Karpathos surf relies on just one or two spots, which both have good exposure to the westerly swells that roll through the Aegean Sea in winter.
An introduction to Karpathos surf
Karpathos faces a convenient gap in the Greek islands that lets through an occasional W swell from the larger Mediterranean. That’s why most of the surfable spots here are located up and down the west coast, with good exposure to the open Aegean Sea on the north side of Crete. As with all spots this deep into the land of feta and fresh tomato salad, we’ll stop short of saying it’s a haven for surfing. It’s not really. Good conditions are rare and most of the time there’s nothing rideable.
That said, Karpathos does host one of the best surf schools in the whole of the region – Surfvival – and has unbusy beaches that are rarely packed to bursting (so, not like next-door Crete). It’s also a beautiful traditional island, with interesting mountain villages and folk customs that provide a great set of pursuits when the surf isn’t on.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Greece
Karpathos surf at a glance
The good:
- Home to one of the best surf schools in the region
- Rarely busy
- Beautiful scenery
The bad:
- Rarely good conditions
- Hardly any rideable waves
- This is Greece – not Portugal
What’s in this guide to Karpathos surf?
Where is Karpathos?
Karpathos is one of the more distant of Greek islands. It’s technically a part of the Dodecanese chain, which puts deep in the eastern reaches of Greece, closer to Turkey than to Italy. Next door to the west and south is Crete, while Rhodes is to the north and east. Most travellers come in from one of those two, on irregular ferries that should be booked well in advance. You’ll arrive in Karpathos Town, which is on the eastern coast of the isle, from where you’ll need to hop over the central mountain chain to get to the surf beaches.
A guide to the Karpathos surf spots
Karpathos’s surf beaches are mainly on the west and south side of the island. That’s where there’s potential for cross-Med swells to swing in during the wintertime.
Arkassa Beach
The home of the only surf school on the island (check out acclaimed Surfvival), Arkassa is the place to sample the best Karpathos surf of all. The beach faces due west so is best in the winter months. Waves hit sandbanks that form between the craggy headland to the north and the scrub hills to the south. It almost never gets higher than head here and relies on stronger wind or storm systems to offer any real power, but that’s Greek surfing for you!
The point is that there are some waves and they are relatively consistent, while the aforementioned surf schools have lessons and packages tailored to all levels. One thing we have noticed is the backwash off the beach at high tide. It’s not often strong enough to be dangerous but can get irritating when trying to paddle into waves.
Agrilaopotamos Beach
Agrilaopotamos Beach is the south coast jewel of the island. With shimmering blue waters and a low rock shelf, it’s very exposed to S-SW winds and has almost no high topography to defend from the dominant northerlies. That’s music to the ears of kitesurfers, who will often tread this way to dodge the crowds of the more popular Arkassa. Sadly, the shape of the coral banks means there’s rarely a good conventional wave here.
Where to stay when surfing in Karpathos?
Karpathos is actually one of the lesser-known Greek islands, a place that’s not on the main tourist radar a la nearby Crete and Rhodes. Still, there are some fantastic hotels, along with some decent options within striking distance of the surf beaches on the west side of the isle. Let’s take a look…
Alkioni Hotel
Family-owned Alkioni Hotel is a charming place to settle in for a few days on Karpathos. It’s got a series of rooms overlooking a fishing village come golden-sand beach resort just north of Arkassa Beach (the main surf location). Rooms are traditionally decorated and channel a touch of local charm. One rental option also comes with its own swimming pool that offers fantastic views over the Aegean.
Sunset Suites ‘Annada
Sunset Suites ‘Annada get you just steps off the main surf beach at Arkassa. You’ll be able to walk to the waves and the local surf school with ease. The stay itself is very highly rated, offering traditional Cycladic design, fitted kitchen areas, and aromatic herb gardens outside.
Alpha Studios
Under 500 yards from Arkassa Beach (the top spot for Karpathos surf), Alpha Studios are a simple but convenient stay for wave hunters. You can hardly miss the hotel – check out the vibrant turquoise exterior. Inside, the rooms are modern and recently renovated. But it’s the price we really like: Starting at $30 a night for a stay in the spring.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Karpathos surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Karpathos surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp. Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Rent a car. If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Karpathos?
Karpathos surf works best during the winter months (November-March). That’s when distant storm systems in the western Mediterranean send pulses of swell through the gap between Crete and the Cyclades island, offering some bigger days on the west coast of Karpathos. Summer tends to be very windy and quite small on the swell front, but there are decent sessions on offer to kitesurfers.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
