SeaTV · Ionian Islands · Corfu Route
Best Sailing Route from Corfu — Gouvia to Kefalonia
A four-day southbound charter from Gouvia Marina — the anchorages you should hit, the bays worth lunch only, and the timing that keeps the route comfortable.
Corfu is the natural starting point for an Ionian charter. Gouvia Marina, just north of Corfu Town, is the largest charter base on the island — full services, reliable charter handover, easy taxi to the airport. From here, the route runs south: along the east coast of Corfu, across to the mainland, down to Paxos, and on to Lefkada and Kefalonia.
This page covers the first four days of that route — Corfu, the mainland coast, and Paxos. For the southbound continuation through Lefkada and into Kefalonia, see our 7-Day Ionian itinerary. For the relaxed pastoral version of the same passage, see our narrative trip log.
⚠ Reality check: Day 1 of any charter is always shorter than the brochure suggests. Boat checks, provisioning, and getting the crew into rhythm eat the morning. Plan a 6–10 NM hop for Day 1 — anything more is rushed.
⚓ Quick Facts — The Route
Charter Base
Gouvia Marina, Corfu (north of Corfu Town)
Distances
Day legs typically 7–25 NM
Best Season
May–early October · peak July–August
Prevailing Wind
NW F3–F5 afternoon thermal
Suited For
Mixed crews · families · first-timers
Charter Length
4 days minimum · 7–10 days ideal for full route
Wind, Weather & Timing
The morning advantage
Morning air is light to F2 — flat water and easy navigation. Use the morning to cover distance: leave Gouvia by 09:30, you’ll be at any of the day-one northeast bays well before lunch.
The afternoon thermal
From around 13:00, the NW thermal builds. F4–F5 is normal. The wind funnels through the channel between Corfu and the mainland, accelerating in places — especially around Cape Lefkimmis and through the strait north of Paxos.
Open passages
The Corfu → Paxos run is the only open-water leg on this part of the route — about 13 NM from Petriti or 20+ NM from Gouvia. Plan it for a calm-morning forecast. Once on Paxos, distances drop and shelter is everywhere.
The Four-Day Southbound Route
Day 1 · 6–10 NM (short)
Gouvia → Kalami or Petriti
Charter check-in at Marina Gouvia, last provisioning, then a short afternoon sail. Two directions to choose from depending on the forecast and the crew’s mood.
Option A — North to Kalami (7 NM): The most scenic stretch of the Corfu coast. Anchor in Kalami bay, dinghy to the famous White House Taverna for dinner. See the East Coast of Corfu page for details.
Option B — South to Petriti (12 NM): Heads you toward Paxos; useful if your forecast shows a calm window for the open-water leg the next morning. See the Petriti page.
⚠ Watch: Kalami is open to the east — fine in summer thermal, uncomfortable in any easterly system.
Day 2 · 13–25 NM
Down to Paxos — Lakka or Gaios
The crossing south to Paxos. From Petriti it’s roughly 13 NM; from a Corfu northeast anchorage 20–25 NM. Aim for an early start before the thermal builds.
Lakka: The iconic horseshoe bay at the north tip — anchor by lunchtime in the prevailing NW. See the Lakka page.
Gaios: The all-weather harbour — stern-to in the channel between Paxos and Panagia islet. Use the north entrance — the SE entrance has a notorious reef. See the Gaios page.
⚠ Watch: If a north or NE system is forecast, Lakka becomes uncomfortable fast. Gaios is the all-conditions fallback.
Day 3 · 25 NM
Paxos → Lefkas
A long sail south to Lefkas Marina via the Lefkas canal. Often a strong NW wind on the beam — fast and comfortable, but committed once you start.
Plan B — Preveza: If the forecast turns or the crew is tired, divert to Preveza Marina on the mainland — same general direction, no canal navigation, fully sheltered.
Evening: Lefkas town is the biggest, liveliest, most-restaurant-rich evening on the route. Worth a long dinner.
⚠ Watch: Lefkas swing bridge opens hourly during daylight — be lined up 15 minutes before the opening.
Day 4 · ~30 NM
Lefkas → Kefalonia (Fiskardo)
South via Meganisi (lunch stop possible) to the polished pastel village of Fiskardo on the north tip of Kefalonia. The most photographed harbour in the Ionian.
Day 4+: If your charter continues, rent a car for a day and explore Kefalonia’s interior — Mount Ainos, the Drogarati cave, Melissani lake. The island is too big to see only from the boat.
⚠ Watch: Fiskardo fills by 15:00 in season. If full, fall back to Frikes (Ithaca, 4 NM east) or Sami (south coast of Kefalonia).
⚓ Anchorages by Region — Round-up
North & East Coast of Corfu
Three sheltered bays sit 6–10 NM from Gouvia, perfect for a Day 1 short sail.
Agni (~6 NM): A small bay famous for Agni Restaurant on the beach — dinghy ashore. Excellent food, expensive by Corfu standards. The bay is small and fills quickly.
Kalami (~7 NM): The classic Corfu anchorage. Anchor in the bay, dinghy to The White House Taverna or Thomas’s Place on the beach. Open to the east.
Agios Stefanos NE (~10 NM): A larger bay with a fishing village ashore. Bottom is grass-heavy — set the anchor deliberately. Watch for ferry wash from the channel.
For full details on the northeast Corfu coast — including Kassiopi, Kouloura, and Avlaki — see the East Coast of Corfu page.
Corfu South — Petriti & nearby
Petriti (~25 NM south of Gouvia): A working fishing village with a small breakwater quay protected from northern winds. Several waterfront tavernas, no marina services, free quay (when space exists). The natural stepping-stone toward Paxos. See the Petriti page.
Mainland — Mourtos / Sivota
A cluster of bays on the Greek mainland 15 NM east of Corfu town. Multiple lunch anchorages (one of which has a small blue cave to the south), plus a vibrant village quay with restaurants and supermarket-with-delivery.
Town quay: Sheltered inner sections preferred — outer sections along the restaurant front are also workable but more exposed.
Local recommendations: Vaflaki (the blue restaurant) for lunch; George’s Family Taverna for the famous Belgian-waffle dessert (one portion feeds 4). Supermarket in the marina offers free delivery to your boat.
Paxos — Lakka, Gaios, Mongonissi
Lakka: The famous horseshoe bay. Sheltered, anchorable, charming village ashore. Recommended walks to the lighthouse (25 minutes). Tavernas: Paxoimadi, Pounentes (in addition to those covered on the Lakka page).
Gaios: The all-weather harbour — bustling, restaurant-rich, sheltered. Approach from the north (the SE entrance has a reef). Stop at Fragola Glider for the cream and yoghurt ice creams — pistachio popsicle especially recommended.
Mongonissi: A protected bay 2 NM south of Gaios — the only sandy beach on Paxos. Free Med-mooring or a small dock for no fee. Pan & Theo Taverna arranges traditional Greek evenings with music — call ahead to reserve and to order fresh bread for the morning.
Side Trip — The West Coast of Paxos
Sailing distances on Paxos are short, so a half-day west-coast detour is easy to fit in. The west coast is cliff-lined, with caves, hidden coves, and the most striking water on the island. Plan it for a calm morning — the west coast is open to the prevailing NW wind, and gets uncomfortable from early afternoon.
Highlight: The central blue cave — the most photographed feature on the island, large enough to dinghy into. Worth most of your morning.
Pro Tips for the Corfu Route
Day 1 should be short. Charter check-in always takes longer than you think. A 6–10 NM hop on Day 1 is a feature, not a compromise.
Provision in Gouvia. The supermarket inside the marina is the largest you’ll see on the route until Lefkas. Stock for at least four days.
Time the Paxos crossing. The Corfu-to-Paxos leg is the only open-water passage in this section. Cross in the morning before the thermal builds; have Petriti as a pre-positioned overnight to make the morning easier.
Rent a car at each major island. The interiors of Corfu and Kefalonia have things you can only see by road — old villages, mountain views, beaches not reachable from the sea. One day-rental per island.
Cross between Corfu and Mourtos in the morning. The channel between Corfu and the mainland funnels the NW thermal — afternoon crossings can have F5–F6 with chop. Mornings are flat.
✅ Sailor’s Safety Checklist
▢ Charter handover paperwork complete before leaving Gouvia
▢ Anchor windlass tested before first overnight
▢ Open-water leg (Corfu → Paxos) on a calm-morning forecast
▢ Cape Lefkimmis cleared with offshore margin (avoid shallows)
▢ Gaios entrance — north only (avoid SE reef)
▢ VHF on Ch. 16
Key Emergency Numbers — Route Area
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Corfu: +30 26610 32655
Gouvia Marina (VHF 69): +30 26610 91900
Port Police Paxos: +30 26620 32533
Coastguard Lefkas: +30 26450 22322
Hospital Corfu: +30 26613 60400
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Videos
Approach footage, anchorage details, and harbour walk-throughs for every stop on this route — from Gouvia south to Kefalonia. Free for members.
Detailed pages for every stop
Each anchorage on this route has its own SeaTV visual pilot guide.
→ Ionian hub · East Coast Corfu · Lakka · Gaios · Kefalonia
“From Corfu, you sail south. The wind, the geography, and a hundred years of charter routes all agree.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Corfu Route Edition
