On Samothraki the best swims are in the renowned vathres, the small natural pools with crystal clear cool waters.
If you are seeking cool respite, plenty of greenery and dips in... waterfalls, thenSamothrakiin the North Aegean is your destination. Mysterious, lush and full of flowing waters, this island radiates a distinctive energy you feel from the very first minute.
Here, the most beautiful and refreshing dips happen in the famed vathres, the enchanting natural pools that captivate travelers with their wild beauty. Swimming in their waters is a unique experience.
The vathres are small natural pools with crystal clear cool waters, surrounded by rocks and small or large waterfalls. The vathres you will encounter on Samothraki are many. To enjoy them in all their splendor, be prepared for plenty of walking and scrambling. Equip yourself with a backpack, a pair of closed shoes, plenty of eagerness to explore and set off. The more of them you pass, the more impressive (and with fewer people) the ones you come across.
Gria Vathra is one of the best known vathres on the island. At a distance of 2 km from Therma, within a gorgeous landscape filled with plane trees and ferns, you will encounter a sequence of at least ten waterfalls and pools, most of them easily accessible. After 10 minutes of walking you will reach the first vathra. Dare your first «baptism», step in almost up to your waist and continue to the second vathra, then to the third and as far as you can! The higher you climb the more the magic of the scenery will sweep you away.
The most renowned vathra is that of Fonias, the river of Samothraki that springs from the peaks of Mount Saos (or Fengari) and flows through beautiful landscapes. The hiking route to discover the beauties of Fonias is easy, especially up to the first vathra, which you will reach after about 30 minutes of walking through the lush plane tree forest. Thenmountaineering is required to approach the vathres that follow. The most impressive spot of Fonias is Kleidosi. It is a waterfall 35 meters high, whose waters fall with a deafening roar, forming a magical vathra among the rocks.
