All activities / Sailing / Lefkada
Sailing in LefkadaGR
An Ionian island connected to the Greek mainland by causeway, ringed by the most sheltered island-hopping waters in the Mediterranean. The world capital of learn-to-sail holidays and flotilla sailing.
Why here
The southern Ionian is where the world learns to sail on holiday: reliable but gentle afternoon breezes, short hops between Lefkada, Meganisi, Kefalonia, and Ithaca, and a harbor or taverna anchorage always within an hour, which is exactly the forgiving classroom the Aegean's meltemi never offers. Lefkada's bays host RYA sea schools that take you from first-time Competent Crew through bareboat-qualifying Day Skipper on a one- or two-week holiday, and flotilla routes let new skippers cruise independently with a lead boat nearby. Learn here, and the world's charter fleets open up; there is no better place on earth to make the jump from passenger to skipper.
Best months
The season runs May through October: mornings calm, a dependable force 3-4 afternoon breeze filling in around midday, and none of the Aegean's strong summer meltemi. July-August is warmest and busiest on the water; May-June and September-October offer the same wind with empty anchorages. Courses and flotillas book by the week, Sunday to Sunday.
Getting there & around
Fly into Preveza/Aktion (PVK), 30 minutes from the island's marinas; Athens plus a four-hour drive is the fallback. Book courses and flotilla weeks two to four months ahead for July-August, less for the shoulders. Pack soft luggage and deck shoes; schools provide the rest, including the boat.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Odyssey Sailing Greece
SchoolAn RYA training centre running practical courses from bases at Nikiana and Sivota on Lefkada, from beginner Start Yachting weeks through Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, in the Ionian's sheltered teaching waters.
Sail Ionian
SchoolA family-run charter company and RYA Sea School in Lefkada's Vliho Bay, operating since 2003, teaching every RYA level from Competent Crew to Yachtmaster preparation alongside bareboat and skippered charters in the same waters.