The following suggestion is only for those who like to improvise during their holiday enjoying long hikes and adventure travel!

On your way to Maltezana, ask the bus driver to drop you off at the last junction before the island’s airport. If you decide to head from Maltezana to Psili Ammos by taxi, tell the driver to drop you off at the intersection just before the airport, which leads to Psili Ammos. You can certainly reach the place using your own vehicle or a rented car/ motorcycle which you can easily find on the island.

Walk the dirt road that starts in front of you. It is a nice footpath that ends to the beach of Psili Ammos with its fine golden sand and the peaceful environment! During your walk you will see several beautiful and funny images inspired by the locals who do not let anything go to waste.

We followed the road past the end of the beach at Livadi. It was a course without a map, one of those when the eager traveller is just seeking new experiences and excitement!

I admit I did not tell you the whole truth from the start. We got off at the stop Livadi, following a group of French people, two girls and a boy with whom we exchanged a few words as we were earlier crammed in the stairs at the front door of the minibus, which runs the regular service during the summer time.
I saw them skipping the bustling, lively beach of Livadi, continuing uphill making the round – circular path to the gravel road that leads to the south-western side of the island. They only had a few items with them, such as a T-shirt, summer shorts, a pair of glasses and their rapid pace! All three of them were charming – beautiful, yet simple and freed of unnecessary weights, enjoying the Greek summer.

I immediately brought back in my mind old stories that I used to hear as a kid about the red-hot north-Europeans, the Swedish girls that were discovering unspoiled Crete over the summers, the magical Aegean Sea with its beaches, some of which still remain undiscovered! In the search of romantic adventures and total liberation…

 

My mind travelled to a beautiful beach that deserves to be discovered! A “secret beach” that deserves our attention! They stopped after some time – maybe after about 15 minutes of walk – to a certain point on the road and then started a downhill course. At the steep parts of the road, we could see them grabbing the barbed wire that existed along the course and was placed there in order to determine the boundaries of the properties and the pastures, as I learnt later on. The goats that are regularly left there enjoy the low – sparse vegetation of the pastures…

We followed the downhill watching them slowly disappear, until we could not see them anymore. On the left, we could see an abandoned building of distinct archaeological interest (I was not able to find any further information concerning the name and use of this space). Reaching the end of the trail, we found ourselves at the only spot from where we could enjoy a great view of the beach with its big pebbles∙ a view of the beach that had already surrendered to the midday sun of August!

Many people, mostly tourists without the moral constraints of Greek uprightness, enjoyed swimming without any unnecessary dependencies … Naked bodies lying on the big pebbles… dozens of books accompanying the bathers… a foreign family with their children playing on the beach… under the hot summer sun… The whole scenery offered a sense of absolute tranquillity as we were enjoying the view to the town of Chora in the distance, which seemed like it was perched on the rock.

I noticed that the big Tzanaki was joined to smaller ones. In order to approach the latter, we had to climb the high rocks which separate the small cavities of the beach! This is where we saw the company of the French again!

Unique pictures, a little adventure over the course of the day and our way back to our accommodation by the local bus… At the end of the day what remained in my mind was the joy of discovery!

A destination worthy of your attention! However, be careful not to disturb the special character of the area!

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Koukania worth your watch if you are in the island. Is taking place every August 15 in Pera Gialos!

Yialos flooded with visitors and locals to attend and participate in this popular celebration that includes lots of games and participating youth of the island. feeding yogurt, pulling the rope, fights with eggs, “peteino”, etc.

The “peteino” is pretty fan as you can see youngsters trying to catch a basket with a fake rooster at the edge of a column over the sea which is greased with grease to slide! Everyone end up in the sea, and the winner is this who will be able to pick up the cart!

Chora is a magnificent city in every aspect. The city’s wild beauty is a mixture of the architecture of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. It is the setoff of Astypalaia as it is visible from every spot on the island!

It is visible from Maltezana and Livadi down to the road which leads to Vatses, Kaminaka and Ayios Ioannis. You can also see it as you are drawing away from Pera Yalos and you are heading to Kounoupes and Koutsomyti by boat. Whoever you ask about Chora will tell you that it differs from the other islands in the Aegean Sea; it is the unique character of the city, its long history and the role it was called to play as the last safe shelter from the attacks of the pirates who were pretty active in the area.

However, there is nothing like the spectacular summer night view of the city! You should not miss wandering around the city in full moon! Hike up to Panorama and relax at the regional road which connects Chora to Pera Yalos and offers a great view. Try to reach a high spot on the hill. Go to Livadi or even to some beach of Tzanakia. The extraordinary view will definitely compensate you for your effort…