Tour of southern Rhodes
Most people who visit Rhodes do not venture further south than Lindos. Here you will find the famous Acropolis, the picturesque white village with its winding, usually very crowded streets and stunning views of the bays and beaches.
Even for many native residents of the island, the south is a place they rarely visit. As a Greek acquaintance of ours says, “the south is empty and hot”.
However, for lovers of beautiful nature, peace and space, tranquil village squares, small tavernas and fantastic views, the south of Rhodes is an absolute paradise. Surfers will find wind and waves here (Prasonisi) that are rarely found elsewhere in the Mediterranean. In the mountains you will find small monasteries and even smaller chapels, most of which are open and free to visit.
SPECTACULAR VIEWS
We actually made this tour by accident the first time. Because we took a few wrong turns, we ended up in places we would otherwise have avoided.
From our accommodation in Gennadi, we took the coastal road south. We wanted to take a look at Lachania and then thought we could drive to Prasonisi via the back roads. Lachania is a small village that is completely set up to cater for tourists. The sandy beach is a little further away from the centre of the village, which means that there are actually two Lachanias: Lachania by the Sea and Lachania Inland. At a T-junction in the village, we took the wrong turn, which turned out to be towards the village of Mesanagros.
The road climbed noticeably and wound its way past rocks, valleys and olive groves. In Mesanagros, you can have a drink in the local pub (Kafeinion) and on good days, food is also served.
If you continue to follow the main road from Mesanagros, a majestic landscape unfolds with olive and pine forrests, jagged rocky hills, deep valleys and even a petrified waterfall (see pictures).
All roads are easy to drive, even with a small hire car.
We are always struck by how good the roads are on Rhodes, with a few exceptions of course, and this winding road is proof of that statement. We were here in early spring, so there was still some mud on the road surface here and there. However, the asphalt was of excellent quality and you definitely don’t need an off-road vehicle or a 4×4 SUV here.
Nice pictures
THE MOST REMOTE BEACH ON RHODES, WHAT PEACE AND QUIET!
About 10 kilometers after the Skiadi monastery, you reach the coast. This is the most remote beach on Rhodes and there is absolutely nothing there. Remarkably so because, the views, especially to the north are breathtaking. For enthusiasts who want to experience a day at the beach where the entire beach, as far as the eye can see, is yours, this is a dream come true. It is a pity, however, that previous visitors to this beautiful place felt the need to leave rubbish behind. A clean-up campaign would improve things considerably here.
SOUTHWESTERN BEACH, THE GREAT EMPTINESS
Follow the coastal road south. After about 15 kilometres, you will reach the village of Kattavia. If you are looking for authentic Greek village life, Rhodes is the place to be, and Kattavia fits that ideal picture perfectly. Too far from the sea to benefit fully from the large influx of tourists and their euros, Kattavia mainly relies on passers-by for lunch and dinner. There are a few surf schools, Prasonisi is not too far away, and there are some simple hotels and campsites.
GOOD FOOD AT MAMA’S IN KATTAVIA!
On the square near the post office, you will find two tavernas with excellent food and almost pre-war prices. The whole family helps to keep the business running, and the dish of the day is made that same morning by ‘Mama’.
Otherwise, it is quiet and peaceful. Although a tractor passes by regularly and sometimes a delivery van. If you want to relax… well…
From Kattania, it is another 8 kilometres to Prasonisi. Described as a surfer’s paradise, follow the road to the southernmost tip of Rhodes. Prasonisi is actually a peninsula connected to Rhodes by a wide beach. It is always very windy here. To the east of this beach lies the Aegean Sea, where there are hardly any waves, making it ideal for windsurfers. To the west lies the Mediterranean Sea. Because the wind almost always comes from the west, there are often large waves here. This makes it an ideal spot for kite surfers. When the wind is too strong, the beach temporarily disappears under the waves. A special place indeed.
View of the beach separating the Prasonisi peninsula from Rhodes.
From PrasonisI, you have to take the same road back to the main road. It’s not the most beautiful part of Rhodes. However, we saw lots of deer, which made it a special experience. Rhodes has its own breed of deer. It is a type of fallow deer (“Dama Dama”) that is only found on the island. Its origins are shrouded in mystery, but it is said that somewhere in the Middle Ages, a number of deer were released for hunting. This said though, there are indications that deer have been present on the island, that was once called “Elafioussa”, for much longer. This means “with many deer”.
ROE DEER WITH BIG ANTLERS
Estimates of their numbers vary from 6,500 according to the government to more than 12,000 according to the farmers who are greatly affected by them. The deer are protected, and wild life reserves are being considered because of the nuisance they cause. You see them everywhere in large numbers and in our village, Gennadi, the roam freely even between the houses.
YOU CAN SPEND A FEW HOURS OR A WHOLE DAY
The vegetation here is clearly different from further north, which is probably due to the summer drought and heat. As mentioned earlier this last bit of landscape is not the most spectacular. We were amazed that, in the first week of March, the sun already had a lot of strength and the blue sky gave the island a nice, springlike feeling
After turning right, back onto the main road, you drive back to Gennadi via Lachania in about 25 minutes. This whole drive (less than 85 km) can easily be done in 2.5 hours without much stopping. It took us almost a day though, including lunch and 140 photos!