Excursions

By communicating with the host you can book excursions around the island, or go to the island of Symi or Chalki with a boat for a day trip.

1. SYMI / PANORMITIS

 

Symi island  is one of the gems of the Dodecanese island chain. It stands out of the other Greek islands for its beautiful architecture, colorful houses, and relaxed atmosphere. The port of Symi seems to have popped out of a painting! The first thing that catches your eye as you approach Symi by ferry is the colorful mansions around the port. The setting oozes charm in abundance! The port of Symi is hands down the ultimate spot for romantic walks and sunset gazing!

The port is considered the center of the island. Within a walking distance from it, there are many little villages and beaches to discover. If you manage to peel yourself away from the utterly romantic port, you should visit the beautiful Symi beaches. They might be small, but they are clean and have mesmerizing crystal clear waters. Some of them are organized, but the rest are secluded, thus ideal for those who want to relax away from the hustle and the bustle!




No trip to Symi would be complete without a visit to its wonderful monastery of Taxiarchis Michail Panormitis. The monastery is situated on the sea front of the tiny village of Panormitis, on the southern coast, protected by a narrow inlet that opens out into a wide harbor and small, empty beach.

The monastery is set against a stunning backdrop of pine-covered mountain-sides which only seem to add to the feeling of remoteness and solitude. The best view of the monastery is from the decks of the approaching ferries as they maneuver to berth on the jetty.



2. CHALKI

 

West of popular Rhodes Island lies a chain of islets, the biggest of them being Chalki. Chalki is an island with a low profile and an ancient history. It’s been inhabited since the prehistoric times and it got its name from the copper mines (Chalkos is Greek for copper) that were in use on the island in antiquity. The buildings bear the signs of prosperity the island knew during the second half of the 19th c., as trade growth and the sponge harvesting business brought wealth to the locals. After 1912, the Italians possessed the Dodecanese group of islands (Chalki included) until 1948 when they became part of the Greek State.

 

As you approach Chalki’s natural harbour you will be impressed by the picture-perfect and colourful Nimporio (or Emporeio)- the island’s only town, built by the harbour and up the hillside. There are few cars on Chalki, but you probably won’t need them, as distances are short. Go for a stroll along the town’s picturesque little alleys; you’ll pass by the neoclassical stone-built two or three-storey houses that possess the most amazing of yards: their floor is paved with chochlakia i.e. black and white pebbles arranged in impressive mosaic patterns. The coloured walls and roof tops add to the locale’s magic.