BRIEFING & TOUR ITINERARIES
BRIEFING: Please arrive in Vasiliki by 4pm on day 1- arrival day to meet your guide for the briefing, settle into your accommodation, get familiar with the boats, sort out your gear and partially pack. WHAT TO PACK>
We run through a short introductory paddle in sheltered Vasiliki bay on the morning of our first paddling day. Our launch beach is within walking distance from your hotel.
We kayak as a group but there’s free time off the water to do your own thing- it’s not like a coach tour.
GROUP SIZE: Group sizes are small, from 4 to 12 people max. That way we can sustain a more personal and unique experience and ensure the safety and comfort of all paddlers.
GETTING AROUND: Places we visit on our kayak route are within comfortable walking distance from our camp or guesthouse. Overland site-seeing by car stated in selected itineraries is included in tour price.
ITINERARIES: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather and paddling conditions. We always put safety first. Having said that, if we modify the itinerary we make sure you still get a rewarding kayaking experience. On every tour we follow the coastline, staying within a couple of hundred meters from land, and there are beaches almost every km along the way for portage. Crossings between small islands are only a few km for all tours graded easy-moderate. Experienceed kayakers on our 'Ionian Beauties' tour will enjoy a couple of longer 12-15km crossings between Kalamos and Meganisi Isles.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We begin and end every tour from our kayaking base at Vasiliki town/port, on the south coast of Lefkada Island. The town is serviced by daily local buses.
GUESTHOUSES: Accommodations in Vasiliki and villages/ports along our kayak route, are privately run local guesthouses chosen for their convenient seaside location. Rooms are basic but comfortable, double occupancy/twin share with private bathroom, fridge, fresh bed linen and towels. Some have kitchen and TV but no phone or internet access. Single room can be requested but not guaranteed (single supplement of $50/day applies). Note that single room generally not available on kayak route.
Select tours combine guesthouse and camping stays. Number of camping nights are specified in each tour itinerary.
CAMPING: Wherever camping is announced in tour itinerary we camp 'wild' or natural (not in campgrounds), at sheltered and quiet beaches that are close to a town for access to supplies and restaurants. We provide durable, spacious twin share tents, lightweight sleeping bags and quality thermarest camp matresses.
Most seaside villages/ports on our route will have shower facilities- usually charged at €2.
VASILIKI TOWN AMENITIES
Vasiliki is a well serviced port town, offering all amenities within walking distance:
- Bakeries and supermarkets stocking everything from groceries to beach balls and camping gear
- Restaurants, bars, outdoor tavernas (restaurants)
- Beaches, ferry port, harbour
- Car, motorbike and motorboat hire, taxi service
- Regular bus service to other parts of the island
- Daily local ferry service to Kefalonia and Ithaki islands
- Public phone booth for local and overseas calls in town
- Internet cafes
MONEY EXCHANGE
NOTE: There is only an ATM facility in Vasiliki town where we start & finish tours. There are no banks or ATM’s anywhere along our kayak route. But there are many ATM machines, banks and money exchange facilities in Lefkada town, and in nearby Nidri.
It is best to get all the Euro you need here before the trip- estimate conservatively about €15/day on dinner (not including alcohol) and take extra cash for whatever else you want to spend on personal shopping.
FOOD & DRINK
DINNER: One of the best rewards for all that paddling is fueling up on delicious Greek food. Local seaside 'tavernas' (restaurants) on route serve up fresh salads, grilled meat and fish, local salami, 'mousaka', stuffed vegetables and stuffed vine leaves, giant beans & greens, ‘saganaki’- grilled cheese, ‘tzatziki’- yoghurt dip and ‘taramasalata’- fish roe dip, and wood fired crusty bread dipped in virgin olive oil. It’s a good thing we paddle it all off.
Bars, restaurants and eateries all serve alcohol. So you can wash the down the Greek feast with local wine, or Greece’s most popular beer 'Mythos'. Do as the locals and sit around for hours over a shot of famous Ouzo or Retsina.
NOTE: Restaurant dinners are not included in tour price, they are self paid on the day. This gives you flexibility to chose your own restaurant and meal and have more private time in the evenings if you prefer. Restaurant meals (not including beverages) will typically cost around €10-15, but you can find inexpensive casual eateries and bakeries.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH: These are picnic style meals prepared by your guide and all included in tour price.
Breakfast typicaly includes tea & coffee, juice, milk, cereal, fresh bread and spreads, cheese and fresh summer fruits.
Lunch includes freshly made salads, traditional greek finger food, village bread, local cheese, olives, salami and other deli produce. From local bakeries we buy rustic bread and irresistable pastries such as traditional spinach & cheese pies and stuffed pizzas.
Sample some of the Ionian region's specialties such as handmade ‘mandolato’ (almond honey nougat), 'pasteli' (sesame bars), goats milk yogurt, and the aromatic thyme honey- favourite of Greece.
Breakfast, Lunch, bottled water and some snacks are included in tour price. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not included.
*VEGETARIANS- Please let us know upon booking so that we can better accommodate your meals.
