Ionian Islands: Windsurfing, Coasts and Trails

The Ionian Islands combine windsurfing and other water sports with hiking trails through ancient olive groves on Paxos, striking coastlines and archaeological discoveries. These experiences take place in different locations across the region. So, when looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to start with a clear focus: should the holiday be mainly about wind and water sports, hiking, nature or cultural interests? By deciding what matters most first, you can choose an island and accommodation to match, rather than generalising about the entire destination from a single experience.

Windsurfing and Water Sports on Lefkada

Vasiliki Beach on Lefkada is one of the best windsurfing spots in the world and offers suitable conditions for slalom and freestyle. Ai Giannis on Lefkada is a kitesurfing hotspot. In Nydri, there is an organised centre for water skiing, wakeboarding and inflatable water toys such as bananas and rings. These examples offer specific points of reference to help you decide which activity you are looking for before choosing a holiday apartment as your base.

Coastlines and Nature from Lefkada to Zakynthos

Lefkada is known for Porto Katsiki Beach. On Kefalonia, you’ll find Myrtos Beach and Melissani Lake Cave; rare Kefalonian fir trees grow in Ainos National Park. On Zakynthos, the marine park provides a protected habitat for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Antipaxos offers Voutoumi Beach and crystal-clear waters with coral reefs. The examples range from beaches and a lake cave to a national park and a protected habitat.

Hiking Trails on Paxos and Antipaxos

On Paxos, a network of trails runs through dense, ancient olive groves and connects picturesque settlements. One specific route runs from Lakka to Gaios, is about 12 km long and takes approximately 2.5 hours on foot. On Antipaxos, the Agrapidia–Lighthouse–Spring–Agios Aimilianos–Voutoumi route covers about 7.9 km. It is of moderate difficulty and takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. For planning your day, you can compare the approximate durations: the Lakka to Gaios route takes longer; the difficulty level is also specified for the Antipaxos route.

Antipaxos can be reached by boat or organised sea transfers from Paxos (Gaios). Check the current boat arrangements before travelling. This lets you factor in the journey if you want to explore the trails and Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos.

Cultural and Culinary Highlights

Ithaca has archaeological treasures and also offers hidden caves and sheltered, lushly vegetated coves. Kefalonia is known for its famous Robola wine. If you choose an island based not only on scenery and activities but also on cultural or culinary interests, these offer different starting points for planning your trip.

The connection from Lefkada Port (Vasiliki) to Ithaca Port (Frikes) may also be relevant to your plans: the journey takes one hour. Check the current timetable before travelling. When looking for a holiday apartment, specific travel interests and connections like these can help you decide which part of the region is the right base for your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gouvia, Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Paxos, Ithaca, North Aegean.

Back to the main travel overview: Greece.