Spend your holidays in Halki!

Halki is a jewel of an island situated 5 miles due west of the island of Rhodes. Visitors arrive by a variety of methods. The most common is on the once daily Chaique from Kamiros Scala (a small port on Rhodes) - at 14:30, unless there is a day excursion. It leaves Halki 06:00 in the morning except on Wednesday and Sunday.

Wednesday and Sunday are the main tourist transfer days and there are day excursions - times available from port police on 22460 45220.

In addition LANE Line ferries call at Halki on their route from Athens to Rhodes. The Proteas comes out of Rhodes Main Port on Sunday and the Panagia Spiliani comes from Nissiros on Friday and Sunday. This means that Halki is very accessible during the summer.

There are few cars on Halki and indeed so few roads that cars are unnecessary. There is however a mini-bus service which started June 2007 providing a regular service from the town to the beaches and, up to Horio below the castle and to the monastery.

The island has a number of beaches served by good tavernas (a friend from New Zealand saw in a magazine that Pontamos Beach was listed among the top 50 beaches in the world) and most accommodation is provided in villas and Halki Independent Property provides accommodation of the highest standard.

Halki

According to a recently published book about the Dodecanese it is 28 square kilometres in area and has a population of 295 people. Rather less in the winter when I believe it has been known to be as little as 50 people.

In ancient times the island supported a large population perhaps due to copper processing. It is possible that the name of the island came from halkos meaning copper. Alternatively it may be named after Kahli or Halki for shell or cockle.

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Flights

During the summer there are many charter and scheduled flights to Rhodes. Some of the budget airlines are introducing regular flights direct from Gatwick to Rhodes. Charter companies too are more flexible about selling flight only options as travellers become more discerning and independent. Contact HIP for additional information.

caraline@rho.forthnet.gr
Tel.: 0030 6937 265787