Incredible Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

The island of Kefalonia in Greece is the place for stunning outdoor adventures. This large island in the Ionian Sea west of the Peloponnese Peninsula offers hiking, caving, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and boat trips as well as spectacular beaches.

It’s easy to get to Kefalonia. Levante ferries embark from the ports of Kyllini and Patras on the Peloponnese Peninsula. The ferry journey from Kyllini to Poros takes 1.5 hours. The ferry trip from Patras to Sami takes 3 hours. A car is useful to get around this mountainous island, but there are plenty of day tours for those without a car.

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Sea Kayaking Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

One of the best ways to explore Kefalonia is from the water. Therefore, a sea kayaking trip along the lacy coast is a can’t-miss outdoor adventure in Kefalonia. You will glide along on impossibly blue water, stop on remote beaches to swim and snorkel, and marvel at immense chalky limestone cliffs.

We did a day-long sea kayaking trip out of Argostoli along the southwest coast with one of the premier sea kayaking outfitters in Greece. The trip with Sea Kayaking Kefalonia was a highlight of our trip to Greece. The company uses excellent sea kayaking equipment, has skilled guides, and provides safe and exhilarating sea kayak trips. I can hardly wait to return for one of their multi-day trips.

We started the tour at the ivory-colored lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi saturated in the morning light. After introductions and sea kayaking lessons, we paddled south along the rugged coast. Soon, we saw sea arches and caves etched into the limestone cliffs. Subsequently, the fun began! With directions from our sea kayaking guide, we paddled through the arches and into the caves.

The ochre-colored arches contrasted with the emerald-green water as we followed the guide through the rock windows. Sea arches are formed when a sea cave’s side falls in by being impacted by wave action.

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Seaside Caves and Cliffs of Kefalonia

After playing follow the leader through some arches, we entered our first cave. Spelunking by kayak is incredible. Stalagmites hang from the dark ceiling while light sneaks through to show the back of the cave.

Next, we entered the Sea Urchin cave, so named for the preponderance of sea urchins in the shallow water inside the cave. Since this cave was missing part of its roof, the sunlight streamed in to create a ballroom floor of emerald jade.

The trip also included stopping at a beach for healthy snacks of fruit and cheese. Later we also stopped for lunch under gorgeous limestone cliffs stretched up to the sky. A traditional Greek lunch awaited us after we snorkeled and swam in the teal water.

For an incredible outdoor adventure in Kefalonia, make sure to join one of the sea kayaking trips offered by Sea Kayaking Kefalonia. With paddling trips on many different shorelines of Kefalonia, you will be sure to find one that astounds you.

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Coastal Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

The draw of uninhabited beaches along a craggy limestone coast with miles of turquoise water enticed me to rent a power boat to explore it. There are a half dozen companies that rent self-drive motor boats. You can be a captain for the day to cruise up the coast and stop wherever you want. There is no license needed and the company will give instructions on how to drive and moor the boat.

We went with Boulevard Boat Hire in Agia Efimia. Johnny, who runs the company, was a real pro and spent dedicated time pointing out all the different bays to see. He carefully went over the map and showed us what we should look for on each beach.

He also did a comprehensive lesson on how to drive the boat and how to anchor it in the bays. You can either anchor in the middle of the bay and swim to the beach or anchor very close to shore and pass all your gear to the beach. Johnny first showed us how to do the beach landing and the anchoring on paper. After that, he took us out in the boat for an experiential lesson on the things he had just taught us. His safety concern was very genuine. He had read various weather reports and predicted the weather on our trip perfectly.

Outdoor Adventures on the Coast of Kefalonia by Motorboat

After our safety lesson and how to navigate the boat, we were on our way. The motorboat has a 30-hp engine with a steering wheel to drive. There is a beach umbrella and a cooler provided. The cooler was big enough to hold our drinks and lunch. We brought along our own snorkel gear and our beach things.

We headed across the harbor past our favorite restaurant called Paradise Beach Bar. There is a pocket beach at the base of the restaurant that is great to visit from the restaurant. As we rounded the point, the weather improved and the choppy waves started to subside. We motored up the coast at between 20 and 30 mph taking our time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Spectacular white and rusty limestone cliffs covered in green along the northern coast of Kefalonia were on one side. Additionally, across an expanse of water on the other side was Ithaca Island.

Remote bay and uninhabited beach

It took about an hour to motor up to the limit of the route on the shore. We found an uninhabited bay with a nice beach and shade under a craggily olive tree. There were old ruins on the beach that added to the charm. I slowly motored the boat into the light blue water where we tossed down the anchor and did an amazing shore landing that would make Johnny proud of his pupils. We spent a lovely afternoon in the secluded bay of multiple colors of blues and greens.

As we lunched under the olive tree, some goats came down to the water. They stayed a little distant away as they curiously watched us. There were bigger goats with curling horns and a couple of baby goats too. We had heard their cries in the bush before we saw them. They had come down to the water to drink out of a little side spring.

Snorkeling Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

After sunbathing and swimming at our private beach, we headed off to another bay for snorkeling. This time we just anchored and dove off the boat. The snorkeling was the best we’ve seen yet in Kefalonia. Well, it was not the Caribbean but there were plenty of colorful fish. My favorite was a neon fish with crazy purple patterns around its body. I also love the schools of white fish with a black spot on them that blended in so perfectly with the white sand of the depths.

After snorkeling, and then climbing back on the boat via the little ladder at the back, we pulled up the anchor and explored caves along the coast. Finally, it was time to head back. We called Johnny and he met us at the dock to take the boat. The cost of the boat was €130 for the day from 9 to 5, plus fuel. We used half a tank of fuel which was €30. It was all money well spent for this highlight reel of a day.

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Caving Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

Melissani Cave and Drogarati are two caves in Kefalonia that are spectacular outdoor adventures. Melissani Cave is a large cavern with a partially collapsed roof much like a cenote in the Yucatan. The lake in the cave is an unreal turquoise color from the sunlight. There is also a dark part of the cave where stalactites and flowstone hang from the limestone ceiling. An island separates each side of the cave.

A visit to the cave involves walking through a stone tunnel until you reach the lake. A boat rowed by a charming Greek man takes a boatload of 6-8 passengers through the cave. The best time to visit is midday as the sunlight permeates the crystal clear water all the way to the bottom of the lake.

The charge for the cave is 8 euros. However, you can get a combination ticket with entry to Drogarati Cave for 10 euros. There is a cafeteria and other amenities on site. The cave is located near Sami in the small town of Karavomilos. You can also get a private tour of the cave and a nearby spectacular remote beach.

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Drogarati Cave

Drogarati is a dry cave near Sami that is open to the public. It is more like a traditional cave with impressive stalactites and stalagmites lit by artificial light. There are stairs to descend into the cave. It can be slippery, however, some of the stairs are carpeted to prevent falls. The cave is huge and takes about an hour to explore it all. As the visit is unguided, be sure not to touch any of the cave formations. A cave is a living system and oil from your hands can hinder the growth of cave formations.

The charge for Drogarati Cave is 5 euros, but again, you can get a combination ticket for both caves for 10 euros.

Here is a fantastic tour of the two caves plus Myrtos Beach, the most gorgeous beach in all of Greece.

Hiking Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

While there are many signposted hikes in Kefalonia including Mount Ainos, I will highlight the Assos castle hike here. Starting at the most picturesque town in Kefalonia, the hike ascends through a pine forest to an ancient castle atop the mountain. There are views of the charming town of Assos from different vantage points on the hike. The view of the shimmering emerald green and turquoise blue harbor dotted with a couple of white sailboats and a striking old stone town is the best of the Greek islands.

The 4-mile round trip hike starts at a parking lot on the town outskirts. You trek along a wide stone path up many switchbacks with incredible vistas along the way. There is one place where you can go left up the staircase to cut off some of the wide road switchbacks. I would recommend you do this on the ascent, as there are fine panoramas along the way. The hike is mostly in the sun so bring water and wear a good sun hat.

The Assos castle area is a complex of fortifications built when Kefalonia was under Venetian rule to protect against military invasion or pirates. Stonewall barricades were built throughout the peninsula to guard the castle. I marveled at the work put into these hundreds of stone ramparts built in the 1500s. The top of the mountain is covered with ruins of houses and more preserved yellow-faced buildings. Some of these are old churches. The castle itself is mostly in ruin except for the impressive entrance gate.

Assos Village

After visiting the castle entryway, find the trail back down to the town of Assos. There will be a new view of the town around each paved switchback. You will walk past majestic cypress and olive trees. One flowering tree full of pollen-laden branches was abuzz with hundreds of bees.

At the base of the hike across from the parking lot is a sweet pocket beach perfect for a dip after a hot hike. There are picnic tables and shaded benches to relax with a view of paradise.

Be sure to explore the narrow streets of the village. Stone houses with terracotta roofs are nestled in the hills and beside the harbor. Trellises of flowers are a frequent sight.

To get to the parking for the castle hike, you drive through town. As you drive into the town of Assos, there will be signs pointing to the right for parking. However, instead of following the parking signs, go left at the fork through the town and directly to the spacious parking lot at the base of the hike. On very busy days, this probably isn’t possible but in October there was plenty of parking.

If you don’t have a car, a fabulous day trip to the colorful villages of Asos and Fiscardo is easy to arrange.

Logistics of Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

Car rental in Greece

Having a car is essential in Kefalonia to get to the amazing outdoor adventures of the island. I use and recommend Discover Cars for your Greek rental. Discover Cars works with reliable local car rental companies to give you the best price and rental experience. I’ve used them often and have always been happy with the car rental.

We rented our car in Athens as we were also visiting other parts of the Greece mainland. Subsequently, we took the car on the ferry. Check the car rental agreements to see which ones allow you to take their cars on the ferry. You can also rent in your port of entry on Kefalonia.

Accommodations in Kefalonia

The most central place to stay in Kefalonia to be close to outdoor adventures is Agia Efimia. This charming seaside town has a wonderful vibrance and it is close to the outdoor adventures mentioned here.

Book quickly to secure one of the Poseidon Apartments. They offer both studios and apartments with a view of the Ionian Sea. Breakfast there is fantastic and the staff is warm and friendly.

Blue Moon Apartment is a spacious one-bedroom apartment with an ample balcony overlooking the ocean. It’s close to town so you can enjoy the pulse of this picturesque town.

Another choice is the seafront hotel Kefalonia Bay Palace with breathtaking views of the Ionian sea. The hotel with suites has a pool and offers breakfast. It is a short walk to our favorite restaurant in Agia Efimia. Definitely be sure to dine at Paradise Beach Restaurant for authentic Greek food and views and desserts to die for.

Staying in touch in Greece

The use of E-sim cards with your smartphone is a fantastic way to have data when you are not near WiFi. I use an Airalo E-SIM card that is super easy to set up. No more finding a physical SIM card at the airport and trying to install it in your phone. Airalo cards can be set up electronically before you leave on your trip.

You can choose how much data you want and it’s easy to top them up if you run out. You can’t make phone calls directly but I use WhatsApp to make phone calls on the sim card data.

Travel Insurance

It’s a good idea to protect your trip to have peace of mind to enjoy it to the max. World Nomads is my preferred travel insurance company. Get a free quote to see if it works for you.

Wrap Up of Outdoor Adventures of Kefalonia

Outdoor activities on the Greek island of Kefalonia are the perfect way to explore the natural beauty of the island. Besides the gorgeous beaches such as Myrtos and Antisamos, Kefalonia packs a wealth of outdoor adventure.

While hiking is marvelous on Kefalonia, above all, make sure you see the island from the water. You will be awed by colorful cliffs, fascinating grottos, and pristine beaches as you explore by kayak or powerboat. Whether you take tours or DIY trips, you won’t run out of spectacular outdoor adventures on Kefalonia.

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