Halfway between Rhodes and Crete lies a wonderful island worth exploring, surprising anyone who chooses to discover it. Lush vegetation, with all kinds of beaches for every taste, sufficiently windy, rocky and elongated, the island of Karpathos is found resting quietly in the beautiful waters of the Dodecanese, and it must be said that it is not an island for everyone.
If you are seeking nightlife, trendy clubs and beaches crowded with deafening music then look elsewhere. If instead you desire a relaxed, authentic and genuine place where every corner exudes traditions and where you can find peace within yourself again, rediscovering the slow and sleepy rhythms of an island that still maintains its identity alive, then you came to the right place.
Enchanted Atmospheres
The island is divided in two. The southern part is livelier and dazzling, where the capital, Pigadia, is located. This is a town with countless restaurants, bars and shops, a landing point for boats and ferries that connect, yet not every day, Karpathos with the rest of Greece; an area where you can find dream beaches, such as Paralia Diakoftis, near the airport, Paralia Damatria, secluded and easily accessible by car, and remote paradisaical coves, such as those belonging to Araki Beach, which is often semi-deserted even in August. The northern part, the most authentic, true and soulful, is mostly limited to being discovered via a day trip, which must be absolutely experienced and savored for a few days at least.
Quiet and slow, in the northern part you can also wait 45 minutes for a Greek coffee with a slice of Baklava. But this is irrelevant when you are surrounded by a cobalt blue sea while in the company of the local purring cat on duty. A little rest is inevitable on the wonderful beach of Lefkos, a small bay with a shallow seabed that is sheltered from the wind, before gearing up and leaving for Olympos, a rural village boasting undisputed charm, in particular displaying its absolute beauty at sunset; a place outside of time, suspended in a perfect balance between sea and sky, beautifully guarded by the nearly 500 souls that populate it.
The long road ahead, winding and close to rocky walls that occasionally allow a few stones to slide along the road, will be highly rewarding due to the peace and tranquility of this beautiful place.
And then there is the trekking, biking, hiking, boat trips along the coast or to nearby islands, such as Kasos and Saria, the popular festivals, along with an offer of delicious, diverse food and wine.
Definite Must: Cooking Class
One compelling activity in which to participate once you land on the island is a cooking session, learning the secrets of local cuisine handed down from generation to generation, tasting succulent Greek dishes. This type of experience is organized by Ecotourism Karpathos, a local tour that since 2016 has promoted activities and experiences aimed at enhancing and discovering the territory, all in a highly eco-sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
Attending a cooking class, suitable even for families with children, means being catapulted into an extremely informal context. Everyone cooks together, at home, in the midst of anecdotes, myths and island legends, pleasantly disrupted by mothers and grandmothers who invite you to taste loukoumades, a freshly baked sweet dessert covered in honey, cinnamon powder and sesame seeds. There is nothing structured or artificial about the cooking class. You literally stick your hands in the pasta. It begins with the preparation of makarounes, a water and flour pasta seasoned with caramelized onion and goat cheese, accompanied by the explanation of the dish’s origin and some curiosities. Then it continues with goat stew and boiled vegetables, fruit, house wine and the inevitable Greek coffee.
Feeling like home, you are welcomed as a guest and not a visitor in a convivial and friendly atmosphere, coming back home with a full belly and a mind full of indelible culinary memories.
Definite Must: Mosaic Workshop. A Handmade Souvenir!
If you want to bring home a highly personalized souvenir made with your own hands then this creative ceramic workshop is for you. Near a vineyard, between a glass of local wine and a Greek coffee, the ceramics and mosaics creative workshops organized by the local Art and Walk tour comes to life in the hamlet of Pini, Volada.
Thanks to this course that is accessible to everyone, including children, you give free rein to your creativity and imagination; once the subject to be created has been chosen and drawn, you meticulously proceed to lay small pieces of colored tiles, relaxing, pleasantly surrounded by greenery and a surreal silence.
Once the workshop is over, if you continue walking in the direction of Lastos, through mountain roads while surrounded by nothingness, you end up reaching the delicious Taverna Kali Limni – Kali Kardiá. This is an authentic mountain trattoria, an informal and homey environment offering a menu consisting of a few typical local dishes, delicious chicken cooked in lemon, and meatballs. Quality and authenticity guaranteed!
Did Alessandra’s reporting make you want to visit Karpathos? Start planning your next holiday in this Dodecanese paradise now!
