Thasos is Greece's most northerly island, apart from Thasos' little satellite islet, Thasopoula. It is roughly circular, and approximately 25 km across. The main town and harbour is Limenas (Thasos Town), directly opposite and 12 km from Keramoti port on the mainland, though the island also has ferry and hydrofoil connections with Kavala, the provincial capital to the northwest. Keramoti is 10km from Kavala airport.
There is a coastal road that circles the island, with branches to the older inland villages. On clear days, the Mount Athos peninsula is visible to the southwest and the island of Samothraki can be seen to the east. The area covered by our walk book and map is in the northeast, the most mountainous and fertile part of the island. The village of Panagia is 8 km by road from Limenas, with Potamia and Skala Potamias about 3 and 6 km further.
Thasos was the most wooded of the Aegean islands and, despite recent extensive forest fires, much remains, particularly above Skala Potamias. The island's crystalline base is overlaid by limestones and marbles, and the island is an important source of the latter and has been since Roman times.
Panagia and Potamia. This area is partly ringed by mountainous palisades, of which the two notable high points are 1107m Profitis Ilias and 1203m Ypsario, behind Panagia and Potamia villages respectively.
Contrary to some reports, the top of Ypsario is as accessible as
before, since the construction of a radar-dome there has now been
abandoned.
Panagia, nestled in the mountains, with pine forest immediately behind, is the highest (275m) and oldest village in the area. It has an alpine ambience, and its stone roofs are in distinct contrast to the red tiles of Potamia and elsewhere. Its coastal region is Hrisi Amoudia (sometimes spelt "Chrissy Ammoudia"), which translates as the Golden Beach of brochures. This latter area has a campsite, tavernas and scattered tourist accommodations, with a small harbour area at the far northeast end.
Potamia is less compact, but wedged in the fertile valley below Ypsario. Behind it, there is rich woodland, with pines, walnuts and sweet-chestnut trees. There has been some logging in this area, and consequently a proliferation of dirt tracks. The valley widens to a broad plain leading down to Skala Potamias at the shore – a skala is the coastal port of an inland settlement. Most of Skala Potamias is at the south end of the bay, towards a fishing harbour and large harbour square. From Skala Potamias the road goes on to Limenaria, the main town of the south of the island, and then around the west coast to Limenas.
