Greek island Israelis haven't found yet - paradise with 100 beaches

Summer is here and we all want to lie on the beach in a bathing suit, drink something cold and relax. When we heard that a little more than an hour's flight from Israel is what National Geographic named as "one of the 25 tourist destinations that must be visited in 2023" and described it as "an amazing and beautiful place where women-owned businesses lead the way in sustainable tourism" - we were We must check what it is about. We found a magical island with azure waters, natural bays, unspoiled beaches and oz that poured like water. 

Greece is always an attractive summer vacation destination for Israelis: the flight is short, the weather is pleasant, the food is good - just a dream. The only dilemma that Israelis have with a vacation in Greece is - there are other Israelis there, but once in a while we discover another destination, which for a short window of time the rest of the Israelis (and other tourists from the world) have not yet discovered and it manages to preserve the same special charm that the Greek islands have. The right destination - a vacation on the island of Karpatos.

The island of Karpatos is the most authentic of the Greek islands - it is a dream island that lies between Rhodes and Crete, just over an hour's flight from Israel. It is a small island, few tourists have already discovered it and come to it, and this is its great advantage! One visit to it and you will want to return to it again and again - it is simply a magnetic island that will be difficult for you to return from. This is the perfect place to slow down the pace of life, switch to slowlife and a little escape from the stressful everyday reality, Karpatos has a stretch of beach over 100 km long and you can find the most beautiful beaches in Greece, as the high and jagged ridges create many bays protected from the winds that blow strongly in the months many. 

In the south of the island there are sandy beaches and in the north rocky beaches, but all of them are dominated by all shades of blue and turquoise and the clear sea invites for refreshing swimming and diving. A large number of restaurants adorn the coastline in the island's villages and you can find a huge selection of fresh dishes of fish, seafood, meat dishes and a variety of traditional Greek dishes of all kinds. In Karpatos you will not find extreme water parks, massive and noisy amusement parks or flashy casino complexes. 

Here you will find the relaxed atmosphere we knew before the Greek experience became commercialized - and it includes plenty of customs and local folklore and authentic costumes. There are no noisy nightclubs or casinos on Karpatos, no parks or built attractions, but there are also no traffic lights or traffic jams and there is a lot of peace and quiet, the vacation on the island fills us with a bit of that wonderful peace, which will ensure our return to it in the future. With picturesque lagoons, photogenic villages, delicious food and an atmosphere of simplicity the result: a Greek vacation with the flavor of the past, special and unforgettable.

Where do you sleep?

Ayala Travel specializes in everything that happens on this magical island and they offer you deals for three main hotels all located in Pigadia - the main town.

Alimonda Mare - a 5-star hotel, located on the beach and offering rooms with a sea view. The hotel's infinity pool is known as one of the most beautiful swimming pools in Greece.

This is a beautiful and comfortable elegant hotel located just a few minutes walk from the center of town. Konstantinos Palace - a 5-star hotel that is also located on the beach and offers spacious and comfortable rooms that all overlook the deep blue Carpathian Sea.

Miramar Bay - a charming family hotel located about 5 minutes' walk from the lively marina of the island's capital and 100 meters from the beach. Dorothy the owner of the house and her young and graceful granddaughters provide warm and cordial service to the guests and therefore many of the customers of the Miramar Bay become regular customers who return to it again and again.

And now - jumping into the sea What calls a pampering summer vacation in Greece more than a blue sea beach, clear water and warm and caressing sun?

The spectacular beaches of the island of Karpatos will make your heart feel good. The island boasts no less than 100 bathing beaches, and the biggest dilemma here is simply choosing your beach.

Since most of you will only be there for a few days, it is important to know which of the beaches are the best - and Ayala Travels recommends you:

Lefcos beach - a magnificent sandy beach that borders the village of Lefkos, which, together with the nearby village of Finiki, are known for their excellent fish restaurants.

The beach slopes gently and the rocks surrounding it to the west create a quiet and relatively shallow lagoon, which allows for a calm bathing that is also suitable for bathing children (with parental supervision of course).

Kira Panagia Beach - is located in a beautiful rocky bay located on the east coast of the island, not far from the capital of the island, Pigadia. Its water is clear and relatively deep, which ensures bathing in cool and refreshing turquoise water.

Amopi beach - a large and lively wide beach in the southeast of the island, it is a relatively large, sandy and mild beach divided into two. Little Amofi Mikri and Big Amofi Megali. It is very popular especially among the locals and also attracts a young and active sports crowd with lots of beach volleyball games and water sports, especially on weekends.

And one more thing: at the southern end of the great Amofi is Kastelia beach which is also used as a nudist beach - for fans of the genre.

Appella Beach - is it enough if we tell you that it was chosen in 2003 as the most beautiful beach in all of Europe? Once you see the white sand, the clear water and the pine trees that almost kiss the sea - you won't want to leave.

What else is there on the island? How authentic is Karpatos?

There are villages on the island that have hardly been touched by time, some in an isolated location, on cliffs above the sea, and some in the mountains. In the villages, you can still see women dressed in traditional clothes in the courtyards of the houses, and the houses are decorated with handicrafts of wood, textiles and ceramics, preserving the ancient traditions of the island.

The most picturesque village among them is Olympos - an isolated village in the north of the island where time has stood still. Until a few years ago, it could only be reached by dirt roads, something that protected it from radical changes. In Pigadia, the capital of the island and the main town, you will find a variety of taverns, restaurants, bars and shops full of everything. Next to it is an antiquities site built in the Middle Ages) a little south of it is the village of Mentes and in its heart is a beautiful Byzantine church.

A little further south, near the beach, the village of Amofi is a touristic village, with hotels, restaurants and some of the most beautiful and vibrant beaches on the island. We will continue west, to the west coast of the island, where the village of Arkasa is located, where there is an archaeological museum. A little north you will find the village of Feniki, known for its excellent fish restaurants. In addition, Karpatos is considered a zoological and botanical paradise. Around the island live seals of the "common monk seal", a species that is in danger of extinction. 

The lucky ones among you will be able to see it in the caves between the cliffs near the beach.

The island also offers plenty of challenging activities: climbing Mount Lastos, the highest mountain in Carpathos and the entire Dodecanese Islands - 1,215 m. 15 km south of Pigadia there is extensive surfing activity at Afiarti beach, in addition there is a small and unspoiled island called Seriha which is a recommended option for a cruise to a small uninhabited island with sandy or pebbly beaches, blue and clear water.

Vibrant nightlife and culture: on the island of Karpatos Outdoor shows in the summer months, and especially in August, many festivals are held throughout the year, especially in the summer. 

If you are lucky, you might get to participate in such a festival in one of the villages. Almost everywhere you can find the typical Greek foods, prepared by hand, with a lot of patience, by the women - fish, cheeses, olives and local wine.

It's time to book a pampering vacation.

Haven't you been to Karpatos yet? Have you been and want to come back? Talk to Ayala agents and you will get special deals that are only available with them and recommendations on places and guided tours. So an hour and a quarter flight and you are in heaven on earth.

Why travel with Ayala?

• Experience at the destination - they have been operating the holiday packages for Karpatos for over 5 years.
• Here you will find the hottest and most affordable deals for this destination.
• The presence of an Israeli representative on their behalf who will be at your disposal throughout the course of the season. So have a nice vacation!