Tiny European island that once had elephants and is loved for crowd-free beaches

A LESSER-known European island with tranquil, quiet beaches and a fascinating natural history could be the perfect holiday destination for you this summer.

If you want the charm and beauty of a Greek island without the extortionate prices or the swathes of tourists, there are plenty of places you can head to.

One of those is the Dodecanese island of Tilos, known for its clear seas, long stretches of empty beach and its ancient villages.

It sits between the more famous Rhodes and Kos, who seem to take the bulk of the tourism trade in the region.

However, its landscape, featuring towering mountains, rocky and sandy shores and varied wildlife make it well worth considering for holidaymakers.

Bird-watchers are particularly well catered for, with rare species like the Bonelli’s eagle, the Eleonora’s falcon, the long-legged buzzard, the European shag, the European bee-eater all among its inhabitants.

What’s more, it’s believed to be the final home of the European dwarf elephants, who are believed to have lived there until around 4,000 years ago.

Visit Greece explained: “The last elephants of Europe lived here: the dwarf elephants appeared on the island 45,000 years ago and disappeared about 4,000 years ago.

“It is today a quiet island of picturesque villages and amazing beaches where you can have a relaxing holiday.”

Among the best of those beaches are the likes of Eristos Beach, Lividia Beach and Plaka Beach, among others.

According to Greeka the pick of the bunch is Eristos, for its clear seas and lack of other tourists.

They wrote: “Eristos is a long bay that can be accessed through a rough street from Megalo Chorio. Its water is pure and its ambience barren.”

However, they also praised the other two, adding them to their list of the island’s best beaches.

After a trip to the seaside, an evening out can be spent in the port town of Lividia.

Olympic Holidays describes it as “a small, laid-back town with a tree-lined main square and some lovely tavernas” which serve Greek food and affordable drinks. 

Meanwhile, the capital, Megalo Horio, is labelled as “a charming flower-decked town of cobblestoned alleys, tiny courtyards and friendly people”.

Some get it confused with Micro Horio, one of the island’s other tourist spots, consisting of an abandoned village still containing the remains of a medieval castle and church.

Olympic continued: “It’s a tiny island, but Tilos has earned a big reputation for the good things. Like many other small Dodecanese Islands it promises a relaxing taste of traditional Greek life. 

“The mountains, forests, meadows and beaches provide safe homes for hundreds of plants, birds and other wildlife such as turtles and seals.

“It has Numerous beaches, including lovely, sandy Eristos, pretty Plaka cove beside a peacock park, and Livadia, where tamarisk trees and a traffic-free promenade line a long pebble beach.”

The best way to reach the island is by ferry, with services running from both Athens and Rhodes.

A night for two on the island can be booked from around £26.

Meanwhile, this underrated Greek island has surprisingly cheap holidays.

And this Greek island is the most affordable to visit in 2024.