Kefalonia, South Coast - Part 1

(Kayaking trip Guide)
Area - from  Argostoli  to Katelios
Coastline:

  

• Length of coast strip - 35 km.;
• Main Beach areas:  Lassi, Lourdas Bay, Skala;
• Coast strip with many sandy beaches; 
• Many sea caves and arches;
• White limestone cliffs and white-sand beaches;
• Many access points.
• 
  

Best Secuided Beaches to Camp (Free Camping):

• Pessada Beach;
• Some remote sandy beaches between Sissia and Koroni;
• White Rocks beach (North  of Minia)

Map of Kefalonia Beaches.

Kayaking  Itinerary 1:  Argostoli Lighthouse - Minies 

Paddling Distance:  9 km.

Duration:  5-6 hours

Difficulty Level:  Easy (given normal weather conditions)

Coastline Description: Scenic coast full of  caves, natural arches, and rock gardens.  South of Palaiostafida bay - high white limestone cliffs,  caves, turquoise waters and remote white-sand beaches. 

Kayaking  Itinerary 2: Agia Pelagia - Lourda Beach 

Paddling Distance: 13 km.

Duration: 5-6 hours 

Difficulty Level: Easy (given normal weather conditions)

Coastline Description: Part of the scenic south Kefalonia coast. This part of the island offers a really big variety of sceneries, from sandy beaches to rock gardens, caves and sea channels. 

Kayaking  Itinerary 3:  Lourda Beach - Katelios (South Kefalonia)

Paddling Distance: 13 km.

Duration: 6 hours 

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate (given normal weather conditions)

Coastline Description: Quite a remote stretch of Kefalonia's south coastline. Sandstone cliffs, numerous non-accessible sandy beaches and rock gardens. Complex of sea caves and the beautiful beach of Koroni. Fine sand and crystal-clear waters make Koroni an ideal stop for swimming and lunch. 


Kefalonia - Nautical Map.


Wave forecast.

Winds known as "Meltemia" blow from north to south usually starting after 14:00 - 15:00 pm. If you prefer calmer waters for Kayaking and swimming  simply go to beaches on the south side of the island.


Weather Averages for kefalonia


Getting there & away

Ferries to Kefalonia & Ithaca

Four Islands Ferries runs a daily ferry service that sails to an ever-changing schedule (and with ever-changing prices) between Nydri (Lefkada), Frikes (Ithaki), Fiskardo (Kefallonia) and Vasiliki (Lefkada). Trips include Nydri to/from Frikes (per person/car €5.30/26.50, 1½ hours), Nydri to/from Fiskardo (via Frikes; €6.40/27.50, 2½ hours) and Vasiliki to/from Fiskardo (per person/car €6.40/27.50, one hour).
Car Ferryes to the Ionian Islands -Map.


Pictures from South Kefalonia's Coast:

An arch in the Lassi area

Palaiostafida beach

White Rocks beach

Sea stacks in Minia, created by vertically tilted sandstone strata

Ammes beach

Megali Petra beach

Nipsias beach

Sea tunnel in cape Liakas. The sandstone is full of fossillized shells

One of the beaches near Spartia

Sea channel next to Spartia beach

The clay cliffs next to Spartia beach

Pessada beach. 

Free Camping on Sissia beach

Clay rocks between Sissia and Koroni. Where the clay looks darker, spring water penetrates the rock. On these spots the clay is softer and the erosion is faster

One of the remote sandy beaches between Sissia and Koroni. There are extensive strethces of sandy beaches, 2 km. long and 30 m. wide

Rock gardens between Koroni and Katelios

The kayaking routes and pictures are taken from:
 http://www.seakayakingkefalonia-greece.com/


Kefalonia South Coast - List of Most Notable Beaches: 

• Agios Thomas Beach - comprising no less than two adjoining sandy beaches, on the southern side of Kefalonia and near Karavados and Lourdata. Snack bars are close by, along with a car park, superb bay views and some attractive, yellowish cliffs;
• Ai Helis Beach - sharing many similarities with Avithos and home to some rather unusual rocks, which are littered with small holes. Ai Helis Beach sits near the village of Svoronata and Kefalonia Airport, and offers plenty of sun loungers if required;
• Ammes Beach - in the Svoronata and on Kefalonia's southern coast. Ammes Beach features a rather distinctive orange-coloured sand and good facilities. It is surrounded by hotels, cafes and shops. The clear, shallow waterfront is ideal if you fancy a paddle or a swim;
• Avithos Beach - on Kefalonia's southerly coast and just a stone's throw from the airport, in the Svoronata area. A couple of recommended Greek taverns are near the golden sand and fill up quickly at lunchtime;
• Eglina Beach - a small and secluded cove, easily reached from Svoronata and good for snorkelling
• Katelios Beach - known for its relaxed atmosphere and gaining popularity year after year. Next to Kato Katelios village, the Katelios Beach is rarely busy and the facilities here are quite basic, although the beaches of Skala and Kaminia are close by;
• Koroni Beach - situated at Thiramonas and next to the villages of Kato Katelios and Skala. Koroni Beach offers golden sands and azure blue waters, and is often frequented by the loggerhead sea turtle;
• Lourdas Beach - a pleasant and rather undeveloped natural beach close to the village of Lourdata (a nice holiday resort), complete with pale sands and a number of onlooking hotels. Various shops and eateries also line with picturesque beachfront, while the background is rather dominated by the distant Mount Ainos;
• Makris Gialos Beach - near Kefalonia's bustling port town of Argostoli and lying alongside Lassi. The Makris Gialos Beach is amongst the island's most noteworthy beaches when it comes to sunbathing. It even features a separate area devoted solely to sun loungers - those wishing to worship the sun in comfort
• Minia Beach - enjoying a scenic, southerly position on Kefalonia and near the capital of Argostoli and the village of Platis Gialos;
• Paliostafida Beach - enjoying a very tranquil spot, located within Lassi and one of the island's quietest and most overlooked stretches. If you are passing, do take a look at these two sandy beaches, which are connected by a wooden walkway over the rocks;
• Pessada Beach - one of the most scenic and popular of Kefalonia's southern beaches, Pessada is next to a small harbour and is connected to Zakynthos by daily ferries. A car park is close by, as is the Church of Estravromenos, should you wish to sightsee after you've finished sunbathing;
• Platis Gialos Beach - a small bay, but worth a look if you're in the Lassi area. Platis Gialos is famous in Kefalonia for its fascinating sandstone caves and remains very natural in its appearance. The Makris Gialos Beach is in close proximity and often much busier;
• Spartia Beach - a matter of minutes from Kefalonia Airport and known for its pretty hillside houses, which overlook the coast and create an interesting backdrop;
• Trapezaki Beach - enjoying a sunny, southerly setting on Kefalonia, next to the village of Mousata. Trapezaki Beach provides visitors with coarse, golden sand and views of both the harbour and Mount Enos.