Wild paradise, mesmerizing views and sunsets: Platia Ammos beach, Kefalonia

Leave behind the daily routine and immerse yourself in a place of wonder. Platia Ammos is a breath taking spot, wild and pristine where one can get in touch with nature at its best.

On the western peninsula of Kefalonia, Paliki, you can find this amazing corner of heaven. 20-25 minutes car drive from Lixouri, Platia Ammos remains a hidden gem for the usual tourist. You can choose the road that passes through Kaminarata or Chavriata villages and find your way using the coordinates on your GPS.

If you choose the later, as I usually do, you will pass the Monastery of Kipourion. It has been constructed on top of a rock, 90 meters above the sea. The view to the Ionian Sea and the wild coastline are magnificent, which makes it a sight worth visiting if you are in the area.

The Monastery of Kipoureon was founded in the 17th and its name literally means monastery of the gardens. Inside there is a wonderful collection of ecclesiastical relics and post-Byzantine icons. The natural surrounding of the monastery is lush green and comprises of pine trees and fir trees. From the yard, visitors can enjoy a wonderful sunset to the Ionian Sea.

A few hundreds of meters away turn left on an off road. Park your car there as it is a very broken piece of road, with stones and cracks, and then continue on foot. Follow the path for around 15 minutes and you will get to the old parking on top of Platia Ammos. The views are spectacular. The waves kiss the pebble beach at the bottom of an impressively steep mountain.

Before the earthquakes of 2014 there were 280 steps that led you all the way down to the beach. Nowadays only few remain. The adventurous explorers still take their chances and go down by foot. Others visit the beach by boat. I stop on top of it, at the edge, to enjoy the views.

This beach amazes every visitor with its natural beauty, which landscape is quite similar to this of Myrtos and Petani but far more unspoiled and peaceful. The beach offers no facilities such as beach bars, taverns, sunbeds or umbrellas. It is surrounded by huge cliffs that create a fascinating backdrop. The area is an ideal place for relaxation. The water needs extra caution since it is very deep.

The sunsets offer some of the most spectacular views of Ionian Sea. Be sure to bring your camera with full battery. Don't forget to bring drinks and snacks with you as you will find yourself in the middle of nowhere, far away from any shops.

In case I tickled your imagination take a look at another hidden gem that Kefalonia has to offer: Kato Lagadi beach, near Poros.

Not a fan of the wild beaches?! Try Petani, the ideal mix of commercial and unspoiled place.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Fiskardo, Kefalonia - an ideal blend of colorful houses, yachts and ruins

Fiskardo is what some call Kefalonia's venetian coastal village. Part of the municipal unit of Erisos it is the northernmost port of Kefalonia, a short distance from Ithaca.

Fiskardo is well known for its colorful houses, busy harbor and romantic views. The coast around Fiskardo is mainly rocky with numerous pebble-beached coves. The port serves ferry routes to the ports of Ithaca and Lefkada. Kefalonia International Airport is located 61 km away from Fiskardo, approximately 1 hour 30 min by car.

Fiskardo and the dense forest in the surrounding area have been declared areas of great natural beauty and are protected under Greek law. In recent years a small tourist industry has developed, centered on luxury villas in the area around the village.

Fiskardo has been identified with the ancient town Panormos, mentioned by the 5th-century BC Greek historian Herodotus. Unlike most of Kefalonia, Fiskardo escaped from destruction by the 1953 Ionian earthquake and it has kept its original architecture. This makes it an understandably popular spot for tourists.

And it’s not just an excursion highlight for package tourists, but Fiskardo is one of the most popular places in the Ionian for visiting yachts thanks to its natural harbor. Its winding waterfront is lined with luxury boats, upmarket seafood restaurants and it is home to some of the priciest real estate in all of Greece thanks to the patronage of the rich and the famous who drop by on the megayachts.

Fiskardo is not a quiet village, maybe only in the winter time, otherwise the streets are busy in the summer days with tourists that spend their holiday there or come to visit from all over the island and Lefkada or Ithaka. The village has numerous colorful houses, restaurants and bars by the sea side, a bit pricey compared to the rest of the island.

Also you can visit small hidden gems such as the Roman Cemetery, the ruins of some old houses or the square with the frog statue in its center. There are also few small beaches at the end of Fiskardo, more appropriate for a quick dip at the end of a hot day. But you don’t have to travel far along the coast in either direction to hit some beautiful pebble coves with crystal clear water for swimming. The most famous are Emplisi, Foki, Kimilia and Dafnoudi.

I've personally been to Fiskardo many times during my 7 summers on Kefalonia. This summer I wanted to show to some of my friends the village and few easy hike trails around it. For sure the village was not as busy as it used to be the previous summers, due to the pandemic. We've been around the bay all around 'till we reached the ruins of an early Christian basilica (6th century). From that point we tried to hid from the summer heat under the cypress and olive trees.

Only 2-3 hundred meters away we visited the Lighthouse, which actually you can admire only from outside, and then the ruins of the Venetian Lighthouse. Beautiful boats were anchored in the bay of Fiskardo as we returned to the village.

We've continued our 1 day trip to the beautiful Emplisi beach, which in August was absolutely crowded. So instead we've decided to explore a small beach that I've told you all about in a prevoius post, Kimilia. Afterwards we've spend the late afternoon getting to and exploring the charming Dafnoudi.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Kimilia beach, Kefalonia - another hidden corner of heaven

Once a well kept secret and the refuge of locals during the busiest summer months, Kimilia is a corner of paradise.

Located at 2,9 km away from Fiskardo and 47 km from Argostoli it is an oasis of tranquility with crystal clear water and surrounded by greenery. You can also reach Kimilia following a woodland path from Emblisi beach (15min), through the forest. Otherwise while driving north you will turn left in the village of Germenata and pay attention to the road signs.

I've visited Kimilia twice, in 2017 and 2020. This summer I followed the road, past some fields with olive trees and park the car on an off road parking. You will see on your left side a path leading through a forest to the beach. The road is a bit steep but at least you will enjoy the shade. In approximately 10 minutes your sight will be delighted with the amazing shades of blue that the Ionian Sea has to offer.

Before going down to the beach adventure yourself a bit left and right for beautiful views of the small bay. Be sure to bring with you food and drinks as this beach has no facilities. White pebbles cover it so I recommend sport shoes and special ones for swimming.

Kimilia is ideal for sunbathing, relaxing and snorkeling as the water is very clear. The rocks surrounding the beach are a good place for diving even though personally I don't encourage that.

Last summer at the beginning of August it was busy in the middle of the day. As an alternative I chose Dafnoudi, which usually is less crowded. You can find all the details HERE. From Kimilia you can see Lefkada Is..

Off the beaten track explorer, looking for more hidden gems on Kefalonia?! Take a look at Agia Eleni and Kato Lagadi and be sure that they will end up on your bucket list for next summer. 

 'till next time, take care. 

Beldi

Dafnoudi beach, Kefalonia - another piece of heaven on Earth

Mesmerizing white pebbled beach, surrounded by lush greenery, Dafnoudi is ideal for snorkeling and relaxation.

Located in the north of Kefalonia island, Erissos, it is the place you can combine with a day trip to the village of Fiskardo. By car it is 47 km away from Argostoli, approximately 1 hour 15 min.

Dafnoudi is the beach of the Antipata village and it’s a piece of heaven on Earth. On the way to Fiskardo, exactly where the village ends, we turn left and drive on for about 1,5 km. Don't worry, there are signs leading to the place where you can park your car on the side of the road. From that point onwards, the nature of Erissos is revealed intensely as the way to reach the beach is by following a path that leads to it. 

It’s a quite wide and safe path with very tall old cypress trees covering the hot summer sun, offering natural shade throughout the entire route, which only lasts about 10 minutes. Walking the path, one feels like he’s on a green mountain and expects to see anything else but a beautiful beach. But suddenly appears lovely Dafnoudi with its marvelous turquoise to green water.

I recommend you take some footwear suitable to tackle the trek down. Also be sure to take your own food/drinks as there are no facilities on the beach. There is some natural shade at the edge of the beach until noon so an umbrella is more than welcomed.

Dafnoudi is a small, untouched, white pebbled bay with a view towards Lefkada. The waters here are calm and the colors vary from blue to green. At the right side of the beach there is a beautiful cave with a small shaded beach inside. There in the intense coolness one can enjoy the view of the sea or swim and exit the cave swimming this time. It’s a romantic environment which remains unforgettable to the visitor and everybody wants to revisit.

The beach is a shelter for the monk seals Monachus - Monachus. If you are lucky you may come across one.

I've visited the beach for the first time at the beginning of August 2020. There were about 20 - 30 people there on a Saturday afternoon. I totally enjoyed swimming and sunbathing even though the pebbles on the beach can be quite annoying while laying on them.

I've went up a bit on both sides of the beach to take some pics and I didn't regret it. The views are wonderful.

The little cave on the right side proved to be a magnet for photos, girls and boys were trying their best pose for Instagram. 

Unfortunately after Ianos Medicane hit Kefalonia in the middle of September, Dafnoudi is almost unrecognizable. The whole beach has been affected. It looks like some Titan just blew the whole place up. You can see some pictures HERE.

Kefalonia provides some of the most exquisite places for snorkeling and sunbathing. Its natural beauty can be admired on beaches such as Petani, Vouti or Agia Eleni.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi