Bare Odyssey: Sail the Ionian (September 4-11, 2027)

Description

Starting Port City: Preveza, Greece

Ending Port City: Preveza, Greece

Travel advice:

• Flying in: fly to Aktion National Airport (PVK, also listed as Preveza/Lefkada). It is served by seasonal direct flights from many European cities, including Austrian from Vienna, Condor services from Germany.
• Via Athens: if there is no convenient direct flight, fly to Athens (ATH) and continue to Preveza by car, transfer or by intercity KTEL bus.
• Airport to marina: the ride to the marina takes about 15 minutes.

Planned Itinerary

(subject to change, for example due to weather)

Day 1: Saturday – Preveza

Embarkation: After 17:00 at Preveza Marina.

• Settle in and meet your crew and shipmates over welcome drinks and a short briefing on the boat, safety and the week ahead.
• Head into town for dinner along Preveza’s pedestrian waterfront and cobblestone lanes, lined with tavernas and cafés. First night on board, moored at the marina.
• Early arrivals can visit the town’s castles (Agios Andreas, Agios Georgios and Pantokratoras) or the Museum of the Aktion Naval Battle.

Day 2: Sunday – Preveza to Lefkas

• Cast off and head south to Lefkas island. Time to sail the Ionian properly, with swim stops in turquoise coves along the way.
• Explore the Lefkas lagoon and the Agia Mavra fort.
• Dinner and night at anchor in a quiet bay off Lefkas.

Day 3: Monday – Lefkas to Atokos and Kastos

• Sail to Atokos for a lunch swim in a quiet bay of white pebbles beneath pale cliffs.
• Continue to Kastos, a tiny, unspoilt island with empty beaches, lush green hills and scarcely more than 50 permanent residents.
• Settle into one of Kastos’s two quiet harbours and enjoy an unhurried evening on the water.

Day 4: Tuesday – Kastos to Ithaca

• Set sail for Ithaca, the legendary home of Odysseus and a paradise of lush greenery and blue-green waters.
• Swim at Gidaki or Filiatro beach, two of Ithaca’s best-loved bathing spots.
• Stay off Vathy, one of Ithaca’s most picturesque villages, and follow in Odysseus’s footsteps at the Nymphs Cave (Marmarospilia) and the Evmaios Cave if you feel energetic for a hike.

Day 5: Wednesday – Ithaca to Kefalonia

• Cross to Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands, with its countless coves and lush vegetation. We will stop at Sami or Fiskardo, depending on the progress and wind.
• Visit the Melissani Cave near Sami, a cave lake lit through its open roof (if we are staying in Sami).
• Swim and snorkel in clear coves along the coast, then wander the harbour village.

Day 6: Thursday – Kefalonia to Meganisi

• Sail back towards the Lefkas side to Meganisi southeast of Lefkas.
• Discover traditional architecture, green landscapes and picturesque bays with crystal-clear water.
• Swim stop, then a relaxed evening on the water to toast the week.

Day 7: Friday – Meganisi to Preveza

• One last morning swim in Meganisi’s clear water before heading north to Preveza, with possible last skinny dip and lunch stop on the way.
• Arrive back at Preveza Marina in the afternoon, with time to freshen up and explore the old town.
• Last evening and dinner in Preveza’s old town and one last night aboard with your new besties.

Day 8: Saturday – Preveza

Disembarkation: By 09:00 at Preveza Marina.

• Exchange contact info with your new friends
• Head out to explore the town, or head to the airport for your return journey home with a ton of new memories and connections

What’s Included?

About this Trip’s Catering

For this trip, we will collect a kitty and ask each person to make an initial contribution of €350 upon arrival – we will either top it up along the way if we need, or we will refund any remaining balance at the end to everyone.  The caterer will also be the “minister of finance” and manage the kitty on this trip.  We’ll send a food & drink preferences questionnaire prior to the start of the trip, so we can ensure we stock up on items you like and take any dietary restrictions into consideration.

What’s paid out of the kitty:

• Meals on board (catered) and ashore (3 dinners planned at restaurants ashore*) + supplies for our trip (eg: cleaning items, trash bags, etc.)
• Beer, wine, spirits, water, juice, and soft drinks
• Marina fees for any visits along the way (Saturday and Friday nights in the “home” marina are already included in the trip cost)

What’s not included in the kitty:

• Shore excursions or entertainment
• Personal items not intended for the use of the whole group

*We plan to enjoy three meals ashore during the trip. If the group prefers a lunch ashore instead of dinner, or if weather or harbor conditions require it, we may adjust the plan accordingly.