Chalki island located but a few nautical miles off the west coast of Rhodes – each clearly visible to the other through the heat-haze on most days. Extending to little more than 20 square kilometres, Chalki island is virtually a hot-rock with extremely limited facilities, one inhabited coastal village (the main port – Emborio) and a hotel converted from a previous sponge processing plant (which tends to look more like a sponge processing plant than a hotel!).
Tourism started in the late 1970’s when UNESCO designated Chalki as "the island of peace and friendship" and poured considerable amounts of money into refurbishing accommodation. However, like many Greek development projects, nothing was really to come of this adventure and the local Council eventually sought more experienced practitioners to complete the task.

You can walk around the island in a day (or you could if there was a road). In fact you can walk around the inhabited part in less than twenty minutes! If you are seeking a wild party island you have come to the wrong place.
Indeed, there are few facilities (no bank, few beaches, twice a week postal services and infrequent ferries). There is but one small hotel and most accommodation is of the "villa" description and should be booked in advance (absolutely imperative in the high season). There is also no traffic – one of the main bonuses!

Chalki is only routinely accessible by sea. There are occasional (and often inhospitably timed) ferries direct to the main commercial harbour on Rhodes island and from there you can take scheduled flights to Athens or charter flights to most of Europe. However, the lifeline for Chalki island is a two caique ferry service that runs between Kamiros Skala on Rhodes (and is located miles from the main town!) and Emborio. To resolve a previous turf war between the two owners, they now share the service on alternate days! Neither is styled as a car ferry, although the odd vehicle or two is carried on at least one of the boats (loading the vehicles is well worth watching!). Once you reach Rhodes, there is a bus service of sorts that joins Kamiros Skala with the main points of habitation on Rhodes.

Chalki is an island for total relaxation. Even a monastic retreat would be busier than this! Accommodation is mainly self-catering in refurbished houses and the smallest of accommodation blocks. There are no large complexes. The number of self-catering units facilitates a few shops, a reasonable crop of tavernas and one or two traditional souvlaki joints. Most of the villas are located in or near the harbour area. There is but one sand beach and a total of only five beaches island wide – two of which are handy for the village accommodation. Historical and cultural pursuits are strictly limited.
Come to Chalki island to chill – no to freeze! Be satisfied with the most limited of facilities, inevitable power cuts, no night life, no cars and not many places to ramble (at least without leaving roads and tracks behind). Chalki is perfect for those who want to vegetate in total seclusion and without the benefit of major facilities.

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