While part of the Dodecanese, Karpathos and its little sisters, Kassos, and mysterious Saria are set apart both in distance and in spirit, and occupy almost a world of their own. Lawrence Durrell once wrote that Karpathos was an ideal hideaway. He was right: once the jagged coast provided cover for pirates, and some say that Karpathos's name derives from the word arpakatos, for "robbery".
The so-called "Light of Greece", loved by artists and immortalized by poets, is strong here, drenching the island and shadowing the sharp mountains. High above, the local Olymbos clings fiercely to its traditions, enjoying fame for its long, elaborate wedding ceremonies, the traditional costume still worn daily by the women, and its many religious festivals. The Olymbitic dialect still retains many ancient Doric words, a treat for linguists. Diafani shows traces of a Minoan settlement and Hellenistic-era public baths.
With so much living tradition on the island, Karpathos' music is particularly vivid and haunting, and will ring in the ears long after the visitor has traveled to some sunny crowded island elsewhere in the Aegean. Here, musicians are respected community leaders, who often have the skills to make their own instruments as well.
On Carpathos, the windmills still put in a full day's labor, and don't have the luxury of being merely decorative like their famous Mykonian counterparts.
The mountainous tracks of Carpathos are ideal for hiking, and several suggested treks can be followed by the interested visitor.
But Carpathos has as many beautiful beaches as it does rugged mountains. Generally, Karpathos beaches are uncrowded, perfect crescents of sand against vivid blue water which will provide a nice break from hiking or sightseeing.
Arkasa in recent years has become a tourist complex with hotels and services. One of these is the Arkesia Hotel, featuring an interpretation of the traditional architecture, complete with decorative windmills.
The Dodecanese is a popular area for yachting. If you are sailing to Carpathos, you will probably dock in the busy port of Pigadia in the southern part of the island.
Like many Greek islands and regions, native sons and daughters return to Carpathos even after many years away, and rarely lose their love for this island that is harsh and beautiful by turn. Expat Karpathians in the U.S. meet annually to remember the home island far away.
You'll remember Carpathos, too.
How to Get There:
Although rugged, Carpathos has an airport in the south of the island. During summer, there are daily flights from Athens and Rhodes.
Karpathos can also be reached by boat directly from Piraeus, and there are boats from Rhodes as well.
Here are some links to help you plan your Karpathian interlude:
Karpathos and Kassos
Excellent page from the Aegean Webserver, loaded with information and photos.
Karpathos
Locally-generated page with info about visiting the island. Perky audio, photo album, even a chat room.
Karpathos Island
Brief but well-intentioned page. Their insider advice? Don't book a hotel - arrive and find -or, more likely, be met by room hawkers as you dock - a place you like.
Karpathos Hotels
List of "B"-class hotels on Karpathos, with on-line booking. No images for any of the listings.
Karpathos - Hotel Atlantis
Quick introduction to this pleasantly-situated hotel. English, German, and Italian are all spoken.
Carpathos (Karpathos) - Sunrise Hotel
New (1991) 3-star hotel in the main town of Pigadia. Discount for Internet users, but prices are reasonable to start with. From Aegean.
Karpathos Map
Simple, clear map detailing places of interest to the visitor.
Kassos Island
From Dilos. Good look at this small neighbor of Karpathos.
Towns -Avlona
Virtually visit the heart of Karpathos, the agricultural village of Avlona. Here's a real working windmill.
Towns - Olymbos and Diafani Village Homepage
Detailed, pleasant pages focusing on these two Karpathian villages, plus lots of extra information on Karpathos in general.
Check out the rest of the Dodecanese islands with my for the island group.
