Crete to Karpathos

Quiet Island Charm

Karpathos is a large and rugged island to the east of Crete. Exploring from Crete to Karpathos is easy by regular flights or by ferry from Crete on the way to Rhodos and the Dodecanissa.

This windswept island has an intriguing history and culture, many untouched beaches and suits those independent travellers looking for a little extra adventure and the real Mediterranean experience.

Half way between Crete and Rhodes, the island has a small permanent population and while it gets a little busier during summer, it is not a highly touristic island and still keeps its natural feel.

This is pure Mediterranean; sparse and dry, isolated and silent. The sandy grey-greens contrast against the pure blue of the sea. Cicadas singing rhythmically, followed by summer silence…

The island has ten or so villages. Pigadia in the south-east is the main port and capital.

Other southern villages are Menetes, Arkasa and Finiki, and the mountain villages of Aperi, Volanda, Othos and Piles.

In the north are villages of Olymbos, Avlona and Diafani.

In the centre of the island are the villages of Mesochori, Spoa and Lefkos.

The winds blow hard on this island, trees are bent over permanently showing the force of the near continual blast.

Known in Italian as Scarpanto, the island's location in the middle of the crossing between the east and west ensured a violent and diabolical history, woven amongst the fabric of the history of Greece.

Cars are main transport on the island, in fact, some areas are four-wheel-drive-only territory. Travel to Olymbos is difficult as the high mountain roads are not paved.

Arkassa (above) is a beautiful simple seaside village in the south of the island only 10 kms from the airport.

A perfect location for boating, hiking, scuba diving, windsurfing and water sports, this gorgeous little town has grown to provide services for travellers, yet kept is natural charm.

From Crete to Karpathos

There are options to travel from Crete to Karpathos (or return):
• Ferry with GA Ferries
• Ferry with Lane Lines
• Flight via Athens with Aegean or Olympic Airlines

The ferry journey from Crete to Karpathos takes about 5 and a half hours, fare for a shared berth is €30; there are cheaper and more expensive options.

Here we show some videos of Karpathos.

Below is part of the documentary Karpathos - The Land and its Music.

The Sea of Karpathos in summer – a touching self-made video proving that love, friendship and summer are timeless…

Here are some more beautiful images of Karpathos:

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