ALTERNATIVE NAMES: Halki, Chalki, Chalkis, Khalkia, Khalki

ISLAND GROUP: Dodecanese Islands

ADMIN: Rhodes

TELEPHONE PREFIX: 22460

TRANSPORT: From Rhodes island by boat from Kamiros harbor or from Mandraki harbour from the city of Rhodos

Halki Island Greece, one of the Dodecanese Islands, one of the quieter under-developed Greek islands administered by Rhodes with some real estate properties for sale.

Chalki or Halki island is a former sponge diving centre.  Halki island was hit by the economic crisis at the beginning of the 20th century and declined, as did many other islands of the Dodecanese. In the last few years tourism has begun to develop, bringing life to the island again. Emporio, is the only community on the island, with grand houses and a picturesque water front offering fresh fish. Both deserted, Horio and the Knights' Castle are well visiting. On the island of Halki you can find a few hotels, rooms to let & vacation rentals apartments.

Police & Port Police
Both the Police and Port Police on Halki share the same building, the Port Police downstairs, in an Italian style building near the boatyard and a Hotel. Port Police are signalled by their white uniforms in summer. They can be seen attending every arrival and departure of passenger craft.

The Police generally only speak Greek, so assistance may be needed to communicate a serious problem.

Doctors
Surgery Tel: 2246 0 45206
09.00 – 12.00 and 18.00 – 20.00 Monday to Friday. At weekends – emergencies only. Doctors’ and nurse’s mobile numbers are displayed.
There is no pharmacy, and medicines must be ordered from Rhodes. The Hospital Hydrofoil visits approximately once a month to provide specialists e.g a paediatrician and a gynaecologist. Halki has no dentist.

Money
Halki has no bank or credit card facilities anywhere. If exchange is required, apply at the tourist agencies.

Post Office
7.30 – 1.30 Monday to Friday. Post box upstairs.
Post departs and arrives twice a week.

Telephones
A number of call boxes exist around the harbour front – at the church, near the toilets, one at each kiosk. There is also one near the police station, and another at Pondamos beach. These take phone cards (around 3 euros).

Church
The main church of Emborio, St Nikolas, has services Saturday pm from about 7.00 pm and Sunday am from about 7.30. Anyone is welcome, just buy a candle (50c) and leave when you please. The church interior is very beautiful and well worth a visit, though it is difficult to find it open outside service times. A new set of bells has been installed, with varied and attractive peals, a welcome replacement for the previous monotonous toll.  The Museum upstairs is open Tuesday and Friday 18.00-19.00 and Sunday 11.00-12.00.  Entrance 1 Euro. Other churches throughout the island are open to individual worshippers and visitors, though the church of the Virgin Mary at Chorio is kept locked (to protect its valuable frescos) except at specific Festivals.

Siesta
As throughout Greece, the hours of the summer afternoon are reserved for resting away from the heat. The convention is to maintain quietness (even in conversation) between the hours of 14.30 and 17.30, so that, refreshed, people are ready to enjoy themselves in the cool of the evening and into the night.

Transport
There is one taxi, usually parked near the Post Office if not out on call. Rates are advertised for Pondamos, Ftenagia, Chorio,  Monastery.

Ferries
The basic service is by 2 alternating caiques, leaving Halki 06.00 every day in the season (less off season) (may be 07.00 on Saturday) for Kamiros Skala, a small port on the Western coast of Rhodes, North of Halki. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Arriving at Kamiros, 07.15, there is a short wait for the bus which leaves from the taverna up on the road at 07.40. This arrives in Rhodes town, at Mandraki harbour about 08.50, but may be slow when the schools are in session up to June and from September.

On Saturday, the bus leaves the taverna about 09.30. The bus returns from Mandraki, leaving 13.25/30 from the same bus stop, arriving at Kamiros shortly after 14.30. Please note – do not board the bus marked Kameiros as this stops at Ancient Kameiros, some 15 kms short of the port. The bus is marked Kritinia, the next village after Kamiros. The boat waits for the arrival of the bus before departing, but be aware that the bus does NOT wait for the boat, so if you leave Halki late in the morning, you will need a taxi into Rhodes. It is best to call one out from Halki before you leave, to give the taxi time to get down to Kamiros and meet you.   Please note that this can be expensive as you have to pay taxi call out fees from Rhodes.  Transport times are affected by the use of the caique by the tour companies for transfers on Wednesday and Sunday in the season.

Halki is served by other larger ferry lines. These connect the island with Rhodes and Piraeus, the port of Athens. Sailing time to Rhodes is around 2 hours, into the commercial harbour near the Old Town, but time should also be allowed for tying up and disembarkation. Passengers with luggage will certainly require a taxi, as it is at least a 15 minute walk to the new town where most of the hotels are situated.

In the season, hydrofoils call in at Halki en route to Rhodes.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOW NECESSARY TO BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE.

Water and Sanitation
Halki’s water supply is all brought in by ship from Rhodes which makes careful conservation essential during the busy summer months.  Otherwise your accommodation’s supply may run dry and it could be days before more water can be obtained.  Use the sea rather than the shower for cooling off purposes.  If there is a basin provided to stand in when showering, please do so and then use that water for flushing the lavatory.  The same goes for washing up water.  If you notice any leaks, please report them to the relevant person so that they can be attended to promptly.  Supplies can be interrupted for up to an hour or more while machinery is swapped to another holding tank.

 As the pipes are all small bore nothing, not even toilet paper, should be flushed down the toilets.  Bins are provided.  Blockages occur practically instantly whereas finding a plumber takes longer.

Electricity
The island receives power by undersea cable from Rhodes.  Capacity is limited.  Please turn off all appliances when not in use, particularly air conditioning units and water heaters, to avoid overloading the system.  As the wiring in many houses is old and idiosyncratic it is also wise not to switch everything on at once!  The island does have black outs which may last a few hours.  Most accommodation is provided with torches for these occasions.

Public Toilets
The public toilets are on the South waterfront. Most eating establishments and bars have toilets. However it is polite to be a customer when using their facilities.

Information supplied by http://www.halkivisitor.com

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