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Destinations in the Ionian

From our base in Preveza, twelve islands and coastal towns are within easy reach, along with countless anchorages in between. Distances shown are approximate sailing distance from Preveza. Actual routes vary with wind and stops.

12Destinations
10-60NM Range
3Classic Routes

All twelve, by distance

DestinationFrom PrevezaRouteKnown for
Lefkada~10 nmHome WatersYour first stop
Meganisi~18 nmHome WatersQuiet anchorages
Kalamos~20 nmHome WatersAn untouched detour
Kastos~22 nmHome WatersTotal peace and quiet
Kefalonia~28 nmSouth IonianDramatic scenery
Parga~28 nmNorth IonianPostcard scenery
Atokos~32 nmSouth IonianWildlife and solitude
Ithaca~35 nmSouth IonianHistory and mythology
Paxos & Antipaxos~35 nmNorth IonianTurquoise water
Sivota Thesprotias~38 nmNorth IonianA lively northern stop
Corfu~55 nmNorth IonianA livelier stop
Zakynthos~55-60 nmSouth IonianIconic sights

Scroll the table sideways for every column.

Distances are straight line from Preveza. A comfortable day is 15 to 25 nautical miles, so most of these are a morning's sail from the one before it rather than from base.

Home Waters

Close, sheltered and calm. The natural choice for a relaxed week or a first charter.

Lefkada, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~10 nm from Preveza

Lefkada

Best for: your first stop

Connected to the mainland by a swing bridge, Lefkada is the natural gateway to the Ionian and the closest proper stop from Preveza. Lefkada Town's waterfront tavernas make it an easy first or last night, while the west coast hides some of the most photographed beaches in Greece.

Porto KatsikiEgremniLefkada Town
Meganisi, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~18 nm from Preveza

Meganisi

Best for: quiet anchorages

A short hop from Lefkada, Meganisi is where the pace slows right down: sheltered coves, olive groves and two low key villages, Vathy and Spartochori, instead of crowds. Part of the sheltered inland sea, and a favourite overnight anchorage for good reason.

Porto SpiliaVathy villageSheltered coves
Kalamos, yachts anchored over turquoise water in a sheltered bay ~20 nm from Preveza

Kalamos

Best for: an untouched detour

A small, mountainous island west of Mitikas with a single main village climbing up from the harbour. Life here moves slowly: pebble coves, olive terraces and a couple of tavernas by the water. A peaceful stop for guests who want a genuine slice of island life.

Kalamos villagePebble covesQuiet harbour
Kastos, a stone chapel below pine covered hillside by the water ~22 nm from Preveza

Kastos

Best for: total peace and quiet

Even smaller and quieter than neighbouring Kalamos, Kastos has one tiny settlement, a handful of residents and some of the most sheltered anchorages in the region. There is little to do here by design: swim, wander the lanes, and eat by the harbour under the tamarisk trees.

Kastos villageSheltered anchorageTamarisk harbour

South Ionian

The classic circuit: mythical harbours, dramatic cliffs and the most photographed beaches in Greece.

Kefalonia, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~28 nm from Preveza

Kefalonia

Best for: dramatic scenery

The largest of the Ionian islands, with the scenery to match: steep mountains, the underground lake at Melissani, and the white cliffs above Myrtos Beach. Fiskardo, its Venetian coloured harbour town, is one of the most charming stops on the whole itinerary.

FiskardoMyrtos BeachMelissani Cave
Atokos ~32 nm from Preveza

Atokos

Best for: wildlife and solitude

A tiny, privately owned island between Ithaca and Kastos with no permanent residents, just a handful of wild goats and pigs left to roam free. Anchor in Cliff Bay beneath its limestone cliffs for some of the clearest water on the route. Best as a detour rather than an overnight stop.

Cliff BayWild goats & pigsUninhabited
Ithaca ~35 nm from Preveza

Ithaca

Best for: history and mythology

The mythical home of Homer's Odysseus, Ithaca trades big attractions for quiet authenticity: steep green hills, tiny harbour villages and clear water. Vathy is the main port, while Kioni, tucked into a narrow inlet, is one of the prettiest anchorages in the Ionian.

VathyKioniEmerald water
Zakynthos, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~55-60 nm from Preveza

Zakynthos

Best for: iconic sights

Further south and worth the distance for one reason: Navagio, the shipwreck beach that shows up on every Greek postcard, plus the Blue Caves and the marine park where loggerhead turtles nest. Best suited to a ten day charter rather than a standard week.

Navagio BeachBlue CavesSea turtles

North Ionian

Longer passages north, rewarded with sea caves, Venetian towns and the clearest water on the route.

Parga, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~28 nm from Preveza

Parga

Best for: postcard scenery

One of the prettiest towns on the mainland coast, Parga climbs a hillside beneath a Venetian castle, its pastel houses framing a small harbour and a pair of postcard beaches, Valtos and Piso Kryoneri. A popular stop for lunch or an overnight before continuing north.

Venetian castleValtos BeachPastel harbour
Paxos & Antipaxos, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~35 nm from Preveza

Paxos & Antipaxos

Best for: turquoise water

Two small islands, disproportionately beautiful. Paxos and its harbour town Gaios are all pastel houses and olive groves, while tiny Antipaxos alongside has some of the clearest turquoise water in Greece, backed by a scatter of sea caves best explored by tender.

GaiosVoutoumi BeachSea caves
Sivota Thesprotias, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~38 nm from Preveza

Sivota Thesprotias

Best for: a lively northern stop

Not to be confused with the Sivota on Lefkada, this one sits on the Thesprotia coast near Igoumenitsa, wrapped around a natural bay dotted with small islets. A lively harbourfront of tavernas and cafes makes it a popular overnight for boats working north towards Corfu.

Mourtos isletsHarbourfront tavernasSheltered bay
Corfu, an island in the Ionian Sea, an island in the Ionian Sea ~55 nm from Preveza

Corfu

Best for: a livelier stop

The northernmost stretch of the itinerary and the most cosmopolitan: a UNESCO listed old town layered with Venetian, French and British history, plus lively anchorages like Kassiopi and Paleokastritsa. Best suited to longer charters with time to spare.

Corfu Old TownPaleokastritsaKassiopi
Sample Route

A week from Preveza

One easy way to link a few of these together, with plenty of room to change your mind along the way.

PrevezaLefkadaMeganisiFiskardoIthacaKalamosLefkadaPreveza

Prefer the north? Swap the southern leg for Parga, Paxos and Antipaxos, with a longer stop in Corfu. Tell us what you would like to see and we will shape the week around it.

Not sure which route fits your week?

Tell us your dates and group size and we will help you build the right itinerary.

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