Day 1 in Kefalonia

Welcome to Kefalonia! Arrive at the airport in Kefalonia and proceed to your hotel. After check in, head to the impressive Lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi, which was constructed by the British in 1828, and the mills and geological phenomena at Katavothres where the sea flows inland, enters sinkholes and finally reaches the Melissani Lake. Afterwards, explore Argostoli, the capital of the island. This modern and cosmopolitan town offers a busy waterfront (don't miss the Bridge de Bosset with its small pyramid) and a large central square, Plateia Valianou, where you can enjoy a bite to eat or a coffee before strolling down Lithostroto Street to admire the church of Saint Spyridon and the clock tower of Campana Square. Along the way, be sure to visit the Archaeological Museum of Kefalonia as well as the Korgialenios History and Folklore Museum, which is housed on the ground floor of the Korgialenian Library, a restored 19th century house. Time permitting, you may also want to see the Municipal Theatre Kefalos, one of the largest and oldest theatres in Greece, located just opposite the Archaeological Museum.

Next, go north to Myrtos, the most famous and beautiful beach on Kefalonia, featuring crystal blue water surrounded by steep cliffs topped with lush vegetation. It has received several awards for its cleanliness and natural beauty; and it's well organized, so enjoy a refreshing swim or sunbathe on its white sands before grabbing lunch and continuing on to Assos, a small and charming village dominated by the ruins of a 16th century Venetian castle. Within the ruins, you will find the small church of Agios Markos and a little further down the hill there is a chapel dedicated to Prophet Elias containing a beautiful wooden carved iconostasis. The visit to the castle requires a long walk through olive tree forests, but the amazing views of the bay below are worth the hike.

Later, visit Fiscardo, a picturesque fishing village that was untouched by the major earthquake of 1953. Many yachts and fishing boats moor in its small port, giving it a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The waterfront offers plenty of shops, bars and taverns where you can enjoy drinks and a fresh fish dinner while admiring the views of neighboring Ithaca Island.

Day 2 in Kefalonia

Wake up early today and make the pilgrimage to the Monastery of Agios Gerasimos in Valsamata. Saint Gerasimos, born in 1503, is the protector saint of Kefalonia. Here, a small church has been built above the tomb and cave of the saint while a plane tree, planted by the saint, is still preserved at the monastery. Next stop is Drogarati Cave, estimated to be 150 million years old and known for its wonderful formations of stalactites and stalagmites. The part open to tourists consists of a long corridor that leads to the Royal Balcony, a natural platform of stalactites that beautifully reflect the light; and from where you can see the Chamber of Exaltation, the biggest hall of the cave, which has great acoustics and is sometimes used to host cultural events.

Afterwards, continue to the tourist village of Sami. On a hill just above the bay of Sami, there is the Monastery of Agrilion, dedicated to Virgin Mary Theotokos and an important religious site for the locals. The location of the monastery offers incredible views of Antisamos beach on one side and the towns of Sami and Agia Efimia on the other. Several references of Ancient Sami are found in Homer's poems (Iliad, Odyssey) when Sami fought in the Trojan War. Excavations have unearthed an Ancient Acropolis with old walls, Roman houses, tombs and other sights.

After lunch in Sami, continue east to Antisamos, a gorgeous golden beach where some scenes from the movie 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' were filmed. Enjoy the lush green landscape and crystal clear water before continuing to the Cave Lake of Melissani. Boat trips are organized across this beautiful lake that has trees and forests surrounding it, and whose most spectacular feature is the kaleidoscope of colors created by the sun's rays shining upon the water!

Finally, be sure to see the Monastery of Panagia Themata, one of the oldest monuments of Kefalonia, dating back to 1096. Located on the slopes of Agia Dinati Mountain, surrounded by a large pine forest, it offers an amazing view to the east shores of Kefalonia and Ithaca. In the evening, head to Agia Efimia, a seaside village with nice taverns at the port where you can relax and enjoy a traditional dinner.

Day 3 in Kefalonia

Today, take the ferry to Lixouri, the second largest village of Kefalonia. The town lies around the bay of Argostoli, overlooking the capital, and was built on the site of the ancient city of Pali, one of the four principal cities of Kefalonia during Antiquity. Unfortunately, the earthquake of 1953 destroyed most of the city and only a couple of mansions survived, including the neoclassical house of Iakovatios-Typaldos. Restored to its original grandeur in 1984, it is now home to the Iakovatios Museum and Library, with 20,000 books on display as well as rare manuscripts, church vestments, antique furniture, portraits, gospels and icons. The library also houses the 1556 edition of 'The Complete Works of Plato' (from Venice) and a book called 'The Complete Works of Hippocrates', published in 1595, which is considered to be the most valuable book in this library.

Lixouri is well known for its rich cultural tradition and hosts one of the oldest philharmonic schools in Greece. Stroll around the village and discover its old churches filled with frescoes, an archeological museum and the famous Monastery of Kipoureon (located approximately nine miles from Lixouri). The main square, Plateia Petritsi, is surrounded by many old fashioned cafes and there are plenty of restaurants and bars along the waterfront where you can stop for lunch. Then, relax and enjoy a refreshing swim at one of the beaches close to the village, like Lepeda, Xi or Mega Lakos. Alternately, Petani is a magnificent beach located on the northern western side of the beautiful peninsula of Paliki, with crystal blue waters and a stunning landscape of tall verdant cliffs reaching down to the sea.

This evening, return to Argostoli for a sunset walk along the beautifully paved coastal promenade lined by palm trees and colorful sea pebbles. Have dinner and drinks on the waterfront or at one of the many taverns around Plateia Valianou. Make your last night on Kefalonia a memorable one!

Additional Days in Kefalonia

Should you be able to spend additional days in Kefalonia then rent a car and take the ferry to Ithaka (boat fare for the car from Sami is approximately 15€). Once on Ithaka, you can drive to Vathy, the main town, Moni Katheron, a 17th century monastery whose bell tower offers a spectacular view over much of Ithaka, as well as the villages of Anogi, Frikes, and Kioni. As for the sites associated with the Odyssey, you'll see signs for the four principal sites, including the Cave of the Nymphs and the Fountain of Arethusa from the outskirts of Vathy. Most visitors will be able to see what they want of Ithaka before driving back to the little port to catch the last ferry back to Kefalonia.

Additionally, you can spend time exploring the southern part of the island. On a hill above the tourist resort of Lassi, visitors can see the Cave of Agios Gerasimos. This is the original cave where Saint Gerasimos, the protector saint of the island, lived before establishing the monastery in Valsamata. Next to the entrance of the cave, a small church has been built dedicated to the memory of the saint. In Lassi, you will also find a memorial to the soldiers of the Italian Acqui Military Division that were executed by Nazi troops; a war crime made famous by the movie 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin.'

Continuing south to Peratata, visit the Monastery of Agios Andreas with its fantastic 16th century frescoes and unique collection of Byzantine icons and ecclesiastical items as well as the Castle of Saint George standing on a hill above the village. The Monastery of Sissia stands on a hill above Lourdas Beach, the Monastery of Panagia Lagouvarda is located in Markopoulo village and above the beach of Skala there is a 3rd century Roman Villa known for its lovely floor mosaics. Finally, the Monastery of Panagia Atros, outside Poros, is the oldest monastery of Kefalonia and has been destroyed and rebuilt 17 times. The monastery is also known as Theotokos Monastery and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Your Last Day in Kefalonia

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.