On the west coast of Greece, in the Ionian Waters lies the Island of Lefkas.
Lefkas is connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge.
The town of Lefkada (capital city) situated on the northern part of the island and is a main tourist destination for Greeks.
The main road is pedestrianised running through the middle of the town with many bars, cafes and shops.
The harbour lies halfway between Corfu and Kefalonia.
The marina holds many catamarans and yachts with kite and windsurfing also on offer.
Located at the eastern side of the island of Lefkada, Nidri is part of the municipality of Ellomenos. The town is situated on a beautiful bay overlooking the nearby islands of Madouri, Skorpios and Sparti.
Mountains, greenery and olive groves surround Nidri. There are many interesting attractions in the area including the picturesque Nidri Waterfalls which are well worth a visit and are situated approx 4 km from the centre of the town.
Nidri is the islands main tourist resort. As well as its beaches and beautiful scenery it is a centre for sailing and water sports. It has a wealth of hotels, restaurants, tavernas as well as nightclubs and shops.
The Port at Nidri has good ferry connections to Kefalonia, Ithaka and Meganisi.
Skopios a private island in the Ionian Waters, lies east of the Island of Lefkas, accross from the bay of Nidri.
Skorpios is one of the most famous islands in the world after the late Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping billionaire purchased the island in the 1960's.
It was also the location for his wedding to former First Lady Jackie Kennedy on October 20 1968.
Onassis, his son Alexander and daugter Christina all rest in the private family church on the Island
The island is now owned by Christina's daughter Athena Roussel.
The island is not accessible to the public, It is protected by armed guards, although visitors can swim off designated beaches around the island.
From north to South the island is heavily forested with an abundant number of colourful trees.
Vassaliki is a very popular destination for tourists, especially those interested in water sports. It is situated 40km from the town of Lefkada at the southern end of the island.
The bay is perfect for surfing and is one of Europe's top windsurfing locations. Despite this it has still managed to retain its Grecian charm.
The windsurfing clubs are situated at the western end of the bay, which is really the adjoining village of Ponti. In the morning the sea breeze is gentle enough for coaching to take place in the various water sports. In the afternoon when the breeze picks up the water sports enthusiasts enjoy the perfect conditions.
Why not swim in Vassilikis azure waters. Or perhaps take a little boat from the pretty harbour situated at the eastern end of the bay to one of the many delightful beaches nearby. One in particular is Agio Fili, the beach can also reach by foot. Walk past the end of the harbor, where the ferry lies, after a short distance you will find many small beaches. If you continue on following the road (do not turn off anywhere) you will reach Agio Fili in approx 45 minutes.
Or maybe just sit awhile and enjoy the views in one of the many friendly tavernas, cafés and bars that are dotted along the bay.
If you are looking for a completely relaxing holiday and wish just to soak up the culture and atmosphere of Greece, look no further than Meganisi This tiny jewel of an island is situated just 6 kilometres from Nidri. The island is reached by the ferry from Nidri, generally stopping stops first at Spilia bay, which offers a safe harbour.
This is an island with enchanting scenery where you can have the time to relax and just enjoy the peace and romance of Meganisi with its crystal clear waters.
However if you are feeling more energetic perhaps you could try cycling or rambling, as there are many quaint little roads and pathways around the island and linking the little villages.
The three principal little villages of the island are Vathi, Katomeri and Spartohori. Each of these have a specific charm all of their own. Vathi is another small port where you can sit in the café and bars and watch the boats come and go. However all the villages have watering holes and places to eat or take things at a more leisurely pace as you sit and just people watch in these romantic surroundings.
Karya is really a small district made up of the three smaller villages of Karya, Pigadisanous and Englouvi .
It is situated in the central part of the island, about 15 kilometers from the main town of Lefkada. Nestling on the slopes of Pyrgos, the village is a key vantage point for visiting the rest of the island.
Alive with tradition, the village,with its charming old stone houses and little pathways, has retained much of its Ionian character.
The beautifiul rugged surrounding areas are ideal for walkers.
Situated on the south west of the island some 13 kilometres from Lefkada town is the little village of Aghios Nikitas, nestling around a lovely bay tumbling down to an azure sea.
The village is surrounded by olive groves and scented pine forests which climb the hills which form the backdrop to the village. There are several other wonderful beaches within easy reach of the village.
Aghios Nikitas is a very popular resort especially in the summer months and parking may be difficult. However the village is well worth a visit because of its rural charm, its architecture and its maze of pretty little streets.
The village is well served with a wide variety of restaurants, tavernas and tiny shops.
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Porto Katsiki is one of the most famous beaches in Greece. Often rated top European Beach of the Year.
100 steps lead down to the picturesque beach that lies on the south eastern side of the Island.
In the months of July and August Porto Katsiki can become very busy and parking crowded. During these months you can take a boat from Vassiliki that brings you directly on the beach of Porto Katsiki.
Less than 2km from the little village of Agios Nikitas is Kasthisma beach one of the most beautiful and longest beaches in Lefkada.
Situated on the west coast of the island the waters here are crystal clear and make for a wonderful swimming and sunbathing experience.
To cater for this the beach has a plentiful supply of parasols and sun beds.
For those who are more energetic there is a range of watersports such as paragliding and waterskiing.
There are also a variety of tavernas along the beach with which to sit back and enjoy the sunset after the activities of the day.
Fascinating Poros village is situated on a gently sloping hill on the south of the island about 25 kilometres from the main town of Lefkada.
This traditional Greek atmospheric village with its wealth of old stone houses meanders gently down to the sparkling sea
The pretty little fishing harbour of Micros Yialos with its beautiful beaches is located nearby.
From the village you are also able to see Rouda Bay, which is a sun worshipers dream
There are plenty of restaurants, hotels and tavernas dotted around this beautiful part of the island.
Nikiana nestles at the foot of the Skaros mountains on the east coast of the island, just 9km from Lefkada. Nikiana is a really traditional, picturesque fishing village.
It has many little beaches which are gently lapped by the azure waters, typical for the island.
Besides the beaches close to the village, there are also hidden beaches, reachable by small stairs further down the road. An example of this is Passa beach.
The village benefits from its many bijou hotels and the pretty little tavernas dotted along its harbour which are renowned for their good food and are well worth a visit.
There are also facilities in Nikiana for windsurfing,
water-skiing, walking, fishing or just soaking up the magical atmosphere of the village.
This area has a really magical quality, which offers a really memorable holiday for the visitor
Sparti is one of the small islands that make up the prefecture of Lefkada.
It is a tiny beautiful heavily wooded little island owned by the Onassis family.
A village not to be missed is Kalamitsi, which is situated in the south east of the island. It is set slightly away from the coast and is one of Lefkadas oldest villages. This enchanting and almost untouched tranquil little village is a perfect place to peacefully wander and maybe tarry for a while around along its ancient little streets and byways.
From the top of the sloping hill, on which Kalamitsi is situated, one can enjoy wonderful, panoramic views down to the beaches and the emerald seas. The area is noted for its many windmills and its places of worship; of special interest is the chapel of Panagia Stous Kipous or the Virgin in the Gardens.
Despite its tranquillity the village benefits from being situated near to the beautiful beaches and resort of Aghios Nikitas and is about 22 kilometres from the main town of Lefkada.
Even with its untouched charm there is a variety of accommodation available which is built along time-honoured principles. Also there are traditional taverns and cafes which will give you time to savour, and relax in these beautiful surroundings.
Kalamos is a mountainous s island floating like a jewel in the Ionian Sea. The word Kalamos literally means reed.
There are many pine trees growing mainly on the north side of the island and also there are many caves that are worth a visit. With so many beautiful birds and interesting flora and fauna this island is a dream for the naturalist.
At the eastern side of the island is the tiny port of Kalamos. This is an ancient village where one steps back in time. The little old stone houses with their tiled roofs are packed tightly together and are crisscrossed with tiny alleyways and winding roads.
In this rural old island, you will find the pace of life is slower. So tarry a while, and sit back in a restaurant, taverna or bar and enjoy life as it once was.
Kastos is a tiny island, south east of Lefkas, which is its administrative centre.
This little jewel of an island time is covered with olive trees and is fairly flat. It has few inhabitants, most of whom live in the village of Kastos. However the numbers of people on the island increase in the summer months when the sailing boats, yachts and the visitors arrive on the island.
In Kastos you find you will take a step back in time as there are no cars on the islands and people use either boats or walking as their preferred mode of transport.
There are pretty paths to ramble along without the worry of traffic. Alternatively there are a variety of water sports and other activities that can be taken in and along the shores of this little island set in the sparkling Ionian Sea.
