Holidays In Lemnos
Discover unspoilt Lemnos, with its beautiful beaches and traditional villages set away from the mass tourism of other Greek islands. Chill out in the evenings with the locals, enjoying the warm ambience of Greek taverns which serve delicious traditional cuisine. The flight to Limnos takes just 2-3 hours from most major European cities while the island can also be reached via ferry, making it an easily accessible holiday destination.
Lemnos is a lovely Greek Island, positioned in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Lemnos is the 8th largest island of Greece, spreading over 477 square metres. Its main city and seat of the municipality is Myrina which has a harbour and is a trade centre. On the island are to be found approximately 30 villages and settlements, as well as the only desert in Europe. The island of Lemnos has preserved itself from the mass tourism and today it is a safe, friendly and quiet place. The locals are very hospitable and the natural surroundings are simple and pleasant. The island is ideal for family vacations and for relaxation on the beach.
Keros Bay
Keros Bay offers sun, consistent wind, shallow, flat turquoise waters and waves. This is a unique location where you can enjoy three different types of conditions on the same beach. Another advantage is the excellent weather, especially during the summer months from June to September. Sunshine, average temperature from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, warm water and almost zero rain! No wetsuit required during this time. If you plan to visit at the beginning or at the end of the season you might find 3mm long or short wetsuit handy. Rain on the island is a rare phenomenon and may appear only briefly, at the beginning or end of the season.
Keros Bay is a very safe spot. The wind blows here generally along the shore or at an angle to and from shore - depending on the location in the bay. The bottom is sandy, the water clean and transparent, and shallow for about 80-150 meters from the shore! The beaches are sandy and wide so finding a spot to rig equipment is easy. There is no significant tidal movements, so the water level stays almost the same throughout the day. This great spot offers a variety of conditions from super flat water to small chop and gentle waters, all within walking distance of centre. This is also the perfect place to learn to kitesurf or windsurf with a large expanse of flat water, a sandy bottom and consistent winds.
The Conditions At Keros Bay
The island has very good wind statistics. From June to September, the famous Meltemi caused by a pressure difference between the Balkans and Turkey blows daily from 4 to 6 Beauforts. This northeast wind is reliable daily from morning until late afternoon. Freestyle and freeride maniacs will love the superb flat water right next to the centre, while just a few metres downwind, you will find ideal conditions for your first wave riding. The small, gently breaking waves are just made for it! Beginners will appreciate the shallow water and parents with children will enjoy the lighter wind in the afternoons which provide the perfect conditions for youngsters to learn.
The Spots
Keros Bay is one of the few places in the world where you can find three kinds of conditions in one place, starting from the same beach:
Super flat water. Just take 2-3 tacks up the bay and find the perfect spot for freestyle. The location of the bay characterises in offshore wind in the top area. This offshore wind creates flat water perfectly suitable for training and tricks. Due to the low terrain, there is no risk of gusts and you can enjoy smooth and steady wind. Water depth allows safe trick execution and it is the perfect place to practice new moves.
Small chop. In front of the centre shallow water spreads up to 80-150 meters from the shore and with a slight chop makes the conditions perfect for beginners and intermediate kitesurfers and windsurfers. The bottom is sandy, with no reef, rocks or sea urchins.
Gentle waves. Take a short, few hundred meters downwind ride from the centre towards the bottom of the bay and you will find small, very gently breaking waves. The waves break in the shallow water making the area an ideal place for those more advanced riders wanting to make first steps in wave riding.
Apart from Keros Bay you will find a few less popular spots, which can be reached in 15-30 minutes by car. Kotsinas is a bay on the north tip of the island with onshore wind and an approximately 100 metre long stretch of shallow water. Wind is usually stronger here than in the Keros Bay. Red Rock is a wave spot located south of Keros. During strong wind days you can enjoy 2-3 metre high waves with side on shore wind and this is a safe place to practice wave riding with very long, sandy beach. The best conditions form on the top of the bay near the famous red rock (hence the name of the spot) but riding with caution is required. Gomati is a wave spot located on the northern coast of the island. Good conditions are created when strong wind blows (quite often) and the waves can reach up to few meters high. More challenging conditions with mix of sand and stones on the sea bottom.
Things To Do In Limnos
Limnos offers countless attractions for everyone to enjoy. Kitesurfing and windsurfing is the main attraction but there is lots of interesting options for your free time. Spectacular views, valuable monuments and historical sites but also local, phenomenal cuisine and other activities are going to make your holiday a successful one. Other things to do in the area include diving and snorkelling, cycling and quad biking, fishing, walking and running, visits to the thermal springs and bird watching.
Limnos also offers excellent choices of traditional and delicious food. Every village has a tavern or a few, where usually simple, local style meals are offered. Rich in taste and sourced from local fishermen and farmers, seafood and meats are cooked to perfection in a truly Greek style. Don’t be surprised to be personally attended by the owner who will also make sure your carafe is full of wine. Fruits and vegetables are grown locally on the island. Local cheese and homemade wine will leave your taste buds fully satisfied. Unique Limnos flavours cannot be compared to anything else.