Description
The Ionian is one of the rare places in Greece where a weekly bareboat charter feels both adventurous and genuinely comfortable - protected waters, dependable summer winds, and an island chain that rewards slow exploration. This 7-night experience begins at D-Marin Marina Lefkas, a premier sailing hub and the natural gateway to Lefkada, Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos, Ithaca, and the wider Ionian archipelago. The focus is simple: you take full control of your route and your rhythm, while our Lefkas base team ensures the operational side is smooth, supported, and stress-free. Whether you’re a confident crew planning each tack and anchorage yourself, or you choose an optional skipper to keep the week extra relaxed, this charter is built around independence, privacy, and the freedom to island-hop exactly the way you want.
Check-in and embarkation begin at 17:00 on Saturday. Expect an organized process that helps you start the week feeling prepared: a detailed yacht orientation, inventory review, and a systems briefing so you know how everything works before you leave the dock. You’ll also receive a thorough charter briefing covering boat handling, safety procedures, and local navigation essentials for the Lefkada region and the wider Ionian. Onboard basics are ready for you - linens and towels, practical galley equipment, deck necessities, and the sailing tools you need for confident cruising. Your week is supported by our base team with technical help available when needed and 24/7 emergency support for full peace of mind. If you want to fine-tune the setup, optional add-ons such as skipper, early check-in, Wi-Fi, SUP, and outboard support the style of sailing holiday you have in mind.
About Our Service in Lefkas Marina - Meganisi - Kalamos - Kastos - Ithaca - Atokos - Sivota
Day 1 (Saturday) - Arrival and embarkation at D-Marin Marina Lefkas: From 17:00, you step into the calm, well-organized environment of D-Marin Lefkas, a marina that makes weekly charters feel straightforward from the first moment. Use the late afternoon to complete check-in, settle luggage into cabins, and organize provisions so your first sailing morning is effortless. Many crews like to keep the first evening simple and enjoyable: a relaxed walk through Lefkas town, a waterfront dinner, and a final check of tomorrow’s plan while the marina lights reflect across the water. Staying overnight in the marina gives you a steady, comfortable first night and a confident start to the week.
Day 2 (Sunday) - Lefkas to Meganisi (Spartochori or Vathi) with swim options: A morning departure around 09:30 sets a gentle tone for the week. The sail to Meganisi typically takes 2-3 hours, long enough to enjoy the boat under sail without feeling like you’re rushing into a demanding passage. Meganisi is loved for its sheltered harbors and vivid green coastline. Choose Spartochori for its hilltop views and traditional feel, or Vathi for its classic harbor atmosphere and easy access to tavernas. The afternoon is ideal for a first proper swim stop in calm Ionian water - bays such as Atherinos invite you to drop anchor, float in clear water, and enjoy a slow onboard lunch. Later, step ashore for fresh seafood by the water’s edge, with the comfort of a protected overnight.
Day 3 (Monday) - Meganisi to Kalamos via coastal swim stops: Leaving Meganisi after breakfast around 10:00, you’ll enjoy a smooth 2.5-3 hour sail toward Kalamos, a destination that feels quietly authentic and beautifully unspoiled. On the way, it’s easy to break up the passage with a swim stop at places like Formiklida Beach or along the coastline near Kastos, letting you experience the Ionian the way it’s meant to be enjoyed - not as a race between ports, but as a sequence of blue-water moments. Kalamos itself is known for forested hills and a peaceful harbor vibe. Arrive with time to explore the village on foot, find a viewpoint for sunset photos, or simply enjoy the stillness of a sheltered night with the boat gently resting in calm water.
Day 4 (Tuesday) - Kalamos to Kastos for tranquil island life: Depart around 09:30 for a shorter 1.5-2 hour sail to Kastos, a small inhabited island with a relaxed pace that quickly becomes a highlight for crews seeking quiet authenticity. This is the kind of place where the afternoon can be entirely yours: swim, snorkel, paddle if you’ve added a SUP, or explore nearby coves by dinghy. The harbor village is charming in a low-key way, and evenings here feel wonderfully unhurried. Many sailors make a point of visiting the Windmill Bar for a sunset drink, a simple ritual that perfectly matches the island’s calm mood.
Day 5 (Wednesday) - Kastos to Ithaca (Kioni or Vathy), culture and legendary scenery: A departure around 10:00 leads to a ~3 hour sail toward Ithaca, the mythical home of Odysseus and an island that blends natural beauty with a deeper sense of story. Your choice of harbor changes the evening feel: Kioni is picturesque and intimate, lined with Venetian-style houses and a beautiful waterfront, while Vathy offers one of Greece’s most impressive natural harbors, surrounded by hills that glow in late light. After mooring, the afternoon can be as active or as relaxed as you wish - a swim at Gidaki Beach, a walk through coastal lanes, or a long dinner that stretches into the night. Ithaca is particularly rewarding for guests who enjoy that classic Greek blend of scenery, history, and simple seaside pleasures.
Day 6 (Thursday) - Ithaca to Atokos (One House Bay) to Sivota (Lefkas): Leaving around 09:00, you’ll take a scenic ~1.5 hour sail to Atokos, an uninhabited island that feels like a private sanctuary. One House Bay is famous for its luminous color - a blue so bright it looks unreal. Spend the late morning and midday swimming, snorkeling, and taking photos that quickly become “the” images of the week. When you’re ready, continue in the early afternoon for around 2 hours to Sivota on Lefkada, a harbor surrounded by green hills and lined with tavernas that make evenings feel warm and sociable. This is an excellent night to dine ashore and enjoy a livelier atmosphere without sacrificing the comfort of a sheltered mooring.
Day 7 (Friday) - Sivota to Lefkas Marina, easy return and final evening ashore: After a relaxed breakfast, set sail for the final 2-3 hour route back to Lefkas Marina. Arriving early afternoon keeps refueling and return procedures calm and unhurried. The last evening is yours to enjoy Lefkada properly - a waterfront café, a final Greek dinner, and a celebratory toast to a week that balanced iconic islands with secluded anchorages. Overnight on board in the marina ensures the charter ends as smoothly as it began.
Day 8 (Saturday) - Disembarkation: Check-out is at 09:00. You leave with the kind of memories that only a bareboat week delivers - the confidence of navigating your own route, the joy of daily swim stops, and the feeling of living in the Ionian rather than just visiting it.
About Our Yacht - Hanse 548
The Hanse 548 is an ideal Ionian cruiser because she blends performance with a very livable, premium onboard environment - exactly what you want for a week that alternates between sailing passages, relaxed anchorages, and lively harbors. With an impressive length of 16.22 m and a beam of 5.05 m, she feels expansive on deck and comfortably spacious below. Up to 10 guests can be accommodated in 5 cabins with 5 heads, which is a major advantage for groups and families who want genuine privacy at night and easy comfort during the day. The layout supports a natural “everyone has their space” feeling, while still encouraging shared time in the saloon and cockpit.
Handling is designed to be manageable even with a smaller crew. A furling mainsail and self-tacking jib reduce workload in maneuvers and make short-handed sailing far more pleasant. When conditions call for power, the 110 HP engine delivers confident performance for harbor approaches and longer motoring legs, with comfortable cruising around 8 knots. Features like the bow thruster add an extra layer of control for docking - a real comfort in popular ports where space and timing matter.
For summer comfort, the yacht is equipped with the amenities that turn a good charter into a truly relaxing holiday: air conditioning, a generator, cabin and saloon fans, electric toilets, plus supportive energy solutions like solar panels for everyday onboard needs while you enjoy quiet bays. On deck, you’ll appreciate the practical luxury of electric winches, a hydraulic gangway, and an inviting swimming platform that turns every anchorage into your private beach club. A dinghy with outboard motor makes it easy to reach shore for village exploring, beach visits, and quick provisioning top-ups. With 520 L fuel and 770 L water, you can plan longer stretches between marina stops and prioritize the anchorages you love most. Added equipment such as radar and holding tanks supports both safe navigation and cruising compliance.
Why book this charter with us? Because the best bareboat weeks are the ones that feel free, not complicated. From our professional Lefkas base team and well-structured check-in to the reassurance of round-the-clock support, we make the operational side reliable so your crew can focus on the experience itself. The Hanse 548 is a standout platform in this region - large enough to feel luxurious, refined enough to be comfortable in every harbor, and engineered for sailing that stays enjoyable day after day. Pair that with an Ionian route that blends peaceful islands, legendary Ithaca scenery, and postcard bays like Atokos, and you have a charter that consistently delivers what travelers want most: authentic Greece, clear water, and the satisfaction of doing it all on your own terms. If you want a weekly charter that feels premium, flexible, and genuinely memorable, this is one of the strongest choices in Lefkada.
