Ithaca to Kefalonia - Swim the strait K2I

The Ithaca to Kefalonia swim challenge consists of two primary crossings: a 6-kilometer passage from Kefalonia to Ithaca and a 10-kilometer route from Atokos to Ithaca. Scheduled for August 7-14, 2026, the event operates as a non-competitive, fully supported expedition where participants are divided into three speed-based pods. The entry fee is 2280 EUR, which comprises a 2250 EUR fee for the full-board expedition and a 30 EUR mandatory club membership. This logistics-heavy price point covers boat support, local transfers, and seven nights of accommodation. Wetsuits are optional, and swimmers must adhere to the 7:00 AM start time, dictated by the Greek Coast Guard to avoid peak maritime traffic in the 20-kilometer-long Strait of Ithaca.

Historical and geographical markers

As you navigate these waters, you are crossing a major maritime artery that has linked the Ionian islands for centuries. To the east, the island's geography reveals the narrow isthmus of Aetos, a 600-meter-wide bridge of land that splits the island into two mountainous masses. The course takes you through territory steeped in maritime history, passing the port of Vathy where 19th-century shipyards once produced over 200 vessels. Near the entrance of the bay, you will swim past the Lazareto islet. This site served as a Venetian-era quarantine station and later housed a two-story British prison until its destruction in the 1953 earthquake; today, only the 1668 chapel of the Transfiguration remains. Local tradition identifies Vathy as the ancient port of Phorcys, the mythical landing spot where the Phaeacians left a sleeping Odysseus, grounding your swim in the legendary geography of the Odyssey. For those seeking additional distance, the SwimTrek Ithaca Odyssey offers a distinct perspective on the island's coastline earlier in the season.