Lefkas
via Ithaka & Kastos.
Sail a yacht charter from Lefkas through Ithaka to Kastos. Explore Odysseus’ island lore, serene bays, historic harbors, and the unspoiled charm of the Ionian.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Lefkas (D-Marin) → Meganisi
Easy 6 nm shake-down hop out of D-Marin Lefkas south to Meganisi — the most popular first-day Ionian anchorage. Spartochori sits high on the western cliffs; Vathi and Porto Atheni are the two main bays opposite.
Distance
11 NM
Sailing
~2.2h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Lefkas (D-Marin) → Meganisi
From Lefkas's busy D-Marin, fly across the blue embrace of the Ionian Sea. Meganisi is like a secret gem, its rocky coast lined with little bays. Drop anchor at Spartochori, where pastel homes stick to cliffs above the port. Discover the fabled Papanikolis Cave by boat; formerly housed WWII submarines, its echoing chambers Feast on grilled octopus at a waterfront taverna as evening colors the sky; the waves will be singing your first night under the stars.
Things to do
Visit the Papanikolis WWII sub cave
Climb to Spartochori cliff village
Snorkel sheltered Atheni Bay
Grilled octopus at Niagas Taverna
Mooring tip
Vathi small marina or Porto Atheni stern-to. Restaurant moorings in many of the smaller bays — pay for dinner, buoy is included.
Meganisi → Ithaka
Track the echoes of Odysseus toward Ithaka, the legendary hero's realm. Dock in Vathy, a horseshoe harbor encircled in terracotta houses and cypress trees. Swim in the sparkling waves of Dexa Bay or hike to the School of Homer, where ancient ruins lie above olive farms. By dusk, sip local Robola wine in a taverna courtyard; the air smelled strongly of jasmine and stories of homecoming.
Things to do
Visit the Cave of the Nymphs
Hike to the School of Homer ruins
Swim aquamarine Dexa Bay
Robola wine in a Vathy courtyard
Mooring tip
Vathy town quay stern-to with own anchor — first-come. Kioni and Frikes (north Ithaka) as quieter alternatives.
Ithaka → Kefalonia
Sail south to Kefalonia, where cobalt waters and drama plays out on cliffs. Explore the famous crescent of Myrtos Beach, its marble pebbles shining in the sun. Wander Assos, a pastel village defended by a Venetian castle, or explore Melissani Cave, where sunshine pours down the subterranean lake like liquid gold. Feast on kreatopita, meat pie, in Fiskardo, whose harbour is alive with yachts and neoclassical appeal.
Things to do
Walk the pastel Fiskardo Riva
Day-trip to Myrtos beach overlook
Visit Melissani underground lake
Kreatopita meat pie at a quayside taverna
Mooring tip
Fiskardo town quay stern-to is small — arrive early. Anchor in Foki Bay 1 nm south for a quieter alternative.
Kefalonia → Kastos
Get away to Kastos, an island lost in time. Anchor at the single harbor, where fishing boats bob next to a lazy promenade. Snorkel the Blue Cave's glittering depths or hike the donkey paths to Kastos Village, their stone cottages sheltered by fig trees. Lunch is scheduled. Simple perfection: tomato-drenched briam (grilled vegetables) in a family-owned kafeneio, the sea breeze your lone friend.
Things to do
Snorkel the Blue Cave shore
Walk the Kastos donkey paths
See the abandoned hilltop windmill
Briam vegetable stew at a kafeneio
Mooring tip
Kastos harbour town quay or restaurant moorings off the village — pay for dinner ashore.
Kastos → Kalamos
Go west to Kalamos, where isolated bays are lined with pine trees. Hike to the Abandoned Village, where crumbling stone walls tell of past life, or swim at Asprogiali Beach, its pebbles polished to moonstone smoothness. Join residents of Port Kalamos for savoro fish—fried crisp with rosemary and vinegar—at sunset as the sky becomes apricot and rose.
Things to do
Hike to the Port Leone ghost village
Swim moonstone-pebble Asprogiali Beach
Climb up to Episkopi village
Savoro vinegar-fried fish at the harbour
Mooring tip
Port Kalamos town quay stern-to. Anchor in Asprogiali Bay on sand at 5-7 m for a quieter night.
Kalamos → Lefkas (D-Marin)
Go back to Lefkas sailing slowly down the lush shoreline of the mainland. Stop for a last plunge at Egremni Beach (if accessible; its waters are strange; its cliffs are sheer). At a marina-side taverna in D-Marin, toast your journey with ouzo and saganaki; the rigging of ships clinking like wind chimes in the twilight.
Things to do
Optional Porto Katsiki cliff-beach stop
Final passage with the afternoon thermal
Browse Lefkas market for embroidery
Ouzo and saganaki at a marina taverna
Mooring tip
D-Marin Lefkas — full-service charter base. Confirm fuel slot 24h ahead.
Lefkas → Check-out
Savour one last Ionian morning in Lefkas Town with a strong Greek coffee accompanied by honey-drenched loukoumades, or doughnuts. Search the cobblestone market for leather sandals, then stroll the lagoon's floating bridges. Disembark with salt-streaked hair, a heart full of fabled waters, and a pledge to return—because the Ionian never really lets you go.
Things to do
Greek coffee with loukoumades
Walk the lagoon floating bridges
Browse the leather-sandal market
Pack-and-clean for handover
Mooring tip
D-Marin Lefkas handover — confirm fuel slot and clean-time the evening before.
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