Kassos Characteristics

Just 27 nautical miles from Crete, and 11 km south of Karpathos, Kasos is one of the most remote and least visited of the Greek Islands. Kassos has a land mass of 66 sq. km. and a coastline of 50 km, its population is around 1100. It's the last Dodecanese island before Crete, the last Greek island before Egypt: literally the end of the line.

A barren island with steep cliffs, caves, gulches, small coves and few beaches Kasos reminds one of Greece as it used to be before mass tourism.

The island is barren and mountainous. Part of Kasos' barrenness is due to the Turks setting it afire and massacring the inhabitants in 1824. Only a few olive and fig trees survived the fire.

There are a number of lighthouses on Kassos, testimony to the tricky seas in the area.

Island Features

The best beaches are to be found on the tiny offshore islet of Armathia just to the north Water-taxis are available. A 6 km road circles Kasos.

Chelathros Bay is a good site for sun lovers. You can walk across Kassos to this beach on an isolated track that passes the Monastery of Ag. Giorgios. There is water available at the monastery, but it would be wise to carry snacks and water.

Towns

Kasos has five small villages, with Fry (or Fri) being the main port and capital. You can explore all of Fry in about an hour. The little port is Bouka. In the port on June 7 each year a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony is held commemorating the massacre of 1824. Many people from Karpathos attend this event, as do Kassiots from around the world.

The suburb of Emborios is 1km east of Fry.

Near the village of Agia Marina is the beach of Ammoua. The airstrip is also near Ag. Marina. Nearby are two fine caves: Ellinokamara (or Hellenokamara) and Sellai, both with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave of Ellinokamara is interesting with Mycenaean and Hellenistic traces.

Drinking and Dining

You can get decent seafood and standard Greek dishes on Kassos. There are even a couple of tavernas in Emborio.

History

An ancient city stood at the site of the present village of Poli. You can see the crumbling acropolis, Byzantine castle and church.

As mentioned above, there was a massive Turkish massacre, with all the men killed and women and children taken as slaves. The few Kassiots who survived remain here, or emigrated to Egypt to work on the Suez Canal. Many have moved to America.

Hints

If you want to be able to brag that you took the world's shortest scheduled flight, take the plane from Karpathos to Kassos. It's a five minute trip.

Maps

The Complete Details

Helpful Information

Transportation Facts	By Air: 6 times a week from Rhodes. 3 times a week from Carpathos. Once a week from Sitia, Crete. By Ferry: Twice a week with Piraeus, 19 hr. Twice a week to Milos, Karpathos, Rhodes, and the 3 Cretan ports of Heraklion, Aghio Nicoloau and Sitia. Once a week with Santorini, Chalki, Naxos and Paros. There are no buses on Kassos. There is taxi service and you can rent a motorcycle.
Island Resources	Tel. code: 2245 Port Authority: Tel. 61208 Airport: 61665