If you have got one week in the Ionian and want to see the best of it by yacht, this is the route that gets it right. It is a one-way itinerary from Corfu to Zakynthos, around 220 nautical miles, designed specifically for crewed charters. It runs the full length of the island chain without doubling back, hitting major names like Paxos, Lefkada, and Kefalonia, but also quieter, off-track stops like Antipaxos, Ithaca, and Assos.
The Ionian is made for this kind of trip: calmer seas, shorter hops, less wind stress than the Cyclades. It is greener, slower, and in many ways more rewarding.
The week runs Saturday to Saturday: board Saturday afternoon in Corfu, hand back the following Saturday morning in Zakynthos, seven nights on board. A one-way charter means a repositioning fee to get the yacht back to Corfu, we quote it up front so there are no surprises.
The route at a glance
- Day 1: Board in Corfu
- Day 2: Corfu to Paxos (about 30nm)
- Day 3: Paxos to Antipaxos to Lefkada (about 33nm)
- Day 4: Lefkada to Meganisi, then Sivota (about 20nm)
- Day 5: Sivota to Ithaca, Vathy (about 25nm)
- Day 6: Ithaca to Kefalonia, Assos or Fiskardo (about 20nm)
- Day 7: Kefalonia to Poros (about 30nm)
- Day 8: Poros to Zakynthos (about 20nm)
Day 1 – Board in Corfu
Midday: boarding in Corfu
Corfu is the main charter hub of the Ionian, easy to fly into, well-connected, and a great place to start. The airport is minutes from the marina, and most crews arrange a seamless pickup.
Afternoon: a light wander
If you arrive early, it is worth exploring Corfu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Venetian architecture, narrow alleys, and laid-back cafes. No need to overdo it, just a light stroll.
Evening: a good dinner before boarding
A relaxed first dinner ashore before boarding, Corfu Town’s old harbour is worth lingering over, since tomorrow is when the actual sailing begins.
Broker insight
One-way down the Ionian means you never backtrack, so every day is new water. Book it early though, the one-way yachts and Corfu to Zakynthos logistics get tight in peak weeks.
John Boullin
Charter Broker
Overnight: Corfu.
Don’t Miss
- Corfu Town’s Venetian architecture and narrow alleys
- A seamless pickup minutes from the airport
- A first evening in Corfu Town’s old harbour before you sail
Day 2 – Corfu to Paxos (about 30nm)
Morning: Lakka Bay
Depart Corfu and cruise to Paxos. The first swim stop is Lakka Bay, calm, wide, and protected, ideal for jumping straight off the yacht. Even with breeze outside, the water here stays flat.
Afternoon: the Blue Caves and Ortholithos
If conditions allow, the crew can take you by tender to the Blue Caves and the Ortholithos sea stack on the west coast, dramatic limestone formations only accessible by sea.
Evening: Lakka or Gaios
Stay overnight in Lakka for a quiet evening, or continue to Gaios for more dining and atmosphere. For dinner in Gaios, Carnayo is a standout choice for elevated Greek food.
Overnight: Lakka, or Gaios, Paxos.
Don’t Miss
- The Blue Caves and Ortholithos sea stack, by tender
- Swimming in Lakka Bay’s flat, protected water
- Dinner at Carnayo in Gaios
Day 3 – Paxos to Antipaxos to Lefkada (about 33nm)
Morning: Voutoumi Bay
Antipaxos is uninhabited, undeveloped and unforgettable. It is just 4 nautical miles from Paxos, but once you round the corner into Voutoumi Bay, the water turns a different shade, bright, pale blue over white sand, shallow enough to anchor close in. Most day boats leave by 5pm.
Afternoon: caves and snorkelling channels
The best swim is along the rocky edge past the beach, caves, snorkelling channels, and total quiet. Two simple tavernas ashore, Spiros and Bella Vista, and if the sea is calm, sunset drinks around the headland with no one else in sight.
Evening: on to Lefkada
If the forecast is stable, overnighting at Antipaxos is a highlight of the week; otherwise continue on to Lefkada for the night.
Overnight: Voutoumi Bay, Antipaxos, or Lefkada.
Don’t Miss
- Voutoumi Bay’s pale-blue water over white sand
- Snorkelling channels and sea caves along the rocky edge
- Sunset drinks around the headland, no one else in sight
Day 4 – Lefkada to Meganisi, then Sivota (about 20nm)
Morning: Papanikolis Cave
A short cruise with lots to do. Meganisi offers green hills and hidden coves perfect for a relaxed swim. Papanikolis Cave, visited by tender, is a massive sea cave with a WWII story behind it.
Lunch: Porto Spilia
The crew can arrange a lunch stop at Spilia, or Porto Spilia, a yacht-friendly taverna with easy docking and good service.
Evening: Sivota
End the day in Sivota, a charming port lined with tavernas. 12 Gods is worth booking for a well-run waterfront dinner in high season.
Overnight: Sivota.
Don’t Miss
- Papanikolis Cave’s real WWII backstory
- Meganisi’s hidden coves and green hills
- Dinner at 12 Gods in Sivota
Day 5 – Sivota to Ithaca, Vathy (about 25nm)
Morning: Gidaki Beach
Start the day with a swim stop at Gidaki Beach, a top spot that feels exclusive thanks to boat-only access.
Afternoon: Filiatro Beach
A second swim at Filiatro Beach near Vathy, clear, calm water close enough to port that nobody has to rush the transfer back.
Evening: Vathy
Dock in Vathy, Ithaca’s main harbour, laid-back and authentic, with cafes, small shops, and a casual local vibe. The Archaeological Museum is small but informative if the group wants a cultural stop. Keep dinner simple and seafood-focused, a classic harbour fish taverna is the way to go.
Overnight: Vathy, Ithaca.
Don’t Miss
- Gidaki Beach, boat-only access
- Filiatro Beach’s clear water close to port
- A classic seafood dinner in Vathy’s harbour
Day 6 – Ithaca to Kefalonia, Assos or Fiskardo (about 20nm)
Morning: dramatic scenery
Today is about dramatic scenery on Kefalonia, and about choosing between two very different evenings, one quiet and one polished, depending on what the group feels like.
Afternoon: Assos or Fiskardo
Assos is quiet, photogenic, and framed by cliffs, walk up to the Venetian Castle for the view. Fiskardo is polished, busy, and full of charm, a lively waterfront with shops and upscale tavernas.
Evening: dinner
For dinner in Fiskardo, Tassia is the go-to reservation. Assos is more low-key, ideal if the group wants a slower evening.
Overnight: Assos, or Fiskardo, Kefalonia.
Don’t Miss
- The Venetian Castle above Assos
- Fiskardo’s polished waterfront, if the group wants more buzz
- Dinner at Tassia in Fiskardo
Day 7 – Kefalonia to Poros (about 30nm)
Morning: Myrtos Beach
Cruise along Kefalonia’s coast to Myrtos Beach, one of Greece’s most photographed spots, shockingly blue water and cliffs that make it feel remote. A quick swim-and-photo stop is worth the detour.
Afternoon: on to Poros
Continue to Poros, a quieter port with a relaxed local vibe on Kefalonia’s southeast coast, positioned for the short final hop to Zakynthos tomorrow.
Evening: the waterfront
The waterfront in Poros is simple but pleasant, a scattering of tavernas rather than a scene, exactly the kind of low-key evening that suits the night before a short final crossing.
Overnight: Poros, Kefalonia.
Don’t Miss
- Myrtos Beach’s shockingly blue water
- A quiet, unhurried evening in Poros
- Positioned for the short final crossing to Zakynthos
Day 8 – Poros to Zakynthos (about 20nm)
Morning: the final crossing
The shortest crossing of the week, an easy final morning over to Zakynthos, with the whole island chain from Corfu behind you and nothing to rush.
Afternoon: Zante Town
Dock in Zante Town, Zakynthos’ capital, and if there is time before disembarking, climb to Bochali viewpoint above the town for a last panoramic look over the bay.
Departure: Disembarkation is Saturday morning after breakfast.
Don’t Miss
- A last panorama from Bochali, above Zante Town
- An easy, unhurried final crossing
- A week’s worth of islands, never doubling back
Making This Week Work
The one-way fee
A one-way charter’s biggest practical surprise is the repositioning fee to get the yacht back to Corfu, not the yacht type. We quote it up front alongside the charter rate so there are no surprises later.
How weather can change the week
The Ionian is protected from the meltemi that shapes a Cyclades charter, calmer seas and shorter hops throughout. Conditions can still shift the day order, your captain will call it as you go.
Best Months to Book
- Best: June and September, warm water with fewer crowds at the headline beaches
- Toughest: nothing in the Ionian is truly difficult in summer, July and August are simply the busiest at Antipaxos and Myrtos
Want to end the week back where you started? See our Ionian round-trip itinerary from Corfu, same islands, returning to Corfu with no one-way repositioning fee. Picking the boat next? These are the catamarans actually based in the Ionian, with their home ports listed.
