The paradise Greek holiday island of Thassos in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures. Thassos is the most northerly of the Greek islands in the Aegean island group and it lies just off the Macedonian coast in the north-east of mainland Greece. Fabulously wealthy in ancient times, thanks to large deposits of gold and marble, Thassos nowadays lies outside the top league of Greek holiday islands but it still has as much to offer the visitor. We have been there for our summer holidays on several occasions and enjoyed it very much. Most tourist arrive at Alexandra the Great International airport in Kavala which is on the mainland of Greece. Then it is a short ferry journey over to Thassos. The first time we went to Thassos we were not sure how the ferry journey would be after having travelled all day to get there. It was great and we loved it. I really added to the holiday experience for us. To reach the accommodation at the resorts many visitors use the local taxis or the coaches provided by the tour operators. An excellent coast road almost rings the whole island, providing easy access to the many sandy beaches that pepper the attractive coastline. Strangely, Thassos fails to feature in many holiday brochures so it is something of a hidden gem and spared the holiday crowds that mar some of the Greek islands. Pine trees come right down to the shoreline on Thassos. The extensive pine trees that carpet most of Thassos have led to its being rightly dubbed the ' Emerald Isle' of Greece. We enjoyed the shade the pine trees gave when we sat under them on the beaches. The beaches are mostly sandy and are dotted all around the coast with a wide variety on offer, from large, deep beaches with plenty of facilities to small, idyllic hideaway coves. Side roads branch inland to charming hill villages and to extensive tracts of dense woodland which have many walking trails to enjoy. Thassos may be off the main tourist trail but regular ferries run from Keramouti which is only a 10 minute ride from the airport at Kavala (Kavala Town featured above). Thassos is in the Northern Aegean Sea and is close to the coast of Thrace and the plain of the river Nestos but is geographically part of Macedonia. Thassos is a really beautiful island and a visit to its shores is highly recommended. | Flip-flops and Shades on Thassos by Alan R Massen, Paperback | Indigo Chapters