From Lefkas to Lefkas
(South Route).

Wedged between the impossible blues of the Ionian Sea and tree-dashed slopes, the traditional town of Sivota makes a charming starting point. Its buzzing harbor hums with cafés and tavernas, while carved coastline coves invite sunbathing and swims. Inland, rolling forests, mountain rivers, and pretty villages lend a storybook quality to this corner of Greece. For a beach day, white-sand Karavostasi is a must.

Known as Paxi or Paxoi, this cluster of islands is famed for its discreet cosmopolitan glamour. Paxos’s three main villages: Gaios, Lakka, and Loggos unfold in a tableau of traditional houses, vine-draped tavernas, and boutique shops. Olive groves, vineyards, and quiet beaches make it a place to slow down. Explore the Blue Caves by tender, dive into Antipaxos’s turquoise waters, or join in the island’s lively summer festivals.

Just south of Paxos, Antipaxos is a tiny jewel of vine-covered hills and crystalline beaches. Hike its olive groves in under an hour, snorkel secluded coves, or linger at Voutoumi Beach where chalk cliffs rise over translucent water.

Meganisi unfurls like a flower into a lace of hidden bays and coves. This small Ionian island blends simple pleasures – tavernas serving fresh fish, Fanari’s quiet sands, and Spilia’s sheltered swimming spots – with touches of history. Visit the 15th-century church of Agios Ioannis, take a tender into Papanikolis Sea Cave, or anchor at Vathy village where painted fishing boats line the quay.

Rugged Kefalonia pairs soaring peaks with crystalline beaches. Hike Mount Enos for panoramic views, tour local wineries, or relax in Assos’s colorful harbor. Famed beaches like Myrtos and Xi are cinematic in beauty, while literary lore lingers – Lord Byron wrote here, and the island starred in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.

Mythic Ithaca, home of Odysseus, exudes quiet majesty. Hike to Homer’s School near Exogi for sweeping views of Afales Bay, or wander Vathy’s harborfront streets. Pale-blue waters sparkle at beaches like Dexa and Gidaki, perfect for families or water toys. History, hiking, and hidden lagoons combine to create a timeless escape.

Called the “Caribbean of Greece,” Lefkada glows with turquoise waters and white cliffs. Swim at famed beaches Porto Katsiki, Egremni, and Kathisma, or stroll Lefkada Town for Venetian castles, boutique shopping, and waterfront dining. In Agios Nikitas, sip wine in a seaside taverna, then chase waterfalls inland before returning to your yacht.

Circle back to Sivota, a storybook harbor town framed by Ionian blues and mountain green. Swim in hidden coves, stroll lively waterfronts, or retreat inland to rivers and villages steeped in ancient lore. It’s Greece at its most idyllic.

Savor a final morning in Sivota. Linger at the cafés, dip once more into turquoise waters, or wander tree-shaded lanes before disembarking with memories of Ionian magic.