Boat trips in Samothraki

The roads in Samothraki don't cover the whole island. Some places, particularly those in the south, are only accessible by hiking on challenging and little-known mountain paths. An easier way to get to those parts is to book a boat trip.

Such tours are usually available during the summer when the number of tourists on the island is high. Departure points are the small port of Therma and the beaches of Pachia Ammos and Makrylies.

Some trips involve a complete tour of the island, while others only take you to the most notable parts. There might be stops for swimming and snorkeling. All the tours, though, give you the opportunity to admire the south and southeast, places of tremendous beauty and ecological value.

From Pachia Ammos in the south to Kipos in the southeast, the rocky cliffs rise abruptly from the sea. Sporadically, canyons, beaches and strange geological formations interrupt the massive walls, offering breathtaking views. In Samothraki, the south is very different from the populated north, giving the feeling of being on another island - uninhabited and untamed.

There are four small coves east of Pachia Ammos, scattered in an arid landscape. The second and the third (Angalouda and Karkani) harbor between their rocky walls wonderful sandy beaches bathed in clear turquoise water.

The fourth cove is home to Katarti Beach. Its standout feature is a rock in the water, detached long ago from the towering walls. The name translates to "mast". Nearby, under the sea, there's the shipwreck of a Romanian commercial vessel that carried timber, sunk sometime in the middle of the 20th century. Legend has it that some inhabitants of Chora built their houses out of the wood it was transporting.

After a massive mountain, Vatos beach opens up. It's at the mouth of the homonymous river. It's sandy and pebbly with scattered spots of pink from the oleanders.

As you continue east, the steep walls alternate with beaches. The first one - Agelada (meaning "Cow" in Greek) is easily discernable by its perfectly round pebbles and green streaks on the nearby rocks (a sign of copper deposits).

Next, there's Kremastos, the most spectacular waterfall in Samothraki. It's also called Kremasto Nero, meaning "hanging water". Standing at 180 meters, it's the tallest waterfall on the island. During winter, when the flow is at its highest due to the rain and snow, its waters fall directly into the sea without touching the cliffs.

Immediately after passing Kremastos, peculiar geological formations adorn the mountain face and can only be admired from the sea. They're called Tis grias ta pania and are one of the points of interest in Samothraki. They look like a web of crisscrossing lines painted on the dark-colored basaltic rocks. Their name translates to "the old woman's laundry" and originates in a local folk tale. Once upon a time, an old hag lived in this wild, isolated land, with only goats as her companions. One day, after hanging her clothes to dry, a powerful gust of wind blew them away on the rocks. The upset woman cursed them to turn to stone and that is how Tis grias ta pania allegedly came to be.

Next, is Gyali Beach, at the end of one of the most fierce canyons on the island. The name (meaning "glass" in Greek) comes from its white pebbles and clear waters.

After Vourlia Beach, made by the river with the same name, comes Kipos, marking the beginning of the eastern shore.

The fauna in this part of Samothraki is comprised of rock doves, gulls, birds of prey, wild goats and dolphins. During the winter, Mediterranean seals of the Monachus Monachus species take shelter in the caves. Unfortunately, they are getting rarer.

Boat trips from Therma

Right by Therma beach, there is a small port used for fishing and leisure vessels. In high season (July-August) this is the departure point of Axieros, the boat operated by Samothraki Cruises. Depending on the weather in Samothraki and the number of passengers, the tours may be longer or shorter, may include lunch or not and may stop at Vatos Beach or Katarti.

Boat trips from Pachia Ammos

On the right (as you look towards the sea), there's a taverna and a beach bar. Nick (Nikolas) Kapelas can be found here almost every day from spring till autumn. In the summertime, he offers regular trips to Vatos Beach.

He can take you further towards Kremastos and Tis grias ta pania. His phone number is +30 698 450 8105.

Boat trips from Makrylies Beach

Makrylies Beach is the headquarters of Ioana and Dan from H2O Dive&Fun. They are two Romanians in love with the island, living here a large part of the year. They organize boat trips with stops for swimming and snorkeling. They're also the owners and operators of the diving center in Kamariotissa. Call +40 732 123 232 for more information.