Frikes

You’ll find the locals friendly in Frikes; there are only a hundred permanent residents, a fact which helps to explain its laid-back, get-away-from-it-all air. As such it makes a perfect base for a holiday spent exploring further afield to discover the ins and the outs of beautiful Ithaca, the island on which Odysseus is said to have lived. Small, and understated, the coastal village of Frikes is nevertheless a bustling hive of activity in the cluster of bars and restaurants doing a steady trade. The pretty harbour is home to fishing boats and some slightly swankier yachts, and many of these vessels offer trips out on the crystalline waters, making their way up and down the attractive coastline. Expect to discover hidden inlets and coves offering secluded sun traps - somewhere to make the most of the serenity they provide.

Frikes’ own sandy beach is popular in summer months, protected and shaded from western winds by the Maracas mountain skyline - just as well, as, you won’t find rows of twirling parasols and shaded sunbeds here. The beach shelves gently into warm shallows, perfect for donning a snorkel and joining the children in discovering the fish sparkling in the sun’s rays just below the surface.

Goat tracks and walking trails lead you through the stunning scenery of the island’s interior among the scent of olive groves and wildflowers. For a complete change of scene, take a short hop across to the brightly coloured harbour of Fiskardo on big and beautiful Kefalonia. Frikes is also the departure point if you’re heading for the lovely island of Lefkas a little further afield, with her amazing vistas, remote villages and inhabitants sometimes still in traditional dress.

Evening activity in Frikes centres around the tavernas, and may be quiet in comparison to other island resorts. Nonetheless, an al fresco nightclub attracts lively crowds in the summer months, where dancing to live music takes place beneath the stars.