1. Karpathos Island
Choose to be Happy!!!
Unmatched Beauty and Hospitality
karpathosisland

2. Region: South Aegean - Dodecanese Complex
Villages:10
Population: 7000
Area: 324.1 km2
Climate: Mediterranean
Summer Sunshine: 13 hours per day
Summer Average Temperature:29 °C
Karpathos Island At A Glance

3. The Alluring Remoteness of Karpathos
A Greek island with rich culture and
traditions, that is located at the south-
eastern region of the Aegean Sea
and is part of the Dodecanese clus-
ter of islands. The island is located
half way between the neighboring is-
lands of Rhodes and Crete. The in-
comparable beauty and hospitality of
Karpathos can be found nowhere else
in Greece. Despite the fact that the
island is beautiful and unspoiled and
boasts secluded beaches, it still re-
mains untouched by mass tourism.

4. One particular feature which
characterizes Karpathos,
is the mountainous terrain and
the blue bays. It is very easy to
explore the island’s beaches and
villages due to its size and low
population density that make
you feel as if you have the place
all to your self.The southern
part of the island is particularly
popular among adrenaline junk-
ies and every summer it’s in the
spotlight during the internation-
al speedsurfing competition.
Strong winds blow over the tur-
quoise waves making their way
up to the mountainous northern
part of the island, with its weath-
ered sugarloaf houses that are
centuries-old. When you reach
the amazing mountain village of
Olympos in search of what being
Greek genuinely means, you will
be rewarded with fresh delights
made in a traditional oven. The
fact that the women of the vil-
lage still dress in their tradition-
al outfits and have retained their
traditional way of life is a distinc-
tive trait of Olympos. The relaxed
lifestyle of the island makes it a
favored destination particularly
by people who seek peace and
tranquility. Nevertheless, Karpa-
thos is also the perfect destina-
tion for everyone, from sun and
nature lovers to adventurers and
sports enthusiasts. So, whether
you seek serenity or passion,
visit Karpathos. This island has
something for everyone.
Variety, contrast and harmony of lines, volumes
and colors make up the incomparable charm of
Karpathos which is characterized as one of the
most beautiful islands of Greece.
The women of the
village of Olympos
still dress in their
traditional outfits
every day, show-
casing a unique
example of tradi-
tional village life
that can no longer
be seen anywhere
else in Greece.
Best-kept secret Greek Island

5. Karpathos is located in the eastern
Mediterranean 47 km southwest of
the island of Rhodes. The island cov-
ers an area of 324.1 km2, with a coast-
line of 160 km. The new airport was
built in 2007 and handled around
90000 passengers in 2012. The big-
gest ports of the island are located
at Pigadia, namely the capital, in
the southeast, and at Diafani, in the
northeast.
Karpathos is blessed with an
abundance of streams, sandy and
shingle beaches, pine forests, ol-
ive groves, rocky caves (that pro-
vide shelter for the Mediterranean
monk seal) and exquisite moun-
tainous landscapes The landscape
of the island is unique and varied
at the same time; sandy and shin-
gle beaches, pine forests, olive
groves and rocky caves.
There are ten villages on the island.
The villages of Menetes, Arkassa,
Aperi, Volada, Othos and Pyles are
located at the southern part of Karpa-
thos, where the capital of the island
is also situated. Messochori and Spoa
are located at the centre of the is-
land and Olympos and Diafani at the
north. Surrounded by the seductive
Aegean Sea...

6. There are many“hidden delights”waiting to be discovered by those seeking to explore this won-
derful island. In the southeast part you can find Pigadia (official name Karpathos), which is the
capital and main port of the island. The scattered picturesque whitewashed villages, the breathtak-
ing landscapes of the island and the uninhabited islet of Saria, are a few of those delights which will
make any holiday a truly unique and memorable experience. The old village of Olympos is a living
museum of architecture, linguistics and musicology, where time seems to be standing still. The au-
Surrounded by the temperamental Aegean Sea...
Explore the magnificent island of Karpathos and relish an unforgettable experience!!
thenticity of the villages, the warm hospitality,
the respect for traditions and customs as well
as the traditional architecture and decoration
of the houses, hold the island together and its
traditions are preserved through various local
cultural events.

7. Devotion to preserving ancient customs and rich traditions
has made this island truly remarkable......
Old customs and traditions are still alive in Karpathos and play an important role in eve-
ryday life. Olympos, in particular, is the perfect example of a village which has cherished
the cultural uniqueness of Karpathos. The wedding rituals play an important role here
and the wedding festivities last 3 days after the ceremony. What really distinguishes this
island, is the warm hospitality which is shown at various events and occasions. The cen-
turies-old 75 windmills of the village are also part of the history of Olympos. They were
once important for the production of flour for the whole community. Four of them are
still in use today (pictured below) grinding wheat and barley which are used to make the
bread of the village.

8. Karpathos offers some of the finest beaches
in the Mediterranean. Even during high
season you can discover plenty secluded coves.
The crystal clear blue waters and the lush veg-
etation create the best conditions for anyone
wishing to explore pristine places like these.
The island’s shingle beaches with a view of the
pine clad mountains, can be found mainly on the
east coast. The sandy beaches are located at the
west side of Karpathos. There are also beautiful
bays on Saria, the small neighboring island to
the north, which is accessible from Pigadia and
Diafani by boat. However, the most famous bay
of Karpathos is Apella, which was declared the
most beautiful in Europe for the year 2003.
Crystalline waters and endless bays....

10. Here every nature-related de-
sire is satisfied as the island has
to offer a renowned windsurf-
ing area, mountain bike trails,
perfect swimming and snorke-
ling conditions and hiking trails
of varying difficulty.

11. Hikers are particularly
enchanted by Karpa-
thos, eager to explore
the trails that seem to
have unraveled across
the island like unruly
yarn. About 155 miles
of hiking paths can
be found on the map,
but there are at least
another 155 miles of
uncharted trails.
unique beauty, history,cultural, and arche-
ological attractions, offers Scuba Divers a
Dive Trip that is unequaled anywhere in
the world

13. Archaeological findings prove that the island has been inhab-
ited since the Neolithic Period...
The island prospered during the Clas-
sical period and it was mentioned
in the works of Homer, Virgil, Pliny and
Strabo. The Karpathians allied themselves
with Sparta during the Peloponnesian
War and were annexed by Rhodes. Then
came the Romans, the Byzantines, the Ot-
tomans, the Italians and finally the island
was united with Greece along with the
rest of the Dodecanese in 1948. Nowa-
days, many people from different ethnic
backgrounds live on the island. Karpathos,
however, preserves its traditions. The vil-
lages near the coastline do not conform to
tradition zealously; the mountain villages,
on the other hand, are famous for stick-
ing to their traditions. This means that the
residents of these villages dress and speak
almost in the same way that their ances-
tors did 200 years ago. And even though
the people of Karpathos are an interesting
mix that makes the island unique, tradi-
tion remains the quality that unites them
and makes life on the island fascinating.

14. Karpathos, an island sculpted by water and
wind, is also home to a large number of
plants, animals and birds. Migratory birds make
a short stop here on their long journey to Africa,
while the Mediterranean monk seal (also called
Monachus Monachus) has found shelter in the
surrounding, crystal clear waters of the island.
With a little luck you can see dolphins during a
boat trip or a sea hawk hunting for fish. The rug-
ged natural charm of the island is characterized
by scattered and worth protecting pine forests
on steep mountain slopes and lonely, old trails
leading to secluded areas.
Karpathos is part of the NATURA 2000 Network
www.fdkarpathos.gr

15. “Kali oreksi”! Enjoy your meal!
Even the ancient gods of
Greek mythology appre-
ciated the distinctive spices
and flavors. If someone really
wants to know and under-
stand foreign countries and
people, there is no better way
to do so, than taste their lo-
cal cuisine, as food is also a
crucial part of their respec-
tive culture and history. Greek
passion can also be felt in a
culinary way through seafood,
certain herbs and seasonal
ingredients. Generous and
true to the motto “Live the
day and celebrate it”, Karpa-
thos offers its visitors a taste
of its delicious local cuisine.
In every Karpathian village,
from Olympos and Volada to
Arkasa and Finiki, the origi-
nal recipes have been passed
down from one generation to
the next and preserved to this
day. That alone makes the trip
worthwhile!

16. WWW.KARPATHOS.GR
WWW.KARPATHOSHOTELS.GR