Greece - Korina Miller [518]
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
For vehicle hire, on Kamariotissa’s waterfront opposite the buses, X Rentals ( 25510 42272) has cars and small jeeps, as does Kyrkos Rent a Car ( 25510 41620, 6972839231). Rent A Motor Bike ( 25510 41057), opposite the quay, offers motorcycles and scooters.
TAXI
Taxis from Kamariotissa access most destinations, including Hora (€5), Pahia Ammos (€15), Profitis Ilias (€7.50), Sanctuary of the Great Gods (€5), Loutra (Therma; €7.50), first camping ground (€8.50), second camping ground (€9.50), Fonias River (€12), and Kipos Beach (€17).
For a taxi, call the English- and German-speaking company Petros Glinias ( 6972883501) or other taxi companies ( 25510 41733, 25510 41341, 25510 41077).
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KAMARIOTISSA ΚΑΜΑΡΙΩΤΙΣΣΑ
pop 960
Samothraki’s port, largest town and transport hub, Kamariotissa has the island’s main services and a nearby pebble beach with bars and decent swimming. While most visitors don’t linger, it’s a likeable enough port town filled with flowers and good fish tavernas, and roughly equidistant from Samothraki’s more famous attractions.
Orientation & Information
Turn left from the ferry and you’ll find a tourist information kiosk 50m along the road running along the water, on the port side. Buses wait behind this kiosk further east on the waterfront. Across the road are tavernas, travel and car- and motorcycle-hire agencies, and ATMs. Follow the waterfront further east for 100m to reach Kamariotissa’s beach.
Café Action ( 25510 41056; internet per hr €4) At the harbour’s west end.
Niki Tours ( 25510 41465; niki _tours@hotmail.com) A helpful, full-service travel agency, across from the buses.
Port police ( 25510 41305) East along the waterfront.
Tourist Information Kiosk ( 25510 89242) On the port.
www.samothraki.com General information about Samothraki, including boat schedules.
www.samothrace.gr Another online resource (Greek-only), with important phone numbers.
Activities
Haris Hatzigiannakoudis at Niki Tours runs a Capoeira Camp (a Brazilian martial art/dance) with Brazilian master Lua Rasta annually in late June, and can organise hiking safaris to Mt Fengari. As many of Samothraki’s lush inland hiking trails are poorly marked or unmarked completely, and since the island has no official mountaineering guide, see Haris if interested in serious hiking here.
Festivals & Events
Although disapproving local authorities seem to have pulled the plug on Samothraki’s natty-haired world music festival, there’s always talk of a resurrection. Meanwhile, the island has somehow become a gathering point for Greek motorcyclists – a sort of Hell’s Angels–meets-the-hippies juxtaposition with many intriguing possible outcomes. Check for festival news online or with Niki Tours.
Sleeping
Domatia are arranged at the port-side tourist information kiosk or Niki Tours, and are also signposted.
Niki Beach Hotel ( 25510 41545; s/d €45/60) This spacious hotel with large, modern rooms has a lovely garden and is fronted by poplar trees, opposite the town beach.
Hotel Aeolos ( 25510 41595; s/d incl breakfast €60/80; ) Up behind Niki Beach Hotel, the Aeolos stands on a hill overlooking the sea and has comfortable rooms. Front rooms face the large swimming pool and garden, while the back ones have views of Mt Fengari.
Eating
Klimitaria Restaurant ( 25510 41535; mains from €6) This waterfront eatery serves an unusual speciality called gianiotiko, an oven-baked dish of diced pork, potatoes, egg and more, as well as the usual taverna fare.
I Synantisi ( 25510 41308; fish €6-10) For fresh fish at good prices, head to this hard-working outdoor ouzerie on the central waterfront. View the daily catch, on ice inside.
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HORA ΧΩΡΑ
Set within a natural fortress of two sheer cliffs, and with a commanding view of the sea, Hora (also called Samothraki) was the obvious choice for the island’s capital. In the 10th century the Byzantines