Caves and wine tasting tour, reviewed
A shore excursion, and the listing says so: it is sold exclusively for cruise ship passengers, picks up at Argostoli port and gets back in five hours. 4.6 from 133 ratings. Melissani first by wooden boat, then Drogarati, a ten-minute photo stop at the Myrtos viewpoint, and a wine tasting at a seaside shop before the port. The cave tickets are not in the fare. The reviews are about one guide, by name, over and over.
Going without a car?Every tour here picks you up in Argostoli and cancels free up to 24 hours before. Reserve the date now, decide later.
Check tour availabilityWhat the listing itself says
Included, as the listing writes it
- Pick-up & Drop-off Service
- Experienced Local Guide
- A/C vehicle
- Wine tasting experience
Not included, as the listing writes it
- Entrance fees to the caves
- Personal Expenses
Four lines in, two out. The fare, around forty euros, is the coach, the guide and the tasting; the two cave fees are paid on arrival, about ten euros for Melissani and a little more for both. The notes repeat what every Melissani listing says: twelve-person rowboats with a rower, a ride of ten to fifteen minutes, no swimming. Pickup is at the port; there is none from Lixouri, Agia Efimia, Sami, Fiscardo or Assos, and if you are staying in Lixouri the listing tells you to come to Argostoli port. The cruise page, with the berth and the timing.
What reviewers found
Reviews run from late May to August 2026, all five stars, most of them naming the guide. The three below say something about the day rather than the person.
The transportion was top notch on the to the Melissani Cave Tia and the driver noticed the line was massive so they were pro active they decided to adjust our plan and visit Sami first so by the time we came back the line hopefully were shorter and when we came back they were indeed way shorter.
We loved the tour; it's truly perfect for those on a cruise. The best part was the Melissani Cave; the place where we tasted the wine has very good prices for souvenirs and delicious honey. I missed getting off at the beach and seeing it up close. Maria is very nice; we loved her.
Our live guide Maria was very energetic and spent the entire bus ride talking about Kefalonia, all its history, but also a lot of information about the present. The bus was very nice with good air conditioning and a perfect driver who calmly and skillfully took us from one location to the next. A very nice day, and thanks to the care of these two, you can relax and enjoy.
Carlos’s review is the useful one. In late June the coach reached Melissani, saw the queue, went to Sami first and came back to a shorter line. That is the same move the private-tour reviewers describe, and it is the reason a guide is worth having on a cruise morning when the coaches all arrive together. Raniely wanted the beach up close and did not get it: the Myrtos stop is ten minutes at the viewpoint, and the shop where the wine is tasted is where she found the honey and the souvenirs. One reviewer, craig, wrote that “air con on bus could be better .” and gave five stars anyway; Lucy the same month found it “Safe driving on the bus and nice and cool with the aircon.” Air conditioning on a July coach is worth asking about at the port.
Verdict
Book it if you are off a ship in Argostoli, want both caves and a tasting in five hours, and are happy to pay the cave fees on arrival. It is the lowest fare of the cruise options. If you would rather pay once, the flagship covers both tickets; if you want to be at the lake before the coaches, the small van is the other cruise listing.
Who it suits
- Cruise passengers with at least six hours in port
- Anyone who wants both caves plus the Myrtos viewpoint at the lowest fare
- Groups where the guide’s commentary on the drive is half the point
Who it does not suit
- Anyone not arriving by ship: the listing is for cruise passengers only
- Anyone who wants time on a beach: Myrtos is a ten-minute photo stop
- Anyone who wants the tickets in the price: read the flagship review
Other tours to consider
The other cruise-terminal listing is the small-group van, with a swim instead of a tasting. The same caves with both tickets included is the flagship. The lake and a beach from the port is the beach tour.
Small groupKefalonia: Melissani, Drogarati & Beach Small-Group Tour
Entry fees includedBoth cave tickets includedFrom Argostoli: Melissani Lake & Drogarati Caves Tour
Lake + beachMelissani ticket includedFrom Argostoli: Melissani Lake & Beach Relaxation
Frequently asked questions
Is the wine-tasting caves tour only for cruise passengers?
The listing describes itself as a shore excursion exclusively for cruise ship passengers, with pickup at Argostoli port. If you are staying on the island, the day tours from Argostoli pick up from hotels instead.
Are the cave tickets included in the wine-tasting tour?
No. Entrance fees to the caves are on its exclusion list, so you pay on arrival: about ten euros for Melissani, a few euros for Drogarati, or a little more than Melissani alone for the combined ticket. Tickets and prices.
Is five hours enough to get back to the ship?
The listing is five hours from port to port, and ships call at Argostoli for eight to thirteen hours. A June reviewer described the guide changing the order of stops to avoid a long queue at the lake. Timing from the reviews, on the cruise page.
Does the tour stop at Myrtos Beach?
At the viewpoint above it, for a ten-minute photo stop. There is no beach time on this route; one reviewer said she missed seeing it up close. Where you can swim the same day.