A Kefalonia flotilla holiday is one of the best ways to explore the Ionian islands in Greece. We run our own small flotilla from Sami harbour on the east coast of Kefalonia, sailing a relaxed central Ionian route with a friendly lead crew, a free stand-up paddleboard and a free tank of fuel included.
It's our own flotilla. We're not agents, we're not chartering someone else's fleet, and we're not stretching the group to fill a twenty-yacht tour. You get a small group of like-minded sailors (usually seven yachts), a proper local team on the ground, and the freedom to plot your own day with a lead crew on hand if you need them — particularly for the parking bit.
Fair winds, short sailing distances, no tides and countless sheltered bays make the Ionian an ideal cruising ground for flotilla sailing. The week visits Polis Bay (Ithaka), Sivota (Lefkas), Kalamos, Vathi (Meganissi), Vathi (Ithaka) and home to Sami. Brilliant for experienced families wanting a proper sailing holiday in Greece.
Visiting experts run special weeks at Kefalonia throughout the season. Same staff, same kit, a different focus.
YachtComfortable 7-berth Bavaria 37 Cruisers (Constance, Christopher Robin) with a folding wheel for easy cockpit access.
YachtImmaculate modern 7-berth yacht (Isabella) with two heads and a cockpit set up for comfortable cruising.
YachtPerformance cruiser (Tonic) with twin wheels and a roomy cockpit, a favourite for effortless sailing around the Ionian.
YachtBeamy 9-berth twin-wheel yacht (Amnesia) with a large cockpit and plenty of space below deck, great for groups.
YachtSPECIAL OFFER VALID FOR ALL NEW BOOKINGS UNTIL APRIL 30TH Call 01548 288459 or info@beyondbeach.com to BOOK SPECIAL OFFERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Yacht TONIC is a fantastic option for…
YachtComfortable 6-berth cruising yachts (Escape, Sandpiper) with teak decks and many extras, ideal for families and groups.
YachtSpacious 5-berth cruising yacht, easily sailed and controlled with in-mast furling, wheel steering and a powerful 20 hp engine.
Food on a Kefalonia flotilla is a big part of what makes the week. Each anchorage has at least one taverna, most have several, and your lead crew will have a favourite at every stop. Classic Greek kitchen cooking: grilled sardines, slow-cooked lamb, tomato-and-cucumber salads, and the local Robola whites that pair so well with any of it.
No meals included. Starter pack on the yacht; bakeries, mini-markets and tavernas at every island on the route.
The best part of a flotilla week is the dinners. Yachts moored stern-to, kids running between tables, lead crew going round with the day's gossip, and a taverna setting ten plates in the middle of the table for everyone to dig into. Book a whole trip for the evenings and the sailing is a bonus.
The harbour master George is half the reason Kalamos is a BB favourite. Simple taverna, extraordinary welcome, great grilled fish.
A strip of family-run tavernas along the Sivota quay. Pick one, sit down, stay late.
Pastel houses and a handful of excellent harbourside spots. The mezze here is some of the best on the route.
Worth a crossing of the bay on your non-sailing day. Honest ice-cream, big portions, happy kids.
The Central Ionian Flotilla route: a classic 1-week loop from Sami harbour visiting Polis Bay, Sivota, Kalamos, Vathi (Meganissi), Vathi (Ithaka) and home. 96 NM in total, short legs most days, plenty of time to anchor for lunch and swim.
Itineraries are subject to change based on wind and crew confidence; your lead crew will brief the day ahead every morning.
Kefalonia is one of a group of islands on the western side of Greece in the Ionian sea. It is the largest of the Ionian islands and parts of the island are now national parks, home to wild horses, golden eagles and other protected flora and fauna.
Our Kefalonia flotilla base in Sami is quick and easy to get to: 3 hour flights to Kefalonia Airport (EFL) from most UK airports, then a 60 minute transfer round to the east coast. Flights and transfers are not usually included; we can book them as part of an ATOL-protected package (ATOL 12803).
Direct summer flights to Kefalonia (EFL) run from most UK airports, May to October. Pre-book a transfer on arrival (£70 private taxi / £95 minibus one-way); private is faster when the airport is busy.
Pre-book your arrival transfer and be met at the airport. Sami is a 60 minute drive round the bay and the road is easy; there's time for a taverna lunch in Sami before boarding from 3pm if your flight is early.
Had a great week with Beyond Beach doing a Kefalonia sailing Flotilla holiday with our family. Great sailing, beautiful locations, amazing weather and met some lovely people. The Beyond Beach crew were friendly, relaxed and made the whole experience enjoyable. Will definitely come again.
We have just arrived back from another fantastic week with the Beyond Beach Flotilla. This was our second trip this season as we had so much fun on the June Delivery trip that we booked again to bring some friends along in August. Paul and Rory are the best team you could ask for - their endless patience and good humour is wonderful and they are so much fun to be around. We’ve had great wind this week and been lucky enough to drop anchor in tiny coves and swim to little beaches that are almost inaccessible from land. Cannot wait for next year.
5 stars isn't enough to summarise our experience with Beyond Beach and the knowledgeable staff we encountered throughout the booking process. Our flotilla holiday with Rory and Paul our skippers was nothing short of awesome. From the moment of the first detailed briefing we set sail on the sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea, we knew we were in expert hands. Rory and Paul brought the perfect balance of professionalism, knowledge, and good humour—always making sure we felt safe, confident, and completely at ease on the water. The Ionian itself was breathtaking: hidden coves, crystal-clear bays, and charming harbours where every stop felt like a postcard come to life. Evenings were unforgettable—anchoring in secluded spots, sharing laughter and stories with new friends, and some of us choosing to sleep in the cockpit under a stunning tapestry of stars with the gentle rocking of the boat! What really set this trip apart, though, was the atmosphere Rory and Paul created. They struck the perfect note between adventure and relaxation—teaching us along the way, encouraging us to hone our sailing technique, and then knowing exactly when to step back so we could just soak in the beauty of it all. It wasn’t just a sailing holiday—it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience of connection, freedom, and pure joy. We left with sun on our faces, rejuvenated and wiser with memories we’ll treasure forever. If you’re looking for an unforgettable Ionian adventure, you couldn’t hope for better skippers or a more magical experience. At the end of the flotillia we weren't ready to leave Kefalonia, we chose to spend a further 10 days at this beautiful villa just a few minutes from Sami harbour www.kefalonia-walnuttree.co.uk/
Accommodation, listed meals, beach towels, all listed watersports equipment, bikes, yoga and fitness sessions, and our on-site team support. Flights, airport transfers and some non-inclusive activities are separate.
Yes — many of our destinations offer multiple holiday types from the same base. Talk to the team for package pricing on two-centre holidays.
We offer ATOL-protected flights as an optional add-on. You can also book your own flights and just buy the ground package from us.
Pre-book a private meet-and-greet transfer through us, or make your own way. Prices and timing vary by destination — we'll send full details once you book.
Most of our hotels run "Club Board": breakfast every day plus 4 evening meals per week. Villas are self-catering with an optional Club Board upgrade.
Yes — let us know when you book and we'll pass the details to the kitchen team. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are always available.
No — everything is turn-up-and-go. Watersports kit is on the beach free to use. Yoga and fitness sessions run to a weekly timetable posted on arrival.
Our instructors are RYA-qualified and used to total beginners. Many of our guests arrive having never been on the water and leave confident solo sailors.
Four programmes, one team. If this isn't quite your week, here's where the others live.
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.
Every person in our South Devon office has stayed at the holiday you're looking at. Ask anything: which week is best, what to pack, which flight saves you a connection.
No call centres, no scripts, no upsell. Just honest advice from people who genuinely run these holidays.
Susy, James, Caroline & Amelia
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