ONE WEEK SAILING IN THE IONIAN SEA: START FROM PREVEZA, VISIT PAXOS, SYVOTA, PARGA AND MORE

Day 1: Preveza - Bay of Ligia (17 nautical miles)

Our sailing trip started in Preveza marina. Preparation was easy, since super markets are located close to the marina. In the remaining hour, we had a walk at the touristic part of the town, which is restored fostering the traditional looks.  

We managed to have the yacht ready just on time; all preparations were completed by 5 pm, so we had another 3-4 hours before dark falls. We sailed north, to the bay of Alonaki, 17 nautical miles far. It is a beautiful bay, with crystal waters, protected from the northwest wind that prevail in the area in the afternoon hours.

Our plan B  for the day was the port of Vonitsa, inside the Ambracian Gulf, about an hour sailing from Preveza. So, in case someone prefers a more relaxing first day, the port of Vonitsa offers an easier option. On the other hand, if you are already in the open sea and Ligia does not look safe for the night, more options are available within an hour sailing, such as the safe bay of Skala.

Day 2: Alonaki bay - Acherontas - Antipaxos (13nm)

The morning was delightful in the beautiful Alonaki bay. We enjoyed swimming in the turquoise waters and then breakfast. The next bay to north, named Ammoudia, constitute the delta of the Acherontas, a large and historic river of Western Greece. There are plenty of activities and water sports in the bay, as well as a pre-historic temple, mentioned also in Homer Odyssey, the Sanctuary of the Dead. We took the bus - 10 minutes drive, and soon we were thrilled to visit the temple, now situated below the ground level. This was an unbelievable experience!

The time spent on Acheron would definitely define the rest of the day. One can spend only a little time on the Ammoudia beach, or most of the day visiting the temple and the Springs, and even consider spending the night in Ammoudia beach, if the weather allows. 

In our case, we sailed to Antipaxos island early in the afternoon. After sailing for a couple of hours to the West, we arrived to that small and amazing island. There are a few bays at its eastern coast, protected from the NW wind that prevails in the afternoon hours - but anyway die at night. Main features of the natural landscape include the crystal, transparent waters, the greenery hills and the shiny rocks by the sea. Swimming, snorkeling  and relaxing in this scenery was a wonderful experience. 

In the evening we visited the restaurant, located in one of the northeastern bays of Antipaxos. It was a wonderful day, full with unique experiences.

Day 3: Antipaxos - Paxos, port of Gaios (7 nm)

Another astonishing morning started started our day! After a wonderful swim and quick breakfast, we sailed west to the bay of Kedros. This is a wondeful bay, with plenty of coves and unique rock formations. It took us hours to explore the coast with our masks, diving at every little cave and relaxing from time to time on the beach. After a while we left Antipaxos and sailed north, toward the main port of Paxos island, named Gaios. We knew that the port was very busy, so we had to arrive not too late in the afternoon, to find a free berthing spot for the yacht.

Have in mind that it is also possible to book a spot, after contacting the local port authorities. 

After we finished berthing, we enjoyed a walk in the village. Architecture is wonderful and the colourful houses look like jewels on the low hill. We enjoyed wandering in the picturesque alleys, we had dinner in one of the local restaurants, and later few drinks by the port. Gaios port is a beautiful spot, strongly recommended to all visitors.

Day 4: The Caves of Paxos island

The western coast of Paxos island is gifted with spectacular caves, many of them in bays with crystal, bright and transparent waters. The Caves of Paxos compose one of the most impressive sailing destinations in Greece in terms of natural beauty and clarity of the sea.

We left the port of Gaios early in the morning and spent the whole day from one spot to the next, guiding our guests in the awesome caves.

Hardly the words can describe the irresistable beauty of this landscape. There is a unique brightness in the sea colour, coupled with the shiny rocks of the coast. The sun light comes in colour inside the coves, where we swim and enjoy nature at its brightest.

Day 5: Lakka - Syvota (11 nm)

The time had come to leave Paxos and continue our sailing trip toward the coast of the mainland. Considering the beauty that we had witnessed, this was not an easy decision. Alas, we enjoyed a wonderful morning swim and head sails to Syvota, another awesome destination on the West Coast of Greece. The area of Syvota is composed of a few tiny islands, fully covered with trees and greenery, close to the shore. There is a small town as well, with a beautiful pier, with taverns, bars etc. Sailing from one islet to the next, and anchoring from one bay to the other 

There is also a small marina in the large bay on the mainland. However, the prices for docking have surged dramatically, so, we decided to spend the night on anchor. 

Day 6: Syvota - Parga (12 nm)

The next day we sailed south to the historic town of Parga. It is a marvelous place, with a beautiful pier and traditional alleys, nowadays full with tourist shops. The distance is small, it took us less than two hours to get there. We anchored in the bay of Valtos, such at the northern side of Parga bay. Yacht passengers can get to the beach by the dinghy and then walk 20 minutes to reach Parga town.

The natural beauty is spectacular, with hills surrounding the town, and rocks scattered in the sea, close to the bay. The Castle is also impressive, holding the long history of rivarly between  Greeks, Venetians and Ottomans. 

We visited the castle and the town in the afternoon, and enjoyed delicious dinner by the sea.