Tilos Island
Tilos is a popular Dodecanese island located between volcanic Nisyros and cosmopolitan Rhodes.
Let’s note that this is the first energy-green island in the Mediterranean, utilizing wind and solar energy. In addition, Tilos and the surrounding rocky islands have been included in the Natura 2000 network, as they have a wide variety of plants.
Tiny Tilos is a haven of tranquility. It is home to craggy mountains, secluded beaches, carpets of wildflowers, rare birds, medieval castles, sublime sea views, a remote monastery, and a cave of dwarf elephants.
Tilos and its unoccupied surrounding islets are part of a protected ecological area, Tilos National Park, where hunting is banned.
Birdwatchers flock to Tilos during spring and autumn to observe migration, when species such as golden orioles, European bee-eaters, and Eurasian Hoopoes pass through.
Life on the island evolves mainly around three settlements, Megalo Chorio – the capital of the island, Livadia, the settlement at the harbor, and the seaside village of Agios Antonios in the north of Tilos, on the outskirts of a fertile valley.
Apart from birdwatching, Tilos is great for other nature lovers as there are also many rare plants and orchids to be found. It's a good island for walking, and for beaches for those who like to find quiet coves away from the crowds.
One of the most famous sites is the Kharkhadió Cave, where the bones of a dwarf elephant and some Neolithic remains were found in the 1970s, though the cave is not open to the public.
The largest and most popular sandy beach of Tilos is Eristos with its fine sand. Wonderful waters, pebbles and tamarisks for camping in Plaka bay after Agios Antonios.
If you are looking for a different type of holiday in a quiet place without crowds, take the boat to Tilos.