©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Northeastern Aegean Islands Why Go? Ikaria & the Fourni The wildly varied northeastern Aegean Islands (Τα Νησιά Islands ..........................389 του Βορειοανατολικού Αιγαίου) invite intrepid travellers Samos...........................399 to escape the crowds, while experiencing old-fashioned Chios .............................409 island cuisine, culture and celebrations. Inousses ........................417 Eccentric Ikaria is marked by dramatic landscapes, Psara ............................. 418 pristine beaches and a laid-back, left-leaning population. Nearby Chios is an ecotourism paradise, provides fertile Lesvos (Mytilini) ...........420 ground for the planet’s only gum-producing mastic trees. Limnos ..........................432 The islands range from sprawling Lesvos, Greece’s third- Agios Efstratios ............436 largest island and producer of half the world’s ouzo, to mid- Samothraki ................... 437 size islands like sultry Samos and breezy Limnos, and bright Sanctuary of the specks in the sea like Inousses and Psara. Samothraki is Great Gods ...................439 home to the ancient Thracian Sanctuary of the Great Gods. Thasos .......................... 441 This group is less compact than other Greek island chains. Thasos and Samothraki are only accessible from Northern Greece ports, while Ikaria is just a skip across the water from Mykonos. Lesvos, Chios and Samos off er easy Best Places to Eat connections to Turkey’s coastal resorts and historical sites. » Restaurant Koralli (p 393 ) » O Kipos (p 402 ) When to Go » O Ermis (p 423 ) Vathy Sámos » Betty’s (p 427 ) °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 0.79/20 » O Lefkos Pyrgos (p 439 ) 30/86 0.39/15 Best Places to 20/68 0.2/5 Stay 10/50 » Rooms Dionysos (p 394 ) 0/32 0 » Archipelagos Hotel (p 398 ) J FDNOSAJJMAM » Kouitou Hotel (p 429 ) Apr & May Wild Jul & Aug Succu- Oct & Nov » Alkaios Rooms (p 423 ) red poppies lent apricots are Summer crowds adorn the back in season, perfect evaporate, and roads, and Greek for a picnic at the hearty soups Easter livens up beach. return to the every village. tavernas. Kavala Alexandroupoli 0 100 km Keramoti 0 60 miles Skala Prinou Thasos (Limenas) Thasos SEA OF THRACIAN Saros MARMARA SEA Gulf Kamariotissa Hora NORTHEASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS ISLANDS AEGEAN NORTHEASTERN E90 Samothraki GALLIPOLI Mt Athos Gökçeada Dardanelles Peninsula (Imvros) Çanakkale Limnos Troy (Truva) Myrina Bozcaada Moudros (Tenedos) TURKEY E87 Agios Efstratios Edremit Gulf Mithymna (Molyvos) Ayvalîk Sigri Lesvos Bergama Skala Eresou Mytilini E87 Vatera AEGEAN Skyros Plomari SEA Psara Inousses Inousses Town Limnos Îzmir Chios Gulf Îzmir Chios Town Çešme Mesta Ula E87 Cape Emboreios Kafireas Pyrgi Cape Evia Mastihos Kušadasî Gulf Karystos Andros Kušadasî Gavrio Andros Karlovasi Potami Beach Samos Vathy (Samos) Agios Pythagorio Tinos Kirykos Giaros Evdilos Kea Samiopoula To Lavrio (65km); Tinos Ikaria To Patmos Mykonos Fourni Piraeus (80km) Islands (20km); Syros IKARIAN SEA Kos (90km); Northeastern Aegean Islands Highlights 1 Challenge your brain northwest Samos, followed by medieval manuscripts and cells at Ikaria’s annual a swim and a drink on chilled- ecclesiastical treasures international chess out Potami Beach (p 408 ) 6 Contemplate the tournament (p 391 ) 4 Wander along the winding mysteries of the 10th century 2 Enjoy the Aegean’s best stone alleyways of Mesta BC Sanctuary of the Great lobster from a waterfront (p 415 ) in southern Chios Gods (p 439 ) on Samothraki taverna while the sun sets over 5 Gaze out over Lesvos 7 Cycle through lush old- the Fourni islands (p 397 ) from the elevated Byzantine growth forests at Thasos’ 3 Wade through the river monastery of Moni Ypsilou annual international to wooded waterfalls in (p 429 ), home of priceless mountain biking race (p 445 ).