Summer is here and we all come to lie on the beach in a bathing suit, drink something cold and relax. When we heard that just over an hour's flight from Israel was what National Geographic called "one of the 25 must-visit tourist destinations in 2023" and described it as "an amazing, beautiful place where women-owned businesses are leading the way in sustainable tourism" – we had to check what it was all about. We found a magical island with azure waters, natural bays, pristine beaches and ouzo that flowed like water.
Greece is always an attractive summer vacation destination for Israelis: the flight is short, the weather is comfortable, the food is good - just a dream. The only dilemma Israelis have with a vacation in Greece is that there are more Israelis there, but every once in a while we discover another destination, which for a short window of time the rest of the Israelis (and other tourists from around the world) have not yet discovered and it manages to maintain the same special charm that exists in the Greek islands. The right destination - a holiday on the island of Karpathos.
Beach in Karpathos (Photo: Ayala Travel)
Karpathos Island is the most authentic of the Greek islands - it is a dreamy island located between Rhodes and Crete,a little more than an hour's flight from Israel. This is a small island, which few tourists have already discovered and come to, and this is its great advantage! One visit to it and you will want to return to it again and again - it is simply a magnetizing island that will be difficult for you to return from. This is the perfect place to slow down the pace of life, switch to slowlife and escape the stressful daily reality, Karpathos has a coastline of over 100 km long and you can find the most beautiful of the Greek coasts,
as the high and jagged ridges create many bays protected from the winds that blow strongly for many months. The south of the island has sandy beaches and rocky beaches in the north, but all are dominated by all shades of blue and turquoise and the clear sea invites swimming and refreshing diving.
There are plenty of restaurants that adorn the coastline in the island's villages and there is a huge selection of fresh dishes of fish, seafood, meat dishes and a variety of traditional Greek dishes of all kinds.
In Karpathos you will not find extreme water parks, mass and noisy amusement parks or glitzy casino complexes. Here you'll find the relaxed atmosphere we knew before the Greek experience commercialized – and it includes a wealth of local customs and folklore and authentic costumes. There are no noisy nightclubs or casinos in Karpathos, no parks or built attractions, but also no traffic lights or traffic jams and there is a lot of peace and quiet, the vacation on the island fills us with a little of that wonderful tranquility,
which will ensure our return to it in the future. With picturesque lagoons, photogenic villages, delicious food and an atmosphere of simplicity, the result: a Greek vacation with a taste of yesteryear, special and unforgettable.
Olympus in Karpathos (Photo: Ayala Travel)
Karpathos Island (Photo: Ayala Travel)
Where do you sleep?
Ayala Travel specializes in everything that happens on this magical island and they offer you deals on three main hotels, all located in Figdia - the main town.
Alimonade Mare is a 5-star beachfront hotel offering rooms with sea views. The hotel's infinity pool is known as one of the most beautiful swimming pools in Greece. This is an elegant, beautiful and comfortable hotel located just a few minutes walk from the town centre.
Constantine Palace is also a 5-star hotel on the beach and offers spacious and comfortable rooms, all overlooking the deep blue Carpathian Sea.
Miramar Bay - this charming family-run hotel is a 5-minute walk from the lively marina of the island's capital and 100 metres from the beach. Dorothy, the landlady, and her graceful young granddaughters provide warm and cordial service to guests, so many of Miramar Bay's customers become regular customers who return to it again and again.
Beach in Karpathos (Photo: Ayala Travel)
And now - a jump to the sea
What relates to a pampering summer vacation in Greece more than an azure beach, clear water and warm and caressing sun? The spectacular beaches of Karpathos Island will do you good on your heart. The island boasts no less than 100 beaches, and the biggest dilemma here is simply choosing your own beach. Since most of you will only get there for a few days, it is important to know which of the beaches are the best - and Ayala Travel recommends you:
Lefcos Beach - a spectacular sandy beach adjacent to the village of Lefkas which together with the nearby Phoenician village are known for their fine fish restaurants. The beach slopes gently and the rocks surrounding it to the west create a quiet and relatively shallow lagoon, which allows for calm bathing that is also suitable for bathing children (under parental supervision, of course).
Kira Panagia Beach - located in a beautiful cliff bay located on the eastern coast of the island, not far from Pigadia, the capital of the island. The water is clear and relatively deep, ensuring bathing in cool and refreshing turquoise water.
Amopi Beach - a large and lively wide beach in the southeast of the island, this is a relatively large, sandy and moderate beach divided in two. Little Amofi Mikri and Amofi the Great Megali. It is very popular mainly among the locals and also attracts a young and active sports crowd with a variety of beach volleyball and water sports, especially on weekends. And something else: on the southern side of the great Amoopi is Kastelia beach, which also serves as a nudist beach - for fans of the genre.
Appella Beach - enough if we tell you that it was chosen in 2003 as the most beautiful beach in all of Europe? Once you see the white sand, clear water and pine trees almost kissing the sea - you won't want to leave.
A young woman at Aflala Beach on Karpathos Island (Photo: ShutterStock)
What else is on the island?
How authentic is Karpathos? On the island there are villages that have hardly been touched by time, some in a secluded location, on cliffs above the sea, and some in the mountains. In the villages, women dressed in traditional clothes can still be seen in the courtyards, and the houses are decorated with handicrafts of wood, textiles and ceramics, preserving the island's ancient traditions. The most picturesque village of them is Olympus - an isolated village in the north of the island where time has stopped. Until a few years ago, it could only be reached by dirt roads, which protected it from radical changes.
In Pigadia, the island's capital and main town, you will find a variety of taverns, restaurants, bars and shops packed with goodies. Next to it is an ancient site built in the Middle Ages) a little south of it is the village of Mantas with a beautiful Byzantine church at its heart.
A little further south, near the beach, the village of Amoopi is a tourist village, with hotels, restaurants and some of the most beautiful and vibrant beaches on the island. We will continue west, to the west coast of the island, where the village of Arkasa is located where there is an archaeological museum. A little further north you will find the Phoenician village, known for its fine fish restaurants.
In addition, Karpathos is considered a zoological and botanical paradise. The island is home to the endangered monk seal. The lucky among you will be able to see it in caves between the cliffs near the shore.
The island also offers plenty of adventure activities: climbing Mount Lastos, the highest mountain in Karpathos and the Dodecanese at 1,215m. 15 km south of Pigadia there is extensive surfing activity on the coast of Epiarti, in addition there is a small and pristine island called Sarrià, which is a recommended option for sailing to a small uninhabited island with sandy beaches or with pebbles, clear blue water.
Vibrant nightlife and culture: Karpathos Island hosts outdoor shows during the summer months, especially in August. Throughout the year, many festivals are held, especially in summer. If you're lucky, you might get to attend such a festival in one of the villages.
And almost everywhere you can find the typical Greek dishes, prepared by hand, with a lot of patience, by the women - fish, cheese, olives and local wine.
Food on Karpathos Island (Photo: Ayala Travel)
Now is the time to book a
pampering vacation Haven't been to Karpathos yet? Would you like to come back? Talk to Ayala's agents and you will get special deals that only they have and recommendations on places and guided tours. So an hour and a quarter flight and you are in heaven on earth.
Why with Ayala Travel?
✅Experience in the destination - they have been operating the vacation packages to Karpathos for more than 5 years
✅Here you will find the hottest and most worthwhile deals for this
✅destination The presence of an Israeli representative on their behalf will be at your disposal throughout the season.
So have a nice vacation!
Contributed by Ayala Travel
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