Keeping close company to the coast of Asia Minor as well as being a point of conflict through the years between Greece and Turkey, this group of 7 big islands and several smaller ones boasts a heavy-weight presence amongst Greece’s overall island population. Their historic agenda overflows with substantial facts - did you know that the word ‘lesbian’ comes from the island of Lesvos, birthplace of the ancient poetess Sappho, rumoured to be the first homosexual woman in history? Or that Anthony and Cleopatra of Egypt took holidays on Samos? These and many more little treasures await the informed traveller to Greece, who is willing to explore a lesser-known destination.
The Northeastern Aegean Islands’ charm spans the whole spectrum of a holiday wishlist: some of the best beaches in Greece: organised, for the more a-book-and-a-cold-frappe crowd (Samos); remote, for the I-don’t-mind-hiking-10k-to-get-to-the-beach trekkers (Ikaria); slightly off-the-beaten-track, I-will-just-go-over-the-next-rock-cove-and-be-almost-alone lonely bathers (all of them); but the entire time, the beaches are sparkling and the waters sublime. Next on the wishlist is the local cuisine: freshly-caught fish is abundant and deliciously prepared, only to be enjoyed on small-scale tavernas under starry skies and the sound of waves. To accompany them, local firewaters abound here: Lesvos is home to the most Greek of all Greek alcoholic drinks, ouzo. Chios, making use of the locally sourced mastic resin, produces the magnificently tasting & superbly digestive mastic liqueur. What about a sprinkling of local psyche to spice up your holidays? Ikaria will not disappoint – welcome to the most idiosyncratic of the Greek isles, where shops open whimsically, food arrives when it does and people will, sort-of, welcome you. It could be home to a Zen sanctuary, because you will need the patience that only dawns after long hours of meditation, but once you achieve it, you are in for the holiday of a lifetime! And what about some dramatic scenery, bejewelled with an otherworldly aura? Samothrace is the island of wild and rugged beauty, the highest mountain in the Aegean and birthplace of one of the most famous statues of Antiquity: the Winged Victory of Samothrace, or Nike (rings a bell?). In the landscape wishlist part, Lemnos’ portfolio includes bustling water biotopes, the only Sahara-like golden sand dunes in Europe and a rather rustic, fertile and uncrowded interior. Last, but not least, Thassos is super tourist-friendly and home to package-holiday resorts, perfect for those who just want uncomplicated, voucher-paid deals. You see, we told you the Northeastern Aegean Islands have it all!
Although the approach to these is so much more different than the Cyclades, be it in the uniform white-cubes in a dry and arid setting as well as the proximity amongst them making island-hopping so easy it is obligatory, each Northeastern Aegean Island is a destination in itself. Let not the stamina-testing ferry rides stand in the way – the journey is as or more important than the end…
