Greek Islands Travel Planning – Thassos, Lemnos, and Samothraki
Greek Islands Travel Planning is the summary of my three-week road trip to three Greek islands during the summer of 2016 (July). The pace of traveling was slow and flexible. I could go and stay wherever I wanted with my car.
Greek Islands Travel Planning – General Planning
My travel planning for the Greek Islands of Thasos, Lemnos, and Samothraki started somewhere around one month before the trip. I used an old Lonely Planet Guide to find some names of places that are worth a visit. I would have loved to visit Santorini too, but it was too far and out of my reach. As I was traveling in my car, I didn’t bother too much with the planning. I was flexible to go, stop, and stay wherever I wanted. I only searched for camping places on the ACSI Campings website and saved some print screens with the locations of all the main camping sites in the region.
Greek Islands Travel Planning – Fixed Plans
– nothing
Greek Islands Travel Planning – Intentions, but nothing fixed
When I left for the Greek Islands, all I knew was that I wanted to go to the following three islands (but I hadn’t fixed dates for them):
– go to Thasos Island, probably from Kavala Port (there’s also an alternative option from Keramoti)
– also, go to Lemnos Island, but I had no idea from where (eventually, I took a ferry from Kavala, and I was hoping for a ferry between Thasos and Lemnos – it wasn’t the case, though …)
– go to Samothraki Island, but I had no idea from where (I was hoping for a ferry between Lemnos and Samothraki – there’s no such thing, there’s only one ferry company operating from Alexandroupolis to Samothraki island)
Greek Islands Travel Planning – Final Result
The final result of the trip to these Greek Islands, where I stayed for three weeks, is a series of three travelogues. Enjoy your reading and let me know your opinion about Greek Islands. Which is your favorite place in Greece? Why?
Greek Islands – Thassos Island (6-8 days) –
- two days driving from Romania to Greece, crossing Bulgaria (via Sibiu – Calafat – Sofia – Kulata – Kavala)
- ferry from Kavala port to Skala Prinos (on Thassos Island), and beach in Ormos Prinos
- road trip from Ormos Prinos to Pefkari (with lots of detours), via Ormos Prinos – Skala Prinos – Rahoni – Agios Georgios – Prinos – Moni Agios Panteleimonos – Mikros Prinos – Skala Sotiros – Skala Kallirachis – Kallirachi – Skala Marion – Pefkari
- round road trip from Pefkari, via Limenaria – Moni Karakallou – Maries – Limenaria – Potos – Theologos – Pefkari
- road trip from Pefkari to Chryssi Ammoudia (with lots of stops), via Pefkari – Moni Archangelou – Aliki – Loutra – Kinyra – Potamia – Panagia – Chryssi Ammoudia
- round road trip from Chryssi Ammoudia, via Thassos town – Marble Beach (Saliria and Porto Vathi) – back to Chryssi Ammoudia
- ferry from Thassos town to Keramoti, plus a relaxing and writing day in Camping Batis Multiplex, Kavala
Thassos Island – pristine waters, marble beaches, authentic villages, Greece
The version in Romanian of this post can be found at Insulele Grecesti, Thassos.
Greek Islands – Lemnos Island (5 days) –
- ferry from Kavala to Myrina, on Lemnos Island, and sunbathing afternoon on Keros beach
- road trip on the eastern side of Lemnos Island (with lots of detours), via Keros Beach – Kalliopi – Panagia – Plaka – Port Plakas – Sanctuary of Kabeiroi – Antic Theater of Hephaistia – Kontopouli – Romanou – Poliohni neolithic site – Skandali – Fisini – Moni Agios Sozon Monastery – Moudros – Keros Beach
- road trip on the western side of Lemnos Island (with lots of detours), via Keros Beach – Kontopouli – Romanou – Portianos – Kontias – Nevgatis Beach – Thanos – Myrina – Kaspakes – Dafni – Atsiki – Kotsinas Beach – Keros Beach
- extra visit in Myrina – Gomati Beach and stayed on the beach overnight
- Gomati Beach to Myrina, ferry from Myrina (Lemnos Island) to Kavala, and highway from Kavala to Alexandroupolis
Lemnos Island – secluded beaches, whitewashed chapels, fried octopus, Greece
The version in Romanian of this post can be found at Insulele Grecesti, Lemnos.
Greek Islands – Samothraki Island (5 days) –
- ferry from Alexandroupolis to Kamariotissa and then road trip via Hora – Paleopolis – Camping Varades 1 – Fonias River (and vathres) – Kipos Beach
- road trip from Varades Camping 1, via the archaeological site of Paleopolis – Hora – Alonia – Lakoma – Profitis Ilias – Xiropotamos (vathres) – Pahia Ammos Beach – Camping Varades 1
- short drive Camping Varades 1 – Therma – Kamariotissa – Camping Varades 1
- short drive Camping Varades 2 – Hora – Therma (bouzouki concert)
- ferry from Kamariotissa to Alexandroupolis and afternoon at the beach of the municipal camping
- one day driving from Greece to Romania, crossing Bulgaria (via Alexandroupolis – Veliko Trnovo – Russe – Bucharest)
Samothraki Island – pebbled beaches, goat dishes, bouzouki music, Greece
The version in Romanian of this post can be found at Insulele Grecesti, Samothraki.
This is the summary of the three-week road trip to the Greek Islands of Thassos, Lemnos, and Samothraki. Enjoy your reading and let me know your opinion about the Greek Islands. Which is your favorite island in Greece? Why? Where would you go?
Thanks for sharing your itinerary – I love that you had intentions but nothing was fixed – that’s the magic of a road trip! It’s fab to know too that you can catch ferries between the different destinations – assuming this ferry ride includes the car too?
I was hoping that I’ll be able to catch ferry between different destination but no, it was not possible. I had to come back from where I left and take a new ferry so instead of taking two ferries I had to take three of them. Yes, you can bring the car on the ferry, pretty expensive though.
I like the fact that you have visited some of the lesser known Greek islands. So far I’ve only been to the mainland in Greece but island hopping sounds like great fun. Thanks for the handy itinerary suggestions
I think that Greece is mostly well-known for its hundreds of islands. Since Greece is very close to Romania, I always hear people going to all sorts of hidden gems. I hope that my itinerary has some good suggestions for your future trips.
I love that you traveled in your own car to give you so much more flexibility. I have never been to any of these islands, but the Lemnos Island with secluded beaches looks gorgeous. I also love fried ocotpus so that’s a huge plus in my book!
Lemnos island is not touristic at all, although it has well-preserved archaeological sites and secluded beaches. The reason why it’s not packed up with tourist (as Thassos) is because you need a five-hours ferry trip to get there. The accessibility is very difficult but once you get there you’re rewarded at every step.
Thassos is such a beautiful island, I can’t wait to go back! But I think I have to visit some of the other islands you mention now. 🙂
Thassos is very touristic from my point of view, but Lemnos is more remote and authentic. let me know when you visit other Greek islands. I would like to hear more impressions.
This is such a great resource for my dream trip to Greece. It was so kind of you to share. I think Greece is the perfect place to wander around and see what you can discover. I love that you declared that you had intentions, but that nothing was fixed for sure. I wish I could be more flexible in my travels!
I am sure you will be able to be more flexible in your travels. It all depends on the choices and priorities we make.
This is great Post about Planning Greek island vacation.You could travel on flexible dates and also you had done cross country trips. Samothraki island looks kind of Place I like. Does ferries between islands carry cars too??
Yes, the ferries carry cars too but pay attention on the very high rates in high season. better go in spring or autumn.
Despite having lived in Europe for almost four years, I still haven’t been to Greece! I definitely need to go. It sounds like island hopping would make for a great summer vacation!
This is a dream of mine – to do island hopping, but I still don’t know how to plan that. It is great having a car but the ferries cost a lot in Greece, especially in high season.
You know Luliana, when I read your other posts about the Lemnos island, and Thassos island, I was kind of wondering about the itinerary. Island hopping is surely way different from normal road trips as that involves taking ferries. Now, I am happy to see this post about the island itineraries. Hope to see some more posts about some other islands.
Offf, unfortunately you won’t see because I have been to only these three islands … But I have plans to do an island hopping one day. It would be better to make a group so that we can share the ferry expenses for the car.
Thanks for generously sharing your itinerary. I haven’t been to Greece however, it is one of our target destination coz my boyfriend is partly Greek. Do you think a two-weeks in Greece will be enough to enjoy the whole sun, sea, and sands? We are thinking to visit next summer.
I think that in two weeks you can choose several islands and stay only there. I stayed 10 days in Crete and there were still so many interesting places to see.
It looks like your decision to be flexible and have no fixed itinerary booked in advance really worked out well. Did you find any challenges to finding accommodation or did everything fall into place. I’ve not read much about Thasos, Lemnos, or Samothraki so am now interested in reading a bit more. We love self drive trips in Europe so this would appeal to us too.
You don’t need to book when you stay in camping grounds, especially if you only have a car and a tent. Greek campsites are pretty big, so usually there’s no problem finding a spot.
This itinerary sounds so good. Road trips turn out exciting when not elaborately planned, just have the destination in mind. Good that ferry rides are possible. I so wish to go island hopping for a great summer vacation next 2021.
Yes, let’s all hope this will be possible asap.
I wish I had the luxury to travel and be in a road trip for that long. It would be an exciting experience to visit these Greek Islands. Thassos Island is so far is on top of our minds to visit. 🙂
Well, three weeks wasn’t that much. I used to travel for longer when I visited a farther country.
I’d love to explore the Greek isles more. I’ve been to a few, but there are so many to choose from. I’m not sure if I’d want to stay and explore one island as you have itineraries for or bop around a bit to different islands. Such a great place to explore!
There are so many Greek Islands that I think it is impossible to visit all of them. But Taking one isle at a time, or several islands that are somehow grouped, makes sense.