Words & pictures by Shaun Troke
It had been an intense two days travelling all over Halkidiki.
From Psakoudia to Olympiada to Ouranoupoli, I was now looking forward to what would be 2 (restful) nights on the island of Ammouliani…
And, all over Halkidiki, I’d heard only positive comments about this beautiful relaxing place.
In the past, I’d been to a couple of Greece’s more popular islands – Corfu and Mykonos – yet, I learned in 2 days that Ammouliani is an island that deserves as much recognition as the others.
ARRIVING
The day I arrived on the island, a Mediterranean storm – called Zorba – was beginning elsewhere in the Greece. Yet, Halkidiki was still feeling the thrashes of this hurricane…
Unlike the islands of Corfu and Mykonos, Ammouliani doesn’t have an airport (though, I feel it should have one!), which means the only way to get to the island is by boat.
As I waited for the ferry at the port of Tripiti, I could feel the winds increasing…
Tripiti is the best place to catch the ferry.
Why?
Because, while cars ARE permitted on the island (and the ferry), Tripiti provides a large FREE parking area, with no time limit for how long you leave your car there.
So, it’s your choice whether or not you’d like to use your own transportation while on the island…
ACCOMMODATION
Up on the hill, and, visible from the ferry port when you arrive, is the Sunrise Hotel (you can read my review HERE).
The reason this hotel is significant to the island is because of one of the owners – Nikitas – the man leading the tourism of the island, along with running his own business as well. A true native of Ammouliani, Nikitas’ love for this island definitely makes his hotel feel like the heart of it.
Another hotel I was given the chance to look around is the Helianthus Guesthouse. The rooms are equipped & modern, and the hotel is only open during the peak season.
AMMOULIANI
Ammouliani is much like any other small town:
It has local businesses, all helping one another…
Everything is reachable within a few minutes walk…
AND, everybody knows each other! AND, everybody knows what everybody else is doing!
Two important things to know are that the tap water is completely drinkable…
And, with no Police Station on the island, crime remains at an all time low, all year round!
APPETISING
Food on the island is some of the best I’ve tasted in Greece!
One restaurant in particular worth mentioning (because I’ve pictures that strongly support it!) is Restoran Glaros.
Sitting right on the waterfront, offering table views of the sea, Glaros excels in the presentation of its food, which tastes as fresh as it looks!
Another evening, I ate at another restaurant (its name I can’t recall), yet the tail gusts of Hurricane Zorba meant we had to eat our food quickly, before I was to take any pictures.
ATTRACTIONS
What’s great about Ammouliani is, that while the town centre covers just a small section of the island, the rest of the island is engulfed by nature!
This is when you’d need a car, too!
Scattered around the island are 22 different types of beaches:
Some specialising in catering for visitors, offering bars & taverns on the beach…
Some are more natural, with no buildings nearby, allowing for a more organic experience…
Also, black sand can be found on some of the beaches, too, which is ultimately good for your skin.
Or, if civilisation & history are more your thing, the town centre still has a couple of historic places of interest on offer: the St Nicholas Orthodox Church and the Ammouliani Folklore Museum.
Plus, remember that Mount Athos – (apparently) the umbrella from the Gods – is only a boat ride away, too!
AWAY FROM IT ALL
On my day of departure, because of the storm, ferries to the mainland were temporarily cancelled, meaning I had to stay on Ammouliani Island a little longer than expected.
Not that this was a problem, since I really wasn’t ready to return to the mainland…
In two days, I’d felt the most chilled & relaxed that I’d felt so far on the trip across Halkidiki…
Which is why I was a little sad to leave Ammouliani Island.
For once, a destination had made me feel like I was away from the rest of the world:
Whether you choose to take your car or not, it’s your choice about how much of your modern life you want to leave on the mainland for a few days; It’s your choice about how much you want to use your mobile phone while on the island…
Ammouliani will just assist you in finding whatever space you’re looking for.
Because, this island truly offers escapism, and, allows you the chance to actually switch off!
You can find out more about Ammouliani Island & Halkidiki in our series GOING SOLO, available to watch here on YouTube!