At Mouries, a traditional working farm, I caught my first glimpse of the Skyrian horses that are said to have accompanied Achilles into battle during the Trojan Wars – there are around 300 of these stocky, thick-maned little ponies left in the world and two thirds of them here on Skyros.
I spent my week’s holiday skipping between glorious beaches – from the sheltered bay of Pefkos, shaped like a golden smile, to the pine-forested coves of Atsitsa – stopping off at budget-friendly tavernas like Stamatia, famed for its katsikaki lemonato (goat in lemon sauce) and Asimenos, which serves island speciality astakomakaronada (lobster spaghetti in a creamy tomato sauce).
Speaking at the recent Reimagine Tourism summit, which aims to promote more sustainable holidays, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted: “Most destinations in Greece need more tourists, not fewer.”
In Parthog’s opinion, however, this is not necessarily the case. “Like many islands, the appeal of Skyros lies in its traditions and unique attractions, which would be in danger of being lost if tourism came to replace traditional incomes from farming and fishing,” he says. “The islanders’ decision not to follow the path of short-term gain at the expense of their quality of life is ahead of its time.”
Three more unspoilt Greek islands to visit in 2025
Astypalea
An agreement with the Volkswagen Group to transform Astypalea into “a model for climate-neutral mobility” by introducing electric cars and buses has transformed this butterfly-shaped Dodecanese island, a 55-minute flight from Athens, into a haven of peace. Jet2 and Sky Express have flights from London Stansted via Athens for £183; Pylaia Boutique Hotel & Spa has rooms from £93 including breakfast.
Halki
The electricity on this eco-friendly island, renowned for its glorious sandy beaches and hidden coves (many can only be reached on foot), is mainly produced by solar energy. Daily life centres around the one large village lined with colourful neoclassical mansions and littered with tavernas where you should order local specialty makarónia me kremídi – pasta served in a rich sauce of caramelised onions and goat’s cheese. EasyJet has flights from Gatwick to Rhodes for £132; from here it’s an hour’s ferry hop to Halki (tickets from £16). Aretanassa Hotel has rooms from £79 including breakfast.
