Karpathos

 

Main features

Southernmost of the 12 islands of the Greek archipelago of Dodecanese along the Turkish coast.

The island is also not far from Crete. It is pretty hilly, the west coast has more sandy beaches while on the East side the coast has more pebbles and rock beaches.  It is also a good place for hiking with several marked paths.

The area between Arkasa a Lefkos has many sandy beaches and is in principle calm and suited for families with children.

The island has some nice and typical villages like Olympos, Mesohori, Othos, etc.

The area around Karpatos town and Pigadia in the south is more touristic and is there is the higher concentration of hotels and rooms to let.

The area near airport is rather windy and favored by windsurfers.  Diakoftis is a very nice white sand beach that can be reached through an unpaved road from the airport.

Few or no charter serve Karpathos directly. The island can be reached by ferry or airplane through Athens or Rodhos.

The visit to the island can be combined with a trip to Western Crete. There is a regular flight between Sitia and Karpathos

Most of the island hotels and some apartments are listed at http://karpathoshotels.gr/hotels.html

This site also has much information and pictures.

Book list about Modern Greek History

For non Greek speakers (many exist in greek translation)

See my Amazon list

Alternative tourism

In the south of Crete, the very special place of Chora Sfakion wher you can easily spend some days and visit the beachesin the area or take the boat for small trips. Or simply try the many great tavernas of the port...

But also a very good idea to combine vacations with:
http://www.yogaoncrete.gr/

Super Camping in Greece, Halkidiki

Very organised in one of the nicest beaches in the area. More like a small village, with restaurant, cinema.

Reservations have to be made well in advance, due to the success of the place!

You can also visit it and spend the day as simple visitor.

Watch the pictures:

http://www.armenistis.gr/

Lesbos - itineraries

1 - Mytilini and around - to the south, Skala Loutron (beach), Loutro (spa), Aghios Ermogenis (beach), Taxiarches (Monastry)

2 - Mytilini road to the north - beach road - hot sources, St Raphael Monastery

3 - Center - Mytilini to Vatera (9 km beach !!!!!) . In this sector visit Agiassos mountain village, Plomari village where the same name ouzo is produced.

4 - Center sector - Kalloni gulf area (famous for sardines)

5 - North sector - Molivos/Petra and beaches around, Skalka Sikimias, Eftalou, Anaxos

6 - Molivos - Kalloni axis

7 - Molivos - Eressos - Sigri, incl. Moni Ypsilou, stone forest

Chios - itineraries

1- Chios - the city and around Karfas, Agia Hermioni and further south. Sites along the beach road, mostly tourist resort sort of hotels

2- "Moni road" - central sector (38 km) - the east/west road from Chios to Elinda, Sidikounda Katavassi, return to Chios via Vrontados. Visit villages and monastries such as Karies, Monastry Aghion Pateron and those around (Nea Moni, A. Markou), Anavatos.

3 - Mastika Horia (villages) (35 km) - south sector of the island with over 20 typical villages (Pyrgi, Olymboi, Mesta, etc.) and some nice beaches such as Emporios and mavra boulia (black stones) volcanic beach on the east side. On west side Fana (via Pyrgi), limenas, Aghia Irini, lithi all little harbour, with good potential for fish tavernas.

4 - Volissos and North west sector (27 km) - beaches near Volissos (limnia, etc.) and circuit of old villages in the north (Afrodisia, Aghio Galas, etc.)

5 - North East sector - Villages circuit (28 km) (Kardamila, Viki, Katavassi, Pitios, etc.)

6- Inoussai Island - on East side - day trip boats from Chios

7 - Psara Island - On west side - day trip from Volissos

Chios - suggestions

Pour se baigner: Emporio (les galets noirs ou 'mavria bolia') + tres bon poisson,

Lagada tres joli petit port pour poisson frais

Plages

AGIA DUNAMI - la meilleure, a ne manquer sous aucun pretexte, mais il faut aller a la deuxieme crique pas la premiere ou ya plein de monde, pareil pour emporio),

MANAGROS, VROULIDIA, VIRI, KOMI, ELINDA, KATO FANA

Beaux villages: mesta, pirgi, kambos, avgonima, anabatos, volissos

Si possible, ca vaut la peine de visiter la petite île de oinousses

See also chios24 and Chiosnet sites

Fancy hotel in renovated village (42 renovated stonehouses made into luxury vacation houses - see PyrgosVillage

Volissos travel