From Agia Efimia: All Inclusive Sailing Day Trip to Ithaca

The best part of this day is its small scale. Lily carries up to eight people, so you get quiet coves, open-water views, and a proper lunch by the sea instead of the shuffle of a large cruise boat. Menios and his crew, including skippers named Vangelis, Fotis, and Tassos on different departures, keep the mood relaxed and attentive.

I like the two long swimming stops and the care put into the meal, which may include local products, Robola wine, sardine bruschetta, and lamb kleftiko. I also like the flexible route: the captain can change the coves if wind or water conditions make another spot cleaner or calmer. The main consideration is that Lily is a sailboat, not a speedboat, and sailing under canvas is not guaranteed. One passenger found the boat motored for the whole day.

Key points to know before booking

• Small boat, maximum eight people: This is a much more personal outing than a large group cruise.
• Two main Ithaca swimming stops: Gidaki Beach and Lygia-Pera Pigadi provide time for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding.
• Lunch is part of the experience: Expect local recipes and products, often served at a shaded table and gazebo beside the water.
• A gentle cruising pace: Lily travels at about 7 to 8 knots, giving you time to enjoy the Ionian views.
• The route can change: The captain may choose a calmer or cleaner swimming place according to the day’s conditions.
• Plan for sun and motion: Bring a hat, sunglasses, towel, beachwear, biodegradable sunscreen, and a camera. People prone to seasickness may want to skip this trip.

Why this Agia Efimia sailing day feels different

Agia Efimia is on Kefalonia’s east coast, making it a useful departure point for a day on the water around Ithaca. You are not simply being ferried from one port to another. The boat time is a major part of the outing, with about two hours on the way out, a 45-minute cruise between stops, and about two hours returning.

That timing gives the day a calm rhythm. You cruise, swim, eat, rest, and cruise again. At 7 to 8 knots, Lily is not built for a fast island hop. If you want to tick off several places in a hurry, this will feel slow. If you want to watch the shoreline, feel the breeze, and spend real time in the water, the pace works well.

The boat holds up to eight passengers, and private or small-group departures are available. That matters in the Ionian Sea, where the appeal is often a quiet cove and a swim from the stern, not a crowded deck with music and a queue for the ladder.

Menios is the main name attached to the operation, and the crew is repeatedly described as friendly, attentive, and easygoing. The service is practical rather than formal. Drinks appear when needed, snacks are served during the cruise, and the crew helps guests make use of the paddleboard and snorkeling equipment.

Leaving Agia Efimia aboard Lily

You meet at the Harbour Office or the Sail The Day Kefalonia location, depending on the booking option. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to Agia Efimia.

Once aboard, settle in for the first cruise toward Ithaca. Lily is described as comfortable and spacious for a boat of this size, with room to sit, sunbathe, and move around without feeling packed in. Wi-Fi is included, though the main reason to bring your phone is likely photos rather than constant internet access.

The crew serves snacks and drinks during the outward leg. Local products are part of the food and drink offering, with Robola wine specifically included. You may also find that the crew is happy to make the day feel personal, with one account noting that an English cup of tea was prepared on request.

The views are the kind you get only from the water. You see Kefalonia and Ithaca from offshore, with coves and rocky edges that are difficult or impossible to reach by road. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole crossing looking through a screen. The quiet stretches between stops are part of the value.

Gidaki Beach: the first swim

The first major stop is Gidaki Beach, where you have about an hour for swimming and snorkeling. The water is described as crystal clear, and the stop is intended for getting in rather than simply taking a quick photo from the boat.

Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to bring your own mask and fins. Still, one person brought personal equipment and would have preferred clearer access to the supplied gear. If snorkeling is important to you, confirm with the crew at the start that you know where the equipment is stored and how it is shared.

The paddleboard is another welcome extra. It gives you a way to explore just beyond the boat without committing to a long swim. On a small-group trip, the board may need to be shared, so you should not expect unlimited time on it if every passenger wants a turn.

Gidaki is a good first stop because the hour passes quickly. You can swim, try the board, snorkel, climb back aboard, and dry off before lunch. Bring a towel and beachwear that you can comfortably wear for most of the day. There are no hotel-style changing facilities described here, so simple, practical clothing is best.

Lygia-Pera Pigadi and lunch beside the water

After about 45 minutes of cruising, the boat reaches the second swimming area around Lygia-Pera Pigadi. This is where the day’s food service becomes a real feature rather than an afterthought.

Lunch is served during a stay of about two hours, with time for more swimming and snorkeling. The setup can include a table and chairs beneath a gazebo on a small pier or stone jetty. That detail changes the feel of the meal. You are not balancing a paper plate on your lap while the boat rocks. You can sit in the shade, eat properly, and look out over the water.

The food focuses on Greek recipes and ingredients from small producers in Kefalonia and Ithaca. The exact menu can vary, but meals have included sardine bruschetta and lamb kleftiko, along with snacks, drinks, and local wine. Kleftiko is slow-cooked lamb, a hearty dish that suits a long day in the sun better than a light snack would.

Several people singled out the meal as one of the strongest parts of the outing. I can see why. A beautiful cove is memorable, but a carefully set table under a gazebo makes the stop feel generous and considered. It also gives you a proper break from the sun.

You still have time to swim after eating. This is useful because lunch does not end the day’s active portion. You can cool off, use the paddleboard, or snorkel before the return trip. If you prefer to spend the whole stop in the water, you may find the meal setup pulls you ashore for longer than expected. That is a benefit for some people and a drawback for anyone hoping for nonstop swimming.

The sailing question: what Lily actually offers

This is the point to understand before paying $176. Lily is a sailing boat, but the trip is not sold as a guarantee of full-time sailing under sail.

The boat cruises at roughly 7 to 8 knots, and the captain may motor for much of the route. One passenger specifically expected more time with the sails up and found that the boat motored throughout the day. Others describe the trip as a great sailing experience, so conditions and the captain’s choices may differ.

If your main goal is the sensation of sailing with the engine off, ask about the expected conditions before departure. If your main goal is a comfortable day on the water with swimming, food, and small-group service, the motor-assisted pace should not be a problem.

The slow speed is not a weakness for everyone. It means fewer jolts than a speedboat and more time for photos and conversation. You get a moving view of the Ionian coast rather than a quick transfer between two swimming stops.

The return to Agia Efimia

After lunch and the second swim, Lily begins the roughly two-hour return cruise. This is usually the quietest part of the day. You may be ready to dry off, sit back, and watch the coastline pass.

Snacks and drinks are included on the return leg, and the crew continues to look after passengers. The boat returns to Sail The Day Kefalonia or the Harbour Office, depending on the selected option.

The full outing lasts about eight hours. That is long enough to make the crossing to Ithaca worthwhile, but it is also a full day in the sun. If you have young children, consider how they handle boat time, even though paddleboarding and swimming provide welcome breaks. One family found the paddleboards and snorkeling especially popular with children.

The boat does not cover a large list of Ithaca sights on foot. This is a coastal and swimming trip, not a town tour or archaeology excursion. You will see the island from the water and visit places reached by boat. If you want shops, museums, or a guided walk through an Ithacan village, plan a separate visit.

Is $176 a fair price?

At $176 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day near Kefalonia. The price makes more sense when you add up what is included: eight hours on the water, a small boat, crew service, lunch, snacks, drinks, Robola wine, snorkeling equipment, a paddleboard, and Wi-Fi.

The meal is important to the value. A lunch served at a prepared table beside the water feels more substantial than a basic onboard sandwich. You are also paying for the smaller group size, the captain’s ability to adjust the route, and the chance to reach coves that are not accessible by road.

The price is less appealing if you mainly want a short boat ride and one quick swim. You could spend less on a larger group cruise, though you would likely give up some privacy and flexibility. This trip is best judged as a full-day experience, not as transport to Ithaca.

Private and semi-private options make the cost easier to justify for couples, families, or a small group celebrating something special. It was also used as a wedding anniversary outing, and the meal setup suits that kind of occasion.

Who should book this trip

You should consider it if you want:

• A quiet day with a maximum of eight people
• Swimming in clear Ionian water
• Time for snorkeling and paddleboarding
• A Greek lunch served beside the sea
• A flexible route shaped by wind and water conditions
• A relaxed pace rather than a fast boat ride
• Personal attention from Menios and his crew

It suits couples and families particularly well. Children who enjoy swimming and paddleboarding should have plenty to do, while adults can spend the cruise relaxing with a drink or watching the coast.

You should think twice if you dislike boat motion, have serious seasickness, or need wheelchair access. The trip is not suitable for wheelchair users, and people prone to seasickness are advised not to book. You should also reconsider if the word sailing means sails up all day to you. That is not assured.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, towel, camera, beachwear, and biodegradable sunscreen. Since the tour does not include hotel pickup, allow time to reach Agia Efimia and confirm the exact meeting point attached to your booking.

Should you book the Ithaca sailing day?

I would book this trip if you value small-group service, good food, and long swims more than a packed sightseeing schedule. The strongest elements are the intimate boat, the flexible swimming stops, the thoughtful lunch setup, and the crew’s personal care.

I would not choose it if you want a high-speed tour, guaranteed sailing under canvas, or a land-based introduction to Ithaca. For everyone else, $176 buys a generous eight-hour day with food, drinks, equipment, and access to coastal spots that are difficult to reach any other way. Just board with the right expectation: this is a relaxed sea day with an Ithaca destination, not a race around the island.

FAQ

Where does the sailing trip depart from?

The departure is from Agia Efimia. The meeting point may be the Harbour Office or Sail The Day Kefalonia, depending on the option booked.

How long does the trip last?

The experience lasts about eight hours. The schedule includes roughly two hours cruising to the first stop, 45 minutes between the swimming areas, and about two hours returning.

How many people can join the boat?

The sailboat has space for up to eight passengers. Private and small-group options are available.

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch, snacks, and drinks are included. The food features Greek recipes and products from small producers in Kefalonia and Ithaca. Robola wine is also included.

Are snorkeling equipment and paddleboards provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a paddleboard are included. The paddleboard may need to be shared among passengers.

Can the captain change the swimming locations?

Yes. The captain may change the stops during the cruise if another location has cleaner or calmer water.

What happens if the weather cancels the trip?

If bad weather causes cancellation, or if the minimum number of four participants is not reached, you receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.