The lighthouse in Faros Skarfeia – an abandoned and beautiful kitesurfing spot

As we wrote at the end of the last article, we headed towards Raches from Oropos. On the way, we planned a final two-day stop at the Faros Skarfeias spot (click for more details about the spot), which is on the opposite shore in the Maliakos Gulf. This small kitespot near the lighthouse is usually visited by locals, or small groups for one to two nights. You can be alone here or meet a maximum of ten kiters. It is a nice place with small flat water, or waves further out at sea, and an unforgettable atmosphere.

Spot Faros Skarfeias

We mainly come to this spot for relaxation because it is quiet and peaceful, and you are not on the water with another 30 kiters. And when the wind is right, the kitesurfing conditions here are comparable to Raches.

We arrived at the spot in the dark. Tired from the journey, we missed the correct turn toward the lighthouse, so we had to stop and turn around. As soon as we arrived, we just set up our beds, sat for a while under the moonlight, and went to sleep.

The whole area around the lighthouse is a military zone, and it is not allowed to enter beyond the gate and walls. Sleeping in camper vans in the parking area is tolerated. There is a tap with drinking water and showers on the beach.

The beach is clean and sandy, but small, so we usually launch the kites on the grassy area in the parking lot. The best entry into the water is directly from the beach, where there is also flat water. The water is shallow a few meters out, but the sand quickly turns into mud and rocks. On the other side, the entry into the water is shallow several hundred meters away, but the bottom is only mud and algae deposits, and you never know how deep you will sink.

There is a beautiful view of the island of Evia, and you can see the spot at Raches. And when the first kites rise into the air there, you know it will be windy at the lighthouse in a minute.

Wind and Conditions We Enjoyed

The spot works with an eastern wind that blows through the Maliakos Gulf, just like at Raches. On the first day, we caught a surprisingly strong wind here. It started blowing around noon, but the wind was weak for a long time. When it picked up a bit, Veronika wanted to go first with a twelve-meter kite. But before we could set up the kite, the wind suddenly strengthened to the point where Veronika was unable to keep the kite in the air or land it. So I went to the water and had a great session where I practiced a lot of heliloops from quite big jumps.

A local kiter arrived, pumped up a 9m kite, and within a few minutes, he was upwind all the way to Raches. The distance between the two spots is about 6 km in a straight line.

We were also joined by a German couple of experienced kiters, and the man, in particular, enjoyed the afternoon conditions brutally and performed an incredible dance on the water with his surfboards. Another camper van arrived in the afternoon, but there were never more than five kites on the water.

The whole afternoon was successful in terms of wind, and I regretted a lot that our new toy would arrive only in two days. At the same time, my new 9m kite was traveling from the Czech Republic to Raches, where I was supposed to pick it up. 

Veronika eventually had a great ride at sunset.

The next day was also quite successful, although the wind was not as strong. We took turns riding and enjoyed the free flat.

Where to go Nearby

Not far from the spot, you can find the larger town of Kamena Vourla. Boats depart every hour to the nearby Lichadonissia islands. The boat passes through a series of islands with beaches, and you can even get to Kavos Beach on the island of Evia.

Choose the beach where you want to stay and arrange a departure time when the water taxi will take you back to the port of Kamena Vourla. The water around the islands is beautifully azure and clean. There are small beaches on the islands, some with sun loungers and beach bars, or you can find your own secluded piece of paradise and spend the afternoon alone. We chose a larger beach from which we then took about an hour’s walk. We partially waded or swam to various lagoons between the islands.

Alternatively, you can take your diving equipment and dive to the local shipwreck of the Pionier I.

If you’re a fan of warm water and hot springs, we recommend stopping in Thermopylae.

The area around the hot water spring is nothing special, but the bath in two pools or under the waterfall is worth it. Just a short distance from the main entrance, there is another small natural pool, the water here is not as hot, but with a bit of luck, you can enjoy relaxation completely alone.

And speaking of Thermopylae, the famous historical site, you can stop at the monument to the Battle of Thermopylae or visit the local museum. We visited the monument in 2018, during a festival when they had on display some historical weapons with which we could take pictures.

The Last Spot of Our Road Trip

We spent three nights and two windy days at the Faros Skarfeia spot. On the morning of the third day, we packed up again, did a big shopping trip, and moved to the final destination of our journey. Raches spot was our last stop. After two months of traveling, we were looking forward to a long stay, a familiar environment, and lots of familiar kiters. In previous years, we had spent almost three months of our lives in Raches. We stayed in an apartment, a campsite, or on a beach punk in a parking lot. We met many people there and experienced many beautiful windy and windless days.

You will find out how we enjoyed this year’s conditions in Raches in the next article, which will conclude this entire series.

Author: Spots4Kite

The team behind Spots4Kite.