Why Vasiliki, Lefkada is a top destination for watersports enthusiasts

After a week of sailing around the South Ionian, we found ourselves spending a few days in Vasiliki in the south of the Greek island of Lefkada. This is a place that does watersports in style – it is not loud or lavish in the way some Mediterranean hotspots can be. Instead, there’s an understated magic here and a reliability in the weather thanks to an afternoon wind known affectionately as Eric.

Why Vasilki?

There’s a reason seasoned windsurfers, Olympic sailors, and wide-eyed first-timers keep returning to Vasiliki. It isn’t just the favourable conditions – rather, it offers all the requisite conditions for different watersports enthusiasts, spaced out throughout the day.

Mornings are quiet, with barely a breeze – perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking or e-foiling – in a bay that is sheltered and shallow.

But then the tempo changes.

By early afternoon, the air shifts. The wind comes cross-shore, bold and unrelenting, and just like that, the water becomes alive—dancing under the firm grip of Eric. It’s a consistent, clean wind and one that brings out experienced sailors and windsurfers in their hundreds.

It’s oddly reassuring as it’s a pattern that happens every day and, unlike other coastal spots where watersports feel like an add-on, Vasiliki pulses with aquatic energy.

The season runs long—from April through October—with peak winds and social buzz cresting in July and August. But even outside those months, the conditions are enviable. It’s the sort of place where you’ll meet people who came for a week and quietly never left.

E-foiling with E-VASS

Some experiences defy adequate description. Flying, for instance. Not in the seatbelted, pressurised cabin kind of way—but really flying. On water. On a board. Our sons had long wanted to try their hand at e-foiling and this was our chance to give it a go.

At E-VASS, a sleek little outfit that sits midway along the bay, we met Maye—our instructor— though she said that if we forgot her name, “any month would do”. She made e-foiling look effortless, but was also patient and encouraging when we tried our hand at it and made it look much more difficult.

We went out a short way into the bay with an oversized paddleboard that was anchored and used as a floating island, so we could take turns at learning to master our balance. The process begins humbly with you on all fours initially, familiarising yourself with your balance on the e-foil. As you accelerate using a handheld motor, you feel the board start to lift up and out of the water – it’s an incredible sensation, as though you are defying physics.

Thanks to May’s tuition, we were able to progress and get some success in standing and foiling in just our first lesson, even if it was only brief and invariably followed by some spectacular falls. Every wipe-out was met with raucous laughter and renewed determination.

If you should happen to find yourself in Vasiliki, this is an activity we would throoughly recommend, especially for anyone who enjoys a good dose of adrenaline. And with E-VASS’s meticulous guidance and encouragement, maybe you too can fly.

Sailing with Wildwind Holidays

Whilst e-foiling was an entirely new experience for us, sailing with Wildwind Holidays was a return to more familiar territory. For our boys, both seasoned sailors, it was less a lesson and more a homecoming—albeit with boats they’ve rarely sailed.

The morning began with a Hobie Cat—swift and agile, even in relatively gentle winds. The light breeze was perfect for some playful tacking and strategic bursts of speed. The bay, still waking up, provided the ideal stage.

By afternoon, as Eric took the reins, they opted for something a little more familiar – the RS500, a lean, fast and beautiful boat that had them racing across the bay. The key difference between this and the boat they usually race (the RS200) is that it has a single trapeze for the crew, enabling higher speeds in stronger winds, and a larger spinnaker (meaning faster downwind speeds).

Wildwind Holidays is no amateur operation. With decades of experience, world-class instructors, and a range of boats that would make any yacht club blush, they cater to both the curious and the committed. Whether you’re new to sailing or looking to refine your racing techniques, they have you covered—suncream not included, but highly advised.

Windsurfing and other watersports

Of course, no mention of Vasiliki would be complete without windsurfing. It’s the sport that put the village on the map and continues to define its soul. From teenagers learning their first waterstart to grey-haired veterans carving elegant jibes, the bay is a canvas of windsurfing stories in motion.

But the palette here is broad. You’ll find wingfoiling as well as sea kayaking along the rugged coastline, stand-up paddleboarding through the calmer coves, scuba diving in the depths, and more. So, no matter what your watersport of choice is, there’s something for everyone.

And with places like E-VASS and Wildwind peppered along the shoreline, you’re never short of expert guidance, high-quality kit, and a warm, enthusiastic welcome from like-minded enthusiasts.

The final verdict

Vasiliki is a watersports paradise.

It’s a place where even the wind has a name and the conditions are near-perfect, if not perfect.

So yes—come for the sports. Come for the conditions. But don’t be surprised if you stay a little longer than you planned, or find yourself coming back sooner than you’d imagined.

Disclosure: Our experiences were sponsored by E-VASS and Wildwind Holidays. Our trip was sponsored by AEGEAN Airlines.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.

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