Christos Raches
Christos Raches is 500 m above sea level in the northern part of Ikaria and has about 350 permanent inhabitants.
This impressive large village of the Raches plateau is built amphitheatrically
surrounded by pines forest, oaks and vineyards. Its picturesque square with the shops all around, the imposing church with its marble
bellower,
the pretty old and new houses, the traditionally built local
high school
and the old windmill hidden away in the pines retain the traditional
colour of the settlement and reveal its
unique architectural appearance. Worth to
visit there is the nearby "Litani" a rock with breathtaking views of magic sunsets.
Temple of Artemis at Nas - "Tavropollio"
The sixth century BC temple of Artemis at Nas to the
honour goddess Artemis. Today only ruins survive, parts of the floor and columns of the ancient temple.
Therma
The town of Therma is the principal region for organized hydrotherapy, known from the 4th B.C.
The little village that lies a little further than the capital of the island is of great
tourist interest as ruins of the ancient baths are found nearby as well as the ruins of the ancient city of Drakanos. Apart from the radioactive springs, wonderfully organized beaches are also offered for swimming and relaxation.
Towns-Villages
Evdilos,
Evdilos is the second port of the island at northern part with
350 inhabitants. Evdilos is closer to a larger variety of beaches
and towns and there you can find hotels and apartments. Evdilos beach is a small sandy beach used mainly by the locals
Narrow little streets and traditional as well as modern houses with plenty of flowers reveal the love and the ardent desire
the inhabitants have for their island. The location is ideal for family holidays.
Agios Kirykoss,
Built to the south-east of Ikaria, Agios Kirykos, capital and one of the two ports of the island, has a population of about 2,400. On a hillock, in the middle of the settlement that is considered one of the most picturesque in the Aegean, it is spread in a amphitheatrical fashion over the gulf of the
port, overlooking the neo- classical building that houses the police station and the port authority. A building of similar grandeur houses the municipality as well. The area has been ravaged by a major fire in the summer of 1993.
Kampos
Kampos lies in the northern part of the island, west of Evdilos. Apart from its scenic beauties,
the settlement of Kampos is of particular historical and archaeological interest. The remains of
the ancient capital of the island, Oinoe, and the hilltop of Agia Irini, with the imposing old church
and the grandiose remnants of a Byzantine Odeon. Kampos Archaeological Museum located also on the hilltop of Agia Irini is well worth a visit.
The legend says that the first vine sprouted here, and today the inhabitants still cultivate vineyards in the village and make small amounts of strong black wine according to an ancient technique
Gialiskari
55 km to the north-west of Agios Kirykos lies Gialiskari, a small settlement by the sea located in an area with an abundance of pines.
The village climbs up the hills and along with Mantria,
Lampshades and Kastanies, forms a community having Agios Polikarpos as its centre. T
he settlement has a population of about 100 people, who occupy themselves with agriculture, fishing and tourism.
Oxea,
North of Agios Kirykos after Mavraton lies Oxea, one of the oldest villages in the southern part of the island and Ikaria's
highest village at nearly 700m. Besides its historical importance, the village has unequal scenic beauty.
Beaches
The clarity and brilliance of the waters surrounding Ikaria are unparalleled. Ikaria's most popular sandy beaches are predominantly located on the
North side of the island. On the South side there are less crowded sand and rock/pebble beaches.
Livadi Beach
Located on the North side of Ikaria in the
Armenistis resort area, Livadi Beach is
blessed with pure and natural golden sand. A
year round river fed lagoon surrounded by
lush green vegetation completes the
beautiful setting. On the beach there are
umbrellas and chairs for hire, as well as a
waterfront cantina serving refreshments and
light meals. Body surfing atop the waves is
possible on most days. Above the beach along
the main road there are a variety of
restaurants, and places to stay including
Messakti Beach
Located on the North side of Ikaria in the Gialiskari resort area,
Messakti is a fantastic golden sand beach.
Two small rivers intersect the beach with small freshwater lagoons,
and the church of Gialiskariis is visible in the distance jutting out
into the sea on a small island. On the beach there are umbrellas and
chairs for hire and a several waterfront cantinas serving refreshments
and light meals. Body surfing atop the waves is usually possible.
Nas Beach
Located 6km west of Armenistis, Nas is a place seemingly frozen in time.
It is situated at the union of the Chalares River and the Aegean Sea.
The beach is open to nudists and non-nudists, and there is a small camp site located next
to the river. On the cliff above the beach there are a few
tavernas and rooms
for rent with excellent views of the sea and the majestic Nas sunset.
Iero Beach
Iero Beach is located in the uppermost northwest corner of Ikaria. It is one of
the island's least known beaches owning to the fact that until recently there
was no road access. Legend has it that the "Iero" was the ancient site of a temple to
Dionysus.
Iero Beach is ideal for snorkelling. It is a protected cove with many interesting rock formations
above and below the sea.
Prioni Beach
Located 1km east of Agios Kirykos on the coastal road to Therma,
Prioni Beach is a secluded natural sand/pebble cove. The cliffs
and rocks at Prioni offer the possibility of diving/jumping from
heights of up to 12 meters, and there is a small intimate cove
adjacent to the main beach that is only accessible by swimming.
Access to Prioni beach is either via a steep path at the top of the beach, or via a
path that leads down from a small church situated just off the road
and then east along the rocks over the coast.
Xilosirtis Beach
Xilosirtis Beach is a peaceful long pebble-rock beach popular with the residents
of the village bearing the same name. There is a small pier at the access to the
beach which is ideal for fishing and a small cantina on the beach serves refreshments during the summer.
Access is via a stairway path which begins from the lower portion of the village
Seychelles Beach
This is one of Ikaria's most beautiful beaches.
The pebble-rock beach is located within a picturesque and intimate cove setting.
There are interesting rock formations all around and the color of the crystal clear water is unmatched.
Seychelles Beach is located approximately 25 kilometers west of Agios Kirikos,
just after the tunnel that leads further on into the village of Manganitis. The access to the beach
is via a path which starts on the main
road and descends along a river bed. The path is of medium
difficulty and steep towards the end. Wear sturdy shoes
Events
A lot of festivals take place in the island during summer time
If your stay coincides with one of them, it is worth to attent it.
The most famous being the saint name day celebration of Panagia , on 15th Augest.
You'll be exposed
to Greek traditional dancing and you'll have
the chance to learn the steps of the Ikariotikos one of the most traditional
and exciting Greek dances.
Christos Raches holds perhaps the largest traditional feast of any Ikarian village on August 6th
every year, the day of Jesus Christ. Locals and visitors gather here from all over the island to
taste the traditional food and exquisite local wine, and to sing and dance non-stop to the sound
of the violin played by local musicians until the morning
How to get there
- By Boat:From Piraeus
4 times a week scheduled trips with
departure time around 07:00 in the
evening. Ferry
trip duration 9 hrs overnight
- By Airplane: From Athens
Airport to Ikaria . Four (4) weekly scheduled flight. From Athens
airport to Samos Daily 2- 3 scheduled flights 45 minutes and
afterward by hydro Floyd to Ikaria. 1 hour
- Charter Flights: From various
European countries directly to Samos island with onward travel to Ikaria by Ferry, approimately one (1) hr.
- Resort Transfers:
Agios Kyrikos port to
Armenistis – 1 hour, Airport to Armenistis –
1 hour 10 minutes, Evdilos port to
Armenistis – 15 minutes
FOURNI ISLAND
A cheerful port area, a number of beaches, very little accommodation and some excellent tavernas sum up what you can expect on Fourni.
Believe us, there is very little else on this most unspoilt of unspoilt, lesser-known Greek Islands. The village of Fourni is wonderfully
vibrant in the traditional Greek way. Locals scuttle around conducting their day-to-day business, most of which is linked to the fishing
fleet based at Fourni. The resultant prices for fresh fish and shellfish (especially lobster) in the tavernas is a fraction of what you
would expect to pay on other islands. Such is the temptation and reputation of the tavernas on Fourni that locals from Ikaria, Patmos and
Samos make the trip to sample the culinary delights on offer. Away from the village the island is almost deserted. Secluded coves and bays
are within walking distance, one of the best being lovely Kampi complete with a taverna that overhangs the sandy beach. The 20 minutes it
takes to reach Kampi is nothing to what the more intrepid walkers will undertake in reaching some other gloriously remote areas of the island.
Island Hopping: Fourni can be combined with Samos & Ikaria.
