THASSOS is the most northerly Greek holiday island in the Aegean group and lies just off the Macedonian coast of mainland Greece.
Fabulously wealthy in ancient times thanks to large deposits of gold and marble, Thassos nowadays lies outside the top league of Greek holiday islands but it still has as much to offer the visitor, with some great beaches and very fine holiday resorts.
One of the biggest advantages of Thassos as a beach holiday destination is an excellent road that rings the island, providing easy access to the sandy beaches that dot the attractive coastline. Strangley, not many tour companies promote Thassos holidays so the island is something of a hidden gem.
Marble quarries still mar some parts of the island and forest fire damage is still evident in the south, but green pine trees carpet most of Thassos and lead to its being rightly dubbed the 'Emerald Isle'. Side roads lead inland to many charming hill villages and extensive woodland.
Slightly off the main tourist trail, Thassos is nevertheless very easy to reach from the mainland airport at Kavala. Thassos and many other Greek islands feature in the latest offers from several holiday firms
One of the most northerly of the Greek islands, Thassos escapes the wild blast of the meltemi wind in July and August. The flip side can be hot and sticky weather at the height of summer, and occasional rain.
Although some Thassos beaches have been tarted with lorry loads of sand much remains authentic and charming. The island is small enough for any resort to be easily reached and Thassos beaches are rarely crowded. The interior hills are cloaked in pine and criss-crossed with paths, making this a good island for walkers.
Thassos has some very impressive beaches, with the best in the south and east. While some, like Limenaria, are unmemorable, others like Paradiso and Alyki are quite breathtaking. There are also many delightful coves to be found off the beaten track.
Thassos is not for island hoppers as it is away from the main ferry routes. But, being close to the mainland and with a regular daily ferry service, Thassos is popular with Europeans, especially Germans, who can make their way overland.
Thassos has no airport so most visitors fly to nearby Kavala or to Thessaloniki, on the mainland, and get one of the regular ferries from Thessaloniki or the port of Keramouti.
Thassos Town is well served by a regular ferry shuttle from Keramouti. There are also daily ferries from Skala Prinos to the mainland port of Kavala.
A road runs follows the coast around much of Thassos giving easy access to most beaches by car or bus.
Sandy beaches are found all around the roughly circular Thassos coast. Access is easy from the round-island coast road.
West coast beaches tend to be calmer and backed by olive groves on the flat fertile plains. East coast beaches can be more dramatic with wooded hills rising behind.
Most Thassos beaches are good sand and they have good facilities with tavernas always nearby or on the beach itself. Many also have watersports.
Thassos is most northern island in the Aegean Sea, 8km from the Macedonia mainland, about 380 sq km and roughly circular at 24km across.
Thassos has thick forests, olive groves and vineyards fed by underground springs. The south is rich in minerals such as lead, silver, copper and marble.
Thassos is milder than most Greek islands and unaffected by the northern meltemi wind that blows in August.
