Hovering high above the shimmering blue, I spy the tiny white triangles of sailboats and the rugged crescents of island bays in a sea that is as smooth as glass. I'm on my way to the remote island of Folegandros in the southern Cyclades, but rather than travel via a seven-hour ferry ride from Athens, I've opted for a 40-minute transfer with hoper, the first helicopter airline in Greece.
Although we pass some spectacular scenery on the way, there's no mistaking the destination I've been dreaming of when I spot the iconic pathway that zigzags up the hillside and along soaring clifftops to the white-domed Church of Panagia, quietly watching over Chora.
Folegandros might share the same dramatic natural beauty as well-known neighbour Santorini, but it couldn't feel more removed…
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International Traveller (Digital) - 1 Issue, March - May 2025