5 Day Ionian Yacht Charter Itinerary: The Best Route Through the Ionian Islands
Planning a 5 day Ionian yacht charter? Our team just returned from exploring the best routes through the Ionian Islands, with island-hopping stops, secluded bays, harbour towns and expert sailing tips for an unforgettable Greek itinerary.
Updated June 1, 2026
In April 2026, our Anchor team flew to Greece to experience a five-day yacht charter exploring the Ionian.
Our goal with trips like these is to explore the best sailing routes, speak with our operators, and get onboard the yachts to ensure they are in a good condition for our clients.
This first hand knowledge is incredibly valuable to our charter brokers to ensure they can make informed recommendations based on the style of vacation you enjoy.
Read on to find out where they travelled on their five-day Ionian yacht charter.
Check In at Nydri Base
After arriving at the floating pontoon of Athenian Yachts opposite Armonia Hotel, we proceeded to the office to complete all charter paperwork, organise the extras package, and finalise the security deposit.
For this trip we chartered a Lagoon 46 named “Pergisos”, supplied by Athenian Yachts, with our skipper Grigoris.
All Athenian Yachts vessels are conveniently moored at the floating pontoon in Nydri, only a few steps from the hotel and charter office, making embarkation smooth and stress-free.
Base Facilities
Armonia Hotel offers everything needed before departure:
- restaurant service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- swimming pool access
- showers and guest facilities
- luggage storage
The base is also conveniently located approximately:
- 45 minutes by car from Preveza Aktion Airport
- 5 minutes walk from the local supermarket
We completed all provisioning before departure, and the supermarket provided free delivery directly to the pontoon, meaning we did not need to carry supplies ourselves (a very convenient start to the trip!)
Route Planning and Provisioning
After the rest of our group arrived, we sat down together with our skipper, Grigoris, to talk through the itinerary and sailing plan for the next five days around the Ionian Islands. We discussed the planned route, overnight stops, weather conditions, and possible swim and lunch anchorages before settling into life onboard.
We recommend adding the early boarding option (if it's available) rather than the standard 5:00 PM embarkation time. Having access to the yacht earlier in the day gave us a significant head start, allowing enough time to complete provisioning, paperwork, safety briefings, and still depart comfortably in the afternoon instead of losing the entire first day in port.
With everything loaded and preparations complete, we finally set sail from Nydri at approximately 3:00 PM, beginning our Ionian sailing adventure.
Meganisi & Vathi
Our first stop was a small islet off the coast of Meganisi, approximately 30 minutes sailing from Nydri.
Surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise water, it was the perfect location for our first swim stop of the trip.
We spent time swimming, snorkelling, and paddle boarding while enjoying the peaceful scenery and calm Ionian waters.
Our second stop was further along the coast in another beautiful secluded bay near Meganisi.
Surrounded by calm turquoise waters and lush green scenery, it was the perfect place to relax for the afternoon.
We enjoyed a late lunch onboard, followed by more swimming, paddle boarding, and time soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the Ionian Islands.
We ended our first day in the beautiful harbour village of Vathi, our final destination for the evening.
Nestled on the east coast of Meganisi, Vathi is a charming and sheltered Ionian harbour known for its traditional waterfront tavernas, relaxed atmosphere, and picturesque scenery.
The harbour is lined with colourful fishing boats, sailing yachts, and cosy restaurants, making it a perfect overnight stop after a day on the water.
After settling in and enjoying a walk around the village, the whole crew ventured ashore for dinner, all craving traditional Greek gyros after our first day at sea. We enjoyed a fantastic meal at Gantzos, a local waterfront taverna serving generous portions, authentic flavours, and incredibly affordable prices, exactly the relaxed Greek island dining experience we had hoped for.
Later in the evening, some of us continued on to Boom Boom for cocktails and drinks by the harbour. A fun atmosphere, great music, and a lively waterfront setting made it the perfect way to end our first day in the Ionian Islands - highly recommended!
Kalamos & Kastos
Since we only had 5 days on this trip rather than the more typical 7-day charter, we set sail at 9am to make the most of every single day.
Our first stop was the beautiful bay of Kalamos for a swim and breakfast onboard.
One of the small responsibilities on a skippered charter is making sure the skipper is looked after as well. Guests can either provide a daily meal allowance for the skipper (we usually recommend around €30-40 per day) or simply prepare an extra plate of food onboard.
We bonded with our skipper from day one, so we always invited him to join us for meals - which honestly made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Our second stop was along the coast of Kalamos at beautiful Asprogiali Beach - another gorgeous spot for a swim and a bit of paddle boarding.
The beauty of having a skipper onboard is that he always did his best to show us as many secluded coves and hidden gems as possible - perfect little lunch stops with time for a swim and some water sports.
Our third stop wasn’t far from the second, again along the beautiful coastline near Asprogiali Beach.
We ended day two in beautiful Kastos - a tiny, peaceful island with a wonderfully authentic Greek atmosphere, charming waterfront tavernas, and crystal-clear water. It feels far quieter and more untouched than many of the better-known Ionian islands, which makes it a really special stop on a sailing itinerary.
There’s also a lovely Windmill Restaurant overlooking the harbour, perfect for dinner and sunset cocktails.
We chose to have dinner at the local Taverna Bellos. As it was still early in the season, many places were not yet open - generally everything starts opening up from 1 May onwards. The food was delicious, although definitely a little pricier compared to some of the other places we visited during the trip.
We finished the evening at Ela Café Bar - an amazing little balcony bar run by locals who have owned it for the last 14 years. The owner was certainly a character and had everyone laughing all evening, which made for a really fun and memorable end to the day.
Atokos & Ithaca
We left Kastos at around 9:30am with plans to head towards Pig Island at Atokos - specifically One House Bay.
It’s a truly spectacular swimming spot, with some of the clearest, most unreal water we’ve seen so far on the trip.
Today was planned as more of a “nature day” with multiple swim stops and no shops or restaurants along the way, so we made sure to stock up properly with plenty of provisioning onboard before setting off.
The bay fills up surprisingly quickly during the day, so it’s definitely worth arriving earlier to enjoy it before the crowds appear. We managed to spot a few of the famous pigs wandering around the beach. One thing our skipper did warn us about though… don’t feed the pigs!
Our second stop of the day wasn’t far from One House Bay and is another spot well known for pig sightings.
Another stop we made was along the coast of Ithaca, where we enjoyed lunch onboard and took the opportunity to film some content and photos of the team.
Further along the coastline, there are plenty more hidden bays with beautiful beaches and crystal-clear water - perfect for peaceful swim stops along the way.
Our final stop of day three was Vathy Harbour on the island of Ithaca, an absolutely gorgeous place and one of the prettiest harbour towns in the Ionian.
Surrounded by green hills and colourful waterfront buildings, Vathy has a wonderfully relaxed and authentic atmosphere. The harbour itself is naturally sheltered, making it a very peaceful overnight stop, with lovely little cafés, tavernas, and boutique shops lining the promenade.
We had dinner at Taverna O Batis, and the food was truly delicious. The portions were also incredibly generous - proper traditional Greek hospitality! A perfect way to end another fantastic day on the water.
Kioni, Kefalonia, & Fiskardo
With a slight delay this morning due to a problem with the outboard engine, we ended up leaving Vathy at around 11am. That said, I have to say the technician arrived promptly at 8am and fixed everything on the spot - a proper charter experience!
Honestly, in a place this beautiful, we never once felt bored or that the trip was spoiled in any way.
The highlight of the day was discovering some of the most gorgeous beaches and hidden gems around Ithaca.
On the way towards Gidaki Beach, we made a stop in Kioni. A wonderfully quirky little village with colourful waterfront houses, lovely boutique shops to browse, charming seafront restaurants, and a really relaxed atmosphere. It’s the kind of place you instantly fall in love with.
La Primarie Beach is probably one of the most beautiful beaches, with crystal-clear turquoise water, dramatic white cliffs, and that Ionian colour that almost doesn’t look real in photos. It’s one of those places where you arrive and instantly want to stay for hours.
Our next stop on day four was Kimilia Beach, off the coast of Kefalonia.
Our final stop of day four was beautiful Fiskardo, one of the most charming and elegant harbour towns in Kefalonia.
Unlike many places in Kefalonia, Fiskardo retained much of its traditional Venetian architecture, giving it a very colourful and sophisticated feel.
The waterfront is lined with lovely restaurants, cafés, boutique shops, and sailing yachts, creating such a vibrant atmosphere in the evenings.
For those who enjoy a bit of exploring and exercise whilst on holiday, there are also plenty of beautiful walking and hiking routes nearby. We recommend the walk to the lighthouse - the views are incredible and it’s a fantastic spot for photos overlooking the coastline and turquoise water below.
We had our final dinner of the trip at Roula’s Restaurant, which felt like a really special way to end the charter. We also invited our skipper to join us as a thank you for such an incredible trip and for looking after us so well throughout the week.
Lefkada, Sivota Bay, & Nidri
Early start for us today, as we wanted to explore as many beautiful spots as possible before heading home.
Our skipper was an absolute gem and made sure we experienced as much of the Ionian as possible, especially as our trip was only 5 days rather than a full week charter.
We left just after 7:30am and made our way towards the mainland coast of Lefkada, taking in the stunning cliffs, dramatic coastline, and countless beautiful beaches along the way. Every turn seemed to reveal another incredible view.
Our first short stop was just off Porto Katsiki Beach, which was absolutely breathtaking. Crystal-clear water, towering cliffs, and one of those places that truly lives up to the hype.
Next came Arilia Egremni Beach, without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen in the Ionian.
We climbed the steep stairs leading almost to the top of the cliff, and although the steps are definitely not for anyone afraid of heights, the view from above was simply unforgettable!
On our way back, we also stopped in Sivota Bay where we had arranged to meet one of our suppliers, Cavo Yachting, who prepared such a lovely welcome for us.
It was fantastic to finally see the whole base operation in person and meet the team and crew face-to-face. Sivota itself is absolutely gorgeous and definitely a must-stop destination when cruising the Ionian.
Return to Base
Afterwards, we made our way back to Nidri, where we wrapped up our amazing fam trip, said our goodbyes, and headed home.
This trip was such a valuable experience for the whole team - being able to explore these destinations with our own eyes, experience the yachts and service firsthand, and gather genuine insight that will help us make even better recommendations for our future clients
Need some help?
If you are unsure about charter or boat selection, contact us at Anchor to help you decide.
We only choose boats that are in excellent condition, and we are here to help you every step of the way and to make sure the whole process is as easy as possible.