Kefalonia Sami

©Greeka.com

©Greeka.com

©Greeka.com

Reviews

• Gerda Endemann 11 Jul 2021
  Amazing place ever

  This is the most amazing place ever with its huge ancient olive trees amazing view and fresh air. I was trying to get well after long sickness and with 0 energy. Visiting this place gave me back my energy and I am forever thankful for this amazing place, i love it and want to go back there :)

  
  
• hilary.williams1 15 Jul 2012
  Day trips from Sami

  Sami is a very good base for exploring the north of Kephalonia. The town has the main port of the island, with ferries leaving for the mainland and the islands. The booking office is based along the waterfront.
  
  There is plenty of accommodation, I stayed at the Pericles Hotel, about 15 minutes walk from the harbour. The hotel offers Bed and Breakfast, other facilities include a pleasant bar area, swimming pool and tennis court. For me to explore the island, I hired a car.
  
  Trip 1:
  To reach Fiscardo, I take the road to Agia Efimia and follow the signs to Dendrinata. After going through the village, turn right and this is the way along the east coast to Fiscardo. Cliffedge road but has breathtaking views over to Ithaka. At the sign for Chogota, I head down a windy road, until I reach a small cove. The morning I arrived, there were two Greek men having their daily dip. They did not seem to mind me intruding for a refreshing swim in the clear, blue water. After the men went, my only companion was a boat that was moored up on the beach. I reluctantly left Chogota, to carry on up the island.
  
  Fiscardo is a very pretty village. There are various shops and tavernas dotted around the water's edge. This is a perfect place for lunch. If there is a need to walk off the meal, I suggest a stroll round the far side of the harbour and head through the trees to the old and new lighthouses. I would love to live in the old building but that is impossible, as the lights in the house would interfere with the new lighthouse and therefore endanger shipping. There are two delightful beaches nearby. First, Emblisi. Drive out of Fiscardo until a sign points right down to the beach.
  
  Second, Dafnoudi. Drive out of Fiscardo until the top of the hill. Turn right, driving down a narrow road. There is a footpath on the right which will lead through the woodland until a small, pebble beach opens out in front of you. Stunning. A leisurely drive back to Sami, will complete a lovely day out.
  
  Trip 2:
  From Sami, drive out towards Anti Samos. Turn right at the sign for Ancient Sami. The road winds up high over Sami, giving stunning views down to the port and beyond. Along this road are cattle and goats grazing, on what I am not too sure. I can imagine goats just about existing on the terrain but the cattle must permanently be on a diet. However, they look healthy enough. Branching off from the road, are walking trails. I would like to explore one of these sometime, the views must be magnificient.
  
  Eventually the road comes to Ancient Sami. This is a collection of ruins, with signs showing where the workshops, tower and cistern were. Also situated up here is a small chapel, more recently constructed, which is a stark contrast to the crumbling wall of the ancient village.
  
  After this excursion and maybe a walk along a trail, it is tempting to return to the main road and carry on down into Anti Samos, for a refreshing swim. This cove has changed recently. It seems to have occurred since the making of the film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". Sunbeds and parasols are regimentally lined up along the beach behind which a smart taverna and bar have been built. At the further end of the bay are boats suitable for various water sports. It is very useful to have the facilities but they detract from the beauty and isolation of this small cove. Nevertheless, it is still well worth a visit for lunch, reading a good book and soaking up the rays.
  
  There are two more interesting places to visit, before returning home. On the outskirts of Sami are the Dragorati caves. These have a large array of stalactites. Also the caves are used for concerts as the acoustics are suitable. The second visit is to the Mellisani lake. This was originally a cavern, which collapsed thousands of years ago, creating an underground lake. The best time to visit is at noon when the sun is shining straight down onto the water, casting a blue light all around the cavern. The trip around this structure is by boat and well worth a visit.
  
  There are many beautiful and interesting places to see on Kefalonia but these two just give a taster of what this stunning island has to offer.
  
• cicipu 31 Jul 2010
  Best sight in entire island

  This is the best sight on the entire island of Kefalonia (and for me it was the best amongst all the places I have ever visited!). No I am not exaggerating and I am sure that you will say the same once you visit the place. The cave is shaped in form of the letter B and is about 40 meters wide and 36 meters high...
  
  But who's interested in statistics... it is the beauty of the place that definitely deserves a visit. The full tour is done by boat, first making an encompassing trip around the first hall of the cave with the crack in the roof. After that the boat crosses the island on the opposite wall, where a tiny canal exists. This channel is too slender for the boat to row, and therefore there is a rope attached to the wall with which the gondolier pulls the boat.
  
  It was a very good experience. There are numerous stalactites and stalagmites in the second chamber of the cave and when the boat passes it, numerous lights lit up the place which was simply outstanding. Highly recommended.