Sea and land excursions

Roosters can be heard crowing in Turkey from the eastern tip of Samos, it is claimed, because the two are so close.

There is a mile-wide channel separating them, so it isn’t surprising that day trips from Samos to Turkey run regularly through the summer. They usually combine a tour of the magnificent ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus, now a world heritage centre, with a visit to the resort and market town of Kusadasi.

Another day trip excursion is to Patmos, the Greek island twinned with Glastonbury. Religious links with Jesus are the reason for the twinning. John, the disciple, lived on Patmos and wrote the Book of Revelations there. And legend claims that Joseph of Arimathea, who arranged Jesus’s burial in a tomb, was the man who brought the Holy Grail to Glastonbury.

You don’t have to travel so far to island hop. Boats take visitors to the beaches on the pretty islet of Samiopoula, less than hour off the southern coast. The name means “small Samos”. There are also round-the-island excursions, which usually involve opportunities to swim and enjoy a BBQ, and boat trips to beaches that are difficult to reach by land. For more island hopping inspiration, see our island hopping page.

Coaches also provide round-the-island trips and visits to the pick of the historical sites. For those who want something a little more rugged there are 4x4 and Jeep safaris to the mountains and forests - stunning scenery guaranteed.