Holidays in Kasos
An untapped proposal for holidays in Greece, the lesser-known island of Kasos, that offers you an escape from the hustles of real life by lounging on its secluded and quiet beaches and unforgettable experiences to please your palate and sight.
Although a tiny Greek isle, Kasos bears a remarkable eating tradition and a multifaceted culture, and conjures up yet another oddity: locals are unfazed by the swarms of tourists, but they are tremendously friendly and so welcoming of visitors (Kasiots have an endearing habit of treating you like family) that one can feel being on a personable island retreat. An almost barren-island in the Aegean Sea that teaches you a simpler lifestyle and redefines your relationship with travel, a worthwhile experience for all the hours it took you to getting there.
Mid-July is an alluring time to travel to Kasos, especially if you are seeking the solace of sun, sand, and sea. Combined with the fact that this month is brimming with local feasts that visitors get to participate, another reason why this period is worth considering. Also, the island so far has escaped the crowds of holidayers on an August Sabbatical, remaining a serene getaway even throughout summertime.
Strolls around the 5 charming villages of the island, hikes to off the beaten path beaches, off-road driving to gravel roads, visits to the 3 local museums and 2 enchanting caves, take in mesmerizing sunsets from the balconies of Orthodox monasteries and the amazing views of the Libyan and Carpathian Sea, diving in a bunch of unusual beaches and indulge in wind-powered water sports, sum up the travel experience in the southernmost island of Dodecanese.
In a nutshell, Kasos has a beach for everyone and each offers something special for the visitor: from pebbly and sandy beaches - easily accessible by boat, by car or on foot, isolated stretches of sand, an overall vast coastline with basic infrastructure (or not at all) with family-friendly shores to some of the most tropical beaches in the Mediterranean (the picture perfect beaches of the neighboring islet Armathia: white sands and azure blue sea).
However, accommodation is scarce on the island of Kasos due to the very few tourists arriving at this string of land in the Aegean Sea. Most of the facilities are located in Fri, the capital and main port of the island, where one can find from simple rooms-to-rent, small hotels to traditional Kasiot for rent.
Nightlife in Kasos is synonymous with the local festivities, wherein everybody dances the night out. These feasts retain their authentic character and are an excellent opportunity to cherish Kasiot folk cuisine, by trying a copious amount of traditional dishes (makarounes with sitaka -a dairy product made from cream and onions sautéed in fresh butter, dormaes (aka mini stuffed vine leaves), Kasiot pilaf), listening to Kasiot mantinades (narrative songs made up of rhyming couplets), while dancing the Kasiot zervo and sousta to the sounds of lyres and lutes. Furthermore, traditional coffee shops are hosting unconventional and impromptu feasts with tsipouro and wine. Finally, in the port of Bouka, you will find numerous choices of entertainment (i.e. traditional taverns, all-day cafes and tiny bars).
Undeniably, holidays in Kasos are fringed with a delightful isolation, providing authentic views of a Greek village that hasn’t changed in decades - being unspoiled by the flocks of tourists, where the rhythm of your days will be set by the gentle lapping of the sea.
