Wellness on Samothraki: hot springs, cold pools and dark skies
Samothraki’s wellness is simple and old: the open-air hot pools above Therma, icy rock pools in the forest, skies dark enough for the Milky Way, and quiet places to stay for a slow few days.
Samothraki is not a spa island with hotels and treatment menus. Its wellness is simpler and older: hot water from the mountain at Therma, cold pools in the forest, dark skies, and days with nothing in them. Here is how to spend a slow few days on the island.
The hot springs at Therma
Warm mineral water rises at Therma, the north-coast village named after it. The open-air hot pools at the top of the hill above the village are open to everyone, and after dark they are one of the best places on the island to lie back and watch the stars. The municipal bath house did not open in 2024, so ask in Therma whether it is open before you plan around it.
Cold water: the vathres
A few minutes from the hot springs, the rivers from Mount Saos fill rock pools the island calls vathres. At Gria Vathra, above Therma, the first pool is about 15 minutes’ walk away; at Fonias, a shaded path through plane trees reaches the first waterfall in 15 to 30 minutes. The water comes straight from the mountain and is cold all year, so a hot pool in the morning and a cold one in the afternoon is the island’s own cure. June to September is the time to swim; spring has the fullest waterfalls. More in our waterfalls guide.
Dark skies
Away from the villages there is almost no light on the island, and on a clear, moonless night the Milky Way is plain to see. Our guide to stargazing on Samothraki has where to go and when.
Places to stay for a slow few days
- Solar Dome Retreat, above Potamia, is an off-grid glass dome powered by the sun, with a roof window that opens onto the night sky and its own pool and land, a short walk from the sea.
- Mariva Bungalows are bungalows among the plane trees of Therma that also host yoga retreats; ask them for dates.
Good to know
- Wear sandals or water shoes with grip: the rocks around the pools are wet and slippery.
- The hot pools are out in the open with no services: bring a towel and water, and take your rubbish back with you.
- For walks at your own pace, from easy strolls to the climb up Mount Saos, see our hiking guide.
