The Ionian is one of the most forgiving sailing grounds in Europe. Distances between islands and anchorages are short. The afternoon thermal builds reliably from around 11am and dies by 6pm, which is exactly the right window for a relaxed day on the water. Tavernas line every quay, and most have a swing mooring you can pick up for free if you eat there. We have been sending guests sailing in Greece since 2001 and the programme covers every level: never-sailed-before learn-to-sail weeks, hosted flotillas across the southern Ionian, single-traveller flotillas with shared cabins, bareboat yacht charter for qualified skippers, and crewed yacht charter with a skipper or skipper-and-host on board.
Flotilla, learn-to-sail, singles, charter and yacht-with-skipper weeks across the southern Ionian. Most run May through October.
From £1,495pp
From £1,295pp
From £1,195pp
From £895pp
From £710pp
Looking further afield?
All sailing holidaysMost of our flotillas leave from Sivota on Lefkas or Argostoli on Kefalonia. The route covers the southern Ionian: Meganisi, Ithaca, Kalamos, Kastos. Short hops, calm anchorages, plenty of taverna stops.
KefaloniaKefalonia anchors the southern end of the cruising ground. Argostoli marina is the start point for the Kefalonia Flotilla and the West Coast Flotilla, both of which run a different route through the Ionian; yacht charter weeks also leave from here. Kefalonia itself is worth a couple of nights on either side of the sail; the airport is a 15-minute taxi from the marina.
Lead crew on every flotilla: a skipper and a host running the briefings, the route and the social side. RYA-recognised since 2001. Phone 01548 288459 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.
On a flotilla you have your own yacht, your own crew, and your own pace. The lead crew (a skipper and a host on each flotilla) run the morning briefing, suggest the day's anchorage, and are on the radio if you need them, but you sail your own boat to the spot you choose. Each evening the fleet usually rafts up at the same quay so the social side has somewhere to land, but skipping the rendezvous and finding your own bay is fine. Several flotillas a year are explicitly mid-fleet, mid-pace, no-pressure.
Learn-to-sail weeks run from a base at Sivota or Vassiliki: structured RYA Competent Crew or Day Skipper tuition, two students per yacht with an instructor on board, certificate at the end. Singles flotillas pair solo travellers in cabins; cabins are always single-sex unless you specifically ask otherwise. Yacht charter is bareboat (you sail it yourself) or skippered (we put a UK or Greek skipper on board, billed alongside the boat).
Food is on a budget you control. Most evenings the fleet eats at the taverna on the quay; lunch is normally on the boat from a market shop the lead crew helps coordinate at the start of the week. Flights to Kefalonia and Preveza serve the start ports; transfers are short.
For Greece generally, the islands, climate, food and what to do off-the-water, head to the destination glossary. This page is the sailing-specific view.
Four programmes, one team. If a sailing week is not the right shape, here is where the other three live. Beach clubs in Greece and Portugal, summer in the French Alps, ski weeks in the Three Valleys.
All-inclusive beach clubs with watersports, yoga and BlitzFitness included. Based on the sheltered bays of the Ionian, Aegean and Portuguese Atlantic.
Alpine family clubs, guided walking, mountain biking and climbing across the French Alps. Summer programmes running June to September.
Catered chalets and lift-door skiing in Val Thorens, Meribel and Vaujany. Small chalet sizes, friendly hosts, French Alps December to April.
Route reports, kit lists, and the answers to the questions guests ask before booking a sailing week.
When families hear “sailing holiday,” it’s common to think it’s only for confident sailors or adventurous adults. Parents often wonder: Will the kids enjoy it? Will it be safe? Do we need experience? The short answer is yes — it’s perfect for families, even if no one has ever sailed before. In fact, many of...
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There’s something magical about sailing the Ionian Sea – calm turquoise waters, lush green islands, charming harbors, and evenings spent dining under the stars. Our flotilla itinerary blends peaceful anchorages with vibrant waterfront villages, offering the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Here’s a closer look at the unforgettable destinations on this Ionian sailing route:...
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There’s something rather special about waking up on the water – especially when the day ahead promises adventure, learning and plenty of family fun. Our Introduction to Yacht Sailing or learn to sail holiday is designed to be relaxed, confidence building, and above all, family friendly, so everyone from curious kids to first time adults...
Read the postOne of the best beach holidays I have had for many years. My son and I have a regular annual sailing holiday and this was superb. The place is extremely well managed by Hugo and Local Greek family and it really does feel like you are staying with friends, highly recommended
Just returned from another learn to sail, excellent tuition from Shirley ,used this company for many years now and always a good experience. Hope to return next year for yacht delivery and a flotilla.
Wonderful holiday in a beautiful location.Friendly, competent staff, many activities on offer, very good safety support for all water sports. Would love to see Optimists introduced for younger children learning to sail!
Either an Intro to Sailing week or a learn-to-sail RYA course. Intro weeks are gentler: two days of tuition and four days hosted on a yacht with a small group, no qualification at the end, just exposure. RYA Competent Crew is a five-day structured course with a certificate. If you are unsure which to book, phone the team and they will pick the right one based on what you want to do next.
A flotilla is the right shape. The lead crew run a one-day refresher at the start of the week (anchoring, mooring, the engine, the lazy lines) and you sail in company so help is a radio call away. The Kefalonia and West Coast flotillas both run mid-fleet, mid-pace itineraries that suit re-entrants.
The fleet is updated on a rolling basis. Most yachts are 38 to 45 feet, three or four cabins, two heads, with a mainsail and a furling genoa. We do not run racing boats and we do not run anything older than 10 years. Specific yacht specs are sent with the booking confirmation.
No. The boat and the lead-crew programme are the headline price; flights are quoted alongside. Most flotillas leave from Lefkas (fly Preveza) or Kefalonia (fly Kefalonia direct or Athens with a hop). The team matches departure airports when they build the quote.
Yes, family flotillas run weeks aimed at families with children eight and up. Younger children are usually fine on a yacht charter with a skipper but flotillas are designed for adult-sociable evenings, so under-eight family bookings are reviewed case by case. Phone the team and they will steer you to the right week.
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