Flotilla holidays in Greece, Ionian Sea
| country: | Greece |
| location: | Ionian Sea |
| trip type: | A Flotilla holiday |
| departures: | Departs every Sunday from early May to late October |
| price: | From £605 - £1935 (14 nights) including flights from the UK. Price depends on departure, yacht type and number in party (min 2 people). 20% off for children under 14. Price examples based on 4 adults sharing a Beneteau 331. This trip can also be booked without flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Ionian is one of the Mediterranean's most popular yachting destinations with gentle breezes and a scattering of picturesque islands and sheltered harbours offering the perfect introduction to sailing.
Flotilla starts and finishes alternate with Mourtos, further north up the coast, where a small village with a selection of restaurants acts as a great base in this largely undiscovered area of the Ionian. The Southern Ionian is ideal for the less experienced sailor due to its sheltered waters and generally shorter routes, whilst the Northern Ionian offers more adventurous sailing with longer passages, less crowded waters and steady breezes.
PLEASE NOTE: This holiday can be booked with or without flights. Flights are available from the following UK airports: Gatwick and Manchester. When enquiring for further details it would be very helpful if you could let us no how many people in your party.
Departures: Route 1: 6 May, 3 Jun, 1 Jul, 29 Jul, 26 Aug, 23 Sep
Route 2: 20 May, 17 Jun, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 9 Sep, 7 Oct.
The classic two week Flotilla allows for more free sailing and a thorough exploration of this stunning sailing area. Depending on your start date you will take one of the two routes listed below.
Example Route 1: Nidri - Sivota - Fiscardo - Frikes - kalamos - Freesail - Lefkas - Preveza - Parga - Giaos (Paxos) - Lakka (Paxos) - Corfu - Mourtos.
Example Route 2: Mourtos - Corfu - Lakka (Paxos) - Giaos (Paxos) - Parga - Preveza - Lefkas - Freesail - Kalamos - Frikes - Fiscardo - Sivota - Nidri.
One week flotilla
Departures: Route A: 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct
Route B: 13 May, 10 Jun, 08 Jul, 05 Aug, 02 Sep, 30 Sep Route C: 20 May, 17 Jun, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 09 Sep, 07 Oct
Any of our Villa Flotilla yachts can be used for a one week holiday joining the Villa Flotilla fleet in the South Ionian. We can also offer any of our Flotilla yachts for a one week holiday on the following routes in the Northern Ionian.
Example Route A: Nidri - Kalamos - Frikes - Kioni - Fiscardo - Sivota - Nidri
Example Route B: Lefkas - Preveza - Parga - Giaos (Paxos) - Lakka (Paxos) - Corfu - Mourtos
Example Route C: Mourtos - Corfu - Lakka (Paxos) - Giaos (Paxos) - Parga - Preveza - Lefkas
We offer the highest specification flotilla boats on the market and operate a lead crew and support service second to none. All of our boats have been built and specifically modified for Mediterranean sailing with aft cockpits, headsail roller reefing, electric anchor windlasses, holding tanks and bathing ladders. Showers, cockpit cushions and sun awnings provide essential comfort with biminis fitted to all boats. Comprehensive safety equipment is inspected every year and we add VHF radios for further security, ensuring we always surpass the most stringent of safety standards.
May / Jun: Brilliant sun, warm seas (20-22ºC), pleasant air temperatures, warmer nights. Regular north west winds start. Great time to travel, before the peak season rush.
Jul-mid Sep: Hot sun, warm seas and regular north west winds. May, September and the first half of October tend to be the driest months.
Late Sep-Nov: Warm, sun not so intense, sea at its warmest (up to 22-24ºC) and cooler evenings. North west winds become sporadic. Unsettled periods possible.
Winds: 'Meltemi' winds dominate the summer season. These north westerlies are persistent and reliable, starting mid June and continuing through to mid/ end September. Outside the windy season the Meltemi becomes less frequent, and is more likely to be upset by a spell of unsettled weather, which causes the winds to blow from any direction.
Flotilla starts and finishes alternate with Mourtos, further north up the coast, where a small village with a selection of restaurants acts as a great base in this largely undiscovered area of the Ionian. The Southern Ionian is ideal for the less experienced sailor due to its sheltered waters and generally shorter routes, whilst the Northern Ionian offers more adventurous sailing with longer passages, less crowded waters and steady breezes.
PLEASE NOTE: This holiday can be booked with or without flights. Flights are available from the following UK airports: Gatwick and Manchester. When enquiring for further details it would be very helpful if you could let us no how many people in your party.
- Beginner and intermediate sailors
- Light winds, generally north west, force 2-4
- Stunning sailing scenery
- Short transfer
- Singles, couples, groups and families
Departures: Route 1: 6 May, 3 Jun, 1 Jul, 29 Jul, 26 Aug, 23 Sep
Route 2: 20 May, 17 Jun, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 9 Sep, 7 Oct.
The classic two week Flotilla allows for more free sailing and a thorough exploration of this stunning sailing area. Depending on your start date you will take one of the two routes listed below.
Example Route 1: Nidri - Sivota - Fiscardo - Frikes - kalamos - Freesail - Lefkas - Preveza - Parga - Giaos (Paxos) - Lakka (Paxos) - Corfu - Mourtos.
Example Route 2: Mourtos - Corfu - Lakka (Paxos) - Giaos (Paxos) - Parga - Preveza - Lefkas - Freesail - Kalamos - Frikes - Fiscardo - Sivota - Nidri.
One week flotilla
Departures: Route A: 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct
Route B: 13 May, 10 Jun, 08 Jul, 05 Aug, 02 Sep, 30 Sep Route C: 20 May, 17 Jun, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 09 Sep, 07 Oct
Any of our Villa Flotilla yachts can be used for a one week holiday joining the Villa Flotilla fleet in the South Ionian. We can also offer any of our Flotilla yachts for a one week holiday on the following routes in the Northern Ionian.
Example Route A: Nidri - Kalamos - Frikes - Kioni - Fiscardo - Sivota - Nidri
Example Route B: Lefkas - Preveza - Parga - Giaos (Paxos) - Lakka (Paxos) - Corfu - Mourtos
Example Route C: Mourtos - Corfu - Lakka (Paxos) - Giaos (Paxos) - Parga - Preveza - Lefkas
yacht types
Beneteau 361 - Beneteau 393 - Moody S38 - Beneteau 331 - Beneteau 343 - Beneteau 373 -Sun Odysey 292 - Moody S 31 - Oceanis 320 - Dufour 325 - Dufour 34 (2 cabin) - Dufour 34 (3 cabin)We offer the highest specification flotilla boats on the market and operate a lead crew and support service second to none. All of our boats have been built and specifically modified for Mediterranean sailing with aft cockpits, headsail roller reefing, electric anchor windlasses, holding tanks and bathing ladders. Showers, cockpit cushions and sun awnings provide essential comfort with biminis fitted to all boats. Comprehensive safety equipment is inspected every year and we add VHF radios for further security, ensuring we always surpass the most stringent of safety standards.
weather
Late Apr/ May: Good English summer temperatures arrive; unsettled weather becomes infrequent, winds are still fitful. Nights still cool. May / Jun: Brilliant sun, warm seas (20-22ºC), pleasant air temperatures, warmer nights. Regular north west winds start. Great time to travel, before the peak season rush.
Jul-mid Sep: Hot sun, warm seas and regular north west winds. May, September and the first half of October tend to be the driest months.
Late Sep-Nov: Warm, sun not so intense, sea at its warmest (up to 22-24ºC) and cooler evenings. North west winds become sporadic. Unsettled periods possible.
Winds: 'Meltemi' winds dominate the summer season. These north westerlies are persistent and reliable, starting mid June and continuing through to mid/ end September. Outside the windy season the Meltemi becomes less frequent, and is more likely to be upset by a spell of unsettled weather, which causes the winds to blow from any direction.
flotilla holidays
This is a flotilla holiday, where you live aboard your chosen yacht with friends or family and sail from harbour to harbour, in the company of usually between six and twelve other yachts. Our yachts vary from 28-39 ft in length, catering for crew sizes from two up to eight, with additional options for travellers who don't want to share a room, (although our flotilla holidays require a minimum of 2 people per booking). Our craft are meticulously maintained to ensure a hassle free holiday. Our helpful lead crew, aboard their own yacht, offer their expert assistance throughout your holiday. We don't require any formal qualifications for you to join us on a flotilla holiday, but we do ask that two people aboard each boat have a few days' experience in charge of a sailing vessel. If you are inexperienced, our Villa Flotilla holidays make a superb option for beginners (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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The very nature of our yachting holidays involves our guests visiting different out-of-the-way places each day, places which enjoy the extra revenue generated by our visits that they might not otherwise expect to benefit from. Shopping for groceries and eating out at the local tavernas in each port of call is an integral part of the social aspect of our holidays.
We recognise that we operate our yachting holidays in pristine marine environments and we understand the importance of conserving them for future generations. All our yachts are supplied with a handbook which contains tips for our guests on how to help conserve the unspoiled locations they love to sail in. All our old oil is siphoned into cans to avoid any possibility of spillage. Where possible, all materials are reused in some way, for example, old yacht ropes become mooring lines for dinghies and old sailcloth is made into laundry bags or car covers, even old uniforms are used for cleaning engines. Approximately three quarters of our yacht spares are sourced locally. Not only does this benefit the local economy, it cuts down the transport miles and all the associated impacts that go with that aspect of importation. In addition to sourcing standard spares items, we are also working with local suppliers to supply some of our more specific needs such as customised flags and other branded items. We register all our yachts to fly under the flag of the countries in which we operate. While this can be an expensive process, (albeit benefiting the local economy) it ensures our compliance with local legislation, which in turn helps cement good relations with local authorities, essential for the smooth running and risk management of our operations. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |