Folegandros is one of the more beautiful and lesser-known of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Located between the similarly unspoiled and ungentrified islands of Sikinos and Milos, it forms the southern part of the Cyclades along with Sikinos, Ios, Anafi and Santorini. It is an exceptionally lovely place with a wonderfully rugged landscape, incredible views from its remote position between the southern edge of the Cyclades and the Sea of Crete to the south, and three main and very pretty little villages. It is not a major tourist destination but, in 2005, was named as an extra special gem by Conde Nast Traveler, causing a stampede of travellers to somehow make their way there, which is saying something as it is a particularly difficult place to reach.
There are some ferries that go to the island but they are not especially frequent, especially off-season. Off-season, there are only two or three ferries a week but in the summer, they run daily or up to 5 days a week. The exact details vary and should be checked closer to a visit to the area using Ferry Hopper. It is not the most dependable service or easy journey, however, if you have found a vacation rental in the South Aegean or a holiday rental in Crete, and you are feeling adventurous and are looking for a magical and authentic experience of Greece, it might just be possible to see this special gem for yourself. If you do, you'll find that it was all very much worth the effort.
Folegandros is barely 12km by 4km but it is packed with natural beauty, a loaded history, and plenty of untainted charm. It is as authentic as they come and, as a result, warrants thorough exploration. It is a destination for the traveller that wants to be very much off the beaten tourist path. In fact, it was a place of exile for political prisoners from Roman times until the 20th century, right up to the military dictatorship of 1967–74. Little trace of this past remains, however. Instead, it is one of the most peaceful and lovely places you could imagine.
While Folegandros is not your typical tourist destination, it has a lot to offer those interested in exploring unique and intriguing destinations and, in the next couple of posts we will discuss some of the island's highlights. Be sure to read on to the rest of this series for plenty of reasons to make your way to this extraordinary spot in Greece...
Folegandros is barely 12km by 4km but it is packed with natural beauty, a loaded history, and plenty of untainted charm. It is as authentic as they come and, as a result, warrants thorough exploration. It is a destination for the traveller that wants to be very much off the beaten tourist path. In fact, it was a place of exile for political prisoners from Roman times until the 20th century, right up to the military dictatorship of 1967–74. Little trace of this past remains, however. Instead, it is one of the most peaceful and lovely places you could imagine.
While Folegandros is not your typical tourist destination, it has a lot to offer those interested in exploring unique and intriguing destinations and, in the next couple of posts we will discuss some of the island's highlights. Be sure to read on to the rest of this series for plenty of reasons to make your way to this extraordinary spot in Greece...
