Ionian Mainland

Ionian Mainland

The Ionian Sea flows past the main islands of Corfu, Paxos, Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos and Kythira (plus quite a few satellite islets) and along the south west coastline of the Greek mainland.

The region of Epirus is on the west side of the Greek mainland and lies between Albania and the Pindus Mountains to the north and the Ionian Sea to the south-west.

The south-west coastline of Epirus looks out across the Ionian Sea to the Ionian islands. It has a similar landscape to the islands: hillsides of olive groves, pine and cypress trees and beaches with crystal clear waters.

Many of the beaches close to the port of Syvota have a beachfront restaurant and bar with comfortable sunbeds. A holiday here will give you the choice of a different beach each day.

Epirus has a beautiful interior of forested mountainsides hiding hamlets and villages. The mountain villages have lived through oppressive occupations and conflicts. It was not until the end of the Greek Civil War in 1949 that Epirus regained peace.

A holiday on one or more of the Ionian islands will appeal to those looking for a relaxing escape from a busy lifestyle. A holiday in or close to the Epirus port of Syvota will provide a similar escape but will also appeal to those wanting to explore the beautiful, natural wilderness of a hidden Greece.

The sheltered port of Syvota has a good choice of waterfront tavernas, bars and shops but does not have any throbbing nightclubs. Here there is a simple lifestyle – many of the locals are either fishermen or farmers. Read more...


Hiring a boat will open up coastal exploration as many of the sandy beaches and coves are only accessible by sea. Some beaches like Mega Ammos, Agia Paraskevi and Karavostasi have watersports and tavernas and other beaches are natural and often deserted.

Syvota is just 12 kilometres from Paxos and just 6 kilometres from the southern tip of Corfu. Why not spend a week on Paxos or Corfu followed by a week near Syvota? Or a week on Lefkas or Meganissi followed by a week in or close to Paleros, which is just a 45 minute drive. A week of island chilling followed by a week of chilling and exploring.

The drive from Syvota to Ioannina, on the shores of Lake Pamvotis, takes around 90 minutes and from Ioannina to the mountain villages of Zagoria, a further 50 minutes. Here there are many walking trails with dramatic views over forested valleys, twisting rivers and ancient stone-arched bridges. Large swathes of hillside pine forests hide hamlets and villages of stone-roofed houses.

In Greek mythology, the Acheron is one of the five rivers of the Underworld. The ferryman Charon ferried the dead across the Acheron to Hades. A drive from Syvota to the Acheron’s mouth at Ammoudia (sandy beach and seaside tavernas) takes 45 minutes and a further 20 minutes to riverside tavernas, springs and river swimming and rafting.

The mouth of the River Acheron is in the village of Ammoudia, 3 km from the Nekromantio oracle. Sandy beach, lovely tavernas along the river and an opportunity to have a small cruise along the river and the cave of Persefoni on the coast.

Further afield are the fascinating archaeological sites of Albania.