We parked our hire car in the dusty carpark of the Melisani Lake. It feels rather odd - as you step out you can see a cafe bar, shop, swimming pool, public toilets (very clean) sunbeds and apartments but no lake. The you see the red-carpeted entrance down into a cave (we looked at each other ... Read review
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Natural breatht-aking beauty Disadvantages: Tacky gift shop!
...the dusty carpark of the Melisani Lake. It feels rather odd - as you step out you can see a cafe bar, shop, swimming pool, public toilets (very clean) sunbeds and apartments but no lake. The you see the red-carpeted entrance down into a cave (we looked at each other dubiously.)
As you walk down the slope you enter a very tacky gift shop - 'authentic' greek plates, sea-shell creatures, statues of Dionnisus and his enornmous..well lets ... ...the gift shop and down another carpeted slope you can just glimpse the opening of a cave, with glittering water at the edge. It gets cooler as you approach the water. As you reach it you see the boats waiting to take you around, manned by Greek oarsmen, each boat can hold about 8 people, we were at the end of the season so there was just 4 of us on the lake.
The first thing that attracts you is the absolute clarity of the very sapphire ... more
We parked our hire car in the dusty carpark of the Melisani Lake. It feels rather odd - as you step out you can see a cafe bar, shop, swimming pool, public toilets (very clean) sunbeds and apartments but no lake. The you see the red-carpeted entrance down into a cave (we looked at each other dubiously.)
As you walk down the slope you enter a very tacky gift shop - 'authentic' greek plates, sea-shell creatures, statues of Dionnisus and his enornmous..well lets just say he must be a fertility symbol! Through the gift shop and down another carpeted slope you can just glimpse the opening of a cave, with glittering water at the edge. It gets cooler as you approach the water. As you reach it you see the boats waiting to take you around, manned by Greek oarsmen, each boat can hold about 8 people, we were at the end of the season so there was just 4 of us on the lake.
The first thing that attracts you is the absolute clarity of the very sapphire blue water - it really is stunning to look at.
Our oarsman was friendly, chatty and cheeky - ''Step into my love boat Mrs.'' (We were 2 couples). The row around the lake in the underground cave was just wonderful. The lake remained undiscovered until the earth quake of 1953 when the roof of the cave collapesd to reveal the crystal waters below (The water is from one of the bays and travels underground for some way before reaching the lake) It is ice cold and sparlkles with every glint of sunlight.
The view upwards is as stunning as below, looking into the clear blue sky framed with the rocky edges of the cave what seems like hundreds of feet up. The water is populated with rocks bulging out of the surface which our oarsman navigated expertly, poining out roks - ''Look Croco-deel!'' And yes it did look like a crocodile peeking out! We were given all the statistical information about the lakes age, depth, cave height etc that we needed and much to our amusement, were even treated to a chorus of ''Just One Cornetto'' (oh the power of advertising!) in a Greek accent to show us the superb acoustics!
As the boat pulled back into its mooring before we alighted again our freindly 'sailor' took photos of us - ''ere Mrs let me make you photo''. Thanked us profusely for our custom and made a big fuss over not accepting the 2euro tip while taking it out of my hand and thanking me in the same moment! Then it is back up the slope, getting progressively warmer with each step, through the gift shop averting my eyes as I pass the statures of Dionnisus, and out into the sweltering heat.
The cost was 5euro per person and the 'sail' takes about 15 minutes.
My advice is to take a cardi or light jacket as it is quite cold underground. Go and have a drink in the cafe and keep your eyes open for the swallow nests in the eves of the canopy. You can use the swimming pool too if you want to make a day of it. The cost of the sunlougers is about 6euro for the day for 2.
Advantages: Mystical, magical, underground lake Disadvantages: You might need a jacket as it is a bit cold undergorund
I visited Kefalonia in May/June 2007 and part of an island tour we did included a visit to the wonderful underground lake of Mellisani. The 'red' carpet we walked down towards the underground lake was actually green astro-turf which did seem a little odd but the view and tour that followed had nothing artificial about it and was magical! At the end of the green carpet the boatmen were waiting for visitors to get onboard. I recommend a cardigan or ... ...are cold. You also need good grip on your shoes as the painted wooden boats can be a bit slippy.
The boatmen use oars to propel the boat around the lake, some giving renditions of 'Just one cornetto' during the 15 minute trip. The boat is guided through a very narrow gap into an adjoining cave where the roof is still intact and birds can be seen nesting in the rocks high above. Out boatman offered to take photos of people on the boat but most couples ...
CarrieS 16.06.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Melisani Cave, Kefalonia
Advantages: Beautiful Disadvantages: short experience
I visited the underground lake in 2006, It is a beautiful an idyllic place once inside and it is worth a visit, but it is not as grand a huge as the advertising suggests. Outside is a dusty stone/hardcore car park with a small shop and toilet on it. The entrance is a set of stone steps leading underground to a narrow tunnel ,quite cramped a not for the claustrophobic. Inside is actually quite small and the tour on the boats is a very short experience, ... ...alone is so vibrant. Personally i would recommend a visit as it is beautiful and probably one of those things that you would only do once or twice in a lifetime, but don't go expecting too much - make sure you take a camera!
The cost was around 5 euro each, access is by car or organised trip only as its not really accessible otherwise ...
mickle026 20.06.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Melisani Cave, Kefalonia
