Sail the Ionian Islands: Western Greek Coast

The Ionian Islands are the western Greek archipelago — seven main islands and dozens of islets in the Ionian Sea between Greece and Italy. Unlike the dry Cycladic islands, the Ionian receives Adriatic-influenced rainfall and is green and forested, with olive groves down to the shore on every island. The most-charter-visited islands are Corfu in the north (Venetian Old Town, sandy west coast), Lefkada (a sailing-charter hub, connected to mainland Greece by a swing bridge), Kefalonia (largest, with the famous Myrtos Beach), Ithaca (Odysseus' home), Zakynthos (Navagio Shipwreck Beach), and the small island cluster around Lefkada — Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos. Charter base at Lefkada Marina. Season runs April through October.