole experience.
- ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION:
- Please note that the majority of our sailing trips start and/or finish at a marina or port. For most of our destinations, we can provide transfers between the airport/hotel and the port/marina. Please check the joining and finish point information in the trip notes for details.
- ELECTRICITY:
- While there should be electricity on board throughout your trip the voltage is likely to vary widely, from 12V to 220V, and when in port or moored we are dependent on the supply available. Please be aware that the supply may not be sufficient to power some electronic devices all the time and that you may need a voltage adapter or similar (such as portable inverter used in cars). On some trips it may be possible to charge devices ashore at restaurants or resorts, however this is not guaranteed.
- WI-FI:
- Please note that our sailing boats do not have Wi-Fi. You will be getting off the boat and visiting towns regularly so you will be able to connect with the outside world then.
Important Information
- START TIME:
- This trip starts on Day 1 in Kefalonia at 4pm and finishes in Corfu on the morning of Day 8 depending on weather conditions.
- ACCOMMODATION ONBOARD THIS SAILING YACHT
- This trip is accommodated entirely on board a yacht of 48ft It is equipped with 2 double share cabins, 2 twin bunk cabins and 4 shared bathrooms with showers. Our boats are real yachts and this is a real sailing trip. Yachts are designed to keep sleeping areas to the absolute minimum of space, while maximising common areas as much as possible.
- Rooms are allocated on arrival by our skipper according to group composition, which means it is not possible to reserve or guarantee any specific berth or cabin. Single passengers will be paired up with another passenger of the same gender, this may mean sharing a double cabin with a double mattress. Everyone including the skipper shares the bathrooms on board.
- While not everyone may feel entirely comfortable living in such close quarters, those who are looking to revel in the adventure and exhilaration of an authentic sailing trip usually find any discomfort from cramped living conditions is more than made up for by the whole experience.
- MINIMUM AGE:
- The minimum age on this trip is 15. Please note that triple cabins are not available. If travelling with a child, the child will need to share with one of the adults, and the other adult will share with another adult passenger, or purchase a single supplement.
- PASSPORT DETAILS:
- Please provide full passport details at time of booking including exact name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, issue and expiry dates as these are essential for booking services on this trip.
- ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION:
- Please note that the majority of our sailing trips start and/or finish at a marina or port. If you have pre-booked any additional accommodation through us, you will need to make your own way to the joining point on Day 1 and from the finish point on the final day. We do not provide transfers between hotels and the port/marina. Please check the Essential Trip Information for details.
- SNORKELLING
- There are many opportunities for snorkelling during this trip. Diving masks, snorkels and fins are provided onboard the yacht and are for use by all passengers. They are disinfected prior to use. Some customers may prefer to bring their own diving mask and snorkel from home and just use the fins available on board.
- TRIP KITTY:
- On this trip we highly recommend that you contribute to a kitty of EUR100 per person. The kitty is an on-ground payment put into a central fund managed by travellers. It helps fund for breakfast and lunch on the boat and other small items such as ice, water, snacks and drinks. Travellers are responsible for the preparation of these meals onboard and to shop at port where supermarkets are often very close to the mooring. Kitty amounts are subject to change to reflect local price increases. On day 1, the skipper will talk through the kitty and how it will be managed (by yourself or fellow travellers) The kitty will be collected when you arrive at the welcome meeting or in stages throughout your trip.
- ** Please note, the kitty amount should be used as a guide. More than likely you will not spend the full amount recommended however it's advisable to budget for this amount **
Mode of Transport
- This is a sailing adventure so our time is spent on board a monohull yacht. You may be asked to assist on-deck, particularly when coming into or leaving port. No experience is necessary, but getting to know some 'sailing language' might help to get you into the spirit of the adventure.
- Bow - front of the boat
- Stern - rear of the boat
- Port - left
- Starboard - right
- Deck - outside, upper area of the boat
- Hull - the main part or body of the boat
- Keel - part of the boat under water that keeps the boat stable and stops it capsizing
- Mainsail - the large sail attached to the mast and boom
- Mast - the big vertical pole that supports the mainsail
- Boom - the big horizontal pole attached to the mainsail, coming off the rear of the mast (swing from side to side)
- Jib, headsail, genoa, foresail - smaller sail near the front of the boat
- Sheet - ropes used to control the sails
- Booty - another word for pirate treasure
- Lines - other ropes on the boat (ropes are never called ropes on yachts)
- Spinnaker - large extra sail
- Trim the sails - adjust the position of the sails when the wind changes strength or direction
- Tiller or wheel or helm - used to steer the boat
- Helmsman - person steering the boat
- Running - sailing with the wind
- Tack - turning the bow of the boat when sailing through the wind
- Jibe - turning the stern of the boat when sailing through the wind
- Figure-eight knot - the stopper: often used at the end of lines to stop them getting away.
- Bowline (knot) - strong and dependable knot that is commonly used
- Clove Hitch (knot) - not as secure it is often used to attach an object to a line
Check out our Q&As
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Is this trip right for you
This trip is new to our range this year, and while we have thoroughly researched every detail, new destinations can sometimes throw some unexpected surprises. Often, it’ll be a great surprise, but every now and then there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.
As the majority of this trip takes place on a sailing boat, you’ll need to feel comfortable with moving about the vessel, including the use of stairs and ladders. The sailing boats will experience some roll and pitch in windier conditions (which are quite rare for Ionian waters). However, your skipper will use the sails and the force of the wind as natural stabilisers. In the event of unsafe weather conditions, the sailing will not go ahead
Our yachts have a small Zodiac on board, which is used to transport travellers to shore if we need to anchor in the bay. However, we will most often overnight in the small marinas on each island we visit, so the Zodiacs aren’t used. Zodiacs can sometimes be awkward to climb in and out of, but a sense of humour and a can-do attitude are all you need.
This is an adventure on board a real yacht, which means living spaces, cabins, bathrooms and showers need to be shared with other passengers. Sleeping quarters can be quite compact, but you will be spending the majority of your time above board in the open air. -
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, 15 years old or above
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This trip will raise your heart rate. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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