Kefalonia Hiking
The island of Kefalonia is highly recommended for hiking, as it features an incredible natural landscape and biodiversity, full of unique plants and animals, some of which are rare or protected. Trails can be found all over the island, with Mount Ainos and its National Park offering several options to avid and casual ramblers alike.
Below are some designated trails that one can follow on the island.
We recommend that hikers carry enough water, take the necessary sun protection measures and wear shoes suitable for hiking. For the longer trails, it is best to bring food and basic first aid supplies.
Routes from Mount Ainos
There are five trails on and around Mount Ainos, all of them of easy to moderate difficulty. Two of them are circular, with their starting and ending points at the Environmental Center of Ainos.• Trail 1: Ainos Environmental Center – Chionistra
The first reaches the area of Hionistra and passes through the heart of the National Park, offering incredible views of Argostoli and Zakynthos Island.
Length: 6.184 kilometers
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Trail 2: Ainos Environmental Center – Aria
The second one reaches the point of Aria, where hikers have the chance to see a fir forest.
Length: 2.065 kilometers
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Trail 3: Κissos – Petassi – Kroukoubia (Nifi) – Μegas Soros – Κissos
The longest of the Mount Ainos routes is about 8.5 km, and more than four hours are needed to complete it. It starts and ends at Kissos, passing through Petassi, Kroukoubia, Nifi and Megas Soros, which is the highest peak of Ainos. Throughout the hike, all the nearby Ionian islands are visible, while walkers can visit some caves, such as Nifi, with a small detour.
Length: 8.64 kilometers
Duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Trail 4: Digaleto – Megas Soros
Another trail starts from Digaleto on the foot of the mountain and reaches the top of Ainos at Megas Soros.
Length: 6.595 kilometers
Duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Trail 5: Epano Eza – Melissi
Finally, a fairly easy path stretches between Epano Eza and Melissi for about 2.5 km. It is shaded by lush vegetation and only takes about one hour and a half to complete.
Length: 2.596 kilometers
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Routes from Sami
There are three major trails one can follow in Sami and the area around it.
• Trail 6: Antisamos Beach - Koutsoupia Beach
The first one begins from Antisamos and reaches the beach of Koutsoupia. This magnificent beach showcases white sand and turquoise waters and can only be accessed on foot (or by boat), as there is no paved road. One can also continue up until Poros.
Length: 6.43 kilometers
Duration: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Trail 7: Ag. Efimia – Drakopoulata – Themata Monastery
Hikers who seek to admire not only beautiful natural landscapes but ethnographic elements too, can follow the route from Agia Efimia to Themata Monastery. It passes through the village of Drakopoulata, where hikers can visit both the contemporary settlement, as well as the old one that was destroyed by an earthquake. Additionally, one can see a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Monastery of Themata. This route is 8 km long, while it can also reach Sami at an additional 12 km.
Length: 8 kilometers
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Trail 8: Watermills – Mouzakata – Sami – Antisamos
The final trail in this area starts from the Watermills and goes along a little charming river. It visits Mouzakata village, which was an important base for the resistance during World War II and was destroyed by the Germans. Nearby, one can visit a Holocaust memorial. The hike continues to the Monastery of Agioi Fanentes, Sami and Antisamos.Length: 15 kilometers
Duration: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Other routes
• A short hiking trail of 1.5 km starts from Razata village, near Argostoli, and reaches the Cyclopean Walls of Kefalonia. These used to be fortifications of an ancient city and owe their name to the stones used to build them which are so huge that locals thought only Cyclopes could have carried them.
• Visitors who wish to admire the waterfalls of Grados can take the route that starts from the main road that connects Poros to Skala. There, water runs from a high altitude and creates a creek on the bottom, making for a refreshing and delightful environment.
• Starting from Drapanitika village and hiking for 9 km, one can reach the picturesque Assos and its interesting Venetian Castle. During the walk, the Ionian Sea can be observed, offering excellent views.
• Hikers can tour several villages of Kefalonia. The path that goes around Lassi passes by Katavothres, the unique phenomenon where water flows under the island, and Fanari, one of the best spots to watch the sunset. Furthermore, by making a tour of Koutavos Lagoon, one has the chance to see a wide variety of birds, such as swans and ducks.
• Many secluded beaches can only be visited on foot - by land - making for beautiful hikes through lush vegetation and thick forests. One of these beaches is Fteri, one of the most charming on the island, covered in white pebbles and showcasing crystal-clear azure waters.
• Finally, visitors to Fiskardo have the opportunity to make excursions around the area by following the available routes. The first route reaches the Venetian lighthouse and an old basilica from around the 7th century. The next starts from Foki Bay and goes through the cypress forest and some old abandoned settlements. During this walk, one can see the church of Saint Gerasimos, which was built in the 18th century, and some caves. The third passes from Bataria, a World War II German military base, and ends at the beaches of Emblisi and Kimilia.
