After arriving on the island by night, we awoke to clear skies over the little village of Agia Effimia on Kefalonia’s east coast. We spent the day leisurely, taking in the local scene.

We went for a boat trip from Agia Effimia heading north along the east coast on our second day. The water was perfect for swimming, and there were many secluded coves and beaches to explore. I was charmed by the amount of vegetation growing along the rock-face at the coasts edge.

On our third day in Kefalonia we drove south along the winding coastal road to visit Melissani Cave, the harbour village of Sami, Antisamos, and the ancient Acropolis of Sami

Melissani Cave contains a lake that reaches a depth of 39 metres, the clear cool waters are illuminated by sunlight that enters through an aperture in the roof. We joined a small boat tour here, where a jovial man rowed us across the water, he spoke of the caves history—from the stalactites dating back over 16,000 years—to recent excavations that unveiled activity of ancient worship to the god Pan. He sang as he rowed us through the darkness, his warm notes reverberating in the chamber of the cave. He had a lovely voice.

I was enamoured by the old cars which comprise most of the local vehicles, seeing them everywhere felt as though we’d stepped back in time.

Antisamos lies at the end of the road from Sami. Its heavily wooded and there’s an isolated beach perfect for swimming.

All to be heard at the ancient Acropolis of Sami are the sound of the goat bells as they frolic amongst the ruins. We stayed there until the sun began to set, and stopped along the roadside on the route back to take a picture as dusk began to draw its shroud over the island.

We took a trip to Assos on our fourth day in Kefalonia — the picturesque village adorned with Venetian architecture is built on an isthmus connecting the main island to a peninsula with a strategically placed castle.

Hiking to the Venetian Castle of Assos. The route is populated by a dazzlingly green array of pines. When we reached the top of the trail we entered the castle walls through an archway, to discover an abandoned military base inside the vast and wooded grounds of this otherwise empty peninsula.

After leaving Assos we arrived at our 2nd accommodation, a stylish cottage in Tzamarelata set within serene family-run hillside village–Ranzo Ionio–overlooking the Ionian Sea.

We began the fifth day with a morning swim at Alaties beach nestled in a little enclave amongst the coastal rocks. Alaties means salt in Greek, the beach is named so for salt deposits that have dried in the rocks. After our swim we returned to the cottage where we spent the afternoon leisurely. I attempted to go for a swim in the pool – although it wasn’t nearly as warm as the water at the beach.

To the north of the island stands the harbour village of Fiskardo, dotted with wonderfully colourful Venetian buildings, boutique stores, restaurants serving delicious cuisine, and a Roman cemetery tucked away beside the sea. Here we spent our sixth day on the island.

Returning south on our final day in Kefalonia we stopped to enjoy the blue waters at Myrtos beach, one of the islands best known spots that has gained a global reputation for its natural beauty.