A week from Lefkas around the Inland Sea
Sailors call the waters between Lefkas, Meganisi, Ithaca and the mainland the Inland Sea: the islands are packed so close that almost every leg runs in the lee of land, and the meltemi does not reach here. This route complements the classic week from Lefkas: it goes further south, to quiet Kalamos and the south-east coast of Kefalonia, and comes back via Fiskardo. A loop of about 111 nm with a longest day of 21 nm, so it also suits a first bareboat charter.
Day by day
Lefkas Marina
- Lefkas38.832, 20.712
Handover at Lefkas Marina, provisioning in town. You head south through the canal and the floating bridge, which opens once an hour.
Lefkas → Meganisi (Spilia)
- Skorpios38.693, 20.752
- Spilia (Meganisi)38.663, 20.760
- Nidritown quay38.706, 20.712
The canal, then past Nidri and the island of Skorpios, the usual swim stop. Spilia is a bay in the north-west of Meganisi with tavernas and jetties; a path climbs from it to the village of Spartochori.
Meganisi → Kalamos
- Kalamos38.622, 20.932
East to the island right off the mainland. Kalamos harbour is a small port below the village, with olives and pines on the slopes; on the hill above neighbouring Episkopi stand the ruins of a castle.
Kalamos → Ithaca (Vathy)
- Vathy (Ithaca)38.368, 20.716
- Kastostown quay38.568, 20.912
South-west past Kastos to Ithaca. Vathy lies at the head of a long inlet sheltered from almost every wind: a waterfront of tavernas, an archaeological museum and trails to the places linked with Odysseus.
Ithaca → Poros (Kefalonia)
- Poros (Kefalonia)38.150, 20.778
Along southern Ithaca to the south-east coast of Kefalonia. Poros is a small town with ferries to the Peloponnese and beaches on both sides of the harbour, away from the main yacht traffic.
Poros → Fiskardo
- Fiskardo38.461, 20.578
- Sami (Kefalonia)town quay38.253, 20.648
The longest day, north up the channel between Kefalonia and Ithaca. The north-westerly breeze fills in after lunch, so leave in the morning or the second half becomes a beat. Fiskardo is a village of Venetian houses that survived the 1953 earthquake.
Fiskardo → Meganisi (Port Atheni)
- Port Atheni (Meganisi)38.661, 20.798
- Kioni (Ithaca)town quay38.449, 20.691
Back north-east around the northern tip of Ithaca. Port Atheni is a branching inlet in the north-east of Meganisi: anchor with a line ashore in one of its arms or take a spot at a taverna jetty, well sheltered from the north-westerly.
Meganisi → Lefkas
- Lefkas38.832, 20.712
A short leg, the bridge on schedule, refuelling and handover.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Wind: in summer a north-westerly breeze of 10–20 knots blows by day and dies down in the evening; there is no meltemi here. Sail the northbound legs — Poros to Fiskardo and Fiskardo to Meganisi — before lunch, while the breeze is still light.
- The Lefkas bridge opens once an hour, on the hour. Plan departure and return around the schedule, or you will wait an hour on the water.
- Berths: Kalamos, Vathy, Poros and Fiskardo have town quays — stern-to on your own anchor; in Port Atheni and the Meganisi bays you anchor with a line ashore. In Poros keep clear of the ferry berth.
- Season: May to October. In July and August the Fiskardo quay is full by noon; June and September bring the same weather without the queues.
How to get to the marina
- Lefkas Marina, Lefkada
- Preveza (Aktion) (PVK) — 20 km, 25 min by carAthens (ATH) — 380 km, 4.5 h by car
25–35 min · €35–50 per car
Taxis meet every flight outside the terminal; the road crosses the floating bridge onto Lefkada. Surcharges at night and for extra luggage.
25–35 min · €40–60 per car
Pre-booked transfer with a name sign in arrivals, fixed price; a minivan for the whole crew is about €60–80.
25–35 min · €25–55 per day
Rental desks at Aktion airport; handy if you want to tour the island before or after the cruise.
35–60 min · €3–5 per person
KTEL bus Preveza – Lefkada stops on the main road by the airport, 2–4 times a day; it ends at Lefkada bus station, a few minutes' walk from the marina. Pay the driver.
5.5–7 h · €35–45 per person
From Athens: KTEL bus from Kifissos bus terminal to Lefkada, 3–4 a day; express bus X93 runs from the airport to Kifissos. Lefkada bus station is next to the marina.
Almost all direct flights to Preveza are seasonal, May to October. Off-season it is easier to fly to Athens and take the KTEL bus or a rental car.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
When to go and what it costs in Greece
Median € per berth per week from the agent's latest check, monohulls; each month's page has both boat types, a chart and boats departing that month.
Discounted boats in Greece
All boats in Greece
How long is the Lefkas — Kefalonia route and where do you stay overnight?
8 days and about 111 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Lefkas. Overnight stops in order: Lefkas, Spilia (Meganisi), Kalamos, Vathy (Ithaca), Poros (Kefalonia), Fiskardo, Port Atheni (Meganisi). The longest leg is day 6, 21 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Lefkas — Kefalonia route?
The route starts and finishes at Lefkas Marina, Lefkada. The nearest airport is Preveza (Aktion) (PVK), 20 km away. Fastest: taxi, 25–35 min, €35–50 per car. Cheapest: bus, 35–60 min, €3–5 per person.
When is the best time to sail the Lefkas — Kefalonia route?
Greece's season runs April to October. In July–August the meltemi blows 25–30 knots in the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, so beginners are better off in the Ionian or the Saronic Gulf in those months. June and September bring warm water, gentler wind and prices below the peak; April, May and October are the shoulder months and the cheapest weeks of the season. By the agent's latest checks (monohulls), the cheapest month is March: a median of ≈€237 per berth per week. The most expensive is December, at ≈€283. The most boats with 20% off or more are in October: 39%. The agent checks the current month and the next five; each month has its own page with the numbers.
How much does a yacht for this route cost?
A whole boat in Greece for a week starts from €945 in the agent's current selection: the cheapest discounted week departing in the next three months. Prices per berth by month are higher up the page; the boats are under “All boats in Greece”.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
