Self-Launched Ionian Islands Sailing Week (Lefkada → Ithaca → Kefalonia)
8 days · Ionian Islands, Greece
Med Sailing Holidays charges £1,490
No-markup version: ~£780 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Med Sailing Holidays' 8-day Ionian catamaran week. Instead of paying £1,500+ per person for a crewed Lagoon 42 with a skipper and hostess, you base yourself in Lefkada and hop the islands independently — using the Lefkada–Meganisi–Ithaca–Kefalonia ferry network, KTEL intercity coaches, and (the big money-saver) a shared day-sail or skippered flotilla day out of Nydri or Lefkas Marina to tick off the actual sailing and swim-stop experience. Same emerald water, same Blue Caves, Porto Katsiki, Fiskardo and Melissani Cave — for roughly a third of the price. Best suited to travellers comfortable with a mix of guesthouses, ferries and one splurge day on the water. Note: island ferry timetables in the Ionian are seasonal and thin out sharply after mid-September — check openseas.gr a few weeks out and build in a buffer day.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lefkada – Lefkas Town & marina
Lefkas Town (Lefkada)
Fly into Preveza/Aktion (PVK) — the closest airport, about 30 min from Lefkada — or take a KTEL coach from Athens (~5 hrs via the Rio-Antirrio bridge) or Patras. Local bus or shared taxi from Aktion to Lefkas town runs €10–15. Settle into a guesthouse in Lefkas Town, then walk the marina at dusk and watch the flotillas come in — this is where the commercial tour embarks, and it's free to soak up. Dinner at a taverna in the old town (mains €10–14). Optional: hire a scooter (€20/day) if you want to explore the island's west coast tomorrow morning.
🚌Flight to Preveza (PVK) or KTEL bus from Athens/Patras; local bus/shared taxi to Lefkas (~£12)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel private room, Lefkas Town (~£30/night)
- →Lefkas Town old town walk
- →Marina sunset stroll
- →Taverna dinner in Lefkas
Lefkada west coast + ferry to Meganisi
Meganisi / Porto Spilla
Morning on Lefkada's west coast — bus or scooter to Kathisma or Agios Nikitas beach for a swim. Afternoon take the local ferry from Nydri to Meganisi (Vathy or Spartochori), ~25–40 min, €3–5 each way. Meganisi is the day-1 stop on the tour: sheltered coves, tiny fishing harbours and the famous sea cave swim spots. Walk down to a quiet cove near Spartochori or take a water taxi to a beach only reachable by boat (€10–15 return), which is the DIY equivalent of the tour's 'private beach access at Porto Spilla'.
🚌Local bus/scooter on Lefkada; Nydri–Meganisi ferry ~£4 each way
🛏Meganisi guesthouse/studio (~£35/night)
- →Kathisma or Agios Nikitas beach
- →Ferry to Meganisi
- →Water taxi to a hidden cove
- →Spartochori village walk
Meganisi to Ithaca – Vathy & the Blue Caves
Vathy, Ithaca
Island-hop onward to Ithaca. In summer there are direct/seasonal boat links from Meganisi/Nydri to Vathy or Pisaetos (Ithaca) — otherwise return to Lefkada and take the Lefkada–Ithaca ferry (check openseas.gr; ~1–1.5 hrs, €8–12). Base in Vathy, the prettiest little horseshoe harbour in the Ionian. In the afternoon join a small-boat trip from Vathy or Frikes to the Blue Caves and the island's west-coast sea caves — half-day group boat ~€25–35 per person, bookable locally or via GetYourGuide. Evening: seafood taverna on the waterfront (€12–16).
🚌Inter-island ferry ~£10; local boat trip ~£30
🛏Vathy guesthouse/hostel (~£30/night)
- →Lefkada/Meganisi–Ithaca ferry
- →Blue Caves boat trip
- →Vathy harbour evening
- →Optional hike to Kathara monastery
Ithaca to Kefalonia – Sami & Melissani Cave
Sami, Kefalonia
Ferry from Ithaca (Pisaetos) to Sami on Kefalonia, ~30–45 min, €4–6 — the exact hop the tour makes on day 3. Sami is a low-key port town with good-value guesthouses. Afternoon: local bus or rented scooter (€15–20/day) to Melissani Cave (entry ~€8) where you're rowed across the underground lake, and if time allows the Drogarati Cave nearby (~€6). Antisamos Beach is 5 km from Sami and free — the turquoise bay where Captain Corelli's Mandolin was filmed.
🚌Ithaca–Sami ferry ~£5; scooter hire ~£18
🛏Sami guesthouse (~£30/night)
- →Ferry to Kefalonia
- →Melissani Cave boat ride
- →Drogarati Cave
- →Antisamos Beach swim
Kefalonia to Fiskardo – the prettiest harbour in Greece
Fiskardo, Kefalonia
Take the local bus north to Fiskardo (seasonal, ~2 hrs; otherwise a shared taxi or a taxi-boat from Sami/Agia Efimia — the boat is often cheaper and far nicer, €15–25). Fiskardo is a Venetian-era harbour village of pastel houses, yachts and excellent seafood, and it's where the tour anchors on day 4. Wander to the Venetian lighthouse, swim at Emblisi Beach (15 min walk), and eat grilled octopus on the quay in the evening.
🚌Local bus or taxi-boat to Fiskardo (~£20)
🛏Fiskardo studio/guesthouse (~£40/night)
- →Bus/boat to Fiskardo
- →Venetian lighthouse walk
- →Emblisi Beach
- →Harbour-side dinner
Fiskardo to Lefkada – Porto Katsiki & Sivota Bay
Sivota / Vasiliki, Lefkada
Ferry or boat back toward Lefkada, then local bus to Vasiliki or Sivota Bay on Lefkada's south coast. In the afternoon, get to Porto Katsiki — one of Greece's most photographed beaches, white cliffs plunging into turquoise water. Access is by bus from Vasiliki or Athani (~€5) plus a few hundred steps down; the tour reaches it by yacht, you reach it by road, same beach. Evening in Sivota Bay: small tavernas around a sheltered inlet, dinner €12–15.
🚌Ferry/boat + local bus (~£18)
🛏Vasiliki or Sivota guesthouse (~£32/night)
- →Ferry back to Lefkada
- →Porto Katsiki Beach
- →Sivota Bay harbour walk
- →Taverna evening
Sail day: Nydri, Papa Nicholas Caves & Ormos Vrako
Nydri / Lefkas Town
Today is the sailing day — the experience the commercial tour charges thousands for. Book a shared full-day sailing or catamaran trip from Nydri or Lefkas Marina (via GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly with one of the local operators on the marina), ~€55–80 per person. Typical routes cover the Meganisi channel, the Papa Nicholas sea caves for snorkelling, a swim stop at Ormos Vrako or a similar anchorage, and lunch on board — essentially days 6 and 7 of the original itinerary at a fraction of the cost. Solo-friendly, no sailing experience needed, and a good way to meet other travellers. Evening back in Lefkas Town.
🚌Local bus to Nydri (~£3); shared day-sail included in activity cost
🛏Guesthouse/hostel private room, Lefkas Town (~£30/night)
- →Shared skippered day-sail or catamaran trip (~£65)
- →Papa Nicholas Caves snorkelling
- →Ormos Vrako swim stop
- →Lefkas Town evening
Checkout and onward travel
Lefkas Town
Morning coffee on the marina, then bus or shared transfer back to Preveza/Aktion airport (~€10–15) or a KTEL coach onward to Athens or Patras. If your flight is late, leave your bag at the guesthouse and do a last swim at Milos or Ai Yannis beach just north of town.
🚌Local bus/shared transfer to Preveza airport or KTEL coach onward (~£12)
🛏—
- →Marina breakfast
- →Last swim at Ai Yannis Beach
Self-launched vs. Med Sailing Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Med Sailing Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£780 | £1,490 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £710 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Med Sailing Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£780
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 Islands Sailing Week (Lefkada → Ithaca → Kefalonia) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £780 per person for 8 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 Med Sailing Holidays?+
Yes — Med Sailing Holidays charges around £1,490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £780 — a saving of roughly £710 (48%) per person.
How long is the Ionian Islands, Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, backpacker, slow-travel 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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