This exceptional hippie island is the place to go to when looking for a different trip than the usual Greek island beach vacation. Visiting Samothraki will be perfect for those who seek a deeper connection to nature and themselves. A typical day’s activity will be exploring new waterfalls and “Vathres.”
Vathres is a word you’ll hear a lot during your visit. They are the trademark of the island—natural pools created within the canyon by the river and the waterfalls. You can soak your nude body under a new waterfall and inside a different vathra, every day! endless water sources to visit, all depends on the amount of km you wish to walk, hike, drive, or hitchhike 🙂
Samothraki holds a particular free spirit vibe.
I guess this state of mind didn’t appear out of the blue. It is rooted in ancient ceremonies of the Greek culture that took place on the island. One story tells about Philip II and his wife Olimpias, who met in Samothraki. While Olimpias had difficulty conceiving, she attended a ‘Ceremony,’ known as fertility ceremony, through which Alexander the Great was conceived.
Samothraki is also famous for the Nike statue that the french found on the island in the 19th century. This most famous relic, a marble statue of the goddess of Victory, is presented in the Louvre of Paris.
Getting Around Samothraki
Hitchiking
If you travel solo or as a couple, it’s widespread to hitchhike—almost everybody hitchhikes in Samothraki, and most, not all, people stop (covid side effects).
By Car or Motorcycle
Rent a car if you wish to be unlimited, especially if you don’t have much time on the island. Make sure you rent a car from Alexandroupoli or Thessaloniki. It’s cheaper and better paying a car ticket on the ferry than renting a car in Samothraki.
By Bus
You can easily move around the island with the public bus, it’s comfortable and always on time. for the timetable, visit the website https://www.insamothraki.com/samothrace-bus-schedules.html
Therma
Consider Therma your home throughout your visit to Samothraki. That’s our recommendation to you. It’s a hippie village by definition with colorful, interesting, happy people. Therma addresses you and feels the people entering it. Did they make it hippie, or is it the other way around? Maybe it’s symbiosis.
It seems every person arriving adds more color to it.
Just be aware that you won’t leave it as entered. The effect of Therma lasts.
Let me tell you why we loved it so much. The surrounding of Therma is a wild jungle with huge and ancient chestnut trees. You’ll see wild fruit trees on the trails like mulberry, apricot, apple, and grape, which you can taste from. Oops, grape is not a tree.
Nature speaks, and in Samothraki, people are listening
Flora and fauna are communicating non-stop with one another and yourself if you choose to listen. The small roads around the village are for cars and pedestrians alike. NO worries, there’s a general agreement to drive slow on those roads. Simple quality tavernas are scattered along the roads, each one unique and felt like it’s the only one for miles. The right turn will bring you to Therma. It’s a lively small village with everything you may need during your stay. With two supermarkets, a legendary cafe by the hot springs, another cafe with freshly backed Bougatsa pastry every day, and more small unique businesses. Each one is special in its own right, with no clones or two of a kind.
If you won’t find them satisfying, Kamariotissa, the port city of Samothraki, is
only a 20 min drive away.
Therma is a part of the jungle, and the jungle is a part of it. Warm sun rays snick through the ancient trees, bring more light, and give another perspective to your thoughts, sights, and experiences—24 hours of sunlight in Therma.
Camping in Therma
Most of the visitors arriving at Therma choose to stay in one of the two camping sites. The first one, ‘Varades Municipal Camping,’ is a semi-organized camping site with water, electricity, toilets, and laundry service. The second one, and more popular, is ‘camping natural living.’ a non-organized camping site by the beach close to the village of Therma. Where you’ll find the same faces you saw throughout your day in the various vathres.
Rooms in Therma
Therma has many rooms and beds to offer, but In the high season, July and August, its safer to book in advance. If you’re looking for a comfortable place to stay right in the heart of Therma, we highly recommend Parselia Studios. They offer charming and minimalist rooms and are conveniently situated alongside a tranquil stream. Another excellent option for accommodation is Akamtis Giorgos, located just a 10-minute walk from the center. They boast a delightful backyard and rooms equipped with kitchens, allowing you to prepare your own meals if desired. but if you didnt book in advance, have no worries about not finding one, Have trust in the hippie island, walk around, ask the kiosks and shop owners, they will help you to find a room. Within the village of Therma accommodation is very simple and modest, usually its jusat a room with a bed and showers. If you’re looking for something a bit more fency, In Kamariotissa, you will find a beautiful boutique hotel called Nikki Beach Hotel, with an amazing pool and a great view of Samothraki’s sunsets. It is our recommendation for people coming to Samothraki who want to spoil themselves.
We chose to stay in a guesthouse 10 min walk from Therma’s center. First, the room variety within Therma’s streets can be a bit too small for us, since we’re Backpacking With a Baby and need more space. Second, there is no difference in prices.
Don’t Panic, Nudists Rule the Hippie Island of Samothraki.
One of Samothraki’s side-effects is to forget your swimsuit at home. You’ll notice after letting go of this mutual agreement of covering ourselves how free you can feel. Free in every matter. Like checking if your nipple is not shown after diving headfirst into the pool. Free of being limited by those four meaningless triangles that cover what was told to hide. You’ll start looking more at people’s faces, see what their eyes and mouth have to say. The body loses its shape and becomes a part of the water you’re soaked in, a part of the rock you lay on. Nothing separates between yourself and your surroundings, including the human ones.
Samothraki is all of those things. If you don’t think you’ll like it, it’s a better reason to try it. WE LOVED IT.
Needless to mention, a lot of people in Samothraki wear swimsuits. You don’t have to be nude. It’s just fun.
6 Things to Do in Therma
It will be very easy for you to fall in love with Therma and hard to leave and explore other places in Samothraki because it has a bonanza of surprises around it. Dozens of hiking trails with a reward at its end await you. Some are longer than others and possible to walk with children or babies. Also, a delight to walk by yourself with no fear of getting lost, and even if you do, the forest is friendly enough. Open your senses and hear the sound of water to guide you to your vathra of choice.
1. Therma’s Hot Springs
In Therma center, next to Cafe Therma, you’ll find the public thermal baths. It’s open only in July and August. The inhibitors of Therma tend to complain about it because they wish to use it throughout the year as well. If you’re into something more open, natural, and free, of course, the hippie island of Samothraki holds an alternative for you. Just take a short walk on the path leading up from the cafe and find the natural sulfur pool overlooking the sea. A breathtaking view with warm water wrapping your beautiful body will make you feel like a god or a goddess. Another 5 min walk up, and more pools are set.
2. Vatos Beach
The most stunning beach on the island, Vatos is a wild and sandy beach located east of the most popular beach in Samothraki – Pachia Ammos. Vatos beach is most commonly reached by boat from Therma or Pachia Ammos. There is also a way to reach it by foot though hiking to the beach is considered difficult and dangerous. Vatos Beach is named after the river spilling into the ocean.
The beach is a popular location for camping, with many people spending days and even weeks on the beach. Just make sure to bring everything you need as there are no shops nor restaurants on the beach, just pure nature.
3. Gria Vathra
The most famous and known river in Therma sits 2 km from the village. From the end of the car road that arrives from Therma, you have several options.
The first one is a simple, easy path of a 10 min walk along the water aqueduct that you’ll notice in your footsteps. The trail will lead you to an artificial vathra, which is very popular among families. A few meters from it, behind the big rock, is situated the first natural pool.
If you feel like moving on, you can swim across the vathra and keep on walking, climbing, swimming your path up the gorge. Second, third, fourth, fifth… vathres, and it goes on and on. It’s an adventurous attraction, or I would even say a typical unbelievable day in Therma, as all days are on the hippie island of Samothraki.
Another option is to walk forward as you did before from the end of the car road. At some point, you’ll see a path leading up the mountain slope to your right. If you pay close attention, you’ll see a red arrow on the rock beneath. By taking this path up, you basically skip the gorge climbing and reach the waterfall of Gria vathra.
After going up the mountain, 10 min of an easy climb, follow the water pipes. Keep walking and stop when you see or hear the mighty waterfall.
Make sure you descent slowly on the rocks to the vathra and waterfall.
Enjoy people. Endless joy.
4. Paradisos Waterfall
- Distance: 400 m from Therma center
- Time: 15 min
We found Paradisos after a week in Therma. We were too lazy to hike, so we decided to have a nice stroll along a random stream and ran into a waterfall.
That’s Therma.
It’s a short walk from Therma’s center, even shorter than the well-known Gria vathra. Walk up towards Mariva guest house, pass it, and walk opposite the stream. That will lead to lovely Paradisos waterfall and vathres. You may enjoy the first vathra or continue climbing up the waterfall. Again a marvelous view so close, so simple right next to your home.
5. Fonias Gorge
- Distance: 4 km
- Time : 3 hours
Fonias is the most famous river in all of Samothraki. Its located 5 km from Therma on the way to Kiops beach. You can hitchhike from Therma to Fonias and drop off in the parking lot after the bridge. The path starts by the stream opposite to its flowing direction. It is also marked with a red dot so that you will feel confident in your steps. After around 40 min walk, you’ll hear the tremendous mighty waterfall.
Oh, I love this part: you can’t see it unless you dive in the pool and swim a bit. It’s magnificent, so powerful. Impossible to know how deep the pool is because of the intensity of the water falling. It’s hard not to scream in excitement. After you have already dived in, I can tell you it’s possible to see the waterfall if you’ll climb up to where the path continues. If you choose to do so, I recommend continuing walking for an extra 40 min. It will bring you to another legendary vathra.
The climb up is steep but short. Turn left when reaching the crossing junction. The forest is full of Arbutus trees, with their red trunk adding another unexpected shade to the forest. And then, out of nowhere, you’ll arrive in another vathra. one dude meditating naked on a rock, one girl bathing under the waterfall, and another singing while sitting on the ground. You are immediately drawn into the atmosphere and become a part of the scenario of the hippie island.
On the way back to the same point where you started there is a well-known recommended Tavern. We didn’t get the chance to eat there. let us know how it was in the comments below.
6. Grigorakis Gorge
- Distance: 3 km from the natural living campsite
- Time: One hour walk
In Grigorakis, the landscape resembles the landscape of ‘Gria vathra’ and only from the ‘Vathra of Christ’ you can enjoy the spectacular view of the sea.
You can get there by driving or walking uphill on the dirt road opposite the camping. It’s not much walking but can be exhausting on a warm day with 90% humidity.
There’s a shorter way through Gria vathra, take the path up the dry stream, and reach the dirt road, 1 km in total.
Once reaching the dirt road, follow the pipes. It will show you the way if you lose hope.
At first, I was disappointed. It was hot, we arrived at a nice vathra, but I can’t say ‘it was worth it. That’s what Samothraki does to you. After exposure to such beautiful sights day by day, including heavenly pools next to powerful waterfalls, your expectation to be amazed increases.
Remember, when that happens to you, keep walking up the gorge. The pool and waterfall you are looking for will be waiting for you there.
It was the day we enjoyed most. The vathra appeared out of the blue. The water filled the natural pool with peace. Needless to say, it got better after climbing higher up. Important to know when to stop. Or not.
What to Pack for Samothraki
Packing for Samothraki is different from packing for your ordinary greek island. You’ll need to combine some hiking gear along with your beach accessories.
A good backpack is more practical than a trolley when visiting an off-the-beaten-track island, like Samothraki.
Make sure you have a comfortable daypack with a waist strap for better back support. The best backpack is the one you can hardly feel.
You should also have sunscreen in your backpack for those lazy beach days, and don’t forget a water bottle you can refill right from the stream.
If you’re over the age of 25, proper hiking boots are a must, especially when hiking in the mountains, or hiking sandals for Him & for Her.
Planning on camping next to Therma? don’t forget your beloved tent and camping gear, such as a sleeping pad and a good sleeping bag because it gets chilly at night in Samothraki.
If you are a backpacking parent, choose a baby carrier comfortable for your baby and yourself.
How to get to Samothraki
The most popular way to reach Samothraki is by ferry from Alexsandropolis. The ferry ride takes two hours.
During the low season, a ferry departs once a day from Alexandroupoli to Kamariotissa, which is the Samothraki port city. The hours change between the low and high seasons. You can check them here: https://www.directferries.com/alexandroupoli_samothraki_ferry.htm
During the high season (July and August), a ferry reaches Samothraki twice a day. The cost is between 9-14€, and you can purchase your ticket in the office by the port. The price difference depends if the ferry ride is subsidized by the Greek government or not. (we asked the ticket lady).
How to get to Alexandroupoli
From Athens
By Flight
A few flights depart from Athens every day. The flight lasts 60 min. A taxi from Alexandroupoli airport to the port costs 7€. A local bus costs 1.20€.
By Bus
The bus departs from Kifissou street KTEL Bus Station.
Address: KTEL Kifissou, 100 Odos Kifisou, Kifissos 104 42 Athens.
Time tables of buses from Athens to Alexandroupoli:
08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 16:30, 20:30.
The ride takes 12 hours and costs 71€ one way, 120€ round trip.
We couldn’t buy a ticket through the website, so we rang the ticket office.
KTEL ticket office Athens: +30 210 5237 889
From Thessaloniki
By Bus
The bus departs from KTEL Macedonia intercity bus station.
Address: Giannitson street 194, Thessaloniki.
Time tables of buses from Thessaloniki to Alexandroupoli:
08:00, 10:30, 13:00, 15:30, 17:30, 24:00.
The ride takes 4 hours and costs 31€ one way, 49€ round trip.
We couldn’t buy a ticket through the website so rang the ticket office.
KTEL ticket office: +30 231 0595 469
Final Thoughts
The Nature in Samothraki is indeed astounding, but what makes the island unique are the people. Beautiful humans from the inside and outside arrive at the hippie island and make it what it is. People that give meaning to their surroundings and appreciate it. That’s the main reason you must visit Samothraki.
What’s next? If you’re on a quest for another nudist destination with a hippie touch. Head over to the hidden nudist beach of Kalamitsi, Halkidiki. It’s only 3 hours drive from Thessaloniki.
