Karpathos - Afiartis , Greece & Mediterranean

Karpathos offers excellent flat water, freeride and freestyle windsurfing stand up paddle boarding (SUP) conditions for your 2021 watersports holiday to the Greek Islands. 

Karpathos is unspoilt and off the beaten track. You'll have to make a little more effort to get there (via Athens) but once you arrive it'll be more than worth it. With 3 sailing areas you can pick your wind strength and the wind is out of this world here with some of the most reliable conditions during the summer months from May to October. When off the water, you can enjoy activities including climbing, mountain bike trailing, hiking or yoga. For sure you'll receive a friendly welcome from the crew at the centre and in the bar after to swap your stories of how big it was out there!
 

Sailing Spot and Conditions
The high winds in Gun Bay usually strengthens to F4-8 between June and September and is good for intermediate level upwards. This blows offshore from the beach, giving a flat water launch with chop increasing after 300m. On certain days there is also wave sailling, sometimes up to 1m, which is suitable for both jumping novices and experts. As you approach the aptly named Devils Bay, the wind is about 1-2 bft stronger than in Gun Bay and the perfectly flat water delivers superb blasting conditions. In Chicken Bay the wind also blows cross offshore but with 1-2 bft less force. Chicken Bay is ideal for beginners with its 80m wide shallow water area but also has a speed track, perfect for different levels who wish to sail together. Although the wind is offshore, the layout of Gun Bay makes it a safe venue for all abilities. Many windsurfers who have discovered this spot, return year after year, to enjoy the extreme conditions almost guaranteed here. This is the perfect destination if you like the option of hard core conditions and somewhere to chill out at the end of each day.

Culture and Activities
One of the most southerly of the Greek Islands, Karpathos is part of the Dodecanese, lying east of Crete and west of Rhodes. There are no direct flights from the UK but connecting flights from Athens or Rhodes. It is therefore relatively undiscovered by tourists. There are beautiful almost deserted beaches, idyllic mountain villages and cosy tavernas. The population is just over 5,000 people whose main industry is fishing, farming and cultivating the many olive groves. Karpathos lies on the south east coast on The Bay of Afiartis. It has several bars, restaurants and hotels and is the perfect place to unwind. Benefitting from the constant, strong wind conditions all summer and safe sailing conditions it is a great choice for all levels of windsurfer. The centre offers local climbing packages with tuition available from an expert instructor and specialist Scott mountain bikes. There is no kitesurfing rental or instruciton services from the centre.  Other activites including hiking through the unspoilt, rocky landscape to the highest mountain of the island, Kali Limni or exploring pretty, local villages such as Mescochori with it's winding alleys or finding your very own secluded beach. We recommend trying out some delicious local dishes and heading west to enjoy the sunsets.