Alonnisos

Long, thin Alonissos streaks through the Aegean Sea like the trunk of an ancient olive tree. It’s a member of the much-loved Sporades chain, but is nowhere near as popular as its compadre Skiathos, which sits just a little to the west. In fact, the island is so remote that a large portion of it is given over to a protected nature reserve and marine park. That means just a stone’s throw from the main harbor could see you lost in meadows of wild thyme, olive groves, and pockets of stone pines. The shoreline promises oodles of get-away-from-it-all spots, too. There are rust-tinged headlands poking into the sea at Kokinokastro. There are rustic wine cellars and boat moorings down in loveable Patitiri town. And you might even glimpse a rare monachus seal basking in the sun while you travel.