Thassos: The Greek Island of Thassos

Thassos is one of the North-Eastern Aegean Greek Islands. In fact it is Greece's most Northern Island. When we visited access was via mainland Greece. We landed at the airport at Kavala, were taken by coach the short journey to the sea and completed our journey to Thassos by ferry. We had never visited an Island that required a ferry journey before as we had read that bad weather could cause delays and the journey would be fraught with problems, but it was not.

We arrived in early September and the water was calm. The link from our coach to our Ferry was a half hour but the wait was fine. There are a couple of Tavernas at the harbour side. I had packed some shorts and a thin T Shirt in my hand luggage and hastily changed clothes in the tavernas toilets. The weather was hot and my travelling clothes had soon become hot and sticky, even though they were not too heavy.

Huuby had an ice cold lager waiting for me when I returned and we sat outside the taverna enjoying the late afternoon sun and pleasant surroundings.

THE FERRY

The ferry service is the main link with the Island and so is always busy with cars, tourists and locals. The boat trip was only about 20 minutes and soon we were approaching Thassos Town Harbour.

It looked strange at first sight. To the left there was a fishing harbour and beach area, and to the right a rugged undeveloped coast with some beaches. The harbour in the middle had restaurants, bars, tavernas, Banks and shops across from where the boats docked. The ferry we used was fairly large but there were much larger vessels docking in Thassos Town.

Check out the Ferry services if you want to Island hop or travel to mainland Greece from Thassos. There is a very regular ferry service.

We had only visited the Greek Islands a few times before, when we visited Thassos. Our first choice of accommodation was fully booked up and so we settled for a bed and breakfast studio apartment complex just outside of Thassos Town. It was small and looked homely. We had considered staying in Golden Beach but the travel agent persuaded us it would probably be too quiet for us. It seemed as if our studio apartment would be a happy compromise.

The holiday was relatively cheap and therefore we did not have mega high expectations, regarding our accommodation.

We had handed over our luggage at the ferry terminal, on mainland Greece, and had been told that when we arrived at our accommodation our luggage would be there waiting for had already arrived. However it was at the edge of the road next to the path that led to our studio apartment block. When you come from a western city it is always hard to comprehend that things like this still happen and no-one would dream of stealing your luggage, well hopefully not.

THE APARTMENT

Our apartment was much as we expected. Fairly basic with nice cool marble floors, small twin beds and was clean throughout.

Each morning a couple of Greek ladies came to the apartments and prepared breakfast which we all ate Al Fresco. The lawn at the back was filled with tables and chairs and when you were ready to dine you just made your way there. The timing was very relaxed and the staff were warm and friendly. This was also one of the few times you met up with others staying in the same studios.

NEGATIVES

One of the main downsides for us was that these apartments did not have a reception that was staffed. Duringhowever there was no-one. For us this became a problem when my husband was taken ill. I ended up wandering along the dark road into Thassos Town trying to find a telephone. The garage called a doctor for me but as neither he nor the staff at the garage could speak English I gave it up as a bad job.

Ultimately everything worked out and Hubby was fine but we did report the problem to the travel reps in Thassos Town. It could have been so much worse. The reps said that they would ensure that contact numbers and telephones were available at all times in the future.

Hubby was fragile for a few days afterward and the most he could manage was sitting on the balcony for short periods of time. Whilst he then took a nap indoors I would sit there reading as I watched the tranquil world go by. With humming birds, butterflies and the scents of thyme it was lovely and peaceful. I would pop along the road to Thassos Town for a little shopping on my own and felt perfectly safe for the 20 minute, or so, walk.

Thassos town is a strange resort. With the busy harbour in the middle it is very much a working port. However the town beach is lovely and sandy and has nearby tavernas. Above this beach there are the remains of an ancient theatre and, even without visiting this, the countryside above the beach is lovely to explore. The views down over Thassos Town are breathtaking.

There is also a fishing harbour nearby and local fish restaurants. There are some old ruins along here which you can wander around and explore. Behind the harbour there are streets which are full of shops and tavernas where you can either sit in, or outside, whilst you enjoy traditional Greek food and drink. Although it can be busy at night around this part of town you can move just a little away from the centre to enjoy a more peaceful meal. Search out where the locals dine for a truly Greek experience.

We were along one of the main roads out of town and could either walk along the road into Thassos Town or along the coast. The coast had small beaches and rocks but was quite undeveloped. One of my favourite memories along here happened late one afternoon. Hubby and I were sat chilling watching the boats go out when a group of local women approached. We could here their rapid Greek chatter before we actually saw them. There must have been at least 50 local women, old and young. They all hitched up their skirts and walked out into the cooler afternoon sea to paddle, chat and generally relax.

GETTING AROUND

As usual we took the local buses and walked around the Island a little. We also went on a couple of organised excursions which we booked through an independent travel agent in Thassos Town. You can hire cars though and there are taxis that will ferry you about. Holiday friends hired bicycles and explored the roads that were flat around Thassos Town. Thassos is hilly in parts and mountainous in its interior but you can find flat roads along the coast.

TOWNS, VILLAGES AND BEACHES.

Resorts such as Limenaria in the South of the Island tend to have more German than British tourists. We visited one day on the local bus and loved this town. It has a different feel to the north of Thassos Island. However it was very windy and we were told it often was.

Makryammos Beach was recommended to us by other visitors. You can walk there but it is not for the faint hearted. However it is not a marathon walk. It is mostly uphill going and so an easier walk back. This beach has a holiday home complex where you could stay if desired. However apart from the lovely beach and bay there is nothing much at Makryammos. It is about a 30-40 minutes walk from Thassos Town, each way.

Further around from Makryammos is Golden Beach. This is one of the most photographed parts of the Island. With a long sandy strip of golden sand it is large enough to accommodate the hordes of day trippers and holiday makers. There are hotels and tavernas scattered amongst the lush foliage which goes down to the beach.

Our favourite excursion was an Island Tour which took in traditional villages, tavernas, beaches and a monastery all in the East of the Island. The monastery was especially funny, and I do not mean that irreverently. No-one is allowed to enter wearing shorts or with uncovered shoulders. We had not been warned of this aspect of our visit and so were both inappropriately dressed. Still no problem as the monastery has a basket of clothes outside just for the tourists. Of course, we all took photos of each other dressed in long skirts, baggy trousers and big shirts, even some of the men had skirts on. This monastery was high on the cliffs of Thassos and the views were terrific.

For those wanting night-life there are few clubs and bars as such. However there are lively tavernas, restaurants and the like around towns such as Thassos Town. It is not one of those Greek Islands that is loud and brash or noisy until the early hours of the morning though. However Thassos Town is bustling until late at night.

Although Thassos is commercial it still had plenty of unspoilt places to visits and had retained peace, charm and tranquility. It may have changed in recent years though.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The holiday season on Thassos is not as long as Greek Islands such as Crete. By the middle of September the evenings are cool and the days can be cloudy. Often the mornings are the sunniest and as the afternoon arrives so does the cloud over the mountains. It is not a rainy Island on the whole though. The best weather is from June to August but of course this will be the most expensive and busiest time of the year to visit.