We provide a transfer from the airport to the first night's hotel in Moussata, just a short drive away. In the afternoon, a representative from the bike shop in Argostoli will come to the hotel with your bike and make sure it is fitted to your satisfaction. Apart from this, you can relax by the hotel pool or do some exploration on your bike down to the coast and the tiny harbour at Pessada which is just a couple of kilometres away. When you have finished exploring you can return to your hotel to enjoy your first evening meal on the island.

Today's ride leads north on quiet roads, passing through the traditional farming villages of Keramies and Metaxata, en route to the island's capital Argostoli. Sitting alongside an impressive natural harbour, Argostoli is a colourful and cosmopolitan town and a great place to explore. You'll certainly want to find a suitable sea-front café to sit and relax with a typical Greek frappe. Look out for turtles in the harbour near the fishing boats. Before leaving, you can pick up some items for a picnic lunch, or grab a snack for lunch at one of the many eateries. Leaving the town, you'll cycle steadily up to a 200 metre-high ridge from where there are superb views towards the south coast and to the island of Zakynthos beyond. Then, passing through the village of Lakithra, you'll descend into a valley and to the nunnery of Agios Andreas. There has been a nunnery on this site for many hundreds of years, and it has been rebuilt several times, most recently following the 1953 earthquake. There's a short section of smooth dirt road from Agios Andreas to Karavados and from there it's back to the hotel at Moussata with plenty of time for a dip in the pool.

Setting out from the hotel, today's route follows a fairly level road towards the south-east across the coastal plain, with breath-taking views over the Ionian Sea to the neighbouring island of Zakynthos, less than 15 kilometres away. Beyond the small village of Markopoulo, the road turns away from the coast and cuts between low hills to the village of Pastra before turning back towards the coast again. You have the option at this point to add on a short loop to the small resort of Skala at the southern tip of the island. This is a good place to take a break, spend some time on the beach or go in search of the town's Roman villa with its well-preserved mosaic flooring. Continuing on your ride, we recommend making time to stop at the pretty fishing village of Katelios where there is a loggerhead turtle information centre; nearby Mounda Beach is important for nesting turtles. From Katelios, there's a final 10 kilometre stretch back to Moussata with the sparkling sea now on your left hand side.

Your route today will take you around Argostoli Bay with views across to the town and then you'll reach a striking stretch of coastline with the sea far below and to the left. At a viewpoint, you can look down to the pure white strip of Myrtos Beach, one of Kefalonia's finest sights. There are several small hamlets in this area, including the village where Pelagia lived (in the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin). From Myrtos Beach you'll head inland and cross the island through a wide break in the mountains that presents a pretty pattern of small fields and olive groves. A final easy descent leads to the idyllic fishing village of Agia Efimia, your home for the next three nights. Plenty of free time in the afternoon and a good opportunity to go for a swim or simply to relax on the pebbly beach. There is a choice of restaurants overlooking the picturesque harbour and boat landings. NOTE for the 2024 season: The main coastal road from Argostoli to Myrtos Beach is closed after the village of Agkonas, with works scheduled until the end of the year. You will cycle a diverted route from the village of Drapano inland to reach the village of Divarata, from where you will pick up the original route to Agia Efimia. Diversion route: 43km / 885m ascent / 1020m descent

Feeling refreshed you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast before exploring a network of peaceful roads with views across the bay. Agia Efimia sits beside a wide bay at the southern end of the Strait of Ithaca which separates Kefalonia from the small island of Ithaca. The roads lead amongst olive groves and vineyards to authentic villages such as Poulata and Chaliotata where you can stop to sample a Greek coffee in a local café. Then, dropping down to the coast, you can visit Melissani Cave Lake and even take a small boat (Greek: kaiki) out onto the blue waters of this limestone grotto. Drogarati Cave is also nearby and here you can take a guided walk amongst the stalactites and stalagmites. If you choose to visit either of these caves, there will be a fee of approximately 5 to 7 euros to pay locally. At the southern end of the bay are the small villages of Karavomylos and Sami and the latter of these has a pleasant promenade with shading trees and a number of tavernas overlooking the harbour. It is possible (and recommended) to continue the ride across a wooded headland to reach the lovely limestone pebble beach of Antisamos, another place that featured prominently in the movie, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and a great spot for a swim. There are a couple of beach bars here where you can enjoy some refreshment to the soundtrack of the ocean. Once you have recrossed the 150 metre-high ridge back to Sami, it's an easy cycle back to your accommodation in Agia Efimia.

This is the longest, most challenging and most spectacular ride of your holiday, heading up to Fiscardo at the northern tip of the island. Your route crosses back to the west coast and leads northwards past the peninsula of Assos with its colourful houses and fortress (optional detour to Assos). Continuing, the road twists and turns and passes through a number of villages on the crest of this green and forested part of the island. There are views to both sides of the island at times. Fiscardo is reckoned to be the prettiest village on Kefalonia, in part because it largely escaped significant damage during the 1953 earthquake. With its several bars and cafes and colourful fishing boats, the harbour area is a great place to stop, find something to eat and watch the world go by. After a leisurely lunch, you'll cycle back to Agia Efimia in part on minor roads towards the east coast with a few small villages and splendid views of Ithaca and a spectacular final descent. You will have earned a beer and a double order of dessert today.

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll once again cycle down the coast road to Karavomylos and from there head up through the olive trees to the villages of Poulata and Chaliotata with views back to Sami and its prominent headland. Still gaining height amongst the cypress trees, the road crosses the spine of the island at the Ainos Pass and descends into the Omala Valley, the most important area for wine producing on Kefalonia. This is where the internationally known white wine known as Robolla originates. If you wish, you can stop at the local wine cooperative to learn a bit more about the wine making process and, of course, try some! In this fertile valley, next to the winery, in fact, is the important monastery of Agios Gerasimos , the patron saint of the island. Continuing the descent and looping around towards Argostoli from the south, a final highlight of the ride is the ruined Byzantine fortress of Saint George on its hill above Peratata. After checking in at your hotel in Argostoli, there will be time to chill out or to do some exploring in this pretty seaside town.

On your departure day you may have time to visit the archaeological museum of Argostoli or relax with a coffee in the lively town square. Your driver will meet you at your hotel to take you to the airport in time to check in for your onward flight.