Drogarati & Melissani Caves Private Tour with Myrtos Beach

Melissani Lake tour, sightseeing, turquoise-blue water at noon sunlight

A private four-hour tour of Cephalonia's two most visited caves (Drogarati Cave and Melissani Lake) with a rowboat ride across the underground lake and a photo stop at Myrtos Beach. Private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle is included. Cave entrance fees are separate. Suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit caves and beach in Kefalonia

• Explore Drogarati Cave
• Row boat on Melissani Lake
• Photo stop at Myrtos Beach

The experience

Four hours takes you through two caves that sit just 3 kilometers outside Sami. Drogarati was only discovered 300 years ago when an earthquake cracked open the entrance. Inside, stalactites and stalagmites fill the chambers. Melissani is stranger still: a B-shaped cave with two halls separated by land, and a lake filling the lower chamber. The lake itself runs 20 to 30 meters deep, surrounded by trees and forest that somehow grow inside the cave.

At Melissani you get into a small rowboat and cross the lake. When the sun reaches overhead at noon, the light hits the water and the whole interior glows blue. The moment the tour is timed around. Both caves were explored by speleologists Anna and Yiannis Petrochilos, who descended with ropes and ladders to map what lay beneath.

The tour ends at Myrtos Beach, one of Cephalonia's most photographed stretches of coast. The beach has won repeated awards for its cleanliness and natural beauty, and the stop gives you time for photos before the drive back. Your own vehicle and driver handle all transport. The route is private, so the pace and stops are yours alone.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for four hours.
• rowboat ride across Melissani Lake.
• photo stop at Myrtos Beach.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by KOULOUMPIS TRAVEL

Is this one for you?The tour is private, so you set the pace at each cave and decide how long to spend at Myrtos Beach: useful if you want to linger at the midday light show inside Melissani or take your time with photos, rather than moving with a group schedule.

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Top questions

What is inside Melissani Lake cave that makes it different from Drogarati?

Melissani holds an actual lake inside the cave, 20 to 30 meters deep, with trees and forest growing around it. The cave's B-shaped layout has two halls separated by land, and centuries ago the roof of one hall collapsed, letting sunlight filter in. At midday the light turns the water turquoise-blue.

How do you see Melissani Lake? Do you walk around it or go on the water?

You explore Melissani by rowboat, crossing the underground lake itself. The boat ride is the main way to experience the cave and see the sunlit water effect.

What is Myrtos Beach and why is it on this tour?

Myrtos Beach is one of Cephalonia's most awarded beaches, known worldwide for its natural beauty and cleanliness. The tour includes a photo stop there, giving you time to see why it ranks among Greece's best beaches.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

The tour is private. You have your own vehicle and driver for the full four hours, so the route and pace are yours alone.

What do I need to bring or know before booking?

Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and small children sit on an adult's lap. The tour suits all fitness levels. Note that cave entrance fees are not included in the price and are paid separately at each site.