Nikiana is a small village in the northeast of the Greek island of Lefkada. Between the village and the city of Lefkada are only about 10 kilometers. The island of Lefkada belongs to the Ionian Islands and is located in the very north of the archipelago. The Ionian Islands are appreciated for their beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and natural beauty. Sailors of all experience levels will find good sailing conditions here. If you have to keep an eye on the Meltemi while sailing in the Cyclades, the wind conditions around the Ionian Islands can be classified as calm. Sailing novices and families appreciate this and the fact that the beats between the islands are suitable for short daily stages. Far from the sailing fun on the water, the area offers beautiful sandy beaches with crystal clear water, a variety of hiking routes, popular diving spots, quaint villages, historical sites and culinary highlight. Everything you need for an all-around successful vacation on land and in the water.
Climate: Mediterranean with temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius
Winds: Maestros
Sailing season: May to October
Popular Yachts | Nikiana
Nikiana| Cabins: | 4 | Berths: | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: | 2019 | Sail | Furling |
| Yacht-ID | 26967 | L/D: | 14.06 / 2.20 |
| Cabins: | 4 | Berths: | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: | 2021 | Sail | Furling |
| Yacht-ID | 26391 | L/D: | 12.87 / 1.70 |
Yacht charter Nikiana
Lefkada is one of the most popular islands in the Ionian Sea. In total, the seven main islands (from north to south: Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Lefkas, Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos). In between are many smaller islets, on the shores of which you can find secluded coves. Take advantage of coming from the seaside and make one of the small secluded bays yours for a day. But the two most famous islands of the Ionian archipelago are certainly Corfu and Lefkada. Take advantage of your departure from Nikiana to explore a bit of Lefkada Town, Lefkas, beforehand. The town was almost completely destroyed in an earthquake in the 1950s, but a stroll through its small and winding streets is still worthwhile. Small stores and cafes invite you to simply while away a little time and get in the mood for the Greek way of life. If you want to eat something, you will find the opportunity to immerse yourself in the specialties of the country in one of the many restaurants along the harbor promenade. If you want, you can also start your sailing vacation through the islands of the Ionian Sea from the marina here in town. In Nikiana it is a bit quieter than in the capital of the island. In Nikiana the yacht charter holiday will be a great experience for every member of the sailing crew. So after a long relaxing day on the yacht the crew can then enjoy a nice drink with a little snack or a delicious dinner in one of the small taverns.
In general you should consider for your sailing trip from Nikiana that in Greece as a skipper and as a co-skipper you need a sailing license for sports boats (SBF See). For the co-skipper it is also sufficient to confirm his sailing skills in writing in the form of a port statement on site. Nevertheless, you should discuss the regulations with your charter company before the start of each cruise in Greece due to changed regulations regarding the SBF-See. (I have taken over this 1:1 from the Lefkada page. Does that fit, or is that then also stolen?) Furthermore, the infrastructure in the Ionian Sea is not as well developed as it is known from other sailing areas. Be prepared to anchor mainly in bays or in smaller harbors. Well-developed and large marinas are rarely found here.
How to get there: You reach Nikiana via the international airport Aktion in Preveza. This is about the same altitude as the island of Lefkada on the Greek mainland. From here it is a drive of about 30 kilometers to Nikiana to the marina. The island is connected to the mainland by a floating bridge, so you don't have to rely on a ferry connection.
Around Lefkada
If you don't want to go too far from Lefkada on a one-week sailing trip and want to explore the island first, Lefkada offers plenty of stops. If you want to learn more about it then feel free to read on our page about Lefkada, here we have presented a circumnavigation of the island.
Sailing in the scenery of the Greek legends
1 week: Nikiana - Meganisi - Kalamos - Ithaca - Kefalonisi - Lefkada (Sivota) - Nikiana
2 weeks Nikiana - Meganisi - Kefalonia - Zakynthos - Peloponnese - mainland - Kalamos - Ithaca - Nikiana
For a yacht charter from Nikiana you can explore the southern Ionian Islands. The possibilities how to arrange your personal exploration tour through this island paradise are endless. And one destination is more beautiful than the other. First, the island of Meganisi, visit Spartochori in the north and explore the picturesque village scenery. Or stroll along the lively promenade in Vathy. The caves along the island's southwest coast are popular destinations, and if you don't want to stop to join the lines of people waiting to visit, enjoy the island's green-roofed cliffs as you sail by.
Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands. To the east of the island lies Sami. Stop here for a day trip to the cave lake in Melissani Cave.
The island of Zakynthos is home to probably the most photographed subject in all of Greece. In 1980, the smuggler ship Panagiotis stranded here in Navagio Bay in the northwest of the island and has attracted quite a few visitors ever since. The bay can only be reached from the water, but it is very well visited. If you want to have the wreck and the beautiful beach all to yourself, you should come in the early morning hours, then the light is also especially good for your very own copy of a picture from Navagio Bay.If you have a week for your sailing trip, you can explore around the Ionian Islands, if you have more time you can discover what can be found even further south.
From here it is not far to the coast of the Peloponnese. The peninsula in the very south of Greece is known for its extremely high density of cultural monuments. With Patras in the north, Corinth in the east, Sparta in the south and Olympia in the west, it is a true Eldorado! But not only those interested in history will find exciting excursion destinations here. Active vacationers appreciate the numerous coastal and cross-country hikes on the peninsula. The islands south of the Peloponnese like Elafonisos with its unspoiled nature and Kythira, which in mythology is called the birthplace of Aphrodite, are not overcrowded in terms of tourism and are perfect stopovers on your yacht charter Nikiana. If you have more than a week to spend on your sailing adventure, you can take your time exploring the Peloponnese, or on your way back you can still explore the islands of Ithaca and Kalamos.
From Lefkada to Corfu - sailing trip along the Greek west coast
Of course you can also start from Nikiana without any problems towards the north into a dreamlike sailing vacation. Leave Lefkada behind and sail past the islands of Paxos and Antipaxos to Corfu. Also along the mainland you will find interesting mooring points. If you want to learn more about a sailing trip towards Corfu, feel free to have a look at our Lefkada page.
In general, Greece offers a wealth of great sailing destinations. If you are still undecided which one is the right one for you, please have a look at our blog. Here we have compiled a small area finder for Greece. In the abundance of possible sailing trips, Croatia is otherwise still high on the list. An advantage is the better accessibility from the DACH countries.
Yacht charter Nikiana - Set sail with 1aYachtcharter!
