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Vatera - Lesvos
- 81 300 - Greece Tel. +30 22520 61121, +30 22520 61855 - Fax. +30 22520
61821::
Emails:
hibiscustravel@yahoo.co.uk
&
hibiscustravel@lesvos-ecotourism.com
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IKARIA
...The Island of Ikarus
....The first flying man
Town &
Villages
 Very near Ikaria in the waters of the Ikarian Sea, there are three small islands, Fournoi, Thymaina and Agios Minas. They were ancient refuges for pirates, with nice beaches, small gulfs and clean waters. Today they still attract visitors, who can get there with local boats for pleasant day trips.
Ikaria, with its virgin and wild nature has many pleasant surprises in store for its visitors. The wonderful climate, the landscapes of exquisite beauty, the deep shaded gorges with the crystal clear running waters, the attractive beaches, the cool clean sea, the mountain villages with the local architecture, the small fishing villages clinging on to its beautiful coasts compose the picture of an excellent place for holidays and healthy living.
The southern part of Ikaria is sheer rugged, and sparsely vegetated. It is separated from the northern part, which is flatter, has abundant vegetation and running waters, with the tall narrow mountain range of Atheras (highest elevation 1048 m).
The capital town of Agios Kirikos and main port of the island with the two-storied mariners houses and balconies full of flowers is located on the southern side, where the coasts are rocky, with small gulfs and clean blue waters. Taking the road to the left of the capital, amidst the sea and lots of greenery, we see Therma Lefkadas the warm mineral waters springing form its coast. Then we meet Xylosirtis, where roofs of houses are made with stone and gardens are full of apricot trees. Very near is the tiny village Chrysostomos. Not far to the east of Agios Kirikos lies Therma (1km) with its radioactive thermal springs that have been renowned since antiquity for their marvellous medical qualities and results. Here you can find everything you may need. Mini-markets, sandy small shops, tourist and rend a bike/car offices, bakeries, tavernas with outstanding Greek food and fish, a little café and three sandy beaches (one very long and two small). Three kilometres west is the hamlet of Nas with a picturesque bay, a deep river coming to the beach from a fantastic gorge named "Hallaris". In one of the banks of the river you can see the ruins of the ancient temple of worship to goddess "Artemis" and in some minutes walk, a waterfall with a little lake where you can go swimming. Some little pensions and tavernas are around the village.
From Armenistis quite a tiny village despite being the main resort of the island (as the starting point for several excursions by car, bike or on foot) you can admire the beauty of Raches area, a landscape full of vineyards, olive groves, forests of pine and cypress, dramatic gorges, rivers, lakes etc
Armenistis Village
 Getting to the Raches area will reveal to you villages full of greenery, as Agios Polykarpos, Agios Dimitrios, Mandria and lead to the village Christos Raches. The village square looks like a giant stone balcony, overlooking the north side of the island and the deep sea. A strange village so sleepy during the morning, but changing during the afternoon and the evening into party mode, with all the shops and tavernas suddenly open and singing, dancing and music going on well into the night, until very early in the morning, with almost everything open even the super-markets, pharmacies, etc.
Christos Raches
 On the northern side, where the coasts have beautiful sandy beaches, there is the port of Evdilos, the second port of the island where you will arrive from Piraeus or Samos, from here towards to Nas, there lays a string of five, golden sandy beaches for swimming. At Campos the lovely sandy beach is littered with bits of marble colours washed up from the now submerged, ancient city of Oinoi. The small museum with remarkable archaeological exhibits will open for you if you ask the curator from his nearby shop. Ruins of the ancient city still stand. Always to the west, you are surprised to meet villages of unusual beauty like Gialiskari (Yialiskari). Its endless golden beach, is literally buried in pine trees and has a small port, with many fishing boats and some nice fish tavernas with the so clean blue green sea, is surely a sight with its tiny little church, on the east starting point of the beach.
Visitors must be ready to accept the warm Ikarian hospitality and the simple Ikarian kindness so that they can learn and appreciate the traditions, customs and rich cultural heritage of this unique land.
Faros Village
 At
the eastern tip of Ikaria lies the settlement of Fanari also known as Faros.
Faros is located on a small plane with many vineyards and is home to a growing
number of houses, most of them summer cottages used by the inhabitants of Agios
Kirikos and Perdiki... MORE
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