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Island Hopping
By Sea:-
Lesvos is not an easy destination to include in an island hopping itinerary.
Its size, and the distance of the main tourist centres from the port at Mitilene,
make it more suitable for an extended stay than a brief visit.
Its relative isolation in the north-eastern Aegean, away from the main island groups,
and the near monopoly of the local ferry company NEL on routes to the mainland
(whose fleet is shrinking as vessels reach their age limit and are pensioned off with
no apparent plans for replacements, and whose large remaining ships
are in any case unsuitable for quick turn-rounds in small ports),
only increases the problem for anyone hoping to visit other islands.
Apart from one weekly sailing to Thessaloniki via Limnos by NEL,
as of July 2007 the only alternative to the Piraeus via Chios route comes from:-
Agoudimos Lines
www.agoudimos-lines.com
in 2007 had twice-weekly sailings south to Samos (alternating Vathi and Karlovassi)
via Chios, with one visit a week to Ikaria and Rhodes
To the north, also twice a week, it goes to Limnos and on, on alternate voyages,
to Alexandropoli or Thessaloniki.
SAOS Lines
www.saos.gr
SAOS operated a 2007 schedule similar to that above (even departing within a few hours of its rival), but substituting Kavala for Alexandropoli.
A booking agency at www.ferries.gr
offers current timetables and online booking for all ferry lines.
By Air:-
There are one or two daily flights to Thessaloniki by Olympic and Aegean Airlines,
plus regular flights to and from Limnos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, and Crete.
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