The Ionian by crewed yacht
The Ionian is Greece's green western sea, mostly outside the meltemi's reach, with short hops. June to September are the main months; May and October are good and quieter. It suits families and first charters most.
Greece's western islands look across to Italy, not to Asia. They are greener than the Aegean and wetter in spring and autumn. In summer they are usually calmer: they lie outside the meltemi's reach, and the wind here is a moderate afternoon breeze. On a first family charter in Greece, this is often where we would start the conversation.
Why go, and whom it suits
Families
The best fit in Greece. The water is calm in the mornings, the hops are short and there are sheltered bays everywhere. Children can swim off the stern before breakfast and again at sunset.
Couples
Paxos and Antipaxos, the quiet harbours around Lefkada and Meganisi, and old Corfu town for an evening. Gentle and green, rather than the white and blue of the Cyclades.
Friends
A good fit for a relaxed week of swimming and long lunches. For nightlife, Corfu town and Lefkada have bars, but if the group wants a scene, Mykonos, in the Cyclades, is the stronger choice.
What's there
Corfu
The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The north-east coast faces Albania across a narrow strait.
Paxos and Antipaxos
Small harbours at Lakka, Loggos and Gaios, and Antipaxos's bays for swimming.
The Epirus coast
Sivota and Parga on the mainland opposite, often left out, and worth a day.
Lefkada, Meganisi and the small islands
Kalamos, Kastos and Atokos: the sheltered water of the southern Ionian.
Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos
Further south, with longer legs, white cliffs, and bays with caves.
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When to go
June to September are the main months, and May and October are good. They are quieter and cooler, but have a little more chance of rain than the Aegean. In summer the Ionian sees little of the Aegean's meltemi, which is why this coast suits families and first charters.
What it costs
The fee is each yacht's own weekly rate, shown "from" on her page. VAT is added: a reduced 13% for a crewed charter over 48 hours, the standard 24% for a shorter one, shown in each quote. The APA is paid on top for fuel, food, drinks and berths; budget up to 40% of the charter fee for it, and whatever is not spent is returned to you. The legs are short in the northern Ionian, so fuel takes a modest share of the APA. For what a crewed charter costs, line by line, see our guide.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
A sample week
Corfu, Paxos and the Epirus coast. A round week from Corfu for a family or a first charter. Every leg is short.
- Day 1: Corfu town. Board in the afternoon. The old town's lanes and the Liston, then dinner ashore.
- Day 2: Corfu's north-east coast. Small coves facing the Albanian mountains, and a fish lunch at a waterside taverna.
- Day 3: Lakka, Paxos. South to Paxos's northern harbour: a round bay, ideal for swimming.
- Day 4: Antipaxos. A day in the bays of Antipaxos, then the night in Gaios or Loggos on Paxos.
- Day 5: Sivota. Across to the mainland: a cluster of islets and channels for paddleboards and the tender.
- Day 6: Parga. A Venetian castle above a small town, and dinner ashore.
- Day 7: Back to Corfu. A last swim on the way north, then disembark.
The yacht, the weather and the group decide the real route; this is one way it can go.
The yachts
Greece has the widest choice of any country we cover: catamarans, sailing yachts and motor yachts of every size. For a family, the catamarans are worth a look: steady at anchor, with wide decks. The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Practical questions
Rene GaspersicYour broker
Which airports serve the Ionian?
Corfu, Aktion near Preveza (for Lefkada) and Kefalonia, with Zakynthos further south.
Is the Ionian better than the Cyclades for children?
In July and August, usually yes: the water is calmer and the legs shorter. The Cyclades are lovely in June and September too.
Can we visit Albania from Corfu?
Sarandë and the Albanian coast are close to Corfu. Crossing means leaving Greece and entering Albania, with formalities on both sides. See Albania.
Can we combine the Ionian with Italy?
Southern Italy is a long crossing from Corfu. It works on a longer charter or a one-way route on a yacht that cruises both countries. See Italy.
North or south Ionian?
The north (Corfu, Paxos, Epirus) has shorter legs and more towns. The south (Lefkada to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos) is wilder, with longer legs and more dramatic coast.
Is it busy?
Paxos's harbours and Antipaxos's bays fill up in August. The crew knows the alternatives.
Is VAT included in the "from" price?
No. VAT and the APA are added to the fee; each yacht's quote shows both.
Where can we read about each island?
Greece's national tourist board has a page for each of the Ionian islands.
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family summer, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
Plan
The Ionian by crewed yacht.
Two short steps. Dates and budget can stay loose. We reply personally, by email, phone or WhatsApp.