Kefalonia

The biggest of the Ionian Islands, Kefalonia, is home to pine-covered mountains and dramatic limestone coastlines that are surrounded by some of the clearest waters in Greece, a combination so enticing that it gained worldwide recognition as the setting for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The island’s most photographed location is Myrtos Beach, which lies on the north-west coast, a sweeping crescent of white pebbles framed by sheer cliffs. Perfect for exploration via a charter, quieter alternatives include Dafnoudi and Emblisi, which offer exceptional snorkelling. Nature lovers will undoubtedly enjoy seeing the loggerhead sea turtles gathered together off Koroni and Lefka beaches on the southern coast. Kefalonia’s villages offer as much appeal as its coastline. For example, Assos, a pastel-painted hamlet wrapped around a sheltered cove beneath the ruins of a Venetian castle, makes for an idyllic lunch anchorage, whilst Fiskardo in the north-east, one of the few settlements to survive the 1953 earthquake intact, retains its original Venetian architecture. Today, it’s viewed as the island’s most fashionable harbour, and its waterfront is lined with seafood restaurants and designer boutiques. Inland, Mount Ainos rises to over 1,600 metres, its slopes home to a rare native fir forest protected as a national park that outdoor adventurers can explore. Facing Ithaca across a narrow channel and within easy reach of Zakynthos and Lefkada, Kefalonia is a great stop or base along any extended Ionian charter itinerary.