# Lefkada Boat Trip: Meganisi, Kalamos and Skorpios > Lefkada boat trips explained: Skorpios, Meganisi and the Papanikolis cave, Kalamos and Kastos, west coast trips and tips for choosing your boat. URL: https://theauthenticgreece.com/lefkada-boat-trip/ Last updated: 2026-10-20 --- The classic Lefkada boat trip leaves Nidri in the morning, circles the private islands of Skorpios and Madouri, stops for swims around Meganisi and its sea caves, and returns in the early evening. Longer routes continue south to the quiet islands of Kalamos and Kastos, while in summer boats from Vassiliki head along the west coast to Porto Katsiki. Choose a group excursion for an easy day out, or hire your own boat for the small coves the big boats cannot reach. ## Quick facts - **Main departure point:** Nidri harbour on the east coast, with some trips from Vassiliki and Lefkada Town. - **Season:** roughly May to October, depending on the weather. - **Duration:** half-day trips of about 4 hours, full-day trips of up to 9 hours. - **Typical stops:** Skorpios, Madouri, Meganisi (Papanikolis cave, Spartochori), sometimes Kalamos, Kastos or Ithaca. - **Good for:** swimmers, families, couples and anyone who wants to see the islands around Lefkada in one day. ## The islands off Nidri Nidri faces a sheltered stretch of sea scattered with small islands, which locals sometimes call the Prince Islands. The water here is usually calmer than on Lefkada’s exposed west coast, which makes it ideal for boat days. If you are still deciding where to base yourself, our guide on [where to stay in Lefkada](https://theauthenticgreece.com/where-to-stay-in-lefkada/) explains why Nidri is the obvious choice for boat lovers. ### Skorpios Skorpios is the most famous name on any itinerary. The shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis bought the island in the early 1960s and married Jacqueline Kennedy there in 1968. His family sold it in 2013, and it remains private. Boats cruise slowly along the coast so you can see the wooded hills and the small beaches, and some trips stop for a swim offshore, but you cannot walk around the island. Expect your skipper to tell you the Onassis story, often with some embellishment. ### Madouri and Sparti Madouri, just off Nidri, is a privately owned islet linked to the family of the nineteenth-century poet Aristotelis Valaoritis, whose neoclassical house can be seen from the water. Sparti, a little further out, is another small private island. Neither is open to visitors; the boats simply pass close by. If you rent your own boat, ask the rental company where you are allowed to stop. ### Meganisi Meganisi is the largest of the nearby islands and the highlight of most trips. It has three villages, Spartochori, Vathi and Katomeri, and around a thousand residents. Excursion boats usually visit the **Papanikolis sea cave** on the southwest coast, named after a Greek submarine said to have hidden there during the Second World War, then anchor in one of the island’s coves for a swim. Ambelaki bay on the north side is often singled out for its clear water. Many full-day trips also allow time ashore. The usual stop is the small harbour of Spilia, below Spartochori, from where a footpath climbs to the village, with its whitewashed lanes, walnut trees and views back to Lefkada. ## Longer trips: Kalamos and Kastos Kalamos and Kastos lie to the southeast, close to the Akarnania coast on the mainland. They are among the least visited inhabited islands in the Ionian, and some full-day boat trips from Nidri include them. **Kalamos** covers about 25 square kilometres and is mountainous and pine-covered, rising to 745 metres. It has two main villages: Kalamos, with its small harbour in the southwest, and Episkopi on the north coast. Beaches such as Myrtia and Asprogiali lie near the harbour. **Kastos** is smaller and lower, with a single village and only a handful of permanent residents, a few tavernas around the harbour and coves on the east side. Both islands are popular with sailors because of their sheltered bays. These longer trips spend more time at sea, so they suit people who enjoy the journey itself. If you want to explore Kalamos properly rather than glimpse it, regular boats also link the island to Mytikas on the mainland. ## West coast trips from Vassiliki A completely different trip runs from Vassiliki in the south of the island. In summer, small boats follow the cliffs of the southwest coast to Porto Katsiki and Egremni, two of the island’s most photographed beaches. Arriving by sea avoids the long steps down from the car parks and the summer traffic on the road. On windy days, though, the open west coast can be rough, and trips may be cancelled. For a full comparison of these beaches, read our guide to [Lefkada’s best beaches](https://theauthenticgreece.com/lefkada-beaches/). ## Group excursion or private boat? You have three broad options. - **Group excursions:** the larger boats in Nidri harbour run fixed itineraries, usually leaving around 9:00 and returning in the early evening. They are the cheapest option, often include a meal or snacks, and need no planning. On the downside, they are crowded in July and August, music can be loud and you will share swim stops with many other boats. - **Private skippered boats:** smaller boats with a captain can be hired for a group, with a flexible route. More expensive, but you choose the coves and the pace. - **Self-drive boat rental:** small motorboats that require no licence can be hired in Nidri and other harbours. They are restricted to a limited zone and to calm conditions, and you must follow the rental company’s briefing. They are ideal for exploring the coast near Nidri and Meganisi at your own speed. Prices vary by boat, season and route, so compare a few options in Nidri harbour the day before rather than relying on figures you see online. ## Using the local ferries instead For a cheaper and more independent day, take the regular car ferry from Nidri to Meganisi. The crossing to Spilia takes around 25 minutes and runs several times a day in summer, with fewer sailings in winter. On the island you can walk between Spilia and Spartochori, or bring a car or scooter to reach Vathi and Katomeri. In summer, ferries also run from Vassiliki to Fiskardo on Kefalonia and Frikes on Ithaca, which opens up longer journeys; see our guide to [Ionian island hopping](https://theauthenticgreece.com/ionian-island-hopping/) and our [Kefalonia travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/kefalonia-travel-guide/). Timetables change every season, so check current schedules locally before you plan around them. ## What to expect on the day A typical full-day trip from Nidri looks like this: departure in the morning, a slow pass along Madouri and Skorpios, a swim stop in a bay of Skorpios or Meganisi, a visit to the Papanikolis cave, lunch and free time in a Meganisi harbour, another swim stop in the afternoon, then the return to Nidri. Routes change with the wind, and skippers often swap stops to avoid crowds. Some trips continue to Ithaca, where they call at the village of Kioni, or to Kalamos and Kastos. The best moments are usually the swim stops: deep, clear water in sheltered coves, often with boats anchored off rocky beaches with no road access. If you prefer to swim from the beach, ask before you book whether the boat goes ashore or anchors offshore. ## Practical tips - **Book the day before.** In July and August the best boats fill up; in spring and autumn you can usually decide in the morning. - **Check the weather.** Sea conditions decide the itinerary. If the forecast is windy, ask which stops will be possible. - **Bring essentials.** Sun cream, a hat, water, a towel and cash for drinks on board and in village tavernas. Remote coves have no facilities. - **Snorkelling gear.** Many boats carry masks, but bringing your own is more comfortable. - **Seasickness.** The area around Nidri is usually sheltered, but longer trips to Kalamos and Kastos and the west coast can be choppy. - **Respect private islands.** Do not land on Skorpios, Madouri or Sparti, and follow instructions from guards or boat crews. A boat trip is one of the essential [things to do in Lefkada](https://theauthenticgreece.com/things-to-do-in-lefkada/), and for the bigger picture of the island, start with our [Lefkada travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/lefkada-travel-guide/). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can you visit Skorpios island? No. Skorpios is private, as are nearby Madouri and Sparti. Boat trips cruise along the coast and may stop for a swim offshore, but visitors cannot land or walk on the island. ### Where do Lefkada boat trips leave from? Most leave from Nidri harbour on the east coast, which faces Skorpios and Meganisi. In summer there are also boats from Vassiliki to the west coast beaches and some trips from Lefkada Town. ### How long is a boat trip from Nidri? Half-day trips last around four hours, while full-day trips run for up to nine hours, usually leaving around 9:00 and returning in the early evening. Longer itineraries to Kalamos and Kastos spend more time at sea. ### Can I hire a boat without a licence in Lefkada? Yes. Small motorboats that do not require a licence can be hired in Nidri and other harbours. They are restricted to a limited area and calm conditions, so follow the briefing given by the rental company. ### Is there a ferry from Lefkada to Meganisi? Yes. A regular car ferry runs from Nidri to Spilia on Meganisi, taking about 25 minutes, with several crossings a day in summer and fewer in winter. Check the current timetable locally. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you visit Skorpios island? No. Skorpios is private, as are nearby Madouri and Sparti. Boat trips cruise along the coast and may stop for a swim offshore, but visitors cannot land or walk on the island. ### Where do Lefkada boat trips leave from? Most leave from Nidri harbour on the east coast, which faces Skorpios and Meganisi. In summer there are also boats from Vassiliki to the west coast beaches and some trips from Lefkada Town. ### How long is a boat trip from Nidri? Half-day trips last around four hours, while full-day trips run for up to nine hours, usually leaving around 9:00 and returning in the early evening. Longer itineraries to Kalamos and Kastos spend more time at sea. ### Can I hire a boat without a licence in Lefkada? Yes. Small motorboats that do not require a licence can be hired in Nidri and other harbours. They are restricted to a limited area and calm conditions, so follow the briefing given by the rental company. ### Is there a ferry from Lefkada to Meganisi? Yes. A regular car ferry runs from Nidri to Spilia on Meganisi, taking about 25 minutes, with several crossings a day in summer and fewer in winter. Check the current timetable locally.