KEKOVA, ANTALYA, TURKEY

A small uninhabited island in the Mediterranean Sea provides a range of versatile outdoor activities. Once claimed by Italy, Kekova ultimately was assigned it to Turkey.

An ancient city was established here before Christian era, however it had been destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century.

LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE

Kekova, also named Caravola, is a small Turkish island near  (Demre is the Lycian town of Myra) district of Antalya province which faces the villages of Kaleköy (ancient Simena) and Üçağız (ancient Teimioussa). Kekova has an area of 4.5 km² (2 sq mi) and is uninhabited.

You can go to Kekova by renting a boat from Demre, Kas or Üçağız village and visit the places of interest within the region such as Pirate Cave, Sunken City, Simena Castle and Gökkaya.

WHAT TO DO

• Scubadiving is really famous on Kekova, because of the ancient ruins under the sea
• Many company organises boat trips around Kekova
• Many ancient ruins can be found around Kekova, one of the most famous is Sunken City Ruins of Simena

SARDINIA, ITALY

Sardinia is a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea.

It has nearly 2,000km of coastline, sandy beaches and a mountainous interior crossed with hiking trails.

Its rugged landscape is dotted with thousands of nuraghi – mysterious Bronze Age stone ruins shaped like beehives. One of the largest and oldest nuraghi is Su Nuraxi in Barumini, dating to 1500 B.C.

LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE

For ease of travel, you might want to get to Sardinia by air. You can fly into the island’s capital, Cagliari, and land at the Aeroporto-Cagliari-Elmas, four miles from the city center.

Meridiana is the company offering the most flights, including direct links from major Italian cities.

In recent years the frequency of flights to Sardinia has increased. Sardinia is connected by International airlines to a host of cities across Europe including London, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Madrid, Munich, Frankfurt, Dublin, Brussels, Oslo, Basel, Prague, and Amsterdam.

There are plenty of flights from the Italian mainland and Sicily to Sardinia, which connect all of Italy’s main cities to the three airports of Sardinia. Cities including Rome, Milan, Naples, Bari, Bologna, Turin, Venice, Verona, and Parma.

During the summer period, there is an increase in flights as many Italians and tourists alike arrive on the island to enjoy their holidays.

WHAT TO DO

• Visit to Cagliari
• Visit to Nuraghe Su Nuraxi (remains of literally thousands of these stone towers scatter throughout Sardinia)
• Costa Smeralda (the sea so green and clear that it’s known to the world as the Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast)
• Many cruise tour and scubadiving around

HVAR, CROATIA

Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, is best known as a summer resort.

Highlights of the port town Hvar include its 13th-century walls, a hilltop fortress and a main square anchored by the Renaissance-era Hvar Cathedral.

The island also features beaches such as Dubovica and inland lavender fields. Boat excursions serve the nearby Pakleni Islands, which have secluded beaches and coves.

LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE

If you go by plane, the closest local and international airports are Split, Dubrovnik and Brac airport, and then you need to take a local bus, rent a car, or take a taxi to Hvar.

There are also international ferry lines to Hvar (from Italy), and ferry lines along the coast which stop in Hvar.

WHAT TO DO

Local wine manufacturers are among the leaders in Croatia, therefore Hvar never ceases to spoil the visitors with good wine. The island also has a busy nightlife, making it a perfect destination for everybody’s taste.

• Trying out Hvar’s signature dish of gregada – a stew of fish, potatoes, onions, garlic and top-quality olive oil
• Visit Hvar’s main por Stari Grad
• Hvar Town
• The most popular of the many outdoor activities offered by local company Hvar Adventure, the one-day boat trip around the unspoiled Pakleni Islands close to HvarTown involves swimming and snorkelling as you sail around secluded coves
• Based at a picturesque site looking out to the Pakleni Islands, the Diving Center Viking offers a range of dives in the clear waters off Hvar

ELAFONISSI, GREECE

Elafonisi is an island located close to the southwestern corner of the Mediterranean island of Crete, of which it is administratively a part, in the regional unit of Chania.

When the weather is fine it is possible to walk to the island through the shallow water. The island is a protected nature reserve.

LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE

Elafonisi is actually an island, separated from the southwest coast of Crete, by a shallow, warm lagoon and a sandbar that is submerged under about one meter of water at most during high tide.

The beach on the mainland and on the part of the sandbar that is never submerged is populated by hundreds of beach chairs and umbrellas and thousands of tourists in the high season. 

Boats from Palaiochora and along the coast to the east run beach excursions. They leave around 10 a.m. and depart from Elafonisi at about 4 p.m.

Several companies run frequent coach tours of the western villages that include Elafonisi along with other sightseeing spots

Supraregional public buses serve Elafonisi and other West Cretan villages from Chania

The routes from Crete’s bigger towns on the north coast are narrow and winding. They alternate between mountain roads beside some of Crete’s scenic gorges and gentler stretches through olive groves

WHAT TO DO

• Chrisoskalitissa Monastery
• You can choose from a LOT of water sports, and cruize trips
• Paleochora Safari
• The Venetian Castle
• Kayaking and many trips around the island

SANTORINI, GREECE

Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea.

It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater).

They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.

LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE

You can take a plane from Athens to Santorini. You can easily get a direct flight to Athens from the USA, the UK and Canada. The code of Athens’ International Airport is ATH while that of Santorini’s airport is JTR.

During the summer season, charters from various European cities have direct flights to Santorini. The charters start from multiple cities, including Paris, London, Prague, Amsterdam, Milan, Romo, Frankfurt, and Naples.

There are two ways to access Santorini from Athens, the capital of Greece. You can travel either by plane (Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”) or by ferryboat (Piraeus Port). There are also links between Santorini and other Greek islands.

WHAT TO DO

• Watching the sunset in Oia
• Hike to the top of Santorini Volcano
• Visit Akrotiri Lighthouse 
• Sail around Santorini
• Explore the capital, Fira
• Explore Megalochori
• Swim in the Black Beach
• Experience Unique Hues on the Red Beach
• Try out local cuisine