From Agia Efimia: All Inclusive Sailing Day Trip to Ithaca

Clear water, quiet coves, and lunch on a pier make this an appealing day on the Ionian Sea. From Agia Efimia, you spend about eight hours aboard the sailing yacht Lily, with stops at Gidaki Beach and the Lygia-Pera Pigadi area for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding. I especially like the intimate group size, capped at eight, and the care shown by captains Menios and Vangelis, with food, snacks, and drinks included.

The main caution is that a sailboat is not a speedboat. Lily usually moves at 7 to 8 knots, and one recent account found the boat motored instead of raising the sails. If you book this for the romance of sailing under canvas, ask about the expected conditions. The day is better suited to slow coastal views, swimming, and a generous Greek lunch.

Key points at a glance

• Small boat, small group: Lily carries up to eight people, giving the day a quieter feel than a large excursion boat.
• Two main swim stops: Gidaki Beach and Lygia-Pera Pigadi offer clear water for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding.
• Lunch is part of the experience: Expect local dishes and products, with reviews praising meals such as lamb kleftiko and sardine bruschetta.
• A thoughtfully staged meal: The crew has set up tables, chairs, and a shaded gazebo on a pier for lunch.
• The captain can adjust the route: Menios may change swimming spots if weather, water conditions, or cleanliness make another cove a better choice.
• Good value for a special day: At $176 per person, the price includes lunch, snacks, drinks, equipment, Wi-Fi, and a private or semi-private setting.

Leaving Agia Efimia for Ithaca

The day begins at one of two possible meeting points connected with Sail The Day Kefalonia and the harbor office. Check your confirmation carefully, because the exact meeting point depends on the option you book. Agia Efimia is about 15 minutes north of Sami, a useful detail if you are staying elsewhere in Kefalonia.

Once aboard Lily, you settle into a full day at sea rather than a quick ferry ride. The outward cruise takes roughly two hours. That sounds long if you want instant access to a beach, but it is part of the pleasure here. The boat gives you time to watch Kefalonia’s coast recede, enjoy the open water, and settle into the unhurried rhythm of a sailing day.

The boat is described as spacious and comfortable for its maximum of eight people. That limit matters. You are not fighting for deck space or waiting for dozens of people to get back aboard after a swim. The small format also lets the crew respond to the group, offer drinks when wanted, and give more attention to children or less confident swimmers.

The tradeoff is speed. Lily cruises at about 7 to 8 knots, so the journey is designed around the ride itself. If you expect to cover a large stretch of coastline quickly, this may feel slow. If you want a calm day with plenty of time to look around, it makes sense.

Gidaki Beach and the first swim

Gidaki Beach is the first major stop, with about an hour set aside for free time, swimming, and snorkeling. The water is the star here, described as clear enough for exploring below the surface. Snorkeling equipment is included, and you also have access to a paddleboard.

This is the point where the day shifts from sightseeing to participation. You can swim from the boat, look beneath the surface with a mask, or take the paddleboard out for a gentler view of the cove. The equipment is useful because you do not need to pack your own mask or board, though one account noted that paddleboards may need to be shared around.

An hour is enough for a proper swim, but it is not an all-day beach stay. You will want to make your choices quickly if you hope to swim, snorkel, and paddleboard. Bring your own towel and beachwear, and pack biodegradable sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you also need to arrange your own way to the harbor.

Gidaki is one of the places that makes this trip different from a standard island coach tour. The selected coves are reached by sea, and the appeal is less about checking off a famous landmark than enjoying access to water and shoreline that are difficult to reach by road.

The cruise to Lygia-Pera Pigadi

After Gidaki, the boat spends about 45 minutes under way before reaching the next swimming and lunch area. The route may include Lygia-Pera Pigadi, with the captain able to adjust the exact stop if conditions call for calmer or cleaner water.

That flexibility is practical, not just a nice extra. Wind, waves, and water quality can change during a day at sea. A captain who can choose a better-protected cove gives you a more comfortable swim and avoids forcing the group into a fixed plan. The day is built around the conditions, so the precise order or location can change.

The second stop lasts about two hours and 15 minutes, making it the heart of the trip. You have time to swim, snorkel, use the paddleboard, and sit down for lunch without rushing through every part of the visit. Some accounts describe more than two swimming spots during the day, but the central plan is built around two main stops.

You should not expect a guided walking visit in Ithaca. This is a coastal experience, seen from the water and enjoyed through swimming, food, and scenery. One person wished for more history and culture about the islands, and that is a fair point. If you want detailed island commentary, archaeological sites, or a town visit, you may prefer a different excursion.

Lunch on a pier under a gazebo

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the day. The crew has served meals on a little pier, sometimes arranging a table and chairs beneath a shaded gazebo. That setup turns a simple boat lunch into a proper meal with a memorable setting.

The food centers on Greek recipes and products from small producers in Kefalonia and Ithaca. Specific meals described include sardine bruschetta and lamb kleftiko, along with other home-cooked dishes. Local snacks and Robola wine are also included, and drinks are available throughout the day.

I like this approach because it connects the meal to the islands instead of treating food as an afterthought. You are not simply handed a packaged lunch between swims. The meal becomes part of the reason to choose a small local boat over a large cruise.

The lunch stop also gives you a needed pause. Eight hours in the sun can become tiring, especially if you spend every break in the water. The shaded setup, seating, and unhurried meal help balance the active parts of the trip.

Food preferences and dietary needs are not specified in the supplied details, so ask the provider before booking if this matters to you. The same goes for drinks beyond the listed offerings. The experience includes lunch, snacks, drinks, and Robola wine, but it does not promise a custom menu.

What the crew adds to the day

The crew receives unusually strong praise for hospitality. Menios, Vangelis, Fotis, and Stassos are named in different accounts, suggesting that staffing can vary by departure. The consistent picture is of a friendly team that keeps an eye on comfort, serves food and drinks, and helps make the day feel personal.

Menios is also described as responsive before the trip and attentive to changing conditions. That matters on a boat excursion. Good communication helps you arrive at the right place, while sound judgment during the day can keep the swimming stops pleasant.

The crew may let you try steering the sailboat with guidance from the skipper. That is a small but worthwhile touch, especially for families and anyone curious about how a sailing yacht handles. It is not a formal sailing lesson, so think of it as a chance to take the helm briefly rather than a course in navigation.

There is also Wi-Fi on board, though the best reason to join this trip is to look up from your phone. Bring a camera if you want photos of the coast and coves, but keep it secure around the swimming stops.

Sailing under canvas, or motoring?

This is the one point where expectations need careful handling. The experience is sold as a sailing day trip, and the boat is a sailing yacht. Yet one person specifically found that the sails were never raised and that the boat motored throughout the day. Others describe the outing as great sailing, so the operating pattern may depend on wind, timing, or the captain’s judgment.

A sailboat moves more slowly than a speedboat, and that is made clear in the trip information. The crew says Lily normally travels at 7 to 8 knots and encourages you to enjoy the scenery. If you mainly want a smooth, relaxed ride, motoring may not spoil the day.

If handling under sail is your top reason for booking, contact Sail The Day Kefalonia before you reserve. Ask whether the planned departure is likely to use the sails and how much time will be spent underway. That simple question can prevent disappointment.

The boat may also feel less steady than a large ferry, especially to anyone prone to seasickness. This experience is not suitable for people who regularly become ill at sea. Sit where the skipper recommends, keep your eyes on the horizon, and bring any personal remedies you normally use, though the provider does not list seasickness medication as included.

What $176 buys you

At $176 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Ionian Sea. The value comes from what is bundled into the day: an eight-hour boat trip, a small group of up to eight, lunch, snacks, drinks, Robola wine, snorkeling equipment, a paddleboard, and Wi-Fi.

The price also covers the style of the experience. A large boat can carry more people for less, but it will not offer the same quiet setting or the same level of attention. Here, the crew can adjust swimming locations, set up a proper lunch, and respond to the mood of a compact group.

The value is strongest for a couple celebrating something special, a family that wants a private-feeling day, or friends who would rather spend one full day together than split time among several short activities. The semi-private format also works well if you want conversation and calm instead of music and crowds.

It is less convincing if you only want a quick swim, a fast transfer to Ithaca, or a sightseeing tour with substantial commentary. The cost includes a full experience on the water, not a checklist of historic sights.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this trip if you care about clear swimming water, local food, a slow pace, and a small group. It suits confident swimmers, couples, families with children who enjoy paddleboarding, and anyone who likes an easy day where the crew handles the practical details.

The children in one family especially enjoyed the paddleboards and snorkeling. That said, the boat and open water require normal care around young children, and the supplied information does not specify age limits or child flotation arrangements. Ask the operator directly if those details matter to your family.

This is also a good choice for a wedding anniversary or another special occasion. The shaded lunch table on the pier, the quiet coves, and the attentive service give the day a sense of occasion without making it formal.

I would look elsewhere if you need wheelchair access, dislike being on the sea, or want a full cultural tour of Ithaca. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the information specifically warns people prone to seasickness. It also provides only limited cultural interpretation compared with a land-based guided tour.

Practical details before you reserve

Bring a towel, beachwear, sunglasses, a sun hat, a camera, and biodegradable sunscreen. You will spend much of the day exposed to sun and sea, so a dry bag or secure waterproof pouch would be sensible, though it is not listed among the included items.

The cruise requires at least four participants to operate. If the minimum is not met, or bad weather makes the trip unsafe, it is canceled with a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

The captain speaks Greek and English. The meeting point can vary by booking option, and hotel transfers are not included. Plan extra time to reach the harbor and confirm exactly where you should meet the crew.

The trip has an overall rating of 4.7 from 62 ratings, with 89 percent giving the transport a perfect score. The strongest praise centers on the crew, the food, the peaceful pace, the attractive swimming spots, and the small-group setting. The main reservations are the possible lack of actual sailing and the limited historical commentary.

Should you book the Ithaca sailing day?

Book it if you want a relaxed, food-focused day on the Ionian Sea, with two strong swimming stops and a small group rather than a packed cruise boat. The lunch setup, local dishes, attentive crew, and clear water make the $176 price reasonable for a special full-day outing.

Before paying, confirm two things: the meeting point and whether the boat is likely to sail under canvas. If you need wheelchair access, suffer from seasickness, or want a history-heavy visit to Ithaca, skip this one. If you are happy to move slowly, swim often, and let the captain shape the route around the weather, Lily offers a very pleasant way to see the islands from the water.

FAQ

How long does the sailing trip last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including the boat rides, swimming stops, lunch, snacks, and time to relax on the water.

Where does the trip depart from?

The trip departs from Agia Efimia. The exact meeting point may be the harbor office or Sail The Day Kefalonia, depending on the option booked.

How many people can join the boat?

The sailboat has space for up to eight passengers. Private and small-group options are available, and at least four participants are required for the cruise to operate.

What is included in the price?

Lunch, snacks, drinks, Robola wine, snorkeling equipment, a paddleboard, and Wi-Fi are included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Which swimming locations are included?

The main planned swimming areas are Gidaki Beach and Lygia-Pera Pigadi. The captain can change the swimming spots during the day if another location has calmer or cleaner water.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If bad weather prevents the cruise from operating, or if the minimum number of participants is not reached, the trip is canceled and you receive a full refund.