WORLDWIDE YACHT CHARTERS INC
Yacht Sailing Holidays 

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THE IONIAN ISLANDS

     Corfu           Lefkada (Lefkas)
     Ithaka          Cephalonia
     Zakynthos (Zante)
     Preveza        Kythira
     Paxi              Meganisi
  

 Visit this site for all the information you need on the islands of the  IONIAN with more maps and pictures of each island

International airports and direct charter flights from Athens at Corfu, Zakynthos and city of Preveza. .
Bases in the Ionian Islands: 
Corfu- Marina Gouvia, Lefkada, Preveza

Gouvia Marina Map. click to enlarge

Suggested 1 and 2 weeks itineraries
Ask us for charter specific sailing routes to meet individual requests and interests
Sail from Gouvia Marina in Corfu      
                                  

A guide to Zakynthos island in the Ionian complex in Greece. 
The best beaches in the Mediterranean sea
         

Corfu History 
General Information
Corfu, the wooded isle of the Phaeacians, Odysseeus' last stop on his long journey home to Ithaca, is the best known of the lonian islands. It owes its sophistication and charm to the meshing of the different civilizations that have occupied the island and to the natural beauty with which it is so abundantly endowed. On this cosmopolitan island, you'll be able to combine relaxation with good times and a full nightlife, for Corfu is an international tourist centre which can satisfy the demands of the most difficult visitor.
The capital of the island is also called Corfu (Kerkira). It is built on a promontory that projects into the sea and is separated into a northern and a southern section. East of the northern part lies the Old Fortress, cut off from the town by a moat. For centuries all the popular of Corfu lived within this citadel, which was founded by the Byzantines but greatly expanded and strengthened by the Venetians. The town of Corfu is made up of completely dissimilar elements, left over from different civilizations. It presents an enchanting picture with its broad streets and spacious squares, the popular Spianada – the town "green" contrasting with its narrow back alleys paved with blocks of stone (known as "Kantounia"), houses with a B Italian influence, the famous Liston, a French arcade, traditional Georgian mansions, a Byzantine church, Venetian monuments, balconies with wrought-iron railings and window grilles.
Sightseeing in Town|
The Archaeological Museum: tel.: 2661030680, the Byzantine Museum housed in the Church of the Panayia Antivouniotissa (closed for' the time being); the Museum of Oriental Art: tel.: 2661023124 in the English Palace of St.. Michael and St. George; the Town Hall, a superb example of Venetian architecture built in 1663; the Byzantine church of St.. Jason and Sosipater (12th century) with fine frescoes; the church of Corfu's patron Saint Spyridon with its valuable icons and collection of Angelokastro, near Paleokastritsa, a Byzantine fortress dating from the 13th century. Pelekas, 13 kilometers west of the town, a lovely village set on a rocky hill, whose summit – according to the Corfiots say – is the best place to watch the sun go down. Not far from Pelekas in the Ropa Valley is situated Corfu's excellent golf course. Kanoni, 4 kilometers south of town is the most popular spot on the island.

Here a narrow causeway leads across the water to the Monastery of Vlacherna and from there one can take a caique to visit delightful Pondikonissi and its 13th century church. Gastouri, a picturesque hill village, is the site of the Achillion, the summer palace of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria and the last Kaiser, now a casino in the summer and a part of it a museum. Its gardens are well worth a stroll.
Other sights not to be missed include, on the east side of the island Kassiopi, Ipsos, Dassia, Gouvia, Benitses, Moraitika and Messongi On its west side Lake Korission (Limni Korission), the only lake on the island. In the northern part of the island are the resorts of Sidari, with its sandy beach, and Roda, whose beach is even longer. From Sidari you can take a boat to the three picturesque offshore islands of Erikoussa, Mathraki and Othoni. Their sheltered anchorages are ideal for swimming and sunbathing. But Corfu also has another side: a vital traditional facet to its personality still very much alive in the costumes of its village women and in its local festivals. Fine examples of folk art and crafts are displayed in shops all over the island: hand-woven textiles and embroideries with intricate designs, objects of all kinds carved out of olive wood, silver utensils and lovely jewelry.
How to get there
By bus from Athens or Thessaloniki (via Igoumenitsa)
Information: Bus Terminal Athens 100, Kifissou St., tel.: 210 5129443

By Plane: Information: El. Venizelos, tel.: 210 3530000

By ferry-boat: From Patras (10 hours), From Igoumenitsa (2 hours), From Sagiada (1 hour), From Italy (Bari, Ancona, Brindisi, Otranto)

Suggested Itineraries sailing from Lefkada(Lefkas)

Lefkas Town Fiscardo/Kefallonia
Fiscardo Agia Efimia/Kefallonia
Kefallonia Zakinthos
Zakinthos Vathi/Ithaki
Vathi Porto Leone/Kalamos
Porto Leone Lefkas
Lefkas  Lefkas Town

Transportation to Lefkas by Car or Bus
The distance Lefkas-Athens is 385 kilometers. You can reach Lefkas by your own car, via the bridge that connects Lefkas with Etoloakarnania, without transporting your car with the car-ferry boat. Alternatively, if you do not want to drive, you can reach Lefkas by KTEL buses, that leave from the big Greek cities, Athens, Thessalonica, Patras, Giannena. From Athens, bus service is daily and the travel lasts 5 hours, while the bus-connection to Thessalonica is 2 times per week and the travel lasts 7 hours. The sub-marine tunnel Preveza-Aktio and the bridge Rio-Antirio have facilitated a lot the access to the island of Lefkas.

 

Alternatives to reach Lefkas:

a.   book a flight directly to Aktion/Preveza airport. The transfer to Lefkas from Aktion Airport with a minivan (12 pax capacity) would cost – one-way – 100 euro.  Trip duration is 25 min.  Every year, the available flights appear around March/April. 

b.   transfer to Lefkas from the Athens Airport with a minivan (12 pax capacity).  Cost – one-way - is 660 euro (driver, fuel, toll fees).  Trip duration is 4 h. 30 min.  A taxi for 4 persons maximum is Euro 400.

c.   Messolonghi as an alternate embarkation port.
It is a picturesque, out-of-the bitten track small city, half-located on canals, with lagoon complexes on the west  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messolonghi   It is an alternative port of embarkation (38^o 23’ 0’’ N, 21^o 26’ 0’’ E )
being closer to Athens, and on the opening to the Ionian, and is especially suitable if they wish to explore the mid-southern Ionian.
The transfer to Messolonghi from Athens Airport with a minivan (12 pax capacity) would cost – one-way – 550 euro.  Trip duration is 2 h 45 min. A taxi for 4 persons maximum is Euro 360.

d.      If clients fly to Corfu, taxis take them to the ferries, and across to Igoumenitsa (1h 15 min trip, cost 10 euro pp).  A minivan will be waiting for them at the port, and transfer them to Lefkas – cost appx 330 euro one-way, trip duration from Igoumenitsa 1h 30 min.

Exas Worldwide Yacht Charters Inc
           Tel: (919) 237-1607    eFax: (919) 287-2390           
 Email: info@exasyachts.com    Skype: exasyachts
  
 Athens: Greece Tel: (011 30 213) 036 4948      Mobile: (011 30)  6949 839910