1) Chuck package brochures in the bin.
2) Book a 3 week return air ticket.
3) Go.
Samos is not unspoiled any more as there are quite a lot of charter flights from northern europe which has caused a considerable amount of development in their wake, fortunately not too much. If Samos is laidback nearby islands must be comatose....
On the north coast you could try Kokkari which is a fair size of place these days having turned from hippy haunt to mainstream tourism over the decades, losing it's charm a bit with samey cafes along the seafront and an ugly breakwater attached to the once picturesque rock with the wee houses, but still OK. Unfortunately these days Limonaki and Tsamadou beaches just to the west are now solid with sunbeds. You can easily reach Karlovassi from here, west of Karlovassi is good hike along the coast from Potami-Mikro Seitani-Megalo Seitani.
Kokkari is cheaper than Pythagorio for accomodation.
On the South coast Pythagorio is a harbour tourist town place, there are beaches to the west or rather beach as far as Ireon, boat to beaches at Psili Ammos (very good). It is also a good place to take the ferry 'Nissos Kalymnos' or hydrofoil to the islands to the South. Patmos and Lipsi are pretty close and quiet, both have a good selection of tavernas and beaches.
Samos is a good hiking island and is well known for it. Apart from the one previously mentioned, there are others starting from small N.coast villages up into the mountains, and many more.
There are daily ferries to Ikaria island, give it a try.
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Edited by
Ouzo
2005-11-19 10:40:25