Karpathos Leros ferry

Karpathos Guide

Located in the Dodecanese group of the islands, the Greek island of Karpathos lies in the eastern Aegean Sea and is the second largest of the Dodecanese islands. Its relatively remote location has meant that the island has managed to retain many of its traditions and customs, traditional dress and dialect which resembles the dialect of the Greek island of Crete and of Cyprus.

The island's north has many rugged mountains but in contrast the south of the island is quite fertile, and visitors can see many wildflowers during the winter and spring. The island's coastal areas are characterised by beautiful beaches which tend to be quiet and are often nestled between the island's cliffs. The island's beaches differ quite markedly from each other which is dependent on the beach's location. The east coast beaches tend to be smaller and gravelly, but tend not to be too windy. The beaches on the south coast tend to have fine white sand as do the beaches on the island's west coast, although these are the most exposed to the Meltemi and are only really available when the wind isn't too strong. Finally, the beaches in the north are difficult to get to and are really only accessible by sea or by jeep.

Ferries from Karpathos depart to the ports of Piraeus, Rhodes, Heraklion, Milos, Anafi, Sitia, Santorini, Chalki and Kasos.

Leros Guide

Leros is a Greek island and is one of the Dodecanese group of islands and lies between the islands of Patmos and Kalymnos. Legend has it that Leros is where the goddess Artemis would go hunt as it was home to a large population of deer. The island's long history can easily be observed in the many ancient monuments that are spread around the island. Popular attractions include the Medieval Castle and the island's interesting museums. The most visited places on the island are Alinda and Agia Marina but for the more adventurous, a drive around the island will not disappoint as there are a number of lovely beaches with crystal clear waters waiting to be discovered. The island is also popular with scuba divers who visit to explore the many ancient shipwrecks that lie on the seabed around the island.

From the island's port there are daily ferry connections to the port of Piraeus and by conventional ferry and hydrofoil to most of the Greek islands of the Dodecanese like Patmos, Lipsi, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi and Nisyros. There are also weekly connection to some of the islands of the Cyclades like Syros and Amorgos.