THASSOS Greece is the most northerly holiday island in the Aegean group, lying just off the coast of mainland Greece. Fabulously wealthy in ancient times, Thassos may now be outside the top league of Greek holiday islands but it still has a great deal to offer with some great beaches and fine holiday resorts.
Much of the archaeological heritage of Thassos island has unfortunately been lost and marble quarries still mar some parts of the island but a very good coast road gives easy access to its many Thassos beaches and some charming hill villages.
Dubbed the 'Emerald Isle', Thassos is covered in pine trees and is notably green. Slightly off the main tourist trail, it has also escaped the notice of big package holiday firms but still easy to reach from the mainland airport at Kavala.
Although Thassos islanders have tarted up some resorts with lorry loads of fake sand and imports of chip fat fryers, much remains authentic and charming. The island is small enough for any resort to be easily reached, Thassos beaches are rarely crowded and the interior hills are cloaked in pine forest and criss-crossed with paths.
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 is hot and sticky weather at the height of summer, and occasional rain.
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 breathtaking. There are also delightful coves off the beaten track.
Thassos is not for island hoppers. It is off the main ferry routes but its position, close to the mainland and with a regular ferry service, makes it popular with Europeans, especially Germans, who can get there easily by car.
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Limenas Thassos
Roman amphitheatre Thassos
Thassos ruins
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THASSOS TOWN, known locally as LIMENAS or LIMIS is the island's main town, though not its main port which lies to the east at Ormos Prinou. Thassos Town was once split between a pretty port to the east and an ugly, cement wasteland to the west. Much has been done in recent years to spread its appeal.
The marble laden lorries that once roared through the town centre have been moved west and swathes of dirt and cement have been re-paved and planted with attractive shrubbery.
Visiting tourists, streaming off the ferry from mainland Keramouti, are still greeted by the sight of the ugly new harbour but it is only a short walk to the traffic-free centre where things improve considerably.
The prettiest part of Thassos Town is around the old port and revamped marina. Traffic restrictions have paved the way for taverna tables, trinket shops and tables in the street piled high with jars of Thassos honey. A few tavernas makes your heart sink - neon menus, greasy chips and canned vegetables - but most are good.
The attractive old harbour may be swamped by tourist-hungry tavernas but it still enjoys a warm, rustic atmosphere with brightly painted fishing boats bobbing against the harbour wall as strolling tourists wind around quays littered with ropes and fishing nets.
Thassos town has several good archaeological sites. The Agora, next to the newly-built Archaeological Museum has Roman foundations of shops and houses while the amphitheatre in the hills above Thassos Town still hosts summer performances, with fabulous views over the bay.
Further along the hill ridge are some well-restored city walls and substantial remains of an Acropolis, with temples to Apollo and Athena. Back in town, ancient ruins crop up between the shops and houses. Those not fenced off have almost disappeared under the concrete.
Thassos Town beach lies to the east of the old harbour. It is long and deep and is occasionally tarted up with lorry loads of sand, but it's still a pleasant enough spot. The shallow waters are ideal for children and the tourist facilities, such as sunbeds and showers, are plentiful.
A string of pleasant tavernas line the road behind and the beach is interspersed with attractive tamarisk trees offering natural shade.
The more mountainous east coast of Thassos is covered in thick pine forests that are crisscrossed with hill tracks and fire breaks. The road runs along the coast, then cuts inland, rising up around tortuous bends to the hill village of Panagia before dropping down again to Skala Potamis on the coast.
Beaches tend to be smaller and more intimate on this side of Thassos island with high, pine-covered slopes often reaching right down to the shore. Mountain villages like Panagia and Potamia are a big draw, both for ad-hoc visitors and for organised coach parties.
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Makryamos beach Thassos
The medium-sized, sandy beach at MAKRYAMMOS looks delightful when approached by boat. Steep, pine-clad hills sweep down to the crescent bay of white sand. Closer inspection however reveals a few flaws.
First is the lack of space on the sands thanks to a huge chalet-cum-bungalow complex hidden in the surrounding wooded hills (actually part of a nature reserve). Early risers snap up the best Makryammos beach spots and late arrivals must scratch for what little sand and shade is left.
Second, the Makryammos bay appears to attract huge gobs of leaves from the surrounding woods. The dead leaves coagulate into great black mounds in the sea then slump like beached whales on the shoreline attracting swarms of flies.
Third is a self-service beach cafe that served up little more than burgers, chips, ketchup and cola. Self-service queues are what many people go on a Greek holiday to avoid, although this one seemed busy enough.
Makryammos beach is a favourite with day-trip boats which tie up at a breakwater some distance from the beach. Access from the main road above is through the holiday camp complex where 'Private Property' signs deter the passer-by and give the impression that Makryammos beach is private - it is not.
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Panagia Thassos
Panagia woodland walks
The coast road turns inland and into the hills to the neighbouring picturesque hillside villages of PANAGIA also pronounced PANAHIA and POTAMIS or POTAMIA. Both villages are a big tourist draw thanks to their lovely position, buried in deep woodland on the east coast hillsides above the coastal resorts of Skala Potamia and Golden Beach.
Packed with tavernas they offer a change from the seaside resorts and provide cheaper meals too, though narrow streets and heavy traffic of Panagia in particular can give them a busy, claustrophobic air.
Just before entering Panagia a sharp left turn takes you down the hillside to the eastern end of Golden Beach. Those heading for Skala Potamis take a left turn in the centre of the village.
In Panagia village centre there are the cafes and tavernas clustered around a central fountain which gushes water from local springs. Paved streets head up into the hills where there are several walks through wooded hillsides and valleys. The countryside is particularly lush even in high summer and the walks offer fine views over the hills. Booklets giving details of local treks can be bought in shops in Limenas (see Thassos Facts).
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Potamia Thassos
POTAMIA, also called POTAMIS, is a much quieter and more relaxed than Panagia simply because the main road bypasses the village. There is a soporific appeal about Potamia, with small cafes dotted here and there along narrow village streets that often seem deserted.
The Greek American artist Polygnotos Vagis was born in Potamis and a small museum devoted to his works can be found in the village. Like Panagia, the Potamia area is a favourite for walkers with many woodland paths that reach right up into the hills. Paths also lead down to the coastal beaches at Skala Potamia and Golden Beach, about four kilometres away.
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Golden Beach Thassos
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Each day at around 10.30 am boat owners on the harbour front at Limenas yell 'Goooooolden beach' as they tout for passing trade. The boats are heading for the long, sandy bay at GOLDEN BEACH or CHRISI AMMOUDIA. Many brochures boast that the sands are the best on Thassos but they aren't, at the eastern end at least - they are just the biggest.
Golden Beach is very long and deep with low dunes and scrubland stretched out behind. The beach sweeps right around a huge bay with Chrisi Amoudia at the eastern end, ostensibly the town beach for Panagia village, and Skala Potamis at the western end serving as the beach resort of Potamia village.
The sands at Golden Beach are quite narrow, with low dunes and scrub set on a large plain behind the beach. Golden Beach narrows to nothing in the middle of the bay and disappears into low rocks before emerging again in the west. Despite its size Golden Beach can still get quite crowded, particularly at both ends where the tour boats pull in.
The wide-open sweep of the Golden Beach bay and scruffy shoreline can give parts of the beach a quite desolate air but at each end there is plenty of sand. A road runs along the back of Golden Beach and all the way along it are scattered holiday apartments and the occasional taverna.
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Skala Potamis beach Thassos
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As the sands at Golden Beach sweep around the bay eastwards the shore gets progressively more stony with a long line of rocks before it opens out again into the beach resort of SKALA POTAMIAor SKALA POTAMIAS at the western end. Here things improve dramatically with a deep, fine triangle of good sand edged with a small harbour.
Skala Potamia is where the sands of Golden Beach can lay some claim to being some of the best on Thassos island, with a very fine, pale beach sliding gently into shallow blue water. Skala Potamia may look very inviting but the grains of sand may be too sharp and gritty for some tastes.
The Skala Potamia area has grown very popular with British tour companies in recent years and there has been a spate of new building. An 'arcade' of tourist tavernas and bars now line the back of Skala Potamia beach - pleasant enough if you don't mind the crowds. There are even dodgems to entertain growing number of visitors.
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Paradiso beach Thassos
KINIRA is a tiny hamlet on the east coast about 24km from Limenas and two small, scrappy beaches of white pebble. Known locally as Loutro, Kinira has some small hotels, a couple of tavernas and a mini-market. ALso in the village are the ruins of Byzantine baths and the remnants of an early Christian basilica.
Just over the headland to the south is the idyllic PARADISO beach. Paradise lost when I once visited: the sands were strewn with plastic bags and bottles while an obnoxious film of turd-yellow scum had anchored itself along the shoreline.
But this turned out to be an exception and Paradiso beach is sublimely beautiful, surrounded by steep wooded cliffs and with a shallow pool at the southern end, ideal for paddling. There is parking on the roadside and access is down a steep track at the northern end, rather less steep at the southern end where a new track has been created.
Paradiso beach is deep and long, the sand soft and a very shallow shelf into the sea. An offshore islet add interest and thereis a taverna at the back of the beach providing sunbeds and basic food and drink. The atmosphere at Paradiso is serenely peaceful, almost dreamlike.
Sheer cliffs at the southern end offer some shade from the scorching afternoon sun and there are some fabulous deserted coves to reward those more adventurous enough to venture further south on foot. A little off the tourist trail, the Paradiso area is a big favourite with nudists.
The south coast of Thassos is a very popular holiday area, particularly around Limenaria (the island's biggest resort) Potos and Pefkari. Many prefer to base themselves in this part of Thassos as drives to local beaches are shorter. The landscape here though is not as impressive as in the north and particularly so after a series of forest fires that devastated the area and from which it is still recovering.
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Alyki beach Thassos
Alyki ruins Thassos
Expect some astonishing scenery at the wild resort of ALYKI which has two small coves back-to-back along a narrow wooded promontory. A roadside car park sits high above both beaches and the visitor faces a steep climb down. But the trek is well worth it.
The southern cove at Alyki has a small, sheltered crescent of fine sand at the end of a deep bay. Half a dozen small tavernas sit above the back of the beach in the shade. The water here is very shallow and warm.
Across the headland is the northern Alyki beach, smaller and stonier affair but far less crowded and jaw-droppingly wild of windy days, with spectacular waves swelling through a narrow entrance to the bay and pounding onto the stony shore.
Between the two beaches, up small tracks behind the tavernas, are old marble quarries and a small archaeological site that includes a couple of early Christian basilicas. It's at the latter that the Greek love affair with chain link fencing may have reached its zenith. No polite notices here, asking visitors to keep off the stones, but 8 ft high chain link fencing that wouldn't look out of place in an army camp. Much of the chain link is twisted, broken and rusty - failing as a barrier anyway and leaving the Alyki visitor in awe at the Greek gift for official vandalism.
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Astris beach Thassos
South of Archangelos, the main road winds around several headlands before dropping down to a small coastal plain. The beach at ASTRIS lies just off a long straight road that runs across the plain. It's easy to miss but keep a lookout for a small roadside mini market on the right. Astris beach is opposite - a long strip of golden sand bisected by an outcrop of rock where a small ramshackle taverna has been erected among the trees.
There is a boatyard at the northern end of Astris with boats for repair pulled up on the shoreline. Most people use the sandiest part of Astris beach between boatyard and taverna, although the beach at the southern end is just as fine. This is golden, powder puff sand that shelves gently into the sea so this is a good beach for families. As Astris beach is relatively little known it rarely gets crowded. There is a small rough area for parking just off the road under the trees.
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Psili Amos beach Thassos
Marble slabs slope down to the medium sized beach from the roadside car park at the beautiful resort of PSILI AMMOS. An arc of rich, golden sand dips very steeply into the sea and a couple of tavernas, one behind the Psili Ammos sands and another on top of a nearby hill. The beach taverna has been decked out in wood to resemble a cowboy ranch - not exactly to everyone's taste.
And this beautiful spot at Psili Amos is also favoured by watersports enthusiasts who have their own fun, but can irritate others with the howl of their jet skis. You will have to get used to uncomfortable crowds at Psili Ammos in the high season. The steep beach can bring in big waves and there are strong underwater currents, so Psili Ammos is not ideal for families with children.
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Potos beach Thassos
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You can hardly move for cushioned cane chairs in the cafes that have sprouted up on the sea front of the very popular tourist resort of POTOS. There must be 30 or more tavernas, cafes and bars lining the short sea wall above a narrow strip of good sand with a little shingle.
Potos beach is a sea of rush frond sun umbrellas as far as the eye can see, with bar service provided by the cafes above for those who can nab a sun lounger. If you like a busy up-market beach then Potos beach is just about as good as it gets on Thassos.
The beach at Potos is a crescent of good sand which turns to shingle at the harbour end. Potos beach also shelves quite steeply in parts so children must be watched.
On such a popular beach crowds tend to push up the prices but the colourful and comfortable tavernas and cafes at Potos add interest, as do the many boats that are pulled onto the beach near the harbour.
The Potos resort village is a maze of small back streets full of shops and cafes. Cars that venture into the village are forced to a crawl in the narrow, crowded streets. Visitors tend to park along the main road that sweeps past Potos village and walk down to the beach.
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Pefkari beach Thassos
Paddle boats, surfboards and jet skis are prominently parked on the manicured white sand - clues, if you needed them, to the popularity of the fine beach at PEFKARI.
Gently shelving sand and shallow water make Pefkari an ideal spot for families with children and the nearby headland offers plenty of splendid cliffside walks. There are moderately good tavernas and cafes lining the road that runs along the back of Pefkari beach - not the busy main road that bypasses the village altogether but a small, quiet lane edged on either side with shady tavernas.
Pefkari beach is long and deep with soft white sand that is kept very clean. There are masses of sunbeds and a good range of watersports. A neighbouring hotel and tourist complex however can result in Pefkari being overwhelmed with visitors in the high season. If you are the sort that doesn't mind the merry mayhem of holiday crowds, Pefkari is one to head for, though watch out for the sea urchins; they can be a menace.
Metalia beach Thassos
METALIA beach lies just to the east of the main south coast resort of Limenaria and is quiet, has a small beach bar, good snorkeling and the remains of an abandoned World War Two factory, with derelict smelting chimneys for a backdrop. It sounds dreadful but Metalia is actually quite attractive and certainly different. Some rate this as one of the best beaches on Thassos and Metalia is certainly an improvement on Limenaria if you are staying in the area.
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Limenaria Thassos
Limenaria beach Thassos
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LIMENARIA is the second biggest town on the island after Limenas. It has a long waterfront promenade backed by dozens of tavernas, cafes and shops. At the western end of the long promenade, lined with large boulders and rocks, is a long but scruffy narrow beach backed by apartments and hotels. At the eastern end of Limenaria is a small arc of pleasant sand overlooked by the busy road and next to it a small, square shaped harbour full of attractive fishing boats.
Some effort has been made to smarten the place up but the Limenaria cannot shake off a dowdy feel. Many speak highly of the restaurants and Limenaria is a pleasant place to base yourself, with a wide selection of hotels and eateries as well as several good beaches nearby.
Many houses around Limenaria were built by the Turks at the turn of the century to house German mining bosses. The remaining mansions add some character to what is otherwise a fairly humdrum resort.
Tourists tend to use Limenaria as a base to explore the south of Thassos island. Forest fires and mining have left some scars on the surrounding countryside but much of this goes unnoticed and there are good walks in the pine carpeted hills around Limenaria.
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Trypiti beach Thassos
Tripiti cave and pool
TRYPITI or TRIPITI beach lies to the west of Limenaria, about 2km out of town and well-marked from the main road. There is no village at Trypiti, just a long, deep and sandy beach that's very handy for those staying in Limenaria who prefer something more interesting that the relatively poor town beaches.
Trypiti is a long and very deep swathe of clean white sand that sweeps right around a huge bay. A long dirt track runs behind the beach for much of its length and there are beach bars at either end serving up basic snacks and drinks. Cars can be parked under the trees at either end of the long track, near to the beach bars.
To the west is an interesting, shallow pool and a small sea cave that children will enjoy, though the sea does shelve deeply inside the cave and the waves can come crashing through the narrow gap on windy days.
The main Trypiti beach is a deep sandy belt, marked in the middle by some volleyball nets. The sand shelves rather steeply into the sea and there are gobs of seaweed now and then but otherwise Trypiti is a big pleasant beach.
There are sunbeds to be had near both ends of Trypiti beach, near the beach bars, and there is enough room on Trypiti for anyone to find a quiet spot.
The west coast of Thassos the island has been less well developed for tourists until quite recently. It is much flatter than the east, with rolling farmland and small inland hamlets. The road has fewer bends so, although they are fairly well scattered, the resorts are easy to reach. Beaches tend not to be as good as in the west and the best of them have been targeted by tour companies in recent years. Nevertheless, there are some very pleasant resorts on this part of the coast. Less crowded and less tainted by tourism it offers an attractive addition to Thassos island's offerings.
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Skala Maries beach Thassos
SKALA MARIES is an isolated resort that, despite an attractive setting, exudes a flyblown, end-of-the-earth atmosphere. The beach at Skala Maries is a scruffy, unkempt crescent of sand and scrub with the occasional rotting hulk of a boat among the weeds. Skala Maries is set in a deep crescent of a bay with the resort climbing the hill beyond.
A large number of derelict and semi-built houses adds nothing to the general air of decay - a pity as the setting is very fine. The Skala Maries beach is stone and sand and shallow. A couple of large cement lorries were parked at the back of the beach when I visited. They added little to the scene.
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Skala Kalirachis beach Thassos
SKALA KALIRACHIS is basically a huge enclosed harbour with a couple of small scraps of sand at either end. A wide concrete road runs the length of the harbour backed by houses and apartments and ending at the northern end in a handkerchief of scruffy sand and shingle, hemmed in by a tall concrete wall. To the south of Skala Karachis is another small scrap of sand on the other side of the jetty, a little more substantial this time but not much more inviting than the other.
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Skala Sotiros beach Thassos
SKALA SOTIROS beach is a surprisingly pleasant spot down a side street that branches off the main road through the village. Skala Sotiros village is little more than a ribbon of houses strung along the main road. Sunbeds sprinkle the beach near the short jetty in front of the main taverna.
The southern end of Skala Sotiros tends to turn to stone but there is good sand at the northern end, with just a sprinkling of stones. The waters here are warm and and shallow.
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Dasyllio Prinou beach Thassos
DASYLLIO PRINOU is not a village as such but a beach backed by resort hotels and a huge campsite. Dasyllio Prinou has grown very popular in recent years and there are a number of smart hotels here.
Dasyllio Prinou lies about 1km south of the main port of Skala Prinou and the campsite is the biggest on Thassos with about 300 tent spaces and facilities such as showers and toilets. The land around Dasyllio Prinou is heavily wooded with about 250 varieties of trees recorded - Dasyllio is the Greek name for little forest - and the trees reach right down to the shore where there is the long sandy beach.
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Skala Prinos beach Thassos
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SKALA PRINOS or SKALA PRINOU has little to recommend it other than as a place to catch a ferry. Travel brochures increasingly tout the place as a first-rate resort and as a fine base for exploring the rest of the island but it is, in fact, little more than a bus and ferry stop.
There have been recent efforts to smarten up Skala Prinou and there is new paving and roads as well as a clutch of cafes, tavernas and shops to catch the passing ferry trade and the annual tourist influx.
On the plus side there is a long, narrow beach at Skala Prinou which stretches out beyond the main port to the north with a shallow sloping bay backed by a line of trees. The beach is scruffy sand and stone and not particularly attractive.
Skala Prinou is also close to the string of beaches that dot this part of the coast and it makes a very handy base for those exploring Thassos island.
Daily busSKALA RACHONIS or SKALA RAHONI has recently been discovered by package tour operators and it gets more popular each year. There is a beach at Skala Rachonis itself and another about 2km to the north. The beach at Skala Rachonis stretches south from a small harbour.
Skala Rachonis has a pleasant sandy beach backed by apartments and dotted with small stands of pine which give some attractive natural shade. Though increasingly popular it is still a laid back resort with a few tavernas and cafes along the shore. There is horse riding nearby at Pine Tree Paddock - look for the yellow signs on the main road.
Daily busThere is a beautiful beach just north of Skala Rachonis known as PACHIS BEACH. There is a long stretch of golden sand backed by tamarisk trees with plenty of parking beneath the trees. A small hotel sits on the road and a dirt track leads down to the beach.
There are a couple of large tavernas set back from Pachis beach and some smaller ones on the beach itself. Unfortunately the owner of one beach bar assumes everyone appreciates his taste in techno music. Many visitors opt for the other end of the beach where it is much less noisy, has the best of the sand, and a pleasant tavernea nestles in the trees.
The sand at Pachis beach is soft and golden with the odd pebble here and there. It is fairly shallow offshore so it is good for families with children and tamarisk trees and pines all the way along the shore provide plenty of good natural shade.
The further north you go along Pachis beach the stonier and narrower it gets, but it is still pleasant enough and mercifully free of outdoor discos. Over the headland from Pachis beach is a tiny beach at the head of a small bay called GLYFONERI. It can be reached from the main road down an unmarked path. There are no facilities there.
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Glyfada beach Thassos
The road from Skala Rachoni follows the coast around the headland turning south-east and back towards Thassos Town. It passes a few small beaches. One is called PERASMA and is a small sandy cove with a summer beach cantina. There are tiny patches of sand at PAPALIMANI and AGIA IRINI which sit either side a rocky headland. The road eventually passes GLYFADA where ther is a quiet sand strip backed by an ugly hotel.
The distance is short enough to be walked from Limenas but the road is steeply uphill so it is only for the fit and active. Unfortunately the hotel at Glyfada is as horribly prominent as it is horribly ugly - a square and ugly box of grey cement. The beach however is pleasant enough, though rather narrow in places. Trees offer plenty of shade and there are facilities and parking at the hotel.
Nysteri beach Thassos
There is a small but splendid tree-lined beach below the hotel at NYSTERI just outside Thassos - a mile or so further east than Glyfada. It is well signposted off the main road. The hotel caters mainly for Germans and it has a small outdoor bar that serves toasted sandwiches and other snacks on a terrace overlooking the beach.
There is some parking in the hotel grounds, but not a lot and you will have to find space on the main road if you arrive late. Nysteri has a fine sandy beach with trees behind offering shade. A taverna has opened in the woods behind.
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Archangelos monastery
Archangelos beach
The monastery at ARCHANGELOS leans out over a sheer cliff drop, high above a narrow bay with small and attractive shingle beach below. The Archangelos beach is reached down a narrow unsurfaced track off the main road and has no facilities.
Although called a monastery it is today a convent for 20 or so nuns. There are two chapels, one dedicated to St Ephraim of Syros and the other to St Gerasimos of Kefalonia.
The monastery is more impressive outside than in, but it is conveniently located on the main coast road should you want to take a closer look.
It was built like a fort on top of the cliffs at the edge of a cape with a 200ft drop to the sea and was founded by a monk, Lucas, in 830 at the site of a spring.
In the 13th century the Archangelos monastery was a dependency of Mount Athos on the mainland. Today it includes the Catholicon, built in 1834, several cells and rooms for guests.
The monastery has a collection of religious artifacts, notably a nail said to be from the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Each year, on the first Tuesday after Easter, the nail is carried on procession from the village of Theologos to the convent.
Visitors are welcome at Archangelos monastery but are expected to adopt sober dress - no shorts please and women are must cover up too. There is a car park outside the front gate, just off the main road.
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Theologos Thassos
It is a long but beautiful 10km valley road to THEOLOGOS, the former island capital under the Turks. You may well wonder why you bothered as Theologos is little more than a village of old houses,a tiny square and a couple of cafes under a tree. There is just enough room to turn the car and go back. The alternative is to stare back at the villagers who stare back in reply.
Brochures describe Theologos as a serene place unblemished by tourism - and they are right about that. Founded by refugees from Constantinople in the 16th century Theologos is the most remote of Thassos island villages. It was deserted in the 19th century.
There are 30 or so houses at Theologos now, many locked up except in the summer and there has been a recent upsurge in rebuilding and renovation. Astonishing views are found at every angle so take your camera and there are many good walks to be found in the hills around Theologos.
Thassos is most northern island in the Aegean Sea, 8km from the Macedonia mainland in the Gulf of Kavala. It has an area of about 380 sq km and roughly circular at 22km wide and 26 km long with a coastline of about 100 km. Thassos is a mountainous island with the highest peaks at Ipsarion (1,127m) and Profitis Ilias (1,108 m). Much of the northern coast in inaccessible, with steep rock cliffs, while the south is relatively flat.
The northern half has rich vegetation, with thick forests, olive groves and vineyards fed by many underground springs. The south is mostly unproductive agriculturally, though as much as 90% of the island is covered by pine forest, oak trees, and planes. Thassos is also rich in minerals with lead and silver in the Limenaria area, copper around Astris, iron at Kalirachi and snow white marble, for which Thassos island is famous, found around Limenas.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
| 7 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 9 | Av day °C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 2 | Av night °C |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | Sun hrs/day |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | UV Index |
| 72 | 59 | 52 | 43 | 49 | 39 | 32 | 24 | 35 | 54 | 71 | 91 | Av rain (mm) |
| 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | Rainy days |
UV: >3 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 5-8 High; <8 Very high | Rainy days 1mm+ | 1 inch=25.4 mm
Thassos is milder and wetter than many other Greek islands. It also has better weather on its north side than its south. In particular it is unaffected by the usual northern meltemi wind that blows across many of the island in mid August. The north side also has twice as much rainfall as the south. It remains relatively warm all year round with an average annual temperature of 17°C and an average summer temperature of 26°C. Rain (over 1mm) can also be expected on at least three days in the high summer months of July and August. Thassos winters can be wet but temperatures rise sharply in May when, with the flowers in full bloom, many think the island is at its best. This far north, the meltemi wind fails to kick in and the atmosphere in July and August can be stifling. Mosquitoes breed well in the island's thick forests and can be more of a pest here than on other islands.
The beautiful Greek Islands are renowned for their spectacular scenery, magnificent mountainous backdrops, stunning sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Holidays to the Greek Islands are often most cherished for this combination of sunshine, warm waters and beaches set against truly wonderful scenery. Whether it is a traditional beach holiday you would like or something with a little more history, you'll find that a break away to the Greek Islands is just the answer!
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Thassos has no airport. Flights are to Kavala or Thessaloniki. From Kavala there is a 10-minute road trip to the coastal port of Keramouti to catch the ferry. Kavala airport itself is a small, nondescript place with few facilities.
Taxis outside Kavala airport go to Keramouti where there are regular ferries (every 30 min though times vary to Thassos. The ferry journey takes 30-40 min.
An alternative route is from Kavala airport to Kavala port and a ferry or hydrofoil to Limenas or Prinos. From Thessaloniki there is a bus #78 to Kavala which takes about 2hrs (140 km).
Charter flights to Kavala from the UK run mainly to provide transport for package holidays, excess seats are sold off on a flight only basis. The cost of these seats is usually cheap when compared to scheduled flights.
Kavala handles about 2m visitor each year. It has nine check-in desks, six gates, two baggage claim belts, some short-term parking spaces and 160 long-term parking spaces
Thassos is well served by regular ferry shuttles to the mainland at Keramoti and to Kavala. The Keramoti ferries leave for Thassos Town every 40min or so and take 40 min to reach the main port at Limenas, passing the impressive uninhabited island of Thassopoulou on the way.
About six ferries a day leave Kavala for Thassos and take about 95 min to get to the west coast port of Skala Prinos, with similar schedules for the return trip. Ferries numbers drop to three a day out of the main season.
On Thassos itself, boat trips can be found on offer in Limenas harbour. They usually make day trips to Makryammos and Chrissi Ammoudia (Golden Beach). To head for other islands in this part of the Agean islands you must first get to Kavala and then find a connection from there so island hopping around here is very restricted.
With a single circular road around the island, a tarmac one at that with good signposting, driving on Thassos is pretty good. At around 95-100 km (60 miles) for a complete circuit, all the beaches are within reach.
There are plenty of daily buses too, more heading west out of Limenas than east, and with greater frequency as the tourist season gets under way. As well as the round island service there are buses west from Limenas to Limenaria, Potos and Alyki with detours inland to Theologos and east to Panagia and Potamia.
Cars can be rented in all the main resorts with smaller outfits prepared to undercut the bigger agencies. The wise driver will get a price from a larger firm and tout it around for a better deal.
The road is flat in the northwest, passing through farmland. It is rather more hilly and forested in the northeast, especially when it cuts inland to Panagia. The land in the southern half is relatively flat.
This is a good island to get a 4x4 to explore the more remote areas though a good map is recommended as many mountain tracks are not signposted from the main roads.
Taxis are plentiful during the day but are difficult to find at night especially outside Limenas. You can wait hours to get a taxi back to Limenas from, say, Potamia. Make prior arrangements with the driver to pick up at night.
There are many good walks to be found on Thassos, particularly in the hills around Panagia and Potamis. Marengo Books have an excellent walking guide and walking maps of the area and there is a small booklet Walking On Thassos by Rose Gruwel and Truus Van De Mast available from Jayne's Leather Shop in Limenas. Another good book to look out for is Walks in Northeast Thasos by Lance Clinton. As well as walking trails there are jeep and mountain bike trails too. See Foxy's Thassos for a great walkers' web site with photos on Thassos as well as detailed walks on the island.
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