Background
The island of Samos is relatively large – it has two large towns; Samos town being the capital in the north east and Karlovassi to the west. All along the coastline are dotted small hamlets, villages and stretches of lovely beach. The interior is diverse with many places to explore. It is full of every Greek island characteristic rolled into one and is worthy of hiring a car so that you can explore its endless possibilities.

KERVELI
The bay of Kerveli on the eastern tip of Samos is one of the loveliest and most sheltered bays on Samos, accessed only via a narrow road that winds down through beautiful wooded countryside and olive groves. In the past very popular with Laskarina clients, it has three excellent tavernas, a sprinkling of villas/apartments and one hotel, a shingle beach with tamarisk for shade and a turquoise sea. In short it is idyllic if you are looking for a relaxing base from which to explore the island.

For self-caterers car hire is recommended, as there is no public bus and the nearest shops (including a good bakery) are in the nearby village of Paleokastro, which also has a taxi rank (Kerveli Village Hotel guests can make use of the hotel courtesy bus).

The countryside around Kerveli is wonderful for walkers and you will find other small coves dotted around the indented coastline here if you are looking for complete seclusion.

ORMOS
The small fishing village of Ormos is a picture postcard of colourful fishing boats along a waterfront dotted with tavernas and cafes. It is a small village with a handful of apartments, one hotel, two mini markets [which even sell English newspapers] two bakeries and a few souvenir shops.

Just past the harbour is the small sand/shingle village beach with sunbeds and umbrellas.  Boat trips leave from the harbour, often for the nearby island of Samiopoula with a wonderful sandy beach. If you wish to go further afield, excursions pick up from Ormos (including trips to Patmos and Ephesus in Turkey) A somewhat infrequent bus service can take you to Pythagorion and Samos Town. It is also recommended to hire a car for at least part of your stay so that you can fully explore the whole island.

Ormos is the ideal resort for those who wish to base themselves in a friendly, authentic fishing village where they will soon feel like one of the locals! 

How to get there

By air
Samos has its own airport so you can arrive by charter flight from the UK or scheduled flights via Athens.

Scheduled flights to Athens
Olympic airlines http://www.olympicairlines.com and Easy Jet http://www.easyjet.co.uk both offer scheduled services to Athens on a daily basis. These are useful if you wish to travel out of season [i.e. October – April]. Easy Jet offer lower prices the earlier you book but make sure the timings allow you to connect with a domestic flight between Athens and Samos. Domestic flights are scheduled daily and can be made through Olympic Airlines.

Charter flights to Samos
Charter flights run from Gatwick and Manchester to Samos on Thursdays mornings.

Useful flight links:
http://www.flightline.co.uk
http://www.xl.com

Transfer between the airport and accommodation
There is a taxi rank directly outside the airport. Transfer to your accommodation will take at least 30 minutes depending on your resort.

Twin centre with Patmos or Ikaria
Why not split your holiday and stay for the second week on another contrasting island? We can advise you how to do this.

Things to do

Beaches
The best beaches are along the eastern and southern coasts – they are mostly sand and shingle with beautiful clear waters. Many have a small family run Greek taverna and are totally unspoilt.

Boat trips
The most popular boat trips take you over to the nearby island of Samiopoula. This type of trip involves stops in various bays for swimming and a barbeque lunch cooked by the crew. If you wish to go further afield, then it is possible to visit Patmos and Ephesus in Turkey.

Walking/Cycling
Samos is a very green island and is a haven for nature lovers. It has pine forests, fresh water springs, mountain villages, olive groves, deep gorges, vineyards and classical ruins. A relatively easy walk and one not to be missed is through the Valley of the Nightingales. If you are visiting at the beginning or end of the season this is the time to hear them as nightingales only sing in cool temperatures.
There is a Sunflower walking guide available to buy in the UK.

Eating out
The quality of food on Samos is very high and there is an excellent choice of local tavernas serving local dishes and fresh fish. The island is especially famous for its wine produced locally – a visit to the wine factory in Samos town is not to be missed.