Guide to Ionian Islands Greece.

The Ionian Islands are located in the Ionian Sea, off the west coast of Greece and are composed of Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxos and Kythira.
The islands are well known for their beautiful sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, charming villages and stunning scenic countryside.Each Ionian island has a distinct character and between them they offer everything you could wish for from a Greek Island holiday.

What To Eat and Enjoy
Firstly, and maybe surprisingly, fish tends to be expensive. Prices are usually per kilo not per portion. When looking at the menu, do not assume that everything listed will be available! The golden rule - if the price has been removed then it is not on. Most Greek establishments work on a 'seasonal availability' basis, as most produce is local. In some of the more traditional places, it is usual (and fun) to go into the kitchen to be shown what is available; great for those who can never decide from looking at menu. Greek menus by law have to be in Greek and English. Some of the translations may cause you some amusement. As a guide, you will be offered:

Taramosalata: A fish roe dip made with garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, olive oil and lemon juice. Homemade versions are light salmon in colour and a delight. If you are offered an artificial bright pink sludge, then it has been bought in; drink up and find somewhere else to eat!

Tzatziki: The famous yoghurt, cucumber and garlic dip. Scooped up with fresh bread, it makes a refreshing snack.

Feta Cheese: many locals enjoy a thick slice of feta with a drizzle of olive oil and a dash of paprika.

Dolmades: Vine leaves stuffed with rice or meat - normally served cold. Fresh ones are only available early in the season (May, June) when the vine leaves are fresh.

Tiropitta: Filo pastry pies stuffed with feta cheese - they are a delight. Also look out for Spanakopitta - which are the same but with a little spinach added - one of our favourites in the Agni Travel office!

Saganaki: A hard Greek cheese which is battered and shallow fried. Served with a large chunk of lemon

Scorthalia: The Greeks love dips and this one is a very garlicky potato based one. Served cold but it is yummy

Gigantes: Large butter type beans, baked in a thick seasoned tomato, onion and garlic sauce.

Keftethes: Fried meatballs with garlic and herbs.

Loukaniko: Spicy local sausages - usually grilled.

Mousaka: (Notice there is no 'r' in the correct pronunciation and the accent is on the last 'a'.) Layers of fried aubergine and minced meat (usually beef) topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
Stifado: A meaty red wine stew with baby onions and tomato. The meaty chunks are soft and tender and the baby onions go soft and sweet - to be eaten with lots of bread.

Sofrito: Tender beef steak cooked in a garlic and wine sauce

Yemista: Stuffed vegetables, usually tomatoes and green peppers. The filling is usually a vegetable and rice mix with a little cheese. Sometimes beef mince is added.
Kelftiko: Lamb slowly baked in the oven until it is so tender it just falls from the bone. Served with Greek roasted potatoes.

Kalamari: Baby squid, usually fried with a dusting of flour, but better grilled. Fresh ones are normally only available when there is no moon - as they are caught with a powerful 'gas lamp'. The light attracts them to the surface. Watching dozens of 'lit-up' fishing boats on a dark summer night, dotted along the coast is quite magical.

Marithes: Sardine sized fish which are fried and yummy. Incidentally, sardines and (many other fish which are also caught at night) are not available when there is a full moon. The reason is that the fish can 'see' the nets and simply avoid them.

Kakavia: Fish soup - often this will include vegetables, bones and heads! But it is always excellent.

Oxtapothi:  is often boiled and served in what the locals call a 'salad'. Actually these are small pieces in olive oil - with no salad in sight! It is though very tasty ( a little bit like chicken). Grilled is also excellent - but often quite expensive as it shrinks to a tiny size when cooked. The octopus is caught using a long pole with a few leaves attached to the end - plus a liberal sprinkling of hooks! The pole is prodded around the rocks to tempt the octopus to grab the leaves - a time consuming task.

http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/
Corfu
Corfu is the second largest island in the group of Ionian Islands, after Kefalonia and was the first to open itself up to tourism with plenty to offer its visitors.Corfu is known as Kerkyra in Greek and takes its name from a variation of the Nymph Korkira, daughter of the Greek river god Aesopos in mythology
 The beautiful and rich land all this is due to the green hills, towering mountains, clear blue seas, pure white sands, endless olive groves and colourful wild flowers.
Corfu is full of variety from its traditional fishing villages to its large modern resorts, coupled with its amazing wildlife, over six hundred types of wild flowers and numerous exotic birds including pelicans, bee eaters, hoopoes and golden orioles; this island has something for everyone
Things to do in Corfu
Corfu town is a beautiful area, split into old and the new parts. It is flush with elegant mansions and beautiful palaces from its colonial days being owned by France and Britain. It appears less a Greek town and more an Italian one along the lines of Sorrento or Naples. A great place to get a feel of the town is the square of the Esplanade, also known as Spianada which was planned by the French and is surrounded by beautiful buildings an old Venetian fortress and dotted with trees. If you get the chance, visit the Liston building built during the French occupation and modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Inside it has fabulous restaurants and cafes, some say the best in Greece.
One of Corfu’s most famous locations Paleokastritsa is part beach resort and part monastic community which makes for a bizarre and unlikely combination. Tourism hasn’t really hit here so the area is relatively unspoilt. The main attraction here is Paleokastritsa’s clean sandy beach with incredibly clear, warm water, ideal for swimming. At each end of the beach are boats offering excursions to the nearby caves and grottos.
 The long sandy beach of Glyfada, about 12 km from Liapades, the beach Mirtiotissa and a large sandy beach known as a nudist beach.
Aqualand
You need to know about Aqualand because if you don’t and your children find out first you could be in trouble! It’s considered as one of the best water parks in Europe and is situated 7km outside of Corfu Town but is easy to reach from anywhere on the island. The park is huge and covers an area of over 70,000 square metres with free parking. The slides are innovative and range from the gentle to the downright petrifying.

http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/
Zante
The most southerly of the Ionian Islands has a varied landscape, the west is characterised by striking mountain scenery and is largely uninhabited and the east is packed with fertile plains, picturesque bays and long sandy beaches. Zante is a beautiful island, with many varieties of pretty colourful flowers that seem to blossom all year round. The island captured the hearts of the Venetians who ruled here for many years and
who nicknamed Zante ‘Flower of the East.
Zakynthos has the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Coupled with glorious landscapes, Zakynthos is wrapped in wild flowers and fauna. From sweeping pine forests, to rocky peaks and caves in Zante, from rustic villages in the North and South of Zakynthos, to a mixture of chic and traditional everyday life in Zante Town, the mood in Zante is always magic.

http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Ithaca
Ithaca is the second smallest of the inhabited Ionian Islands. It is 29 km in length and 6.5 km wide and has a coast line of 100 km. It consists of 2 peninsulas that are almost equal in size and they are joined by the isthmus of Aetos (or Eagle bay). The island is long and narrow and is almost divided in half by the sweeping bay of Molos. Ithaca is 2 nautical miles west of Kefalonia and as the island does not have its own airport, most visitors reach Ithaca by ferry boat from Kefalonia. The highest mountain peak on Ithaca is Mount Neritos, which is 800 m high. Vathy is Ithaca’s capital town, and has been since the Venetian times and is located in the south east of the island. Vathy is one of the world’s largest natural harbours.

Kefalonia
The largest of the seven Ionian islands (700 sq km2 about). It's highest peak is Ancient Mount Aenos, 1628 m (5341feet) In Greece's west coast, Cephalonia has only 32,000 resident islanders. With Lefkas to the north and Zakynthos to the south the island is firmly on a tourist trail and grows each year as more accommodation becomes available and big tour operators move in. Despite the annual influx of visitors, mainly Italians, the island is so big it is still possible to get away to places where you are unlikely to meet a soul for days. Vast tracts of forest cloak the rugged limestone landscape, with ten peaks topping 5,000 feet.

Paxos
Paxos is the smallest of the Ionian Islands, lying just 11 km from the southernmost tip of Corfu. Many visitors return year after year to Paxos to experience the intimacy of this peaceful haven, the genuine friendliness of the locals, and the captivating scenery. Paxos is covered in many olive groves with ancient gnarled and twisted olive trees, some of them hundreds of years old, which shelter numerous species of wild flowers and  small vineyards. This serene and unspoiled landscape is what makes a holiday to the island of Paxos truly memorable.
Gaios  is south of the island and is the largest town but it's still very much a working fishing port with caiques tied up in the harbour.  When you approach Gaios from the north you enter a very beautiful inlet passing the islands of Panayia and St Nicholas.
Lakka is the second largest and is situated at the north end of the island. The bay is spectacular and it is very popular for boat owners who wish to stay a day or so.
Loggos  is a very charming village with a harbour fronted by Tavernas and small bars. It's a great place to peacefully while away the time and is a great favourite with many visitors.

Lefkada

Lefcas, or Lefkada as the Greeks call it, is a very popular summer resort, where there is something for everyone. Young visitor’s party all night, windsurfers have some excellent spots, there are quiet places for those who just want to relax, and there is a lot to see. The people on the island are known for their hospitality, and many of them manage to live off the tourism in the summer. Others are involved with farming, fishing and stockbreeding. The island's name means white, and refers to the white cliffs in the south part that are characteristic for Lefcas. It is a green, mountainous island, and it is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The island measures 290 sqkm and has a population of approx 24,000.

The whole island is a miracle of nature, full of beautiful seaside resorts and picturesque villages, built between the mountains. The majority of the mountainous areas are safe shelters, ideal for the survival and reproduction of many diverse species, and in many cases endangered ones: plants, birds and animals. The visitors are also highly likely to find plenty of caves, waterfalls and natural watertaps.

 The island of Lefkada has a great number of really beautiful beaches, whose main characteristic is the clean, blue-green waters, a feature that makes them popular all over the world and accounts for them being considered as the most beautiful coasts, not only in Greece but also in the whole Mediterranean. On the west coasts of the island, lies the famous beach Porto Katsiki, which has been nominated by the international Press, as the best beach in the Mediterranean. 

The island's economy is dependent on tourism, oil production, viticulture and fishery. The island is known for its great needleworks and textile fabrics, that constitute real pieces of art and are made by traditional weavers, especially women who live in Karia, a small village in Lefkada. The traditional dishes, served in most restaurants and tavernas in the island, are 'bourdeto', 'bianco' codfish, 'fry-pie', 'frugadeli' and a variety of pies.

Porto Katsiki, the best known beach, is today considered one of the most outstanding in the whole of Europe. This is a beach of exceptional beauty

Tsoukalades is a small village with a couple of hotels with stunning sunset views of the Ionian sea is about 15 minutes drive from Lefkada Town

SivotaWithin a small cove of unique beauty, and just 15km from Nidri, a landscape of hills surrounds the pretty harbour of Sivota

Kythira

Kythira or Tsirigo is the name of the island conquered by the Venetians and is one of the Ionian Islands, but due to its geographical position it officially belongs to Attica. Its location is between the Peloponnese and Crete, in Spartan bay. 

Kythira is known as the island of Aphrodite, since according to the legend of Isiodos it was where the most beautiful goddess of Olympus was born. The island was dominated by the Spartans, the Athenians and the Macedonians and later the Russians. The name of the island comes from the Kythiro, the leader of the Phoenicians who were the first people to live on the island. 

The island has stunning landscapes of natural beauty, beaches, and different villages, each with unique beauty. The island’s ambience is that of romance, created from the traditional style of most buildings on the island, Byzantine churches and Venetian castle. Each summer several festivals are arranged with local products celebrating the history of the island, keeping the tradition alive. 

For more information about Greece please visit our website  http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

A guide to having a good holiday in Greece

A guide to having a good holiday in Greece

Greece is beautiful Mediterranean country with a lot of history and tradition
With more than 2,000 islands, ranging from tiny atolls to the veritable continent that is Crete.
The beautiful and rich land all this is due to the green hills, towering mountains, clear blue seas, pure white sands, endless olive groves and colorful wild flowers. Maritime Greece is unmatched for sheer variety. Beaches, history, walking, cycling, water sports, festivals, food ecology: chances are if you want it, they got it.
Here are just a few of the incomparable offerings Greece islands hold
Greek Music, Dancing
Many restaurants and hotels all over Greece put on shows for tourists. Many of the restaurants do try to supply the tourist with a more traditional performance and in many cases they are taught a lot of Greek history and culture through stories told by the performers. These take place in taverns all over Greece. It makes a refreshing change.
Some information about Greece.
Best for beaches: Crete, Lipsi, Kefallonia, Skiathos, Mykonos
Best for history:Ahtens Rhodes, Delos, Corfu, Patmos
Best for walking: Crete, Naxos, Alonnisos, Skopelos
Best for responsible travel: Zakynthos, Chios, Crete
Best for cycling: Evia, Kos, Thasos
Best for diving and snorkelling: Karpathos, Milos, Paros, Kastellorizo
Best for food and drink: Lesvos, Samos, Corfu, Folegandros, Crete
Where to eat and drink in Greece?
Greece’s original fast food can be found at any of the nation suvlatzidhiko.Pitta giros,pork meat,tzatziki and french fries.My favorite.
Quite possibly the most common sort of food vendor you see in Greece is the pie shop, selling such favorites as tiropita (cheese pie) and spanakopita (spinach pie).
There are many restaurants,taverns,ouzeries.
What To Eat and Enjoy
As a guide, you will be offered:
Taramosalata: A fish roe dip made with garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, olive oil and lemon juice.
Tzatziki: The famous yoghurt, cucumber and garlic dip. Scooped up with fresh bread, it makes a refreshing snack.
Feta Cheese: many locals enjoy a thick slice of feta with a drizzle of olive oil and a dash of paprika.
Dolmades: Vine leaves stuffed with rice or meat - normally served cold. Fresh ones are only available early in the season (May, June) when the vine leaves are fresh.
Tiropitta: Filo pastry pies stuffed with feta cheese - they are a delight. Also look out for Spanakopitta - which are the same but with a little spinach added.
Saganaki: A hard Greek cheese which is battered and shallow fried. Served with a large chunk of lemon
Scorthalia: The Greeks love dips and this one is a very garlicky potato based one. Served cold but it is yummy
Gigantes: Large butter type beans, baked in a thick seasoned tomato, onion and garlic sauce.
Keftethes: Fried meatballs with garlic and herbs.
Loukaniko: Spicy local sausages - usually grilled.
Mousaka: Layers of fried aubergine and minced meat (usually beef) topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
Stifado: A meaty red wine stew with baby onions and tomato. The meaty chunks are soft and tender and the baby onions go soft and sweet - to be eaten with lots of bread.
Sofrito: Tender beef steak cooked in a garlic and wine sauce
Yemista: Stuffed vegetables, usually tomatoes and green peppers. The filling is usually a vegetable and rice mix with a little cheese. Sometimes beef mince is added.
Kelftiko: Lamb slowly baked in the oven until it is so tender it just falls from the bone. Served with Greek roasted potatoes.
Kalamari: Baby squid, usually fried with a dusting of flour, but better grilled.
Marithes: Sardine sized fish which are fried and yummy.
Kakavia: Fish soup - often this will include vegetables, bones and heads! But it is always excellent.
Oxtapothi: is often boiled and served in what the locals call a 'salad'. Actually these are small pieces in olive oil - with no salad in sight! It is though very tasty ( a little bit like chicken). Grilled is also excellent - but often quite expensive as it shrinks to a tiny size when cooked.
This are some of the most popular dishes in Greece,but there are many restaurants and snack bars that do modern food.And many restaurants do English food.
Tourism is very important in Greece.
there are many hotels, apartments,villas,studios and all very good from 5* hotels to basic accommodation.
AJB Holidays do holidays in most of the Greek islands we now the traditional way of life in Greece and speak the native language hope that this article with help you understand Greece and if you travel to Greece to have a good time.
Thank you for reading and i hope that this article helped.

For more information about Greece please visit our website

http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Sirmione.Lake Garda Italy.

Sirmione is one of the most popular resorts on Lake Garda, with thousands of visitors flooding in each day to view the picturesque peninsula. It may  be the best known place to stay for a lake holiday in Italy,and images of the castle and Roman ruins feature in every information booklet about Lake Garda. History plays a larger role in Sirmione than many of the other lakeside resorts, with the grotto, the fortress and the thermal baths  Sirmione is as popular a stay-put resort, there is a good range of hotel accommodations.

 Sirmione has long been one of the most popular resorts on Lake Garda and the number of hotels available in the town . It is perhaps the most accessible to the majority of Italians, being close to an important motorway junction which allows easy access from all directions of the compass. But equally important is the look and feel of the town.

 Most visitors to the resort, including the thousands daily from other towns on the lake, want to visit the Old Town on the peninsula, with its narrow streets and alleys leading up to the gardens and rocks at the end of the peninsula Sirmione.

Sirmione is famous for spa and resort, spirit and culture, restaurants and refind discotheques, thermal baths and outstanding hotels, gastronomy and pizza, excellent wine, markets and fashion shops  and lots of hotels and apartments
Garda.
 Here one finds and meets others. Sirmione is simple and complex, young and old, full of life and movemeunt but also silent and contemplative. Water sports and a dreamy village in the twilight 
Sirmione a place for sports, active live, rest, a plece of wine, silence, culture, symphony of leisure, tradition and health.

Today, Sirmione's spa is an oasis of health and beauty. Inhalations, mud baths and various kinds of massages and under-water massages, specialistic centres for curing rhinogen deafness, for diagnosing bronchopneumopathies and for respiratory rehabilitation, a thermal pool with motorial rehabilitation and many other things are available in two very modern establishements named after two great poets.

 Sirmione's spa owes its international renown to the permanent medical assistance, available from specialists of the various medical branches.

An ideal location. Which other place is free from through traffic and yet linked to the main motorways.

In Sirmione you will find an old-fashioned type of service and luxury. The tranquillity, romance of the area add to the whole experience. There is not much to do.
 The accommodation is fantastic with well-tended hotels which offer an experience of space and relaxing comfort more than the modernised gadget palaces of today. Many of the gardens around the area will leave you outstounded and completely in awe.
The beaches are narrow and few and far between. Yet the peninsula caters more for boats to come and go, providing numerous landing stages, many of them belonging to hotels. An area visited by many of the rich and famous.

For more information about Sirmione please visit http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Thassos beautiful Greek island.

Thassos
Small island in theNortheastern Aegean, located about 10 km southeast of Kavala, known as "the Emerald Isle" for its white sandy beaches and the beautiful  green surroundings. The capital of the island is Limenas, beautiful town famous for its archaeological sites and as the root node of public transport on the island.
Thassos, just like almost all the places and islands in Greece, boasts about its beautiful, traditional villages, traveling the visitor to past times and forgotten ways of living
 CURRENCY
Euro €
To visit the ancient Agora with lots of shops and restaurants, ancient theatre, and especially the Acropolis of ancient Thassos, where you will find the impressive remains of a medieval fortress built on the foundations of the ancient walls surrounding the city.Right next to Thassos town lay the remnants of Thassos ancient settlement which had two ports, the military one, closed to public and ships other than military ships, and the commercial one, used for the town’s commercial activities. The Agora, the cornerstone of politics, administration and economic activities is among the most important findings on the island. The findings number various statues, sculptures and inscriptions of great value most of which are exhibited today at the Museum of Louvre as the excavations that brought them to light was conducted in 1911 by the Archeological Faculty of France. The ancient Odeon and the ancient theatre, the sanctuary of Zeus and Artemis are also among the principal parts of the site.
Thassos Ancient Theatre
A marvel of ancient architecture, Thassos ancient theatre still lays right next to the Thassos town exuding the grandeur of the past cultural activities. The theatre dates back to the 5th century B.C. and it was even during Roman times for various cultural events, such as plays and musical performances. On some seats inscribed names are obvious even today, which proves that people used to reserve their seat in order to watch an event. Parts of the theatre were adorned with Thassian marble, still visible.
Best Beaches in Thassos, Greece
With a landscape totally different than the rest islands of the Aegean, Thassos Island is indeed a beach paradise offering anything a visitor might need.
If you are looking for a watersports’ beach, then choose Golden Beach, if you are a windsurfing lover then Paradise Beach is your pick, if you prefer warm and shallow waters take Potos Beach or if you need a sandy heaven then Alyki beach is your ideal place.
Pachis Beach 
Pachis is found on the northern part of the island and it is mainly a sandy beach with some pebbles at places. The beach is organized and it boasts many tamarisk trees for natural shade. Access is possible through the small dirt road of the homonymous village while it also hosts two beach bars for refreshments and light snacks and various taverns at the back. The waters are clean and shallow, ideal for children. On the northern side of the beach, following the small path you will also find the secluded Glyfoneri beach but supplies are necessary because it is completely unorganized.
Metalia Beach    Metalia is a small beach located very near Limenaria beach at the southwestern part of Thassos island. The beach is ideal for snorkeling and for children as the waters here are shallow and clean and the beach is relatively short. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for rent on the coast while you will also find some light snacks, coffee and refreshments from a small canteen. Right above the coast you will admire the remnants of the old mining site and an abandoned factory, adding a strange touch to the place's natural beauty.
Tripiti Beach     Tripiti beach is loacted on the southwestern part of the island and it is a beautiful beach white white sand and clean waters. Its location, very near popular villages, makes it a favorite hotspot for visitors, while its highlight is the natural basin formed by a cave exiting to the open sea. The surroundings are astonishing as the white cliffs are covered with lush vegetation creating intense contrasts
Wether in Thassos.
Thassos climate is the typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Due to its geo position, there are cool breezes even during summer while its waters are not particularly warm too.
The best season in Thassos, due to its lush vegetation and amazing natural scenery is spring till the beginning of summer.
Getting There.
Thassos does not have an airport but travelers can fly to Kavala and then take the ferry boat to Ormos Prinou port, at Thassos, in about 1,5 hr.
The flight to Kavala lasts about 50’
Thassos island has a very good internal network of buses, the long distance buses or else called KTEL buses.
Its network covers the distances between almost every town, village or settlement on the island, facilitating visitors with their exploration dashes on this magnificent island of the North Aegean Sea.
TAXI SERVICE
At the ports of the island you will most probably find a taxi to take you to your hotel but it would be advisable to cross check with your hotel upon booking and maybe ask for a taxi phone number, so as to ensure your ride.
RENT A CAR/MOTORBIKE
You will find some car/motorbike rental agencies on the island, as having your own vehicle is the best way to tour around the island and its gorgeous landscapes.
The main road network is in reality a peripheral road that circles the island and you can arrange to have your car/motorbike dropped off your hotel or have it waiting for you at the port.

For more information about Thassos please visit our http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/website    http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Thassos/index.shtml or for Greece  

Rhodes beautiful Greek island.

Rhodes
 Rhodes owes its name to the mythical nymph Shaves, daughter of Poseidon, God of the sea. She is interested in Elios, the Sun, who, according to mythology, is the protector of Rhodes.
 The island of Rhodes is a small paradise: a strategic position close to the coast of Anatolia, a unique climate with over 300 days of sunshine per year, 1398 sq 90 thousand inhabitants, only a seedbeds, a dreamy landscape distributed tra mare e monti, shoal as Crystal, endless sandy beaches, valleys filled with colorful butterflies.And again, a long 3000 years history in which events and meet the deeds of every kind, from the foundation of the first urban settlements, such as the creation in Lindo, 408 BC, at the northern end of the island, a new polis: Rhodes.
 Every age has left a mark, put a trace in the geography of the island, in the traditions and popular customs.
Discovering the city of Rhodes
Obviously, however, the cultural and artistic hub of the island is Rhodes, the capital. The city of Rhodes can be divided into two distinct parts, the old town, enclosed in walls built by the Knights with the Castle and the new town, largely built after 1912 by the Italians. The old town retains great charm, where there are Byzantine churches, mosques, Arabic baths or Hammam, palaces goticheggianti and some modern building.

Beyond the walls there is the picturesque Marina of Madouk where was the colossus of Rhodes, dedicated to the Sun God. In the new town you recognize the signs of passing Italian, from the Palazzo del Governo, extravagant replica of the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, architectures of many monumental style buildings like the National Theatre.

Excursions, beaches and entertainment on the island of Rhodes

It all makes the island a truly unique place, a cosmopolitan centre of international resonance offers visitors at any time of year plenty of opportunities for fun and recreation.

IXIA: Ixia area is located a few miles from the city of Rhodes. Excellent bus links to the city of Rhodes. The area offers several restaurants and entertainment venues.

FALIRAKI: was originally a small village situated along a sandy beach 5 miles long. The continued development of tourism has now made this area a Center packed with hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

KALLITHEA: small Cove with sand and rocks about 6 miles from Rhodes, formerly famous for its spa, is a town full of charm and atmosphere.

LINDOSis situated 50 km south of the capital, and is the second city in importance and beauty after Rhodes. Visit theAcropolis, which stands on the Hill at whose foot has developed the village well preserved example of 17th century architecture.
 There are numerous local taverns and shops, which are frequented by day, because at night the area is very quiet.
Beaches of Rhodes.
The sun and sea interacting together influenced Rhodes as on of the Mediterranean's most popular resorts. With its emerald waters, golden sand and pebble beaches together with the cedars and pines of its rich forest grounds and unspoiled natural landscape one can experience its magical spell, a temptation not only for the Greeks but to foreigners alike. The beaches in Rhodes not only attract families and couples but are extremely popular to water sports enthusiasts, beach volley ball and tennis fanatics.
The beaches around the town of Rhodes are home to large hotel units who's guests make up for the majority of sunbathers in this area. On the east coast of the island the beaches are definitely favored by the majority of visitors to the island and are considered the most beautiful. On the south coast the beaches are still under development, and to the west are virtually unspoiled. Our tour will commence from the town of Rhodes and the nearby beaches, proceeding around the island in a clockwise direction along the coastline.
Beaches on the East Coast
The island's best beaches are located along the east coast which offer a wealth of white sandy sheltered beaches with mild to moderate winds. The east coast beaches are more favorable to the avid tourist and are just perfect for families with children.
Beaches on the South Coast
The beaches south of Lindos are far less crowded - Glystra, Pefki and Gennadi are all fine beaches and they're increasing in popularity among summer visitors keen to avoid the busier resort areas.
The 11-kilometre stretch between Gennadi to Plimmyri in the south east corner of the island is an almost uninterrupted beach of pebbles and sand dunes and you'll always be able to find a deserted spot.
Prassonissi, at the south western tip of the island, is a Mecca for windsurfers - the sand spit tethering it to the main part of the island has calm water on the east side while waves as high as two metres break on the west side.
Beaches on the West Coast
The west coast has its own share of frequently visited beaches, the beaches are pebbled and are often subjected to prevailing shore winds when the sea can get very aggressive , which makes swimming virtually impossible during the summer months and is off putting to its visitors. On the contrary though such weather conditions on the west coast appeal to sporting enthusiasts who like extreme water sports, and is considered as a windsurfers paradise.
Rhodes Town beach
One of the most photographed beaches in Greece it still retains something of the cosmopolitan character of the 1970's. It defies one's powers of imagination to conceive what this beach must have seen in all the years since the English writer Lawrence Durrell described it as the finest beach in all the Mediterranean.
The multi-coloured umbrellas, the towering hotels, the Casino and the Aquarium in the background, once a favourite subject for photographers - are now the theme of cult postcards. Hundreds of foreign visitors descend on the beach every day, as well as local people enjoying their midday break - especially before the high season really gets under way. The best spot on the beach is definitely the area in front of the Hotel Mediterranean. On the Aquarium side and on the part known as Elli Beach, you'll find few beach bars near the beach.
Weather
The Island of Rodos has an ideal winter climate and holds the European sunshine record with an average of 330 sunny days per year.

For more information about Rhodes please visit our website http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Rhodes/index.shtml or for Greece http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Kos.Beautiful Greek island.

Kos
Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese and one of the largest Greek Islands offering the best combination of beautiful beaches and tourist attractions: archaeological sites, lovely villages, good food.Kos is also famous for its rich history: participated in the Trojan war but also gave birth to one of the most famous of ancient Greeks, Hippocrates, the first physician to use a rational system in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In his honor after his death was erected here in the sanctuary of Asclepius and was founded an important school of medicine.
 The island's capital, Kos, is located in the northeast coast, and it is of recent construction preserving intact the typical charm of Greek cities. Even if you're staying on the island's beaches, the city deserves a visit: walkable in half a day. The Castle of the Knights (closed on Mondays for visits) is an impregnable fortress built in the 14th century to strengthen the defensive line against the Ottoman advance along with the fortifications of Rhodes and Bodrum
 South of the Castle lies theAncient Agora which houses the ruins of the sanctuary of Aphrodite, the Temple of Hercules and a Christian basilica of the 5th century.
 The most important archaeological site on the island is located about 3 km from Kos town, this is Asklipieion which in antiquity was a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, a care centre and a school in which he imparted the teachings of Hippocrates.

Hiking between the villages of Kos

Typically Greek village Mastihari deserves a visit, is full of tavernas and tourist port from which Ferries depart for summer Pothia and other tourist destinations.

On the northern slopes of the mountain chain of Dikeos mountain there are many mountain villages. By Zipari a road towards the Southeast leads to Asfendiou, then at Agios Dimitros, a village, and then to Aunt meta better known but that is certainly worth a visit for the rural landscape and sunsets that you enjoy from there. Northwest of Zia stands Lagoudi, another beautiful village where he spends a few hours, then continue towards Amaniuo and the ruins of the medieval village of Plyi, dominated by a fascinating castle ruin. Besides the ruins of the Castle are worth come up here for a dinner of grilled and mayrefta.

At 43 km from Kos town is Kefalos, a village perched atop a cliff overlooking the beach of Kamari, a very pleasant that lugo has managed to preserve its characteristics.
 From Kamari boats depart to Nisyros.
 The southern peninsula has the most wild and rugged landscape of the island.

The beaches of Kos island

4 km northwest of Kos lies the LambiBeach, very busy, but continuing along the coast for another 6 km you meet the long expanse of Golden Tingaki and Marmarito the less crowded. Other beaches are Psalidi, Agios Fokas and Therma Loutra unique which owes its name to the presence of hot springs that heat the water.

From Antimathia you get to the large Bay of Kefalos where there are seven beaches. The best known is Paradise Beach, less equipped Exotic Beach, the right compromise between the two is called Banana Beach ( Lagada).

From the beach of Agios Stefanos , you can reach the island by swimming where lie the ruins of two basilicas dating to the 5th century.
 About 7 km from Kefalos is the beach of Agios Theologos.

Information about the weather in Kos.
Refreshing breezes and winds blow during the months of July and August, making the summers quite comfortable.

The climate of Kos is similar to the rest of the islands of the Dodecanese, but it is a bit dryer. It is a mild Mediterranean climate characterised by sunny and dry summers and mild winters.
For more information about Kos please visit our website
http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Kos/index.shtml  or any other Greek islands http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Karpathos Greece

Karpathos offers flavours and atmosphere of authentic Greece, hospitable and warm, because so far it has remained on the fringes of the major tourist routes, so a very special charm despite its central location, it is located halfway between Rhodes and Crete.The towns and villages of Karpathos

48 km from North to South, very long compared to a width of just 15 km, the island 301 sq measure has a coastal shoreline of 160 km. On the East Coast a wide Bay welcomes its capital, Karpathos also called Pigadia ; the latter developed only in recent years as it overlooks the colourful fishing harbour, with its taverns, typical restaurants and shops that dot the downtown nightlife of Karpathos. The town grew around the Vrondi Bay, a sandy beach of 4 km is also well-equipped for aquatic sports.

About 8 km south of Pigadia is Amoopi, a beautiful resort with Flash lens and really beautiful beaches. In the less known of the island, about 17 miles from Pigadia, there is the village of Arkasa, which are within easy reach of the most popular beaches by surfers.

In the northern part of the island is Delicate, small port connected by a small road to Olympos, small village perched on a mountain as a medieval castle that preserves ancient costumes and folk traditions which have become the subject of study by many ethnologists.

The southern and the northern part of the island are separated by the mountain range that crosses Karpathos and have evolved independently over the centuries. Still today retain much different features very interesting, take some time to visit the various villages and learn about the history and customs of these places.

Information about the weather in Karpathos
The climate of Karpathos is similar to the rest of the islands of the Dodecanese, but it is a bit dryer. It is a mild Mediterranean climate characterised by sunny and dry summers and mild winters. Refreshing breezes and winds blow during the months of July and August, making the summers quite comfortable.
Beaches of Karpathos
Karpathos has some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. Sandy or pebbled, with emerald water, they meet all tastes. Many of them, especially on the south western coast, are ideal for windsurfing and an international windsurfing competition is held there every summer.
Apella is among the most picturesque beaches on Karpathos. It is actually a lovely cove with exotic water and luch greenery
Kyra Panagia is a picturesque beach close to Achata. The wild ambience, the exotic water and the soft sand amazes visitors
Achata is a wonderful and calm beach with white pebbles and sand. The waters in Achata have an amazing and attractive green colour.
Pigadia,This beautiful beach has sandy coast and clean water. It is organized with sun beds and umbrellas and nice fish taverns line the coast
Megali Amopi is a clean and pebbled beach close to Amopi village. Part of this coast is organized.


Karpathos Greece.

For more information about Karpathos visit our website http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Karpathos/index.shtml  or for any other Greek island http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Kalymnos Greece travel guide

Kalymnos
Of the eighteen islands of Dodecanese Kalymnos is one of the less touristy, partly due to the character of its inhabitants and back in part to the fact that it is devoted to tourism only in recent years when the traditional fishing for sponges, prevalent activity of its inhabitants, has become less profitable and is slowly disappearing
Free climbing to peak on the sea to Kalymnos

This is a place for anyone who loves traditions, excellent cuisine and a wild and uncontaminated natural environment. But is the 1997 year of breakthrough for this tiny island that in a few years has become a true temple of climbing so that every year takes place a climbing meeting during which are new pathways and spiked cliffs.

Cities and excursions on the island of Kalymnos
Port and capital of Kalymnos is Pothias prepared amphitheatrically in a Bay on the South coast, a true spectacle with its pastel and classical lines. It is a fairly large town by the standards of the Dodecanese, and perhaps this is cheerfully chaotic, it's worth a visit even if you prefer the peace of mind because this is the true Center of the island. After a visit to Pothia you can continue North to see a series of villages very close together. On the road to Horio you will find ruins of the castle of the Knights of St. John and inside a church. From Horio you can pay a visit to Pera Kastro, a village with remains of ancient stone houses, from where you can enjoy a beautiful landscape. Views and panoramas to Panormos, a village 5 km from Pothia. From here you can walk to the sandy beaches of Kandouni, Linaria and Platys Gialos. Always from Panormos you can decide to continue towards the West Coast towards three neighbors: Myrties beach of dark sand Masouri and Armeos, with beautiful coasts. Here is much of the island's seashore.

The beaches of Kalymnos and other routes

By Masouri is a beautiful scenic coastal road until Emborios where found a pleasant beach of sand and pebbles. Recommend an excursion on the island of Telendos: quiet, almost entirely devoid of traffic and with a small village on the pier. In addition to the remains of a Paleochristian basilica the attractiveness of the island are the beaches, we announce the Hohlakas Beach, near the pier, and Paradise Beach North of Telendos, which is frequented by nudists.

For those looking for tranquility can be found at Vathy, 13 km northeast of Pothia, where a fiord between cliffs sneaks and a network of paths through citrus groves. From the port of Vathy you can also take a water taxi to the nearby coves.
Much of Kalymnos is barren and inhospitable. The scarred cliffs make it very popular with mountaineers who arrive in droves each year.
There is a limited number of Kalymnos resorts to enjoy with the main tourist strip in the west very busy while the east is virtually uninhabited.
The best Kalymnos beaches are on the west coast and most have been monopolised by hotel companies.

Kalymnos Weather
The climate of Kalymnos is the same as in all the other islands of the Dodecanese. It is a mild Mediterranean climate characterised by sunny and dry summers and mild winters.
Refreshing breezes and winds are blowing during the months of July and August, making the temperatures must bearable.Humidity is of course quite high and heavy rains can occur during the months of winter and autumn.

 If you are intrested in holidays to Kalimnos or any other Greek island please visit our website
http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/  or for Kalimnos http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Kalimnos/index.shtml

Schinoussa,Small Cyclades islands Greece.

Schinoussa
Schinoussa is a small island of the Cyclades, with an area of 9.5 km2. Part of the Eastern Cyclades and lies to the South of Naxos and northeast of Irakleia. The population of the island is 206 residents (in winter).

The island maintains its Cycladic culture. The houses of Chora, one of the biggest settlements of the island, are built on a slight elevation. Messaria, is the second big settlement of the island and abstains 3 km from Chora. The island’s harbour is Mersini, and abstains 1,2 km from Chora.
The two villages of Messaria and Mersini are very pretty and are well worth visiting, where you can enjoy a walk around the streets and enjoy the peaceful and relaxing scenery and views.
The lanscape of Schinoussa is very beautiful and from the various hills on the island, you can enjoy the panoramic views stretching out over the blue waters of the Aegean.

It is advised to book ahead for your accommodation if you are planning to visit the island. There is limited accommodation available in Schinoussa, and the summer months are usually full so book early to avoid disappointment.

Schinoussas History
Many people say that Sxoinoussa owes her name to the plant junipers (in Greek, schoinos) shrubs covering the island. A second version says that the island took his name from the Venetian noble Schinoza.
Discoveries on the island testify that the island has been inhabited since antiquity with a big involvement in the creation of the First-Cycladic civilization that developed around neighbouring Keros.
Ruins are still visible on the island from destroyed temples and a lot of ceramic discoveries, elements that show that during the Byzantine years the island flourished commercial.
Schinoussa accepted raids from pirates, as most of Cyclades, fact which forced a lot of residents of the island to abandon their homes. The island has been continuously inhabited since the mid-19th century when it was settled by families from Amorgos.
Schinoussa is an ideal destination for relaxation. The visitors of the island can enjoy the calmness of the landscapes that spurts through the light blue beaches of the island. The hospitality of residents gives warmth to visitors, who enjoy the natural beauties of the island. In the past few years the island shows an increase in tourism and is able to satisfy its visitors.
You can travel from Piraeus port to Mersini with 7-9 hours travel time. The island is connected coastal with Naxos with daily itineraries and the inner Cycladic line connects Syros with Schinoussa with travel duration of 9 hours.


Beaches and walks on Schinoussa island
The main village is Panagia island or "Chora", charming village houses decorated with white bougainvillea. There is almost traffic, few people and quiet life are the main features of this relatively Green Island.

The beaches are all within walking distance, the important thing is to start early to avoid the hottest hours of the day. The most famous is Psilì Ammos a sandy beach, approximately 60 m long, turquoise sea and a few trees. It is approximately 2.8 km from Chora (about 30-35 minutes of walk) and 450 m from Mersini (the port of the island). On the beach there are bars or other services for every need we must therefore return to Mersini.

The Tsigouri Beach is the closest to the city, is a beautiful long beach (350 m) partially equipped with deckchairs and sunshades, a few bars and a shop.

The Livadi Beach (250 m long) is a fine sandy beach and is situated about 850 metres from Chora. Also here are a couple of bars and some shops.

Aligaria is approximately 1700 m from Chora, here the sea is really charming, but the way to get there is quite difficult. Also the lack of trees (and shadow) makes this uncomfortable beach.

Piso Ammos (or Mersini) is 60 m long and lies behind the port therefore is quite popular. The proximity to the port makes this the best beach to enjoy the last dip in the sea of Schinoussa waiting for the ferry. Also nearby are various bars and souvenir shops.

The other beaches are Gagavi (or 2 Aligaria), Kambos (or 3 Aligaria), Lioliou, Bazaiou, Foudana, Fikio, Almyros, Avlaki tou papa, Gerolimnionas, Sifneiko and Fidou (frequented by nudists).

In Schinoussa there is plenty to do, if you don't spend whole days in complete relaxation and absolute peace … a little paradise, for a holiday far away from the usual tourist.
SCHINOUSA SIGHTSEEING
You can make a tour to the island and visit one of the main sights of the island, the church of Eisodia Theotokou in the area of Chora. Inside the temple you can see the icon of Panagia Akathis, which is believed to have miraculous powers.
The church of Eyaggelismos is located in the traditional settlement of Messaria.

Weather on Schinoussa is the typical weather of all Cyclades islands. The best time to visit is certainly summer, when the
One of most important sights of the island is the Pirate’s Cave located at the road leading to the port.
sun is shining for 15 hours a day. Temperatures can be very hot in summer reaching even 40 degrees, but a soft breeze blows in the afternoon and makes the amosphere more comfortable.
In autumn, temperatures are lower and some light showers fall. In winter, the wind blows very strong but it rarely snows. In spring, the nature blossoms again and temperature varies

For more information about Schinoussa please visit our website http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Schinoussa/indes.shtml

Donoussa.Small and beautiful Greek island.

Donoussa
Donoussa is the eastern most island of the small Cyclades, is a small island of 13 sq kmand is inhabited by about 160 people and is located 9 miles from Naxos. It is surroundedby rocks and islets and is reachable by ferry from the island of Naxos and Amorgos.
There are 5 villages in the island, Stavros center and main port of the island is thelargest. It is a handful of white houses gathered around a church near a pleasant bay.Immediately behind the marina is the promenade with a few taverns, a travel agency,souvenir shops and a dozen of little guesthouses

In the island there are also a few small villages inhabited by some families of shepherdsanchors: Troulos, Messaria, and Mersini Kalotaritissa.Beaches and trails on the island of Donoussa
For walkers we point out the trail that runs around the island and in a few hours reachesall these four villages and beaches of the island.Excursion caiques run trips from the harbour along the coast to even more delectable, and even less frequented, sandy beaches There are a few tavernas in Agios Stavros, though they may not all be open outside high season. Donoussa is, however, becoming noticeably busier in the summer months, partly because of greatly improved sea connections over the last couple of years. So far that probably counts as a plus, not minus, point.
The beaches are famous're ready to that of Stavros, Kedros, Bruising and Kalotaritissa.
Also along the coast, there are many small bays to explore.
The ship sank in Kedros is not exactly amazing but the only attraction on this small andquiet.
Donoussa is an ideal island for relaxing or for walking and hiking in nature.

The weather of Donousa is typical to the rest of the Cyclades islands. The summer season is hot and dry while the winters are relatively mild.
The island of Donousa enjoys bright sunny days through out the year but sometimes it gets very windy.
 A few rains fall in summer and most of the rain falls in autumn and the winter months.
 The hottest months are June, July and August with temperatures rising up to 40oC in midday. In the afternoon, a light breeze makes the atmosphere more comfortable.
The coldest months are January and February. The temperature in winter rarely falls under 0oC and it also rarely snows.

Town of Donoussa: Donousa village is the capital of the island and is also called Stavros. The village is close to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Though the island of Donousa is very small and sparsely populated, the cheerful and vibrant spirit of the inhabitants is surely going to take your heart. A nice walk around the village will give you the opportunity to explore some natural beauties and nice architectural monuments, such as the church of the Holy Cross, the patron church of the island.
Although Donousa seems to be a small village, it is decked with all the necessary amenities required by tourists. There are taverns, mini market, bakeries, cafes, bars and accommodation facilities available in the village.

 For more information about Donoussa please visit our website http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Donoussa/index.shtml

Koufonissia Greece.

Koufonissia,Small Cyclades,Greece.

Koufonissia is part of the so-called Small Cyclades, an archipelago in the islands between Naxos and Amorgos composed of about twenty small and very small islands of which only four inhabited by very few people: about 700 inhabitants of Koufonissia which is the main island.

The Small Cyclades islands are still very wild and poorly equipped for tourism.Historically there have been a refuge for the many pirates who roamed the Mediterranean, now is the ideal destination for the holiday. Also an ideal destination for those looking for unspoilt views and breathtaking scenery. Because here between small coves between the rocks eroded, clear water and sandy stretches Caribbean you will find yourself in a true natural paradise!
Excursions to the island of Koufonissia
Koufonissia consists of two islands separated by a narrow isthmus: Ano Koufonissia is the only inhabited of the two and essentially lives of fishing and, in summer, tourism, Kato Koufonissia is essentially a land of pastures but may be interesting destination for a trip gulet for its beautiful beaches and offering to visit the little church which stands on the island. Here the sun shines every thing of intense light, the waters are crystal clear as ever, everything seems more intense.
The magnificent beaches of Koufonissia
Certainly the major points of interest in Koufonissia are characterized by the presence of beaches, sand dunes and rocky coves along the coast. The island's small size allow you to walk (you can make a complete revolution in one day), then walk along the coast is also the way miglore to reach most of the beaches. It 'always possible to use the bus for travel. The beaches on the east coast are Finikas Harakopou and Fano. Besides appearing Fano rocks that give rise to the famous "swimming", small pools of salt water surrounded by rocks where you can bathe.
The road leads to pores, a beautiful bay of golden sand dunes which are adorned with flowers and shrubs. Thanks to the wind this place is also known as a surfing paradise.
At the end of the bay is Xilobatis, the most spectacular point of all Kofounissia. From here on the coast becomes more rocky and the land becomes the kingdom of divers can find enchanting and unforgettable underwater scenery.

Koufonisia activities

Activities in Pano and Kato Koufonisi

For those who believe that the ideal vacation is not just rest and relaxation, at Koufonisia there are many activities they can partake in:
•Swimming
 •Hiking
 •Cycling
 •Beach volley
 •Walking
 •Snorkeling
 •Fishing
 •Water sport
 •Diving
 •Wind surfing
 These are just a few of the activities available to the more adventurous. For the vacationer who really needs some rest and recreation, there are some truly beautiful remote beaches with the characteristically pristine, crystal clear waters for which the Greek islands are renowned and where you can laze about soaking up the sun and blissful quiet.
Koufonisia beaches

Beaches at the Koufonisia of the small Cyclades

The Koufonisia in spite of being small, as are all the small eastern Cyclades, offer some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Greece. Dreamlike golden beaches with crystalline emerald and turquoise waters circled by san dunes or sculpted rocky outcrops with their unique golden colors and many hidden coves. The mountains of Naxos and Amorgos protect them from the strong northern summer winds called the Meltemi characteristic of the Cyclades islands. Crowded or not, all the beaches of the Koufonisia have been formed almost as though they are attempting to seduce you into staying forever!
At the upper Koufonisi, to the northwest you will find Parianos, a cove with a wide sandy beach well protected from the winds and a favorite harbor for the picturesque small fishing boats. It is the generous wide harbor beach with clear shallow waters a short distance from the village which is preferred by the locals, children and anyone not wishing to go too far.
The most beautiful beaches however are gathered on the eastern side of the island.
At the end of the beachfront road you will see Finika also known as Harokopou, whose name comes from the hotel restaurant at that location belonging to Dimitris Mavrou. This is a golden beach with turquoise waters which is preferred by families.
This is followed by another beach with similar golden sands and waters called Fanos sometimes also Defteri meaning Second (beach). There is a hotel at that location which opened recently and the area and waters are a favorite of the younger generation an all who partake in sea sport.
Continuing east we meet many hidden coves for those that wish to be alone and end up at Italida or Platia Pounda, which is the most popular of the islands beaches and perhaps one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades. A small cove at the one end is favored by those who feel a swimming costume is not essential.
Even farther to the east we see many more small coves with sand or pebbles and rocks that form caves and among them is Pisina a natural hollow pool which is what the name means with crystal clear waters.
Northeast of upper Koufonisi is Pori, a big golden beach and also among the most beautiful of the Cyclades ideal for wind surfing. it is paradise on earth accessible by a road from the inland where two beach bars are a favorite watering hole for all visitors.
At the very northern end of the island is Xylovati promontory with a splendid view of Naxos and Gala where you can dive for sea caves in the clear Aegean waters.
Lower Koufonisi offers beaches just as beautiful but even more remote and the best known are Fykio, Deti, Nero and Pezoulia.

Access to Koufonisia
 Piraeus harbor to upper Koufonisi
•By ferry boat

•Duration about 8hrs•

Daily transports in the summer twice a week in winter.

Upper Koufonisi to lower Koufonisi
•By motor launch
•Duration about 10min.
•Daily regular transports.
Naxos – Irakleia – Schinousa – upper Koufonisi – Donousa – Amorgos & return
•Daily summer & winter.

Helipad
•Upper Koufonisi
Airport
•The nearest airport in Naxos island.

Information
•Port authority Piraeus: 210-4226000
•Port authority Naxos: 22850-22300
•Tourist office Koufonisia: 22850-71438
•Fueling station: 22850-71457
For more information about Koufonissi please visit our website
http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Koufonissia/index.shtml

Beautiful Greek island of TINOS

Tinos
The island of Tinos is a destination not yet known from mass tourism, far from worldly and cosmopolitan atmosphere of the neighboring islands (Mykonos first and foremost).

You get to Tinos by sea from the port of Rafina (4 hours drive) or the nearby Cyclades.
The discovery of the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary, venerated by all the Greek Orthodox Church, the place where now stands the shrine dedicated to Panagia Evanghelistrìa, Tinos has made it popular with Orthodox pilgrims. The faithful come to the sanctuary to kiss the image of the Virgin Mary and to participate in pilgrimages (25 March and 15 August and 15 November). The Shrine of the Annunciation was built at the beginning of '800, and every year it is invaded by pilgrims, to redeem themselves from their sins, kneeling traverse the road that climbs the mountain. This type of religious tourism remains only to Tinos town, while the rest of the island remains peaceful.

On the island there are many churches and chapels, but also Christian Orthodox, after the Venetians had imported and converted to Catholicism many residents.
In the countryside are raised pigeon features, also legacy of the Venetians who raised the pigeons. There are hundreds, geometrically decorated stone. But you can also find many windmills and watermills, and is understood by the abundance of wind and water.As for the winds blow often, have the foresight to control the morning and choose the repaired part of the island, depending on the type of wind.
The city of Tinos and excursions
The capital, where you will find many restaurants, taverns, bars, bakeries and even discos, not as often happens in the islands of Greece, the only real town on the island that instead relies on a green countryside dotted with ancient villages and beautiful, very different between them, each with its own traditions and different architectures (white houses with blue doors and windows, stone houses, houses with marble facades, etc.). Tinos is famous for its white marble and green marble known since ancient times and was very much for the churches, houses, fountains and even in the streets, beautifully paved.
Since 1955 the island is on the School of Art in the village of Pyrgos. Pyrgos is the artists' town of Marble, a quiet place with good roads. Beautiful traditional villages of Xinara, Skalados, Koumaros, Tripotamos, Falatados, Volax.
The beaches of Tinos
The beaches are beautiful and easily accessible to many and different among themselves, fine, golden sand beaches, small coves and beaches with round stones, but always with clear water and quiet. At Tinos we will move with buses or taxis: the latter are plentiful and cheap.
To the south east of the capital are the places most frequented by families and tourism greek (Agios Sostis, Agios Kyriaki and Agios Ioannis Porto) with beautiful views of the nearby Mykonos and Delos. To the north, then you will find after Pyrgos Ysternion (fine gray sand beach in the shade of tamarisk), Kardiani, Agios Petros, Agios Romanos.Kolymbythira The area is one of the most beautiful parts of the island.
Kitchen typical Greek island of Tinos
The island produces vegetables, honey and a particular herb called alifoni eaten in salads. Local specialties include garlic sauce, fried tomatoes, the louza. For dining, we recommend the restaurant "Metaxi Mas", specializing in appetizers. Recommended is a visit to the bakery Zakaroplastion Mesklies, where gourmands can enjoy Greek pastries like baklava (layers of flaky pastry filled with honey and chopped nuts), the loukumades (donuts fried and sprinkled with honey and cinnamon) and galaktovouriko (puddingsemolina flavored with lemon, cooked in milk and vanilla and tightened by two thin layers of puff pastry).
For more information about Tinos please visit our website
http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Tinos/index.shtml

Syros.Cyclades islands Greece.

Syros
 The island of Syros is the center of the Cyclades, has small beaches and narrow, neoclassical villas and residences, large public buildings and gardens, its past is glorious and is visited by a selected tourism, almost all greek.
The capital Ermoupoli was the biggest port of Greece, before his destiny was changed to the 800, the opening of the Corinth Canal and the consequent development of the port of Piraeus. It remains an important center for the maritime traffic of the islands and is the capital of the entire archipelago. Ermoupoli was a prosperous city, with textile factories, tanneries, factories for the manufacture of wrought iron, coming to have a middle class, rich and influential. Public buildings were built in classical style, thanks to the collaboration of foreign architects, noble houses were decorated with wrought iron balconies and erected elegant villas inhabited by amateurs, bankers, rich merchants. The social and intellectual life is also the entity, with schools, newspapers, literary circle.

The island has long Venetian rule during the Turkish free port and center for the spread of Catholicism in the Aegean. Since 1200 the Venetians and Genoese fact that the occupying introduced Catholicism and the first half of the 600 arrived here Capuchins, Jesuits, Ursulines, Vincentians. Orders administered justice, ran schools and hospitals. Syrosfu defined as the most Catholic of the archipelago (home to nearly half the entire Catholic community in Greek) and is still a bishopric.

The city of Syros and other excursions
 The village has an upper part, with white houses lay on the slope, and a lower part, dating back to 1800, with administrative and commercial activities. Above we see two hills divided by a valley, is the hill of Ano Syros, with the Catholic district that represents the most ancient and characteristic of the city (the monasteries of the Jesuits and Capuchins in this neighborhood definitely worth a visit ), the other host instead the Orthodox neighborhood of Anastasis.

Tourist attraction is then Platia Miaoulis, a rectangular square paved with marble, full of outdoor cafes and decorated with palm trees. It is a favorite destination for walks and summer concerts are held there. About music in the nearby square, stands a theater with marble facade is a replica, in miniature, the scale of Milan.

Ermoupolis well worth a visit for the architecture and the many churches for the many craft shops (leather sandals, watercolors, prints) for the typical sweets pastry shops, loukumia, a sort of pancakes with jelly flavored with rose or bergamot , covered with powdered sugar on top and sometimes pieces of almond and chalvadopites (a kind of nougat local) and to the stalls selling natural sponges.

In Syros are also the only casino in the Cyclades, open in high season from 20 to 6 am. The slots are open in the afternoon.

Monuments and museums to see
 A Ermoupoli: the Archaeological Museum, the Town Hall, The Cultural Center, the Art Gallery of Cyclades, the municipal theater, the Chalandriani (a cemetery) and the Caves of Ferekidis, both near Ano Syros, the baroque church of San Giorgio.

The beaches of Syros
 To reach the most beautiful you inoltrarvi hinterland, indoor climbing mountains and then descend to the streets in search of several creeks that are jewels of nature.
 The beach is a great beach Galissas however organized, crescent shaped sheltered from the wind. The sand is dark, but very fine, the water is clear and calm.
 To the north, reached by a boat that leaves from Kini find Grammata, Lia, Varvaroussa, Aetos, very beautiful.
 The beach is the most cosmopolitan island Agathopes, and again the two islets and Stroggilo Schistonisi, the beach and the beaches of Finikas Dolphins, Sousouni, Varis, Achladi, Azolimnos, Santorinios, Fabrica, Armeos, Lotos, Megas Gialos ...

For more information about Syros Greece please visit our website
http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/Islands/Syros/index.shtml

Sifnos.Cyclades islands Greece.

Sifnos
Sifnos is the fourth island of the western Cyclades, you get to the ferry port of Kamares and the landscape is totally lunar rocks made of totally devoid of vegetation. In contrast inside the island is lush, the hills are rich with olive groves and almond trees, the hillsides of the mountains are covered with low vegetation and herbs. Mountains make up the bulk of its territory, reaching a height of 680 meters and contribute to the charm of traditional Cycladic Sifnos.
The many towns of this island are quite extensive interconnected by paths, this makes it the ideal destination for holidays for trekking and for those who love long walks in nature. The climate is very hot, also in August is very crowded, for both these reasons we recommend a holiday in Sifnos in July or September.
Cities and villages of the island of Sifnos
Its population centers, among the most elegant of the Aegean, is a destination for artists and intellectuals, but once again the protagonist here is the sea with its crystal clear waters, rugged coastline and beautiful beaches. The capital is Apollonia, Kamares it is a major port and resort with Platis Yialos, Faros and Vathy. Also in Sifnos give a charm entirely spiritual and especially the numerous churches and chapels built in the most inaccessible island escarpments, cliffs, bare rock.
Apollonia is on the edge of a plateau at 5 km from the port of Kamares. It 'a very lively center despite its small size it has been able to combiare the preservation of their traditions and beauty of its historic center with modern life also made of traffic, shops and tourist services. Apollonia is now united to the neighboring towns Artemonas, Kato Petals, Exambella and the charming medieval Kastro, the most panoramic point of the island, a Venetian fortress built in the thirteenth century, paradoxically built within the circle of houses grew spontaneously in the form of wall defensive over the years. Inside the Kastro are also a small Archaeological Museum.
Many windmills and above all to Artemonas Examblea. Numerous taverns and good quality, we can find both traditional Greek and managed by Italians and French.
Beaches and other excursions on the island of Sifnos
Moving south again, about 10 km from Apollonia, we find the most popular seaside resort on the island of Sifnos Platys Gialos. A beautiful golden sandy beach well equipped and suitable for children. From here the boat you can visit the church of the Virgin Kitrianì on the islet at the entrance of the gulf. The close is good for fishing and diving while exploring deserted beaches, the island offers plenty of shade. For those seeking less crowded beaches and bays mention near the beaches of Platys Gialos Saoures, Apokoftò (an expanse of sand from the sea, quiet and minimally served) and Fassoulou.
On the west coast Vathi is a beautiful sandy bay with tavernas, meter in Faros, a small fishing village and Spitale, you can find a nice sandy beach for swimming and also served children. Faros is also home to the monastery of Chrisopighì (Madonna of the source of gold) built in the seventeenth century on the tip of a small promontory where first emerged a rock lookout.
And we have now in Kamares, Sifnos' main port and an important tourist center. Here you can breathe the air of a typical holiday resort thanks to the wide beach and the local taverns.
From here you can sail aboard small boats for trips to Vathi and Heronissos on the northern island. And 'This is the capital of ceramics, an art highly developed island in past centuries and strength of your household. Heronissos is the most isolated of Sifnos.Here you can enjoy total peace of mind and for the brave who want to climb up to the northern tip of Heronissos as a present a breathtaking view over the Aegean.

 For more information about Syfnos Greece please visit our website http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/

Santorini Greece.

Santorini is one of the 56 picture postcard perfect Greek islands known as the Cyclades.
Mykonos, Naxos and Paros are neighbouring Greek islands to beautiful Santorini. The Cyclades draws many visitors in the summer months with Santorini being a popular destination especially for the cruise ships that travel the Aegean.
 

Santorini is understandably considered the most romantic of the Greek islands and seduces romantics old and new to its shores. With it's Oia sunsets, white washed villages, pretty blue domed churches, welcoming locals and views to die for you cannot but fail to fall in love with Santorini.
It has become known as the Honeymoon Island and is the setting for weddings, anniversary celebrations and renewal of vow ceremonies. Many grooms and brides to be, honeymooners and old romantics enjoy a holiday vacation at the best Santorini hotels.
Santorini Greece in the Cyclades, Aegean, has one of the most spectacular landscapes in Greece and in the world. The traditional villages of the island, built on tall cliffs, offer a breathtaking view over the submerged volcano. They represent the beautiful Greek cliche you have always dreamed about! Among them you mustn't miss Oia, the place gifted with the most famous and stunning sunsets. You will find on this portal site all the information you need about the island as well as Santorini hotels.
Wether
The climatic conditions on Santorini Greece are the same as in the whole Cyclades region.
From April to August, the weather in Santorini is bright and sunny. From September and on, it is not rare to see some cloudy days. The rainfalls are very rare.
The humidity level is very high. The days when you can see Crete clearly are really rare but not inexistent!! The weather is good enough to take good pictures of the volcano.
Santorini Beaches
The most famous beaches of the island of Santorini Greece are Perissa, Kamari, Monolithos and the Red Beach. The beaches of Kamari, Perissa and Monolithos have black sand and deep blue waters. They are situated on the east side of the island and in the tourist areas of the island. These areas offer many hotels, taverns, cafes, bars and beach-bars. The Red Beach near Akrotiri is located in a quieter area. It is however the most famous beach of the island, and attracts many people.
Perissa Beach
Perissa is situated 15 km south-east of Fira. You will find a very touristy but amazing endless black sandy beach with an enormous rock called Mesa Vouno rising from the sea. It creates an impressive landscape, especially at night when the rock is lighted.
The village, abandoned during the winter, offers lot of rooms, restaurant and bars.
Kamari Santorini:
Kamari is situated 10 km south-east of Fira. Kamari is situated in the opposite side of Perissa, with the enormous rock (Mesa Vouno) in the middle.
The landscape is very similar to the endless black sandy beach of Perissa. The difference is that Kamari is not built in the same manner. Here, the settlement lines the beach. It is also much more crowded and for that reason, you will find a larger choice of rooms to let, hotels, tavernas, cafe, bars and night clubs, as well as all kinds of water sports activities on the beach.
Red Beach Santorini:
The Red Beach is a beach composed of black and red volcanic rocks, near Akrotiri.
To get there, you need to use a car and then to walk. It is nevertheless a beautiful beach and is worth the trip.
You can also go to the White Beach, which is accessible by boat from Akrotiri.
Monolithos Santorini:
Monolithos beach is the less crowded. It is situated near the airport. The area has a very few rooms to let and some taverns.
HOW TO GET TO SANTORINI
Santorini can be reached by air from Athens with two flights per day or by ferry from Piraues with frequent departures throught the year. During the summer period there are additional flights between Santorini and other islands, and charter flights from abroad. There are also nautical connections between Santorini and many other Cyclades islands, Dodecanesse, Crete and Thessaloniki.
Participants arriving by air:
Santorini can be reached from most international airports via Athens. Arrival at Athens airport:
Athens is served by the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos :

From Athens to Santorini airport (Thira):
Nearly all international flights arriving in Greece during this period allow adequate time for making the connecting flight to Santorini, but because local flights have a minimum seating capacity, please book these flights early.
For more information about Santorini please visit our website http://www.ajbholidays.co.uk/