What are the wild islands of Greece? With approx 6,000 islands and islets of which only 227 are inhabited, it is not difficult to discover the wilder side from the Greek islandschoosing often overlooked and less known destinations perfect for immersing yourself in uncontaminated natural beauty and away from the tourist crowds that alter its authenticity.
Many of these islands are located in remote locations and to reach them requires long ferry journeys which however offer the privilege of living an unforgettable experience on paradisiacal and unspoiled locations between deserted beaches, breathtaking views, turquoise waters, splendid sunsets or excursions along immersed paths in the wild nature.
But which ones they are the wildest Greek islands?
To get a first idea of which could be the wildest islands to reach, we have drawn up one list of some of the most remote and unspoiled Greek islands to reach for the next holidays.
Wild islands of Greece: Donussa
This remote island of Small Cyclades Oriental preserves its wild and windswept physiognomy in a characteristic landscape frozen in time.
With just a hundred residents spread across four small villages, Donussa is only about 13 square kilometers in size but boasts golden, deserted beaches, sparkling emerald green waters, giant cliffs, dense arid zones, underwater caves like Fokospilia, small ridges , arid islands and numerous headlands with coves and cliffs that end in the sea.
The small wild island of Donoussa is an ideal place for birdwatching among the nests on the cliffs of Mavropetritis and Skoulonisi, venturing along excellent hiking trails, scuba diving in the seabed of Kedros Bay or exploring the ancient ruins in the archaeological site of Vathi Limenari.
Wild islands of Greece: Ikaria
Dense forests, hidden beaches with crystal clear waters, coves and cliffs, lakes and mountains are the wild landscapes that distinguish the beautiful island of Ikaria afloat in the central-eastern Aegean Sea.
This is a place where time seems to follow a different, slower pace, giving its inhabitants a healthier and longer life.
For visitors there are excellent hiking, walking and cycling opportunities thanks to a dense network of paths that passes through a magnificent collection of farms, lakes, forests and isolated monasteries, while deserted and pristine beaches such as Na and Agios Georgios offer priceless moments carefree among white sand and turquoise waters.
Wild islands of Greece: Samothrace
Hidden in the north-eastern corner of the Aegean Sea, Samothraki is closer to mainland Turkey than Greece and is difficult to reach but those who do will find a natural wonder before their eyes in the form of wild landscapes, mountain ranges, secret waterfalls, natural hot springs, hiking trails and pristine white beaches.
Its unique feature are the so-called pedestals, “natural pools” with crystal clear but cold waters in which to dive without hesitation for long regenerating baths such as in Gria Vathra and Fonia while to find warmer waters the beaches are those of Paxia Ammos, Kipos and Valtos.
Samothrace is a place for excursions among magnificent natural landscapes such as the one along the Fonias stream, with its 35 meter high Klidosi waterfall.
The Aegean island of Alonissos in the Sporades archipelago is one of the wildest in Greece, sheltered from major tourist circuits.
A place where the rugged natural landscape, with its olive and pine trees, sinks into blue and crystalline waters that are among the clearest ever as they have been protected for decades by the Northern Sporades Marine National Park, a refuge for dolphins, the monk seal Mediterranean, rare seabirds and even coral reefs that make up one of the most complete marine ecosystems in Greece.
In the picturesque port of Patitiri you can also admire a splendid stone-paved promenade and a medieval castle with far-reaching views of the sea.
Different from the other islands of the Cyclades, Amorgos preserves a wild landscape where time seems to have stopped between deserted beaches, ancient ruins, winding mountain paths and a monastery perched on top of the cliff.
Its only 121 square kilometers of extension, its long and narrow shape, its harsh nature make it an ideal land for excursions on high altitude routes and ecological explorations among its flora rich in rare plant species.
On the island there are seven different excursions traced with splendid views along the sea routes between rocky and rugged coasts such as the one that leads to the scenic monastery of Panagia Chozoviotissa, also called the monastery of the steps.
The narrow cobbled streets of Chora and the spectacular Tholaria sunsets help make Amorgos a special island.
Kythira – Kythira
Kythira or Kythira is located in the south of the Peloponnese. It is one of the most isolated and wild Greek islands thanks to the few tourists who travel this far.
The island is characterized by its wild nature with natural waterfalls that create an idyllic landscape and impressive beaches bathed by the cold and crystalline waters of the Fonissas waterfall in Mylopotamos, while more famous and accessible are the bays of Lagkada, Kalami and Palaiopi.
The whole island boasts no-nonsense beauty with hidden caves, waterfalls like Fairies and hundreds of rugged rock gorges like Tsakonas that can be reached via challenging hiking trails.
Exceptional natural landscapes, panoramas of great visual impact with mountains overlooking the sea and picturesque villages make it wild and beautiful.
In the Crete archipelago, Gavdos is the most southern island in Europe, so much so that reaching it by sea from Athens requires a 14-hour journey and more than one ferry.
Gavdos is a secluded and wild land, ideal for enjoying its pristine beaches surrounded by sand dunes, cedar forests and hiking trails.
With few tourists present and just 50 permanent inhabitants, the island boasts intact nature and deserted beaches such as the wonderful one of Ai Giannis and picturesque villages such as Kastri, Vatsiana or Ambelos to be reached with a beautiful excursion to its lighthouse.
Due to the limited availability of accommodation in Gavdos, nature-loving visitors opt for tent accommodations that enhance the wild character of the island.
Located between Crete and Rhodes, Karpathos is an island of rugged beauty and pristine vegetation consisting of lush green hills and harsh rocky landscape.
Far from the other islands, it has entire areas still intact with authentic traditional villages that are sparsely inhabited, exotic and above all deserted sandy beaches.
Karpathos is characterized by its various hiking routes with old stone paths that retain their original appearance and for the medieval village of Olympos where traditions are still very much alive with people wearing characteristic clothes and carrying out activities typical of the local customs.
Nisyros
The island of Nisyros in the Dodecanese surprises with its wild appearance where elements such as lava, sulphur, minerals and pumice reign which give it a unique appearance.
Its morphological peculiarity is a mountainous and stony nature with very little plain and lush vegetation favored by the fertile volcanic soil.
In the center of the island there is a caldera with a diameter of 4 km and a considerable hydrothermal crater, “Polyvotis” which has a diameter of 260 meters and a depth of 30 m. Nisyoros is surrounded by four other pristine islands to explore: Gyali, Pyrgousa, Pachia and Stroggili.
About 200 km from Athens, Lichadonisia is a wild and almost unknown paradise.
Made up of a group of small uninhabited volcanic islands, it presents an unreal, almost lunar atmosphere where pristine and ghostly landscapes alternate with pristine and paradisiacal beaches.
