Kefalonia Island Tour with Myrtos Assos and Fiskardo

Melissani lake

The first stop is Melissani, between Sami and Agia Efimia on the east coast. It is a cave whose roof collapsed thousands of years ago, leaving a deep lake open to the sky and a second chamber that continues into darkness. Around midday the sun shines straight down onto the water, which glows an incredible turquoise and seems almost transparent, so that the rowing boats appear to float in the air.

You walk down a short tunnel and a boatman rows you across the lake in a small boat for about ten to fifteen minutes. The entry ticket for Melissani is not included in this tour and is paid at the site. In July and August there may be a queue, but our guide helps you plan the visit. Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Assos: the village under the fortress

Assos is one of the prettiest villages in Kefalonia, built on a narrow neck of land between a green, steep peninsula and the mainland. Its houses are painted in soft pastel colours and face a small harbour with clear water. On the peninsula above stand the walls of a Venetian fortress built in the late sixteenth century to protect the coast from pirates.

The road down to Assos winds through olive groves and cypress trees, and the first view of the village from above is unforgettable. During your free time you can stroll the quiet lanes, sit at a seafront café or swim from the little pebble beach. Is Assos worth visiting? It is small and peaceful, and many guests call it the most photogenic village on the island.

Fiskardo: the harbour village of the north

Fiskardo lies on the northern tip of Kefalonia, facing the island of Ithaca across a narrow strait. When the great earthquake of 1953 destroyed most of Kefalonia, Fiskardo was almost untouched, so it is one of the few places where you can still see the island's traditional two-storey houses with tiled roofs and painted shutters. Today its small harbour is lined with yachts, cafés and boutiques.

You have free time to walk along the harbour, follow the path to the old lighthouse, explore the remains of an early Christian church nearby or have lunch by the water. The village has a relaxed, elegant atmosphere and some of the best seafood on the island. A Fiskardo day trip from Argostoli by car takes more than an hour each way, so travelling with a guide makes it easier.

The Myrtos beach viewpoint

On the return journey the road runs high along the north-west coast, and the vehicle stops at the viewpoint over Myrtos beach. Below you, a long crescent of brilliant white pebbles lies between steep limestone cliffs, and the sea shades from milky turquoise near the shore to deep blue further out. It is the image most people associate with Kefalonia and one of the most famous beach views in Greece.

The stop is for photographs and to take in the scale of the coastline. The best time to see Myrtos is in the afternoon, when the sun lights the cliffs and the water from the west. The beach itself is reached by a long, winding road and has little shade, so this viewpoint is the easiest way to enjoy it on a touring day.

Local flavours and the road back

Before returning to your hotel, the tour stops at a shop of local products, where you can see and buy Kefalonian olive oil, thyme honey, almond sweets and other island specialities. It is a good place to pick up gifts, and there is no obligation to buy.

The guide then drives you back south to your hotel area, about eight hours after pickup. During the day you also see the inland villages, the slopes of Mount Ainos and the coastline of Agia Efimia. For halal-conscious travellers, the seafood and vegetarian dishes in Assos and Fiskardo are the easy choice, and the guide can suggest places. The drive back takes you past bays and hillside villages with plenty of chances to enjoy the views.