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Kayak and Wild Camp Greek Islands

Paddle around the Ionian Archipelago, discover uninhabited islands and camp under the stars

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Trip Ref #10004

Kayak and Wild Camp Greek Islands

Paddle around the Ionian Archipelago, discover uninhabited islands and camp under the stars

DURATION

4 nights

LOCATION

Greece

ANNUAL LEAVE

2 days off work

SEASON

May-Oct

GROUP SIZE

Up to 14 people

MEETING POINT

Aktion National Airport, Greece

ACCOMMODATION

Classic

Wild camping · Campsite · Guesthouse

OVERALL RATING

4.7

Based on 29 reviews
DIFFICULTY

Moderate

No previous kayaking experience is required, but you will need a reasonable level of fitness and the ability to swim in open water.

Discover picturesque beaches, deep blue coves and hidden sea caves that were once used to hide submarines in World War 2

Wild camp on an island inhabited only by wild goats and dine on traditional Greek food cooked over the campfire

Snorkel in clear turquoise waters, eyes peeled for sea turtles and dolphins

Day 1

Welcome to the Greek Islands

Kayaking

6 nautical miles

Heading to the coastal town of Nydri (1 hour transfer), you'll get set up with your kayaks and island hopping can commence! You’ll paddle from Nydri to Madouri, stopping off on the private island of Skorpios. Covered in thick forest, Skorpios has over 200 varieties of trees that were all imported to this once barren island. You'll end the day in Thilia, where you’ll set up camp and enjoy your first beach barbecue.

Day 2

Sunrise swimming and stargazing

Kayaking

6 nautical miles

If you’re an early bird, enjoy a superb sunrise, or alternatively grab a little more sleep before a pre-breakfast swim. Snorkel and paddle through the ‘fjords’ until you reach the gulf of Atherinos. Build a fire on the forest-flanked beach of Limonari before settling in for another night spotting shooting stars from your wild camping spot.

Day 3

Explore the caves

Kayaking

9 nautical miles

Swap your kayaks for snorkelling gear and dive into the Papanicolis and Giovanni caves - so huge they were once used to hide submarines in World War 2. Take a well-earned rest and then set off on the longest paddle of the trip as you cross the Gulf of Rouda back to Lefkada, where you’ll spend the night in Mikros Gialos Bay.

Day 4

Secluded beaches

Kayaking

8 nautical miles

Slowly make your way up the coast as you head to the finish line back at Nydri. Stop at some secluded beaches to swim, explore some more caves or just catch a few rays. You’ll arrive back in Nydri in the late afternoon and after checking into your guesthouse, there will be a post-adventure celebration dinner with your group at a local taverna. Ouzo at the ready!

Day 5

Time to head home

Enjoy a well-earned lie-in, tuck into a last delicious Greek breakfast and then head back to the airport.

Included

Guides

Expert, English-speaking guides

Accommodation

1 night in a guesthouse, 3 nights wild camping

Meals

Munch on tasty local food throughout

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in-between

Equipment

All your camping and kayaking equipment

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

Visas where required

Day 1

Wild camping · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Wild camping · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3

Campsite · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Greek food is fresh and full of flavour. Breakfasts are typically light and might include fresh fruit, olives and yoghurt as staples. Lunches will mostly be picnic style whilst dinners are beach barbecues where you'll enjoy fresh fish, salads and steaks for the meat-eaters.

Vegetarian, vegan and most other dietary requirements can be catered for on request.

What is the accommodation like?

Nydri

You'll stay in a traditional guesthouse in a twin-share room.

Wild Camping

You’ll set up camp on remote beaches and sleep in twin-share tent. You’ll also spend one night in an established campsite with washing facilities and a bar within walking distance of the beach.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Aktion National Airport, Greece

12:00 on Day 1

Ends

Aktion National Airport, Greece

11:00 on Day 5

Transfers

Your host will pick you up on arrival and drop you off in time for departure. If you arrive early and would like pre-trip accommodation and/or a private transfer to Nydri, where the trip starts, this can be arranged with your host. Please see Optional Extras for prices. Book any departing flight that leaves after 13:00.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Aktion from major airports across the UK and Europe. If you are unable to reach the joining point in time for the start of your trip, you may wish to arrive a day early. Your host will be able to support you with making pre-trip transfer and accommodation arrangements, if required.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

  • Single or double kayak
  • Paddle
  • Life jacket
  • Sprayskirt
  • Dry bag
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Safety equipment
  • First aid kit
  • Throw rope
  • Extra paddles
  • 2-person tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat

What do I need to bring?

Bags

  • Small rucksack to carry items throughout the day

Clothes

  • Lightweight breathable clothes for kayaking in
  • Long-sleeved shirt and trousers
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Warm jacket and/or jumper for the evenings
  • Hiking shoes/trainers for exploring
  • Socks
  • Beach sandals/kayak shoes to walk in water
  • Swimsuit

Sleeping

  • Sleeping bag liner (optional)
  • Pillow (optional)

Other

  • Towel
  • Sun protection
  • Insect repellant
  • Head torch
  • Water bottle

Please inform your host if you are bringing your own sleeping bag as space and weight are carefully measured for the kayaks.

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Per Person

Pre/post trip accommodation in Nydri (single room)

Payable Before Departure

Pre/post trip accommodation in Nydri (single room)

Pre/post trip accommodation in Nydri (twin/double room)

Payable Before Departure

Pre/post trip accommodation in Nydri (twin/double room)

Private transfer to/from Nydri from airport

Payable Before Departure

Private transfer to/from Nydri from airport

Per Person

- juanette(May 2023)

Lots of laughter and fun and support if needed.I had an amazing time on this kayaking trip.

- Lucy(September 2022)

We had an absolutely magical time in Lefkada kayaking and camping on the islands. Alex, Charitini and Markos were all brilliant hosts and kept us in line through some sometimes quite sea-traffic-heavy crossings.

The camping was very well-organised, with tents easy to put up and containing everything we needed including air mattresses, sleeping bags, etc - by the end of three days we had a very well-established routine! Whilst we did spend one night on Thilia, an uninhabited island (which was gorgeous) we were more often camping on tourist beaches. If the remoteness of the trip is a major factor of appeal you might want to keep this in mind - however, the flipside is that we were never too far from a shower/supermarket/bar, so it worked in our favour, and waking up on the beach to a mirror-calm sea was an absolute highlight for me.

Alex did a brilliant job with the food, making sure that we were well-fed on a variety of different things over the course of the trip - vegetarians and vegans in our group were also well-catered for. Eating freshly bbq'd fish on the beach in Thilia was a highlight, but we also thoroughly enjoyed our evenings at tavernas eating local seafood and specialties! Keep in mind that whilst basic drinks are covered, alcohol isn't, so be sure to bring cash with you for beers/cocktails/wine if needed - but otherwise we didn't need to buy extra food at any point, and were very well-fed indeed.

Everyone in our group was in double kayaks, and very few of us had any prior experience. The seas were very calm while we were there so everything felt quite easy. If you have previous kayaking experience and are looking for a challenge this might not be the trip for you as generally the distances are quite short and the pace is very gentle - however, if you're looking for an easy and beautiful introduction for kayaking, I would highly recommend this trip. As well as kayaking we also had plenty of downtime for reading, sunbathing and generally relaxing together, both in the mornings and the evenings, and we enjoyed a couple of great nights out along the way as well.

Overall I would definitely recommend this trip. The hosts are fabulous, and I've come away with some wonderful memories and a thirst to return to Greece as soon as possible! Thank you so much Alex, Charitini and Markos for an amazing trip!

- James(September 2022)

Would highly recommend this trip to anyone. Lovely warm hearted guides and made great friends. Some hard physical stretches of kayaking rewarded by incredible scenery and evenings of fun. Exciting and relaxing in equal measures.

- Hollie(September 2022)

Our trip was amazing! Alex, Chartini, and Markos were brilliant. We got to kayak just the right amount, swim and snorkel in caves and bays, see spectacular views. My highlight was jumping off rocks in to the sea. The health and safety measures were great and I never felt unsure or unsafe. We were never hungry! Delicious food was provided for all preferences and I would highly recommend the vegetarian options we had. The trip was very sustainable everywhere we stayed. Our group was lovely. Everyone shared things like plasters and head torches, and shared meals and stories.

- Laura(September 2022)

Amazing first solo adventure holiday experience, hosts were very knowledgeable about the local area and ensured activities were undertaken safely. Food was great and prepared for you from camping meals to dining out at the end of the trip. A great group of like-minded people. Would thoroughly recommend.

- Poppy(August 2022)

This trip was an absolutely awesome experience and the perfect escape. Think paddling across the ocean to idyllic beaches, incredible fresh food and waking up for sunrise swims.

The hosts were great and kept the group together, progressing at a good pace for all.

Plenty of time for swimming/snorkelling and enjoying the beach as well as the kayaking.

- Sunette Runhaar(August 2022)

We had an amazing time on this trip! Charitini and Spyridoula were fantastic guides, going out of their way to make sure that everyone was safe, enjoying the experience, and had everything they needed. Alex kept us exceptionally well-fed; the food was out of this world! While there are definitely some challenging stretches on the trip, it's all worth it. Waking up for sunrise swims, camping right on the beach, and exploring with a great group of people were definitely highlights for me.

- Chrissy(August 2022)

Caves are cool, food is great but the trip could be more adventurous and remote. Lots would need to be reviewed.

- Gary(August 2022)

Exactly what it says in the write up. I had a fantastic time. Cannot wait to book another experience

- Elaine(August 2022)

The trip was OK, but not quite the experience I was expecting. When advertised as remote Greek islands I didn't expect the beaches to be covered in tourists.

We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 83kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

No previous kayaking experience is required, although you will be on the water for a few hours each day so a reasonable level of fitness is required.

You must also be able to swim and should ideally feel comfortable in the open sea for extended periods (although the option to return to shore is always available).

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

From May to October the temperature ranges from 20°C to 25°C, with the sea temperatures lagging only one degree behind. Days are often breezy, but they’re also clear and sunny with practically no chance of rain.

Absolutely. Anything you don't need can be left with your host at the port and collected when the trip is finished.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.

Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.

Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.

Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.

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