Melissani, Myrtos and Fiscardo tour, reviewed
The full island day, and the highest-rated listing on a large base: 4.8 from 317 ratings. Nine hours with an English-speaking guide: the Monastery of Agios Gerasimos, a Robola winery tasting, Drogarati, the boat at Melissani, free time in Fiscardo for lunch, a photo stop at the Myrtos viewpoint and a honey and olive oil tasting on the way home. Both cave fees are paid on arrival. Reviewers call it unbelievable value, and a full day in the sun.
Going without a car?Every tour here picks you up in Argostoli and cancels free up to 24 hours before. Reserve the date now, decide later.
Check tour availabilityWhat the listing itself says
Included, as the listing writes it
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Comfortable transport in an air-conditioned coach
- Professional local tour guide throughout the day
- Robola wine tasting at a local Kefalonian winery
- Honey, olive oil & Kefalonian specialities tasting at The Greek Experience
Not included, as the listing writes it
- Melissani Lake and Drogarati Cave entrance fees
- Lunch, extra food and drinks
- Personal expenses
The exclusion list is the one to budget from. The fare, around forty euros, is the coach, the guide and two tastings; both cave fees are paid on site, about ten euros for Melissani and a little more for both caves. Lunch in Fiscardo is yours. The listing says the Myrtos stop is a photo stop with no beach access, that Melissani runs shared twelve-person rowing boats with longer waits in July and August, that Drogarati has about 150 steep steps, and that the order and length of stops may change with traffic and queues. No pickup from Lixouri, Agia Efimia, Sami or Fiscardo; no pets, mobility scooters or non-folding wheelchairs. Tickets, in detail.
What reviewers found
The written reviews are about the guides by name, the stories, and the length of the day. Three that say something useful about the day itself:
Cannot recommend this trip highly enough! Our guide, Tia? , and driver were superb. The trip ticked off a lot of places, but allowed sufficient time at each stop to explore along with a knowledgeable narrative from our guide. It was absolutely perfect! Thank you so much to our lovely guide and driver!
Excellent day, unbelievable value for money. Our guide Anna was brilliant and the driver Mr Dmitrious was friendly and looked after us very well
This was a great day out. Our guide Wendy was very knowledgeable. This is a great tour to see lots of attractions without renting a car. The places are absolutely beautiful and the guide made the experience much better giving us some facts about Kefalonia.
Sarah and Ashley are both five stars and both right. Nine hours in August with a walk round Fiscardo at lunchtime is a full day in the sun, so pack water and a hat. For that, it is the lowest fare on this site and covers more of the island than anything else here. Emily put the case for it in one sentence: “As we didn’t choose to rent our own transport during our time on the island, it was the perfect way to see all the spots we wished to see.” Claire, who did it with a teenager, listed the wine tasting, the monastery, the mountain road and lunch on the Fiscardo seafront as her highlights, which is a fair picture of where the day’s weight sits: Melissani is one stop of seven, not the whole point. If the cave is the point, the flagship half day gives it more room.
Verdict
Book it if you have one day to see Kefalonia and no car. It is the lowest fare here, the best-rated on a large base, and the only listing that reaches the monastery, the winery and Fiscardo. Carry cash or a card for the two cave fees, eat in Fiscardo, and enjoy the cave as one highlight of seven rather than the whole day.
Who it suits
- First-time visitors with a single free day and no hire car
- Anyone who wants the winery and the monastery as well as the caves
- History-minded readers: the monastery and the Robola tasting are the island’s story, and Melissani’s own is on the way
Who it does not suit
- Cruise passengers: nine hours outruns most calls, and pickup is from hotels
- Anyone who tires in heat: it is a full day in the sun, so pack water and a hat
- Anyone who wants a swim: Myrtos is a viewpoint only on this route
- Anyone staying in Sami, Agia Efimia, Fiscardo or Lixouri: outside the pickup zones
Other tours to consider
Half a day with both tickets in the price is the flagship. The lake and a beach afternoon instead of the winery is the beach tour. Your own car and start time is the private tour.
Entry fees includedBoth cave tickets includedFrom Argostoli: Melissani Lake & Drogarati Caves Tour
Lake + beachMelissani ticket includedFrom Argostoli: Melissani Lake & Beach Relaxation
PrivateKefalonia: Private Tour The Caves & Myrtos Beach
Frequently asked questions
Does the Kefalonia island tour include the cave tickets?
No. Its exclusion list names the Melissani and Drogarati entrance fees, and the listing says both are paid on site: about ten euros for Melissani, a little more for the combined ticket; the reduced and free categories are listed too.
How long is the island tour, really?
Nine hours by the listing, with hotel pickup at the start and the tasting stop at the end. It is a full day in the sun; a reviewer with a teenager found the pace right. How long each stop takes.
Do you swim on the island tour?
No. Myrtos is a photo stop from the viewpoint with no beach access, and swimming in Melissani is not allowed. For a swim in the same day, see the beaches near the cave and the tours that stop at one.
Where does the island tour pick up?
From hotels inside its pickup zones. The listing excludes Lixouri, Agia Efimia, Sami and Fiscardo. Day tours from Argostoli, with their pickup areas.