Yomi Rodrig Ramblings: Why I Love Marathi Island

Often referred to as one of Greece’s best kept secrets, Marathos is a small island off the coast of the Greek mainland, just 355 square KM in size with a total of four meters of coastline. This once abandoned rocky island was home to nothing, but after the Emilianos family discovered the location in 1977, they brought life and tourism to the island by creating the Pantelis Marathi resort.

Over 40 years later, Marathi Resort is now popular with tourists looking to escape normality and indulge in seclusion and experience the wonders of the natural world at their best. Although the idea of Marathi Island is to escape modern amenities and embrace a more basic and relaxed lifestyle, the Emilianos family have developed a selection of rooms for visitors to stay in and a restaurant for guests to enjoy. The aim of adding these basic amenities to the island is to enhance the process of relaxation on the island, opposed to distracting from the natural beauty that surrounds.

My name is Yomi Rodrig and I discovered Marathi Island and the Pantelis resort many years back when searching the internet for secluded holiday destinations to visit to escape the stress of my day job in finance and after visiting the island once, I now visit three times a year and see the island as a second home and the owners of the resort an extended family.

If the idea of pure relaxation and living a slow and simple life isn’t enough to convince you that Marathos island truly is the holiday destination of dreams, then allow me to share with you my own personal reasons for loving the island and resort.

The Holiday is What You Make of It

With a lot of holidays, there’s an itinerary of activities in place before you even arrive meaning you needn’t worry about being bored or wasting any time as every moment is packed full of action, and although these kinds of holidays are exciting and exhilarating, you don’t remember the place you visited but the things you did.

When you visit Marathi Island, the way you spend your holiday is up to you but everything at the resort is calm and slow moving, so instead of the things you do making the holiday memorable, the place itself is what makes the trip so spectacular.

Although Marathos may seem plain and empty to some, the holiday truly is what you make of it and the way you choose to spend your time will determine of how you remember the trip. The option to lie back and relax is there, but you can also spend hours exploring and discovering new natural wonders and wildlife you won’t have seen before.

A Fresh and Healthy Lifestyle

Many of us come away from holidays feeling as though we have over indulged and like we need to detox upon our return home but after a visit to the Marathi Island, I feel healthier and fitter than I ever do at home. The lifestyle at the resort is very back to basics and the diet is all about natural, unprocessed ingredients that are freshly sourced, meaning you spend your visit eating and living well.

The lack of attractions and activities forces you to either spend hours walking which is great exercise or relaxing which is great for the mind. The Pantelis Restaurant serves up a healthy and fresh selection of authentic Greek foods including meze starters, homemade breads, fresh fruits, homemade stews and soups and traditional desserts.

 

The Locals

Whenever you visit a foreign destination, the locals play a big part in forming your experience and the Emilianos family create such a wonderful, relaxed and authentic environment for their guests, so from the moment you arrive you feel at home and instantly being to share their love for the island.

After taking residence on Marathos over 40 years ago, the family know every inch of the island and are always keen to share their knowledge and experience with guests to help enhance your visit and provide you with the best trip possible.

If an escape to a secluded island with a fresh and balanced diet and relaxed but fulfilling lifestyle sounds like the kind of holiday you desire, then a trip to the Pantelis resort on Marathi Island is going to be ideal for you.

Say goodbye to normality and the stresses of everyday life and say hello to tranquillity and peace.