Karpathos is a Greek island of 324 km, located between Crete and Rhodes. It is the second largest island in the Dodecanese. Its beaches, which are difficult to reach, are among the most beautiful in the Dodecanese. It is a quiet island of 7000 inhabitants which remains spared from mass tourism.
Karpathos forms a small archipelago with two nearby islands: Saria separated to the north by a narrow tongue of land of 100 m and attached to the community of Olympos and Kassos to the southwest located about 7 km. Half the island is rough and inaccessible and the other is very green. The architecture is varied with authentic small houses on the one hand, and modern buildings on the other. A part of the local population, mainly on the side of the village of Olympos, dresses in brightly colored traditional clothing and the local folk tradition remains.
The traditional village of Olympos is a village built in amphitheater, at 250m altitude, facing the sea. It is a village keeping its medieval architecture typical of the Greek islands of the south-east. The village is located in the extreme north of the island and until recently it was not accessible by car.
The main town of Karpathos (or Pigadia), located to the south-east also serves as the main port to the island. Its ancient name is Potideo or Posidio. It is built on the edge of a four kilometer sandy beach. The houses are recent and modern. The center is located between Place Polytechniou, the quay and Dimokratias Street.
8 km south of Pigadia is the bay of Ammopi and a succession of beautiful coves with crystal clear waters.
Apella, elected a few years ago as one of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean, is the most famous of Karpathos. Located just 16 kilometers north of Pigadia, it combines crystal clear waters with fine pebbles. The pines are mixed in the rocks, all around the beach.
Other known beaches in Karpathos for their clear waters are: Kyra Panagia, Achata, Lefkos, Finiki, Arkassa, Damatria, Diakoftis, Afoti, Psoraris, Michaliou Kipos, Varias and Vrontis.