Getting from Telendos to Samothrace

If you are heading to Samothrace from Telendos you are making your way from a tiny car-free island off the western coast of Kalymnos in the Dodecanese to one of the most remote and wild islands in Greece, rising dramatically from the northeastern Aegean close to the Bulgarian and Turkish borders, on the opposite side of the country. It has Mount Fengari at its centre and the Sanctuary of the Great Gods where the Winged Victory of Samothrace was discovered in 1863.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Telendos to Samothrace. The only ferry connection to Samothrace departs from Alexandroupoli on the northeastern mainland. Getting there means taking the local boat from Telendos to Myrties on Kalymnos, which takes around 5 minutes, and then flying from Kalymnos to Athens and then Athens to Alexandroupoli, followed by the ferry across to Samothrace taking around 1 hour 45 minutes. Alternatively take the overnight ferry from Kalymnos port at Pothia to Piraeus and drive northeast via the Egnatia motorway to Alexandroupoli.

Getting there by air

Samothrace has no airport. The nearest airport is Alexandroupoli. Telendos has no airport. The nearest airports are Kalymnos and Kos. Taking the local boat from Telendos to Myrties, flying from Kalymnos to Athens and then Athens to Alexandroupoli, followed by the ferry to Samothrace, gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the local boat from Telendos to Myrties and fly from Kalymnos to Athens, then fly from Athens to Alexandroupoli and take the ferry across to Samothrace. Check the ferry schedule before booking your flights and build your Alexandroupoli arrival around the afternoon departure. Samothrace rewards at least three or four nights. If you are traveling with a car, note that no cars are permitted on Telendos so your vehicle would already be on Kalymnos, from where you can take the overnight ferry to Piraeus and drive northeast via the Egnatia motorway to Alexandroupoli.