Ithaca Day Cruise with Swim Stops from Skala Kefalonia

Skala: the starting point in south-east Kefalonia

Skala is a seaside village on the south-east coast of Kefalonia, known for its long sand and shingle beach, pine-covered hills and clear water. It was rebuilt near the shore after the 1953 earthquake, and just outside the village you can visit the floor mosaics of a Roman villa. The small harbour is where the cruise begins at 09:00.

How to get to Skala: it is about forty-five minutes by car from Argostoli and Kefalonia Airport, and about twenty minutes from Poros, where ferries arrive from Kyllini on the Peloponnese. Hotel transfers are not included, but we can arrange one. Please arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before departure so you can settle on board and choose a seat in the shade.

Antisamos beach

Heading north along the east coast, the boat reaches Antisamos, near the port of Sami. It is a deep bay with a beach of small white pebbles, enclosed by steep slopes covered in green forest that plunge straight into the sea. The contrast between the dark green hills, the white shore and the turquoise water makes it one of the most beautiful beaches on Kefalonia.

This is the first swim stop. The water is exceptionally clear and deepens quickly, so it is excellent for snorkelling if you bring your own mask. Is Antisamos worth visiting? Yes, and arriving from the sea is the most dramatic way to see it, without the steep, winding road down from Sami.

Vathi: the capital of Ithaca

From Antisamos the boat crosses the strait to Ithaca, a small mountainous island famous in ancient legend as the homeland of a wandering king. Vathi, its capital, sits at the end of a long, narrow bay that is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Its houses, with tiled roofs and pastel walls, curve around the water, and a tiny islet with a white chapel sits in the middle of the harbour.

You have free time in Vathi for lunch, shopping or a stroll along the waterfront. There is a small archaeological museum and a maritime museum, and the cafés and tavernas along the harbour serve fresh fish and vegetarian dishes. Halal meat is not available on Ithaca, so seafood or vegetarian food is the easy option.

Gidaki beach

In the afternoon the boat sails a short distance from Vathi to Gidaki, one of the loveliest beaches on Ithaca. It lies in a quiet bay surrounded by green hills and can only be reached by sea or by a steep footpath, so it is never crowded. The beach is made of fine white pebbles, and the water is a brilliant turquoise.

This is the second swim stop, in total tranquillity. Shallow water near the shore makes it pleasant for children, and the clear sea is perfect for snorkelling. The best time to visit Ithaca by boat is from June to September, when the water is warm; in spring and autumn the hills are greener and the beaches are almost empty.

Koutsoupia beach or Agios Ioannis

On the way back, the boat stops at Koutsoupia, a small hidden beach on the east coast of Kefalonia, backed by lush green hills and lapped by turquoise water. There is no road access to speak of, which keeps it quiet and natural, and it makes a perfect last swim of the day.

Depending on the weather and the time, the captain may instead choose Agios Ioannis on the west coast of Ithaca, a long beach of white pebbles below wooded slopes. The boat then sails south along the coast of Kefalonia and returns to Skala about eight and a half hours after leaving. On the way you have one more chance to look across the strait at the green hills of Ithaca.