Walking the Islands... email@walkingtheislands.com
...Dodecanese island walks
About Halki
Halki is a jagged limestone rock, roughly rectangular in plan, measuring 7 by 3 Km, with just one settlement and no natural water, well off the regular tourist map.
In common with Symi, the decline in sponge-fishing led to a decline in the permanent population to around three hundred today. But since its UNESCO designation as a centre for peace followed by moderate development of tourism, there’s enough between it and its neighbour Alimia for a week or two of walking, swimming and relaxing.
Halki has
- a picturesque harbour with restored neo-Classical villas. churches with picture-book campaniles, a few hidden mountain chapels and a small remote monastery
- a fairy-tale crusader castle and ruined Chorio on a steep crag
- classical architectural fragments awaiting discovery
- colourful spring flowers
- no cars, buses, or vehicle hire and just one short road
The rocky scramble up to one of the 600m summits within 2Km of the harbour for an aerial view of castle, Emporio, islets and distant views of Rhodes, Turkey and other members of the archipelago, is a high point, literally and metaphorically.
Getting to Halki
- Although there is one ferry per week linking Athens (Piraeus) with Halki, it’s much quicker to choose a flight to Rhodes, then get to Kamiros Scala to the south of Rhodes town, for the mid-afternoon small ferry which takes 1½ hours to cross to Halki.
- Some days, car ferries call in en route between major islands, including Rhodes, Karpathos and Crete
- There are a few hydrofoils linking Halki with Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos and Nissiros.
Some web links for Dodecanese ferries
www.diavlos.gr/samos/by-ship/hydrofoil.html
www.greek-islands-ferries.gr/ferry_halki.htm
Getting around Halki
All the walks start at Emborio and there is no need for any transport, though it would be possible to make arrangements with the island agents for a lift to or from a distant point, by land or sea, if you had a particular need.
Dayboats are available in summer to bays and beaches, to Tilos, and to nearby uninhabited Alimia, a short walk on which is described in Halki walk 11u.
Staying on Halki
There is enough good quality accommodation, though it’s advisable to book at Easter and over the high season weeks around the 15th August. All rooms are in Emborio, many of them in restored Italianate villas.
Maps and other information
The Anavasi Topos maps have not yet reached Halki, so you’ll have to manage with an old-style tourist map. You may find the photocopied topographical map in agents’ offices. Or the satellite image from Google maps or Earth Tools is probably a better bet!
Contact information
The Greek National Tourist Organisation (4 Conduit St, London W1R 0DJ, 0107 7345997 phone, 0107 287 1369 fax, www.gtpnet.com)
Country code for Greece 0030
Area code for Halki 241
Halki Tours (Lefteris Lathourakis) 45281 fax 45219
Port 45220 phone/fax
Police 45213, 45219