Melissani Lake Cave by Boat: Kefalonia Sightseeing Tour
A B-shaped cave with a collapsed roof that lets sunlight flood a 20-to-30-meter lake.
This four-hour shore tour of Kefalonia combines a boat ride on Melissani Lake inside a dramatic cave, a stop at Myrtos Beach viewpoint, and a pass by Argostoli Lagoon where sea turtles swim. You travel by air-conditioned bus with a live English-speaking guide who provides commentary and takes photos; hotel pickup and bottled water are included. The cave itself sits just outside Sami, and rowing boats hold about ten people each for the lake crossing.
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Melissani Cave and Myrtos Viewpoint
- Transfer to Melissani Cave
- Boat ride on Melissani Lake
- Photo stop at Myrtos Beach Viewpoint
- Pass by Argostoli Lagoon and old bridge
The Experience
The cave of Melissani is the centerpiece. After a short transfer from your hotel, you board one of the rowing boats—each holds roughly ten people—and float across the underground lake while the guide explains how the cave formed over centuries. The roof of one hall collapsed long ago, and that opening is what fills the space with natural light and makes the lake visible at all. The water runs 20 to 30 meters deep. It's a confined, quiet moment inside the cave, and the guide walks you through the geology as you drift.
From there the bus takes you to Myrtos Beach, one of the most photographed spots in Greece and located 29 kilometers north of Argostoli. The driver will take photos for you here—that's part of the service—so you leave with images without managing a camera yourself. The beach has won "best beach in Greece" votes multiple times and sits in a valley surrounded by hills. You're there for the view and the light, not for swimming.
On the way back, you pass the Lagoon of Argostoli next to the old bridge, where Caretta-Caretta sea turtles are known to swim. If time allows, the guide will stop so you can watch for them. The whole day runs four hours, with the remaining time spent on transfers between sites. You get bottled water throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle means the heat of the island doesn't wear on you while you move between stops.
What’s included
- Air-conditioned bus with a live English-speaking guide.
- hotel pickup and drop-off.
- bottled water.
- boat ride on Melissani Lake with a guide explaining the cave's formation.
- photo stops at Myrtos Beach and Argostoli Lagoon.
Operated by Thalassa travel group
Is this one for you?The live English commentary means you follow the guide's explanations of the cave and the landscape without needing to read a pamphlet or manage an app—the information comes to you as you move. This works well if you want to understand what you're seeing without doing research beforehand.
Traveler reviews
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What is inside Melissani Lake Cave that makes it worth the trip?
Melissani Lake is an underground body of water 20 to 30 meters deep, lit by natural sunlight that pours through a hole in the cave roof where one hall collapsed centuries ago. The cave itself is B-shaped, and you see it from a rowing boat that holds about ten people, with a guide explaining how the lake formed.
Do I need to swim or get wet on this tour?
No. You ride in a rowing boat across the lake, so you stay dry. The tour is sightseeing by bus and boat, not a swimming or water-sports activity.
Is Myrtos Beach included, and what do I do there?
Yes, Myrtos Beach is a photo stop on the itinerary, located 29 kilometers north of Argostoli. The driver takes photos for you at the viewpoint so you have images without managing a camera yourself. It's one of the most voted best beaches in Greece and sits in a valley surrounded by hills.
Will we see sea turtles at Argostoli Lagoon?
Caretta-Caretta sea turtles swim in the lagoon next to the old bridge, and the guide will stop there if time allows so you can watch for them. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the lagoon is a known habitat for them.
What's included in the four-hour tour price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned bus transport, a live English-speaking guide with commentary, bottled water, and the boat ride on Melissani Lake are all included. Entry fees to Melissani Lake (€10) and Drogarati Cave (€6) are optional add-ons you can choose at checkout.
Melissani Lake Cave by Boat: Kefalonia Sightseeing Tour
4h · EN · at your hotel
from € 55 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.9575 reviews



















