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Karpathos

From Rhodes it about a three hour ferry crossing to the hospitable island of Karpathos where the clock has stood still in the delightful village of Olymbos in the south. Here the locals go about their business much as they did in Homer's time, wearing their traditional costumes and preserving their language and culture with the aim of attracting tourists. They are particularly proud of the unique houses, built of carved stone and decorated inside with gorgeous embroidery and other colourful folk art décor. The island has great beaches and unspoilt villages and is a pleasure to explore, with a picturesque bay and a monastery at Kyra Panagia, Diafani village on a promontory to the north and the forested mountains. Karpathos is also renowned for its feast days and weddings. Visitors who happen to catch one in progress will usually receive a warm invitation to join the festivities. Just four nautical miles from Karpathos is the smaller island of Kassos, linked by ferry, which has a small community of fishermen living the way they have for centuries.

Transport: A car ferry takes about three hours from Rhodes Island, or it is a short flight