Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WINDSURFING AT PRASSONÍSSI
Situated at the very southern tip of Rhodes,
Prassoníssi
is regarded as one of the finest
windsurfing
sites in Europe. Strictly speaking the name refers to “Leek Island”, the sturdy little
islet just offshore, which is connected to the mainland by a long, low and very narrow sandspit
through which a small natural channel frequently opens.
Not only do the waters here belong to different seas - the
Aegean
to the west of the spit,
and the
Mediterranean
to the east - but in season they usually offer dramatically contrasting
conditions. Thanks to the prevailing
meltémi
wind, and the funnelling effect of the islet, the
Aegean side is generally much rougher, with head-high waves. On summer days it therefore
becomes the area for expert windsurfers and daredevil kitesurfers. The Mediterranean side,
meanwhile, tends to be much calmer, almost lagoon-like, and its shallow sandbars make it
especially ideal for beginners.
The
season
at Prassoníssi lasts from May until mid-October. Of the three
windsurfing
schools
that operate here, the Polish-run Prasonisi Center (late April-Oct;
T
22440 91044,
W
prasonisicenter.com) is the keenest and friendliest.
ACCOMMODATION
THE SOUTHEAST COAST
E
e's Dreams
Yennádhi
T
22440 43410,
W
e
esdreams.com.
Six serviceable, good-value a/c
studios, overlooking a fountain-fed oasis
at t
he northern
end of Yennádhi, plus free wi-fi and a bar.
€55
Lindian Village
Lárdhos
T
22440 35900,
W
lindian
village.gr.
Sumptuous beachfront resort, 5km south of
Lárdhos, and consisting of an attractive complex of
individual bungalows that hold three grades of units
(suites have their own plunge-pools), plus s
everal
gourmet
restaurants, a spa/gym and a private beach.
€500
Pefkos
W
dimitristudiospefkos.com.
Good-value all-studio hotel
on the hillside just above Péfki. 35 clean, comfortable
apartments sleep
ing
two to four, with kitchens, a/c and
panoramic views.
€80
Prasonisi Light House
Prassoníssi
T
22440 91030,
W
prasonisilighthouse.com.
Marginally the better of the
two accommodation options at the island's southernmost
tip, with a wide range of possibilities, from simple good-
value “eco rooms” to larger rooms with sea-view balconies
and fully-fledged apartments. Rates includ
e bre
akfast and
dinner in the reasonable on-site restaurant.
€92
8
Blue
Hotel
Péfki
T
22440
48017,
EATING AND DRINKING
Kyma Beach Restaurant
Péfki
T
22440 48213
. High-
class restaurant at the midpoint of Péfki beach, with lovely
sunset views, and serving delicious Greek specialities with
a creative twist; try the octopus carpaccio. Reserve ahead in
summer.
Daily noon-10pm.
Ì
Platanos
Lahaniá Prassoníssi
T
694 41 99 991,
W
achaniaplatanostaverna.com.
On the tiny little main
platía at the lower, eastern end of Lahaniá village, this
welcoming rural taverna has superb mezédhes platters like
hummus and
dolmadhákia
. Sit outside at the front, under
the eponymous plane tree, or in the indoors dining room,
overlooking a deep wooded valley.
Daily lunch & dinner.
The west coast
While Rhodes' windward
west coast
is damp, fertile and forested, its beaches are
exposed and often rocky. None of this has deterred development and, as on the east
coast, the first few kilometres of the busy main road have been surrendered entirely to
tourism. From Rhodes Town to the airport, the shore is lined with generic hotels,
though
Triánda
,
Kremastí
and
Paradhísi
are still nominally villages, with real centres.
Kameiros
Tues-Sun: summer 8am-7.10pm; winter 8.30am-2.40pm • €4
The site of ancient
KAMEIROS
, which united with Lindos and Ialyssos to found the
city-state of Rhodes, stands above the coast 30km southwest of Rhodes Town. Soon
eclipsed by the new capital, Kameiros was only rediscovered in 1859, leaving a
well-preserved Doric townscape in a beautiful hillside setting. Visitors can make out
the foundations of two small temples, the re-erected pillars of a Hellenistic house, a
Classical fountain, and the
stoa
of the upper agora, complete with a water cistern.
