Luxury holidays in Kefalonia & Ithaca

When to go

May and June are ideal, as the weather’s warm and the hills are painter-perfect with flowers. July and August are hottest and busiest, so head over in September or October for late sun and a still-warm sea. The islands empty in winter, and getting there and away can become trickier.

Getting there

• Planes

  Thomson Airlines (flights.thomson.co.uk) operates direct flights from London Gatwick to Kefalonia’s airport, nine miles from Argostoli. In summer, there are charters available from other airports in the UK. Otherwise, you’ll have to catch a 45-minute connecting flight at Athens (www.olympicair.com, www.aegeanair.com). Once you’ve landed, you can hop in a taxi to your destination. Getting to Ithaca is trickier: from the airport make the hour-long taxi trip to Fiskardo and catch the ferry to Frikes.

• Boats

  The islands are linked by regular car ferries between Fiskardo or Sami and Fikes or Vathi (less frequent in winter). The trip takes around an hour. For boat timetables all around the Ionians, check www.gtp.gr. If you’d rather follow your own timetable, hire a boat at www.fiscardo.com.

• Automobiles

  Public transport is patchy, so hire a car – or a moped – if you want to explore on your own. There are rental depots at Kefalonia and in Fikes, Ithaca’s port.

• Taxis

  Flaggable cabs aren’t a common sight on either island, so book ahead whenever possible. Taxi-sharing is common – but bear in mind all parties will be expected to pay the full fare.