7-Night Ionian Dream — Corfu to Kefalonia

Day 1 — Corfu: Embarkation

Board at Gouvia Marina, Corfu's main yacht harbour. An afternoon in Corfu Town — the UNESCO old town is one of the finest examples of Venetian architecture in the Mediterranean; the Liston, the Palace of St Michael and St George, and the old and new fortresses. Dinner at Venetian Well in the old town.

Day 2 — Paxos & Antipaxos

A morning sail south to Paxos — a small, green island of ancient olive trees with three charming villages and some of the best tavernas in the Ionian. After lunch, take the tender to Antipaxos — a tiny island of extraordinary turquoise water. The beaches of Voutoumi and Vrika are among the most beautiful in Greece.

Day 3 — Lefkada: Nidri & Meganisi

Continue south through the narrow Lefkada Canal (the only Ionian island connected to the mainland by a causeway) to Nidri Bay. Day trip by tender to the small island of Meganisi — car-free and authentic, with excellent local fish at the Meganisi Taverna.

Day 4 — Lefkada: Porto Katsiki

The most dramatic and beautiful beach in the Ionian — Porto Katsiki on Lefkada's windward western coast is accessible only from the sea. Anchor off the white cliffs and swim in turquoise water of extraordinary clarity. Lunch aboard, then afternoon passage south towards Kefalonia.

Day 5 — Kefalonia: Fiskardo

The most beautiful village on Kefalonia — Fiskardo survived the 1953 earthquake that destroyed most of the island and retains its Venetian character. A small, elegant harbour surrounded by cypress trees; excellent restaurants including Tassia (a Kefalonian institution).

Day 6 — Kefalonia: Melissani Cave & Sami

A full day on Greece's largest Ionian island. The Melissani Cave — an underground lake lit by a hole in the ceiling, with the most extraordinary blue light — is unmissable. The ruins of ancient Sami, the honey of Robola wine estate, and the natural pools of Antisamos Bay round out the day.

Day 7 — Ithaca

Odysseus's legendary homeland — a small, intimate island with a beautiful main harbour at Vathy, a charming waterfront esplanade and the sense of a place that time has treated gently. The Monastery of Kathara above the island has views across to Kefalonia that are worth every step of the walk.

Day 8 — Disembarkation

Return by sea to Corfu or Lefkada for disembarkation. Corfu Airport has good connections; Preveza (Aktio) Airport on the mainland coast is an alternative.