Private All Inclusive Sailing Day Tour from Agia Efimia to Ithaca

The best part of this private sailing day is the mix of quiet time under sail and easy access to Ithaca’s clear water. From Agia Efimia, you spend the day aboard Lily with captain Menios and Katerina, stopping at Gidaki Beach and Ligia for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and lunch.

I like two things right away: the food is part of the day, not an afterthought, and the boat is reserved for your group alone. You can choose chicken, lamb, or a vegetable dish, then enjoy Greek salad, tzatziki, and bread with it. The main drawback is simple: pickup and drop-off are not included, and the tour is not a good choice if you get seasick.

Key points to know

• Sail to Ithaca from Agia Efimia: The crossing takes about an hour and a half, with snacks and drinks available along the way.
• Two water stops: Gidaki Beach offers clear water and paddleboarding, while Ligia brings more snorkeling and time near shore.
• Lunch is freshly prepared: Choose chicken, lamb, or a vegetable option, with Greek salad, tzatziki, and bread included.
• Private boat for up to eight: The price is per group, so the value improves sharply when shared by a larger party.
• Lily has useful onboard comforts: You get a restroom, WiFi, bottled water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and alcoholic drinks.
• Captain Menios and Katerina set the tone: Their attentive service is a major part of what makes the day feel personal.

Sailing from Agia Efimia aboard Lily

You meet at Κύπρου 1 in Agia Efimia at 9:00 in the morning. This is a meeting-point tour, so you need to arrange your own way there. Pickup and drop-off are not included, an important detail if you are staying outside Agia Efimia or have a car plan for the day.

The boat is called Lily, and the day is led by Menios with Katerina assisting. The setup is private, meaning only your own group joins the boat. That matters more than it might sound. You are not working around a large boatload of strangers, a fixed seating plan, or a crowded swim stop. With a group of two, you get a very different feel from a group of eight, but both arrangements keep the day more personal than a standard shared cruise.

The full outing lasts about eight hours, including travel time. The crossing to Ithaca takes roughly an hour and a half, according to the detailed account of the day. That is a useful block of time, but it is not wasted time. You can sit near the front, watch the islands pass, enjoy the sea air, and have snacks or a drink before the swimming starts.

Menios is described as a warm and attentive host who answers questions, offers drinks, and keeps the atmosphere relaxed. Katerina also helps care for the group. If you prefer a sailing day with friendly conversation and plenty of personal attention, this is a strong fit. If you want a silent, hands-off boat ride, you should know that the social side is part of the appeal.

Gidaki Beach: clear water and a first swim

The first planned stop is Gidaki Beach, also written as Gedaki in the tour details. It is on Ithaca and is known here for very clear water and a peaceful setting. You have about an hour and 15 minutes at this stop, with time for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding.

The paddleboard is a nice touch because it gives you something active to do without turning the stop into a formal lesson. You can take it out over the calm water, look back toward the shore, and enjoy Ithaca from sea level. No admission fee is charged for the beach stop, and paddleboard use is included.

The water is the main attraction. The description points to excellent clarity, and the stop is designed for easy time in the sea rather than a long walk or sightseeing program. Bring your attention to the practical side: this is a water-first stop, so you will get more from it if you are comfortable swimming and happy to spend much of the morning in a swimsuit.

Snorkeling equipment is supplied, including mask and snorkel. That saves you from packing your own gear and makes it easy to try snorkeling even if it was not the main reason you booked the day. Still, the equipment is shared onboard, and the tour details do not specify sizes or styles, so anyone with a favorite mask may prefer to bring it if possible.

Gidaki is also the point where the pace of the day becomes clear. This is not a rushed photo stop followed by a quick departure. You have enough time to swim, try the paddleboard, and settle into the boat’s rhythm. The tradeoff is that the stop has a set duration, so a group that wants to spend the whole day at one beach may find the schedule less flexible.

Ligia: snorkeling, shore time, and a Greek lunch

The second stop is Ligia, where you spend about two hours. This is the longer stop and combines snorkeling, food, and a little time on land. The boat can dock by a small jetty, giving you the option to get out of the water for a short walk.

The snorkeling here is described as taking place in clear water with plenty of fish. You use the supplied mask and snorkel, and the stop gives you another chance to swim after Gidaki. Having two separate water stops is useful. If the first swim feels too short, or if you want to try snorkeling again after getting comfortable with the equipment, Ligia gives you another window.

Lunch is prepared by the crew using local recipes. The meal is not simply a packaged picnic. You can choose chicken, lamb, or a vegetable dish in advance, then expect Greek salad, tzatziki, and bread alongside it. One especially specific option is chicken kleftiko, which was served with the salad, dip, and bread and was described as delicious.

You may be offered the choice of eating at Ligia or onboard while sailing back. That flexibility is valuable for a private group. If you want to stay near the water and make the most of the stop, you can eat there. If you prefer a quieter meal with just your own party, you can choose the boat on the return crossing.

The tour details do not promise a restaurant meal or a particular dining setup at Ligia, so keep expectations grounded. This is a crew-prepared boat lunch with local flavors, not a formal culinary excursion. For most people, that is the point. The meal fits the day: simple Greek food, sea air, and no need to leave the boat for a restaurant.

What the all-inclusive price really covers

The listed price is $1,148.83 per group of up to eight people. That works out to about $143.60 per person if you fill all eight places. For two people, the same price becomes about $574.42 each, so the value depends heavily on group size.

That pricing structure favors families, couples traveling with friends, and small groups who want a private boat without paying separate per-person fares. For a pair, it is a major splurge. For eight people, it becomes easier to justify because the boat, crew, food, drinks, gear, and private setting are all shared across the group.

Included drinks cover bottled water, soda, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and tea. Snacks are available during the day, including on the crossing to Ithaca. You also get lunch, snorkeling equipment, a paddleboard, private transportation by boat, WiFi onboard, and a restroom.

These inclusions reduce the small costs that can add up on a full-day outing. You do not need to rent snorkeling gear separately, buy lunch at a beach stop, or plan drinks for the boat. The restroom is especially useful on an eight-hour trip, though the available details do not describe its size or facilities.

All fees and taxes are included. The main extra cost to plan for is your transport to and from the meeting point in Agia Efimia. If your accommodation is nearby, that may be easy. If not, check your driving or taxi plan before booking.

The food and service are central to the day

The strongest part of this outing is not only the route. It is the way Menios and Katerina look after the group while keeping the day informal. Drinks are offered throughout, questions are answered, and the crew takes an active role in making the boat feel comfortable.

Menios is also the captain, so you get the pleasure of watching the crossing handled by someone who inspires confidence. That matters on a private sailing day. You are trusting the crew with a full day at sea, and a calm, capable captain makes it easier to relax.

The food receives unusually strong praise. The chicken kleftiko, Greek salad, tzatziki, and bread sound like a satisfying combination after swimming. You can request chicken, lamb, or a vegetable choice the night before, which is a useful planning detail. Do not wait until the morning of the tour if you have a firm preference.

The meal choice also makes the tour workable for a mixed group. Someone who does not eat meat can choose vegetables, while others can select chicken or lamb. The supplied details do not give information about allergies, so contact the provider before booking if you need strict dietary controls.

Timing, comfort, and the sea conditions

The tour starts at 9:00 am and runs for about eight hours. Travel time counts toward that total. With a crossing of roughly an hour and a half each way, a meaningful part of the day is spent moving between Cephalonia and Ithaca rather than sitting at a beach.

That is not a weakness if you enjoy sailing. The return trip can be especially pleasant when lunch is served onboard and you have time to sit back. But if your goal is maximum swimming time, compare this with a shorter local boat trip before you commit.

The tour is not recommended for people prone to seasickness. That warning deserves attention. The route includes open-water sailing, and the crossing is long enough for discomfort to spoil the day. If you are uncertain, bring whatever motion-sickness treatment you normally use and ask a medical professional whether it is suitable for you. The supplied information does not promise calm conditions.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants is also required, and if that condition is not met, you are offered another date, another activity, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:00 am start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. Since conditions at sea can change, that 24-hour rule is worth keeping in mind when arranging the rest of your holiday.

Who will get the most from this Ithaca sailing day

I would choose this tour for a group that wants a full day on the water without sharing the boat with other parties. It suits people who value good food, easy swimming stops, and a relaxed captain more than a packed schedule of sightseeing.

It is especially appealing for:

• Couples who want a private day and do not mind paying a premium for it
• Families or friend groups of up to eight who can share the group price
• Swimmers who want both snorkeling and paddleboarding
• People who enjoy Greek food served in an informal setting
• Anyone who prefers a flexible private outing over a fixed group cruise

I would be more cautious if you dislike boat travel, get seasick, or want extensive time walking around Ithaca. This outing visits Ithaca by sea, but the supplied schedule focuses on Gidaki Beach and Ligia, not on a town tour or major historical sites.

It is also not the right choice if you need included hotel transport. You must reach the Agia Efimia meeting point yourself, and the tour ends back there.

Should you book this private sailing tour?

Book it if your ideal day includes a calm crossing, clear swimming water, snorkeling, a paddleboard, and a proper Greek lunch prepared onboard. The private format and attentive service from Menios and Katerina are the main reasons to choose it over a cheaper shared cruise.

The value is strongest with six to eight people. For two, the price is high, but the privacy, food, drinks, equipment, and full-day boat access can still make sense for a special occasion. A birthday or other celebration fits the style of the outing well.

Before booking, confirm that everyone is comfortable at sea, arrange transport to Κύπρου 1, and decide on your lunch preference. If those points work for your group, this is a polished, personal way to link Cephalonia and Ithaca by water.

FAQ

Where does the sailing tour start?

The tour starts at Κύπρου 1, Agia Efimia 280 81, Greece, at 9:00 am.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Agia Efimia.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, and travel time is included in that total.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to eight people. Only your own group participates.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to and from the meeting point.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes snacks, lunch, bottled water, soda, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and tea. Lunch choices include chicken, lamb, or a vegetable dish, with Greek salad, tzatziki, and bread.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Use of a mask and snorkel is included, along with a paddleboard.

Is the tour suitable for people with seasickness?

The tour is not recommended for people with sea sickness because it includes a substantial sailing crossing.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If bad weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. A full refund is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.