WHY IONIAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS?
EXPERT ADVICE
Our team of experienced and knowledgeable advisers are here to make your holiday to the Greek islands memorable - and for the right reasons!LIVE WEBCAMS
See what's happening now live in Greece!ERROR
This email address has been used in the past to subscribe to our newsletter
If you don't think you have subscribed with this email in the past then please call us on
0208 459 0777
Sign up for £100 Off!
Sign up to our newsletter and
receive up to £100 off your next
Ionian Island Holiday*
*by entering your email address you are agreeing to receive marketing emails from us. You can unsubscribe anytime. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy here.
LEFKADA VILLA HOLIDAYS
An island only since the sixth century BC when a channel was dug through the low isthmus connecting it to the mainland. Lefkada has its own unique appeal, possibly due to the fact that the Venetians handed over the island to the Turks in the 16th and 17th century, in return for control of nearby Kefalonia and Ithaka. On the other hand, could it have a connection with the romantic legends of two renowned beauties from a much earlier age?
Sappho, desperate after being spurned by her lover, fled to the high cliffs of Cape Lefkada on the extreme southwestern tip of the island. Here she threw herself into the sea, in ancient times a certain cure for unrequited love. She died!
Over the following centuries, criminals and lunatics were forced to repeat the act, sometimes with rudimentary wings attached, by priests from the nearby temple of Apollo in an annual ceremony. Nowadays, hang-gliders and parapentes manage Sappho’s Leap with much more success. In the 8th century AD, Saint Mavra, the black saint famous for her beauty and purity, sought sanctuary on the White Island to escape an unwanted suitor. She lived in solitary contemplation until her death, when her sainthood was assured after the discovery that her tomb would cure sickness and drive out evil spirits.
Today, Lefkada is still largely an agricultural island with thriving olive groves, vineyards and a famous lace-making cottage industry. Development of tourism has been confined to a few resorts such as Vassiliki and Nidri on the east coast. Elsewhere, the loudest noise might be from the surf breaking on shingle or the echo of goat bells through the olive trees. In spring, rare orchids thrive on the verges and the woods are bright with the purple blossom of the Judas tree.
Many of the older women in the rural areas still wear the traditional Lefkadian costume, consisting of two skirts, a brown headscarf and a rigid bodice. Stop for a retsina in a small kafenion and soon you will be engaged in conversation by a friendly local, who will be only too happy to point out all the local attractions.
Lefkada Town, the island’s capital, is situated at the north end of the island beside the narrow isthmus. It is an intriguing hotchpotch of narrow streets, timber, stone and even corrugated iron houses, with a busy harbour full of yachts. The town hosts a number of art and cultural festivals throughout the summer. The fascinating Epiros coast on the mainland is within easy reach across the swing bridge with its guardian fort of Agia Mavra.
Nidri, on the coast road 15 kilometres south of Lefkada Town, is a bustling resort in a beautiful setting from where boat trips can be taken to Onassis’ island of Skorpios, Meganisi and the Inner Islands. There is a ferry port with a daily scheduled service to Kefalonia and Ithaka and nearby a waymarked trail leads up to the Dimosari Cascades. Streams and waterfalls are extremely rare in the Ionian Islands as most of the rainfall disappears deep into the underlying limestone. Vasiliki, further down the coast is one of the world’s finest windsurfing locations and another ferry port for Kefalonia.
To discover the real Lefkada, take any of a number of quiet country roads that wind up green valleys towards the rugged mountains. Apart from the outstanding views of the inner Ionian Sea dotted with islands, many of the oldest monasteries can be explored including Agia Panaghia Odigirata, near Lefkada Town on the main road to Lazarata. Dating from the 15th century, with wonderful frescoes, recently restored, this is just one of many old churches scattered across the island. West and north of the mountains there are a series of traditional stone-built villages untouched by tourism. Typical of these are the five villages surrounding Lazarata, including Spanohori.
These quiet villages, set back from the coast, are ideal bases from which to explore Lefkada’s magnificent west coast. From the village of Agios Nikitas, set in a glorious position above a crescent of sand and soft shingle, a whole series of wonderful beaches run north and south, some such as Mylos only accessible by water taxi. To sit on an empty beach as the sun sinks gently towards the western horizon, towering white cliffs glowing pink and the sea turning from turquoise to deep blue, this must surely be one of life’s most memorable experiences.
- Explore secluded coves and islands from Nidri in your own motor boat
- 3 island cruise around Kefalonia, Ithaka and Meganisi
- Enjoy the beaches on the west coast – Agios Ioannis, Agios Nikitas, Kathisma, Milos & Porto Katsiki
- Visit Lefkada Town for its plateia (square) shopping and cosmopolitan nightlife
- Windsurfing and dinghy sailing in Vassiliki
- Kite surfing at Agios Ioannis beach
- Karia, the old capital and one of the most picturesque mountain villages on the island
- The impressive Zagori mountain range on the mainland range with one of the world’s deepest gorges Vikos Gorge
- The Dimosari waterfalls near Nidri in mid and low season.
Flights for this season
Sunday departures for direct flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham
FROM | TO | OUTBOUND FLIGHT |
INBOUND FLIGHT |
FLIGHT DETAILS |
DEPARTURE TERMINAL |
DEPARTURE DATES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
London Heathrow | Preveza | Dep: 09:20hrs Arr: 14:40hrs |
Dep: 15:50hrs Arr: 17:20hrs |
British Airways BA 0692/3 |
Terminal 5 | From: 26th May To: 13th Oct |
London Heathrow | Preveza | Dep: 11:10hrs Arr: 16:30hrs |
Dep: 17:50hrs Arr: 19:20hrs |
British Airways BA 0674/0681 |
Terminal 5 | From: 26th May To: 13th Oct |
London Gatwick | Preveza | Dep: 07:45hrs Arr: 13:00hrs |
Dep: 13:50hrs Arr: 15:15hrs |
Easyjet EZY 8247/8 |
North Terminal | From: 28th Apr To: 12th May |
London Gatwick | Preveza | Dep: 06:50hrs Arr: 12:10hrs |
Dep: 13:10hrs Arr: 14:25hrs |
Enter Air ENT 427/8 |
South Terminal | From: 19th May To: 6th Oct |
Stansted | Preveza | Dep: 07:45hrs Arr: 13:10hrs |
Dep: 14:05hrs Arr: 15:30hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1533/4 |
Main Terminal | From: 19th May To: 27th Oct |
Manchester | Preveza | Dep: 06:15hrs Arr: 11:45hrs |
Dep: 12:45hrs Arr: 14:30hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1757/8 |
T1 | From: 5th May To: 27th Oct |
Bristol | Preveza | Dep: 07:30hrs Arr: 12:55hrs |
Dep: 13:40hrs Arr: 15:20hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1873/4 |
Main Terminal | From: 5th May To: 29th Sep |
Birmingham | Preveza | Dep: 06:10hrs Arr: 11:40hrs |
Dep: 12:30hrs Arr: 14:00hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1329/1330 |
Main Terminal | From: 5th May To: 20th Oct |
Flights for 2025
Sunday departures for direct flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Birmingham
FROM | TO | OUTBOUND FLIGHT |
INBOUND FLIGHT |
FLIGHT DETAILS |
DEPARTURE TERMINAL |
DEPARTURE DATES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
London Heathrow | Preveza | Dep: 09:20hrs Arr: 14:40hrs |
Dep: 15:50hrs Arr: 17:20hrs |
British Airways BA 0692/3 |
Terminal 5 | From: 1st Jun To: 5th Oct |
London Heathrow | Preveza | Dep: 11:10hrs Arr: 16:30hrs |
Dep: 17:50hrs Arr: 19:20hrs |
British Airways BA 0674/0681 |
Terminal 5 | From: 1st Jun To: 5th Oct |
London Gatwick | Preveza | Dep: 07:40hrs Arr: 13:00hrs |
Dep: 13:40hrs Arr: 15:15hrs |
Easyjet EZY 8247/8 |
North Terminal | From: 4th May To: 11th May |
London Gatwick | Preveza | Dep: 06:50hrs Arr: 12:10hrs |
Dep: 13:10hrs Arr: 14:25hrs |
Enter Air ENT 427/8 |
South Terminal | From: 18th May To: 26th Oct |
Stansted | Preveza | Dep: 07:45hrs Arr: 13:10hrs |
Dep: 14:05hrs Arr: 15:30hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1533/4 |
Main Terminal | From: 4th May To: 19th Oct |
Manchester | Preveza | Dep: 06:15hrs Arr: 11:45hrs |
Dep: 12:45hrs Arr: 14:30hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1757/8 |
T1 | From: 4th May To: 26th Oct |
Edinburgh | Preveza | Dep: 06:00hrs Arr: 11:55hrs |
Dep: 12:45hrs Arr: 14:55hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 761/2 |
Main Terminal | From: 4th May To: 19th Oct |
Bristol | Preveza | Dep: 07:30hrs Arr: 12:55hrs |
Dep: 13:40hrs Arr: 15:20hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1873/4 |
Main Terminal | From: 4th May To: 5th Oct |
Birmingham | Preveza | Dep: 06:10hrs Arr: 11:40hrs |
Dep: 12:30hrs Arr: 14:00hrs |
Jet2 Airlines LS 1329/30 |
Main Terminal | From: 4th May To: 19th Oct |
TRANSFERS
Hire cars will be waiting at the airport.
Approx transfer time: 30 mins to 1 hour
PRE-BOOKING YOUR AIRCRAFT SEAT
To pre book your seat please contact the airline directly quoting Ionian Island Holidays as your tour operator, your booking reference
number, flight number, date of departure and specific flight request. In some cases you will also require the airline booking reference. Payments for these seats are direct with the airline.
Please allow 24-48 hours after booking to allow your booking to be processed.
AIRLINE CONTACT DETAILS
- British Airways: For Heathrow flights to Kefalonia & Preveza - seats will be automatically assigned at check-in. As seats are part of our Group allocations.
- Enter Air: Visit Website
- Easyjet: Visit Website(You will need your Easyjet Locatar reference )Click Manage my Booking. If you have an existing Easyjet log in this will not work you will need to click on “No Account? Find Booking” For all EasyJet Flights, 30 days prior to departure, you can check-in and fill in your Additional Passenger Information (Passport details) via EasyJet website. You will then be able to print your Boarding Passes.
- Jet2 Airlines: Visit Website (You will need your Ionian booking reference and surname) If there is an existing 6 digit reference next to your flight details these seats have been bought directly from Jet2 and you will need to visit their direct web site here
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Please check your e-ticket for the luggage allowance that is included on your flights as this represents the actual confirmed allowance you are entitled to.
Most of our flights have checked baggage allowance of 20kg & 5kg hand baggage included.
In some cases, certain airlines may have different allowances but again, please check your e-ticket:
- British Airways: 23kg hold & 10kg hand baggage (max 55 x 40 x 23cm)
- Enter Air: 20kg hold & 5kg hand baggage (max 55 x 40 x 20cm)
- Easyjet: 23kg hold & One small under seat cabin bag (max 45 x 36 x 20 cm)
- Jet2 Airlines: 22kg hold & 10kg hand baggage (max 56cm x 45cm x 25cm)
FLIGHT ONLY
We are able to offer a limited number of flights direct to Kefalonia, Preveza and Corfu. Contact out UK office for further details on 020 8459 0777.
AIRPORT ASSISTANCE
Please also fully inform us of any disability or walking difficulty you may have, so we can provide assistance at the airport. This must be made at least 7 days before departure.