Where to go to avoid August insanity: Karpathos, Greece

The Greek islands are picture perfect summer destinations, a place that dreams (and postcards) are made of. Islands like Santorini and Mykonos are famous worldwide and are huge tourist draws (for a great reason, they’re gorgeous) but for an August trip, crowds can be challenging as you joint the local Greeks on holiday. Fortunately, Greece is full of breathtaking, undiscovered islands that make great summer stops, like lovely Karpathos.

Located about 30 miles from the island of Rhodes, it’s relatively isolated, though connected in the summer by daily flights and boats from the main land and Rhodes. This means that the culture of Karpathos is one of the most “well preserved” of the Greek islands – their unique culture, dialect and traditions are still very prevalent. August visitors will be able to see the celebration on the 15th, which marks the Catholic holiday celebrating the ascension of Mary into heaven. This mid-month holiday called Panagias is celebrated in a particularly interesting way on the island, drawing visitors eager to see the traditional dancing, singing and even Greek bagpipe music.

Even in the height of August tourist season, you’ll still find the most popular beaches and sites in Karpathos comparably empty if you’ve been to other nearby islands. These breathtaking beaches are all your own! Kyra Panagia is as close to a perfect white sand beach as one can get. Located close to the village of Achata, it’s immersed in nature both in and out of the water, and the soft sand means great visibility for those who love to snorkel.

Another good choice is Finiki. The beach is small but the water is clean, and nearby you’ll find some spectacular fish restaurants – even in the height of August, you won’t find yourself waiting for a table or jostling for a piece of sand to put your blanket on. There are over 20 different beaches we’d be happy to show you on your next trip!

For our more active clients, windsurfing in the bay of Afiartis is an amazing activity. They are even home to several international windsurfing competitions, and several local schools can help you learn to windsurf if you are new to the sport. It’s a great way to pass an afternoon on the water.

Karpathos is a great destination in the summer to get a taste of Greek island life, even more so in August when the island remains pretty tranquil. It’s spectacular beaches, great trekking and unique culture and ancient towns mean that you’ll be able to experience the best of Greece but without the crowds!