Ionian Island Discovery Week
What You Need to Know
Saturday 5th – Saturday 12th September
Spend a week discovering the Ionian Islands by yacht, swimming in crystal-clear bays, exploring charming harbours, and experiencing authentic Greek island life with a small group of fellow travellers—all at a relaxed pace designed to help you enjoy the very best of Greece.
If you’re considering joining our Ionian Island Discovery Week, we’d like you to know exactly what to expect before booking.
This isn’t a luxury cruise with fixed schedules and organised excursions. Instead, it’s a relaxed sailing holiday where we’ll explore some of the most beautiful islands and bays in the Ionian Sea together. The atmosphere on board is friendly and informal, giving you the freedom to enjoy the week in your own way while sharing the experience with like-minded travellers.
Please take a few minutes to read through the information below before deciding whether this trip is right for you.
Who Is This Trip For?
This trip is designed for adults who enjoy travelling with a small group and want to experience the Ionian Islands from a unique perspective.
Whether you’re travelling solo, with a friend or as a couple, you’ll share a week discovering hidden bays, charming harbours and authentic Greek island life.
No previous sailing experience is necessary. If you’d like to learn, the skipper will be happy to teach you the basics, but there’s absolutely no expectation to get involved unless you want to.
Our Itinerary
We’ll be following our carefully planned Ionian Island Discovery route, which you can explore here:
https://yachtswork.com/itinerariespro/
Over the course of the week we’ll aim to visit:
- Lefkada
- Meganisi
- Ithaca
- Kefalonia
- Kastos
- Kalamos
The itinerary has been designed to keep sailing enjoyable rather than exhausting. Most sailing passages are around two hours, with the longest being approximately four hours.
On most days we’ll enjoy two swim stops, allowing plenty of opportunities to swim, snorkel or simply relax in crystal-clear water.
Where time and conditions allow, we’ll happily enjoy a little extra sailing. However, our priority is making the most of each destination, so we won’t extend passages to the point that they significantly reduce the time available ashore.
As with any sailing holiday, the route may change. The skipper will always make the final decision based on weather and sea conditions to ensure everyone enjoys the safest and best possible experience.
What You Get
Your place includes:
- Seven nights aboard the yacht
- A shared cabin with another guest of the same gender
- Bed linen, one bath towel and one hand towel
- Yacht rental
- Fuel
- Final cleaning
- An experienced skipper, who is also your guide throughout the week
- Optional sailing tuition for anyone interested in learning or refreshing their skills
Whether you’d simply like to relax or learn more about sailing, you’re welcome to get involved as much or as little as you wish.
Accommodation
Cabins are shared with another guest of the same gender.
The exact yacht may vary depending on the final group size, but all our yachts are well-equipped sailing yachts with comfortable shared cabins and all the facilities needed for a fantastic week exploring the Ionian Islands.
The yacht will have at least two shared bathrooms (WCs):
- One designated for male guests
- One designated for female guests
If you’d prefer a cabin to yourself, a private cabin is available for an additional supplement, subject to availability.
A Typical Day
No two days are exactly the same, but a typical day might look something like this:
- Breakfast on board while enjoying the morning views.
- A relaxed sail to our first destination.
- A swim stop in a beautiful bay.
- Lunch on board or ashore.
- Another short sail and, on most days, a second swim stop.
- Arrive at our overnight destination during the afternoon or early evening.
- Free time to explore, enjoy dinner, relax with fellow guests or simply wander at your own pace.
Our aim is to strike the perfect balance between sailing, swimming, exploring and relaxing.
Evenings
Once we’ve arrived at our destination for the day, the evening is yours to enjoy.
Explore the harbour, find a quiet café, enjoy dinner with other guests or spend some time by yourself—it’s entirely up to you.
There’s no organised evening programme, so you can be as social or as independent as you wish.
Occasionally we’ll spend the night anchored in a sheltered bay rather than alongside a harbour. In those cases, we’ll use the yacht’s dinghy to ferry everyone ashore.
The final dinghy trip back to the yacht will be at 23:00, allowing everyone plenty of time to enjoy the evening while ensuring the skipper is well rested for the following day’s sailing.
Food & Drinks
Food is not included in the trip price.
You’ll be responsible for providing your own breakfasts, lunches, snacks and drinks throughout the week.
You’re very welcome to share food or cook with other guests if you wish, but there’s absolutely no expectation to do so. Equally, there’s no requirement for everyone to eat together each evening, although sharing meals—whether at a traditional Greek taverna or on board—is often one of the highlights of the trip.
There is fridge and storage space available for everyone, but it is limited, so please bear in mind that all guests will need room for their own supplies.
There’s no need to arrive with a week’s worth of shopping, as we’ll have access to supermarkets and bakeries in most destinations throughout the week.
We’ll provide basic cooking essentials, including olive oil, salt, pepper and a selection of herbs and seasonings.
Sailing Lessons
If you’re interested in learning more about sailing, you’re very welcome to get involved.
Whether you’d like a complete introduction or simply refresh your existing knowledge, the skipper will happily explain the yacht, teach sailing techniques and let you take the helm whenever conditions allow.
Participation is entirely optional.
By Joining This Trip, You Agree To…
Respect the Itinerary
This is a shared sailing holiday, so everyone benefits from following the daily schedule.
The skipper will advise how long we’ll spend at each swim stop, harbour and destination in order to keep the trip running smoothly. We ask all guests to respect these timings so everyone can enjoy the full experience together.
Respect Everyone On Board
People join for different reasons. Some enjoy socialising throughout the week, while others simply want time to relax.
Please treat everyone with kindness and consideration, and avoid conversations or behaviour that may make others feel uncomfortable. Our aim is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome.
Follow the Skipper’s Instructions
When it comes to the operation of the yacht and everyone’s safety, the skipper’s instructions must always be followed.
Take Responsibility for Your Belongings
You’re responsible for your own personal belongings throughout the trip.
In many years of sailing holidays we’ve never heard of guests having personal possessions stolen on board, and we hope that continues. Nevertheless, as with any holiday, you’re responsible for looking after your own valuables and for arranging any travel, medical or cancellation insurance you may wish to have.
Weather & Flexibility
Sailing holidays are shaped by the weather, and that’s part of the adventure.
While we’ll always aim to follow the published itinerary, the skipper may occasionally alter the route or overnight stops if weather or sea conditions make it sensible to do so.
These decisions are always made with your safety, comfort and enjoyment in mind.
Seasickness
The Ionian Sea is widely regarded as one of the gentlest sailing areas in Greece, which is one of the reasons we’ve chosen it for this trip.
That said, the sea can never be completely predictable. If you’re prone to motion sickness, we recommend bringing whatever remedies you normally find effective.
Alcohol
You’re welcome to bring alcoholic drinks on board and enjoy a glass while relaxing at anchor or in the evenings.
We simply ask that alcohol is consumed responsibly, particularly while the yacht is underway or whenever the skipper asks for assistance on deck.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted inside the yacht.
If you smoke, please do so only on deck and always be considerate of other guests.
Electricity & Charging
Phones, cameras and other small electronic devices can be charged on board.
As on most yachts, power is more limited than at home, so bringing a power bank is always a good idea if you use your devices frequently.
Fresh Water
Fresh water is stored in tanks on board, so while there’s plenty for everyone’s daily needs, it isn’t unlimited.
We simply ask everyone to use it thoughtfully, particularly when showering, so there’s enough for all guests throughout the week.
Mobile Signal & Internet
Mobile phone coverage is generally very good throughout the Ionian Islands, although there may occasionally be short periods without signal while crossing between islands.
There is no dedicated Wi-Fi on board, making this a wonderful opportunity to disconnect a little and enjoy your surroundings.
Cabin Sharing
Many of our guests join the trip on their own, so you’ll certainly not be the only solo traveller.
Shared cabins are allocated with another guest of the same gender, and many lasting friendships have started during a week on board.
Booking
Shared Cabin
€750 per person, including:
- Yacht rental
- Shared cabin
- Bed linen and towels
- Skipper and guide
- Fuel
- Final cleaning
Private Cabin
A private cabin is available for €1,350, subject to availability.
Securing Your Place
To confirm your booking, a non-refundable deposit of €350 is required.
The remaining balance must be paid before departure.
Once you’ve decided to join us, we’ll send you the YachtsWork bank details.
After Booking
Once your booking is confirmed, please send us:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Passport number
- Nationality
These details are required to complete the official crew list.
Arrival & Departure
Please make your own way to Lefkada.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 13:00 onwards, but please arrive no later than 15:00.
Although the official charter begins at 17:00, the yacht is often ready earlier and, if everyone has arrived and conditions allow, we’ll be keen to head out to sea rather than spend the afternoon waiting in the marina.
We’ll confirm the exact departure location approximately two weeks before departure.
Where possible, we’ll have a car available to assist with transfers between nearby bus stops and the marina.
We’ll return to the marina by approximately 17:00 on Friday, before everyone spends one final night aboard.
Departure is by 09:00 on Saturday morning, which is standard practice throughout the yachting industry and allows the yacht to be prepared for its next voyage.
What’s Not Included
The following are not included in the trip price:
- Travel to and from Lefkada
- Transfers to the departure marina (although we’ll do our best to assist where possible)
- Food and drinks
- Meals ashore
- Personal spending
- Optional travel, medical or cancellation insurance
What to Bring
Please pack as lightly as possible. Soft bags or holdalls are much easier to store than hard suitcases.
We recommend bringing:
- Passport
- Swimwear
- Light summer clothing
- A light jumper or jacket for cooler evenings
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Flip-flops or sandals
- Non-marking trainers or deck shoes (optional)
- Personal medication
- Phone charger
- Power bank
- Reusable water bottle
- Snorkelling equipment (optional)
- Personal toiletries
We Hope You’ll Join Us
Our aim isn’t simply to sail from island to island.
It’s to discover hidden bays, swim in crystal-clear water, experience authentic Greek harbours, enjoy wonderful local food and spend a week immersed in one of the most beautiful sailing areas in the Mediterranean.
If that sounds like your kind of adventure, we’d love to welcome you aboard.
Ready to sign up?!
