Karpathos forms a long mountainous crest between Crete and Rhodes. It is the second largest of the Dodecanese islands and also one of the most charming. Its soul can easily be gleaned in the perched villages in the centre. By the sea, the beaches remain wild: the west is covered with pines, the east is steep and rocky, and the north, with desolate landscapes, is home to many species of birds. A natural and very appealing island, for those in search of peace and quiet and that timeless image of Greece.