Small-group caves and beach tour, reviewed
A semi-private van from the Argostoli cruise terminal, four and a half hours, both caves and a swim at Myrtos or Antisamos, chosen on the day by the weather and the group. The driver-guide holds a name sign at the port exit; be there fifteen minutes early. Bottled water and a local wine tasting are in; both cave fees are paid on arrival. The rating base is small, thirty-nine, and the thing the reviews repeat is that the van reaches the lake before the coaches do.
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 and drop-off at Argostoli Cruise Terminal
- Semi-private tour with a friendly local driver-guide
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day
- Refreshing swim stop at either Myrtos or Antisamos Beach
- Bottled water for all guests to stay hydrated
- Complimentary local wine tasting to savour Kefalonian flavours
- Personalised attention and insider tips from your guide
- Small group atmosphere to meet and share with fellow travellers
Not included, as the listing writes it
- Personal expenses such as snacks, souvenirs or extra drinks
- Entrance fee to Drogarati Cave & Melissani Lake
Eight lines in, two out, and the second exclusion is the one to budget: the entrance fees to Drogarati and Melissani are paid on the day, about ten euros for Melissani and a little more for both caves combined. The fare, sixty-odd euros, is the van, the driver-guide, the water, the wine and the swim stop. The listing is designed for cruise passengers, picks up and drops at the terminal only, and asks you to bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and walking shoes for the uneven cave floors. The cruise page has the berth and the timing.
What reviewers found
Ten written reviews between April and September 2026, nine of them five stars. The word that recurs is early.
Getting to the lake early and beating the larger coaches was a massive plus point resulting in very little queuing at the lake and no queuing at the caves
Great day out, got us to the most popular spots early so we avoided the queues and we had more time then expected at the beach.
We arrived early and avoided the long lines to enter the caves, which gave us an extra hour to enjoy the beach and return at a comfortable time, confident that we wouldn't risk missing the boarding time for the ship. A super attentive and friendly guide. We were offered water, beer, soft drinks, and ice-cold lemonade the whole time, completely complimentary on the tour.
Ian, Molly and Caroline are three separate months saying the same thing: the van leaves the terminal before the coach wave, so the group is on the boat while the queue is still forming, and the time saved goes to the beach. That is the whole argument for paying the flagship’s fare without the flagship’s tickets. The one four-star review, in German, found the day pleasant and the group small, and thought Drogarati could have been skipped, having seen grander ones elsewhere; the two caves compared says what Drogarati is and is not. Carsten, in May, had a different kind of luck: “The small-group tour became a private tour because three couples canceled at the last minute due to the weather.”
Verdict
Book it if you are off a ship and the queue is what worries you. Reviewers across three months say the van reached the lake before the coaches, and the swim stop is chosen for the day’s weather. Budget the cave fees on top, and read the star figure with its base: 4.5 from 39 ratings.
Who it suits
- Cruise passengers who want the shortest queue their arrival time allows
- Anyone who wants both caves and a swim, not a viewpoint
- Small parties who would rather ride in a van than a coach
- Anyone happy with a driver-guide rather than a licensed guide
Who it does not suit
- Anyone not arriving by ship: pickup is at the cruise terminal only
- Anyone who wants the tickets in the fare: that is the flagship
- Anyone who has seen a better stalactite cave and would begrudge Drogarati’s 150 steps
Other tours to consider
The other cruise-terminal listing, a coach at a lower fare with a tasting instead of a swim, is the wine-tasting tour. Both tickets included in a coach is the flagship. A car to yourselves from your hotel is the private tour.
Cruise passengersArgostoli: Melissani & Drogarati Cave Tour with Wine Tasting
Entry fees includedBoth cave tickets includedFrom Argostoli: Melissani Lake & Drogarati Caves Tour
PrivateKefalonia: Private Tour The Caves & Myrtos Beach
Frequently asked questions
Does the small-group tour beat the queue at Melissani?
Reviewers in July and September 2026 all say the van reached the lake before the larger coaches and queued little or not at all. Nothing is guaranteed on a multi-ship day, but the pattern is consistent across the written reviews. Why the coaches arrive together.
Are the cave tickets included in the small-group tour?
No. The entrance fee to Drogarati Cave and Melissani Lake is on the exclusion list, so you pay on arrival: about ten euros for Melissani, a few for Drogarati, or a little more for the combined ticket. Tickets and prices.
Where does the small-group tour meet?
At the Argostoli cruise terminal. The driver-guide holds a name sign at the port exit and the listing asks you to be there fifteen minutes early. There is no hotel pickup; for that, see the private and semi-private page.
Which beach does the tour swim at?
Myrtos or Antisamos, chosen on the day by weather and the group. Antisamos is ten minutes from Sami; Myrtos about half an hour. Both beaches, with distances.