Self-Launched Ionian Island Adventure: Athens, Zakynthos, Kefalonia & Lefkada
10 days · Ionian Islands, Greece
Private Tours Greece charges £2,327
No-markup version: ~£695 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY rebuild of Private Tours Greece's 10-day Ionian island hopping tour, swapping private drivers and 3-4* hotels for public buses, KTEL coaches, Hellenic Seaways/Levante ferries and well-located hostels and guesthouses. You'll still hit the big hitters — Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach and the Blue Caves, Laganas turtle bay, Myrtos Beach, Melissani Cave, Porto Katsiki, the Acropolis and a Monastiraki food crawl — but you'll book each cruise, cave entry and guided walk yourself through GetYourGuide, Klook or the operator's own website. Costs are rough backpacker/budget estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Athens — Plaka & Anafiotika by foot
Athens
Land at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) and take Metro Line 3 straight into the city centre (~€9/£8 one way, 40 mins to Monastiraki or Syntagma) — no need for a private transfer. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Monastiraki/Plaka (e.g. Athens Backpackers, City Circus or a small Plaka guesthouse). Spend the late afternoon wandering Plaka's lanes up to Anafiotika and watching sunset from Areopagus Hill (free). Dinner of gyros or a cheap taverna plate in Psyrri.
🚌Metro Line 3 airport–centre ~£8 return later; walking
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Monastiraki/Plaka (~£22)
- →Metro Line 3 from ATH to Monastiraki
- →Plaka & Anafiotika wander
- →Sunset at Areopagus Hill
- →Psyrri taverna dinner
Athens to Zakynthos via Kyllini ferry
Zakynthos (Zante)
Take the KTEL intercity bus from Athens (Kifissos terminal) to Kyllini port (~4 hrs, ~€25/£21) — buses are timed to meet the ferry. Hop the Levante/Zante ferries crossing to Zakynthos Town (~1 hr, ~€10/£9). Settle into a guesthouse in Zakynthos Town or Laganas. Late afternoon, swim at Laganas Bay — the loggerhead turtle nesting gulf — and eat at a seafront taverna in Argassi or Zakynthos Town.
🚌KTEL coach ~£21 + ferry ~£9
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room, Zakynthos Town/Laganas (~£25)
- →KTEL bus Athens–Kyllini
- →Ferry Kyllini–Zakynthos
- →Laganas Bay swim
- →Zakynthos Town evening stroll
Navagio, Blue Caves & Keri Caves boat day
Zakynthos (Zante)
Book the classic full-day boat trip online in advance via GetYourGuide or Klook (roughly £25-35) or buy a ticket at the quay in Zakynthos Town/Agia Nikolaos. You'll cruise to Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach for photos and a swim, thread through the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari, pass Agalas and Keri Caves, stop for snorkelling at Oasis/St Nicholas Beach near Vasilikos, and get a photo stop at Turtle Island (Marathonisi). Bring your own snorkel and a packed lunch to keep costs down; dinner back in Zakynthos Town.
🚌Walk/local bus to quay
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room, Zakynthos Town/Laganas (~£25)
- →Full-day boat cruise (Shipwreck Beach, Blue Caves, Keri Caves)
- →Swim & snorkel at Oasis/St Nicholas Beach
- →Turtle Island photo stop
Ferry to Kefalonia — Assos & Myrtos Beach
Kefalonia (Argostoli)
Cross from Zakynthos to Kefalonia (seasonal Ionian ferries via Poros or Sami; ~1.5-2 hrs, ~£12-15 — check Levante and Ionian Ferries schedules as routes are seasonal). Base yourself in Argostoli, the capital, or Lassi. In the afternoon take the local KTEL bus or a shared taxi toward Assos village (pastel houses on a peninsula below a Venetian castle) and stop at Myrtos Beach for the classic white-cliff viewpoint and a swim. Note Myrtos has no facilities, so carry water.
🚌Ferry ~£14 + local bus ~£4
🛏Guesthouse in Argostoli or Lassi (~£28)
- →Ferry Zakynthos–Kefalonia
- →Assos village & castle viewpoint
- →Myrtos Beach swim
Melissani Cave, Drogarati & Fiskardo
Kefalonia (Argostoli)
Take the morning KTEL bus toward Sami and walk/taxi the short hop to Melissani Cave (Lake of the Nymphs) — entry and the little rowboat across the turquoise lake is about €9/£8 (book ahead in high season via GetYourGuide if you want a slot). Combine with Drogarati Cave nearby (~€5/£4). Continue by bus up to Fiskardo, Kefalonia's prettiest harbour village for lunch, then return to Argostoli by late bus. Alternatively, a half-day shared minibus tour covers all three for ~£30.
🚌Local KTEL buses ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Argostoli or Lassi (~£28)
- →Melissani Cave boat ride
- →Drogarati Cave
- →Fiskardo harbour village
Kefalonia to Lefkada via mainland
Lefkada
Travel onward by ferry to Sami/Fiskardo and then a bus-and-ferry combo via Aitoliko or Preveza to Lefkada (Lefkada Town is joined to the mainland by a short causeway — no ferry needed for the town itself). Arrive in Lefkada Town and check into a guesthouse or hostel in the old town. Afternoon wander among the colourful wooden houses, the lagoon, and a cheap seafood dinner by the marina.
🚌Ferry + KTEL coach ~£18
🛏Guesthouse, Lefkada Town (~£26)
- →Ferry/bus hop Kefalonia–Lefkada
- →Lefkada Town old quarter walk
Porto Katsiki & Egremni beaches
Lefkada
Catch the morning Lefkada–Vasiliki KTEL bus, then the summer beach shuttle or a shared taxi boat to Porto Katsiki (dramatic white cliffs, turquoise water) — entry via steps or boat drop-off. Optionally add Egremni Beach, best reached by the water taxi from Vasiliki. Bring shade, water and food; the beach cafés are pricey. Return to Lefkada Town in the evening, or consider the full-day island boat cruise (£35-45 via GetYourGuide) that also takes in Ithaca, Meganisi and Scorpios if you'd rather be on the water.
🚌Local bus + shared boat ~£10
🛏Guesthouse, Lefkada Town (~£26)
- →Porto Katsiki Beach
- →Optional Egremni Beach water taxi
- →Optional Ithaca/Meganisi/Scorpios boat cruise
Lefkada to Athens via Nafpaktos
Athens
Take the KTEL bus from Lefkada to Athens (~5 hrs) and break the journey at Nafpaktos (Naupactus), the walled Venetian port town on the Gulf of Corinth — stow your bag or simply hop off, wander the old harbour with its crescent of cafés, have a cheap seafood lunch next to the sea, then rejoin the bus. Arrive Athens in the evening and check back into a Monastiraki/Plaka hostel.
🚌KTEL coach ~£22
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Monastiraki/Plaka (~£22)
- →KTEL bus Lefkada–Athens
- →Nafpaktos Venetian old port stop
- →Seaside lunch
Acropolis & Monastiraki food walk
Athens
Head up early (open ~8am) to beat crowds and heat — buy your Acropolis timed ticket online via the official etickets.tap.gr site or GetYourGuide (~€20/£17, ~€30 with a licensed guide). See the Parthenon, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike and Erechtheion, then visit the Acropolis Museum (~€10/£9). In the afternoon, self-run a Monastiraki food crawl: loukoumades in the market, souvlaki at a Kalamaki/Bairaktaris-style grill house, Greek coffee, and a stroll through the flea market. Finish with rooftop drinks overlooking the lit Acropolis.
🚌Walking/Metro day pass ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Monastiraki/Plaka (~£22)
- →Acropolis & Parthenon timed entry
- →Acropolis Museum
- →Monastiraki street-food crawl
Fly home from Athens
Athens
Last morning for a rooftop breakfast or a quick wander to Syntagma to see the changing of the guard, then take Metro Line 3 to the airport (~40 mins, ~£8) for your flight home.
🚌Metro to airport ~£8
🛏—
- →Syntagma changing of the guard
- →Metro to ATH
Self-launched vs. Private Tours Greece
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Private Tours Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£695 | £2,327 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,632 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Private Tours Greece-style trips? Check them out here.~£695
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Ionian Island Adventure: Athens, Zakynthos, Kefalonia & Lefkada cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £695 per person for 10 days in Ionian Islands, Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Private Tours Greece?+
Yes — Private Tours Greece charges around £2,327 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £695 — a saving of roughly £1,632 (70%) per person.
How long is the Ionian Islands, Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Ionian Islands, Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a beaches, culture, backpacker trip through Ionian Islands, Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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