Thassos holidays

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Skala Potamias

When it comes to the traditional Greek island experience, Thassos is the real deal. Just 12 kilometres from the mainland, it's long been a favourite holiday spot for the country's northern residents. Despite increasing popularity with visitors from other countries, it's managed to retain its quintessential Greek identity. Cue whitewashed houses. Rolling hillsides and secluded bays. The proposition here is simple. Relax on the beach. Take a dip in the crystal clear waters. While away evenings in tavernas. Apart from that all you have to do is concentrate on de-stressing and banishing any thoughts of deadlines or the daily grind. Mind you, if you're up for a spot of sightseeing, Thassos also has several interesting places to visit, including remains of its ancient past. What's more, it's just a short hop to the mainland, where there's more to see, including Kavala's Archaeological Museum and what's left of the glorious metropolis of Philippi, the first Christian city of Europe. Another alternative to the beach is Thassos's wonderful inland countryside. There are lots of lovely walking or biking trails, taking you through eye-catching landscapes of pine forests, olive groves and valleys. And if you're feeling really adventurous, you could take a hike up Mount Ipsarion, the island's highest peak, which soars to over 1200 metres. Choose Thassos and you won't be shopping for Britain or dancing 'til dawn in a pulsating disco. But if you like your islands small, friendly and as Greek as a glass of ouzo, this is the place for you.

Memorable moment...

Limenas Archaeological Museum
Widely regarded as one of the best Greek museums outside Athens, this well stocked establishment has a fine collection of historical artefacts, including pottery, sculpture and coins. Highlights are the 7th century BC plate depicting Bellerephon on Pegasus slaying the Chimera, and an unfinished 11-foot high Kriophorus sculpture from the 6th century BC.

Ancient Limenas
Limenas stands on the site of an ancient city, and there are several marble ruins and monuments that can still be seen today on the outskirts of town. Among the most interesting are the ancient walls which encircled the city, the acropolis and the Temple of Apollo.

Archangelou Monastery
Situated close to the picture-postcard village of Aliki, and set dramatically on cliffs overlooking the sea, stands the slate-roofed Monastery Archangelou. You can visit the pretty courtyard and church – just remember to cover your shoulders and knees.

Mount Ipsarion
Travel south of Limenas, through the charming hilltop village of Panayia, and you are in the foothills of Thassos's highest peak, Mount Ipsarion. The four-hour walk up the mountain is not easy, but it's worth it for the spectacular views.

Mountain Biking
Freeriders. Downhillers. Trekkers. If you're into cycling, Thassos is your dream destination. The island's got everything from well-ridden trails to daring dirt tracks taking you through some spectacular scenery. So get on your bike and ride.

Watersports
It's kind of a given that most Greek islands will be bursting at the seams with watersports. And Thassos is no exception - you'll find everything from kayaks and peddle boats to adrenaline-packed banana boats and parasailing in the beach resorts here. And as there's an almost constant breeze, it's great for windsurfing, kite surfing and sailing, too.

Skala Marion Sunset
The island's west coast is the place for spectacular sunsets. A good spot for a sundowner is Skala Marion, around 10 miles from Limenaria. It's a pleasant beach in a gorgeous little bay, dotted with colourful fishing boats.

Horse Riding
What could be better than getting on horseback and going for a leisurely amble through some of the island's glorious countryside? There are several places to hire horses on Thassos, including an equestrian centre in the picturesque village of Rachoni, just inland from Skala Rachoni.

Philippi
Make the short hydrofoil trip to Kavala on the mainland and you can visit the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi, the first Christian city of Europe. Sightseeing highlights include the theatre, originally built by Philip II then remodelled by the Romans to accommodate gladiatorial games, the acropolis, with three Byzantine towers built over the originals, and the Roman baths, unfortunately stripped of their mosaics during World War II.

Kavala
If you're heading for the mainland, there's also a fair amount of sightseeing interest in your destination port, Kavala. Check out the Archaelogical Museum, the Municipal Museum and the House of Mehmet Ali, Viceroy of Egypt, which remains largely as it was when built in 1720.

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Beaches

When it comes to beaches, Thassos is your oyster. A circular road runs right round the coast, giving relatively easy access to just about every bay, cove and inlet. If you're prepared to hire a car and do a bit of exploring, you might even be lucky enough to find somewhere all to yourself, if you don't mind a little legwork that is. Wherever you choose to lay your towel, it's likely the swimming will be good and generally safe. Most beaches, particularly the larger ones, shelve gently into the sea and the waters are calm, so the kids can splash about to their hearts' content. Probably the best stretch of sand on the island is the aptly named Paradise Beach, near Kinyra on the east coast. It's straight out of the Caribbean, with a glorious sweep of powder-white sands lapped by azure-blue waters. Other gems are the vast beach at Limenaria and the twin beaches at Aliki, which are framed by pine-clad hills and overlooked by a quaint, whitewashed village. And don't forget the family-orientated Chrysi Ammoudhia, or 'Golden Beach', tucked between the villages of Skala Panagias and Skala Potamias, with Mount Ipsarion as an impressive backdrop.

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Highlights

Highlights offer endless opportunities to discover, wonder, relax and enjoy - here is a selection...

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Evening Flavour

Thassos carefully protects its trademark laid-back ambience, so doesn't have the sizzling nightlife of Corfu or Rhodes. However, there are plenty of bars where you can down a few drinks in a lively atmosphere, and quite a few have music playing into the early hours. Many of the hotels also put on special events, including poolside barbecues, beach parties and entertainment, including live music, dancing and folklore shows. In Limenas and the other major towns, the seaside is the place to find most of the action, with the beach often serving as a dance floor. In Limenaria, the island's second largest town, the whole waterfront seems to light up after dark into one long bar, with a seemingly endless string of watering holes, all playing different kinds of music from traditional Greek to heavy metal. If you want to immerse yourself in authentic Greek culture, head for one of the music tavernas or bouzouki bars that are all around Limenas and the other bigger towns. The tunes may not be in your hit parade, but it's a fun night out with the bonhomie flowing as freely as the drinks. You might even be encouraged to leave your inhibitions at the door and have a go at some communal dancing a la Zorba the Greek. Alternatively, if you're into the blues, why not check out the Greek version, 'rembetika'? There are several joints where you can catch skilled practitioners of this raw, urban protest music, which originated in the hashish dens of Piraeus and Thessaloniki at the beginning of the 20th century.
Island Cafe, Limenas A great place for after-dinner cocktails and music, this lively beachside bar is at the eastern end of town just past the old harbour. Kick off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes as you dance to the latest sounds.
XXL Club, Limenas This popular venue has a real party atmosphere and is about as close as Thassos gets to the kind of pulsating nightlife you'll find on other Greek islands.
Rock Cave Bar, Limenaria Like your rock as heavy as Thassos's famous marble? If so, this is the place for you. It's right on the beach and the music is head-banging, but not so loud that you can't have a chat.
Mandragoras Bar, Skala Potamias Right next to the beach, this welcoming bar serves coffee and snacks in the morning and cocktails in the afternoon and evening. There's a cool terrace with straw parasols.

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Shopping

Generally speaking, supermarkets and souvenir stores rule the roost in the beach resorts. But if you do fancy a spot of retail therapy, make a beeline for the capital, Limenas. Along the pedestrianised main drag you'll find plenty of shops where you can part with your euros. However, if you're after an authentic Greek retail experience, head for the west coast town of Prinos on a Monday morning. It's market day and you can join the melee of bargain hunters picking over stalls piled high with fresh fruit and vegetables, clothes, shoes, household items and more. When it comes to souvenirs, the usual ceramics, leather goods, linen and jewellery are the favourites, but if you search around you may find some more unusual items, for example marble carvings. Alternatively, ever a good buy is Greek honey, and you'll find plenty of locally-made liquid gold in the supermarkets and souvenir shops.

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