Kelyfos, Turtle Island

A travel to Kelyfos is an ideal trip for those who have been dreaming of being away from civilization for a long time.

Near the peninsula of Chalkidiki, several islets are scattered. Some of them are developed resorts with hotels equipped with beaches and taverns. Some of them are uninhabited islands, which must be regarded by every connoisseur of quiet rest. One of them is Kelyfos, or "shell", located opposite the busy Neos Marmaras.

Kelyfos often appears in tourist guides as the Turtle Island. It really resembles a lying turtle by its form. The island is well seen from the shores of Sithonia, in clear and cloudless weather you can see it even from the shores of Cassandra. Kelyfos does not impress with its scale, its area is only one m², its width is 700 m. Trips to the uninhabited island are invariably in demand among lovers of rest in absolute silence and active tourists, which are snorkelers and diving lovers.

By the way, the only inhabitants of Kelyfos were gulls and wild goats. The stories about an appearance of the latter on the Turtle Island are told. According to one of them, a shepherd brought the goats and left them to graze on Kelyfos. Soon he had died, and the goats became wild. Now they can be seen on the slopes of the island.

Despite the size, Kelyfos was noted in the history of Greece and served as a strategic place in the course of dramatic events. During the Revolution for independence and bloody world wars, it was a refuge from enemies and saved many lives. Here, the insurgents were temporarily sheltered, planning attacks against the rival. The past of the island is surrounded by legends. There are versions that once upon women convicted of adultery were exiled to isolated Kelyfos.

What to do in Kelyfos

Kelyfos is an island covered with pine and olive trees, an island of steep cliffs and caves that are of great interest to divers. The sea of the coast of the Turtle Island strikes with the richness of the underwater fauna and flora. Here you can see colorful corals, sea horses, moray eels, octopuses, sea anemones and greater weevers. Overall, there are ten dive sites on the island. Sea excursions to the beaches of Kelyfos are organized for divers in Chalkidiki. Such trips are possible from Neos Marmaras, Kallithea, Pefkochori and Paliouri. The diving season begins from April and lasts until the end of October.

Cruises leave to Kelyfos from the resorts of the peninsula of Chalkidiki, mainly from Paliouri and Neos Marmaras. They last about 4-5 hours. The trip includes food, rent of equipment for diving and fishing. Cruises to Kelyfos are held in the morning and at sunset. You can swim and sunbathe on the island's only beach. It is covered with pebbles and washed by clear sea. Some travel companies offer bathing directly from the boat, in the open sea. If there is time left, it is worth going to the few ruins. They are remained on Kelyfos from the Roman settlement. Apparently, the island was inhabited in antiquity.

Nearest infrastructure

The island of Kelyfos is located exactly opposite the luxurious resort of Porto Carras. There are hotels of category 4-5 *, as well as three * apartments in the traditional Greek style. There are sailing regatta, diving clubs, playgrounds, first-class thalassotherapy centers, shops, sports grounds and some of the best restaurants in Sithonia. Porto Carras is built on a picturesque and green territory. You can make a pedestrian or bicycle walk there, reaching the secluded sandy coves. By the way, sea trips to Kelyfos often include a visit to Porto Carras.

Neos Marmaras is another resort opposite the Turtle Island. It is a lively city, from which it is most convenient to get to Kelyfos. Usually the population of Neos Marmaras does not exceed 3,000 people. Nevertheless, in the summer it increases to 25,000 due to tourists. There are numerous taverns, bars, shops, cozy streets and bays for every taste and the ruins of ancient fortresses and towers in Neos Marmaras. It is famous for its picturesque promenade. You can spend a romantic evening in one of the cafes and admire the views of the island of Kelyfos there. Near Neos Marmaras there are clean sandy beaches, the most famous of which is Paradisos.