Ambeli
Rather small quiet beach, mostly with pebbles and some rocky spots.
- Shade: None
- Sunbeds
- Taverna
- Showers
- Parking
- Rooms
- Family friendly
- Snorkelling
- Sheltered from the meltemi
Ambeli is a handful of pebbles at the bottom of a ravine west of Ano Meria: 2 km of dirt track and ten minutes on a path to a cove that fits perhaps twenty people, sheltered from the meltemi and with nothing on it. It is the hardest beach on the island to reach and, for some, the best.
How to get there
By ATV from Chora ride to Ano Meria, 5 km of asphalt, and turn onto the dirt track for Ambeli; ask in the village if you do not see the sign. The track is about 2 km, narrow and gravelly, to a small flat area where you leave the vehicle. From there the path drops down the ravine in about ten minutes, steep and with loose stones at the end; difficulty three out of three. About 10 km and half an hour from Chora in total, plus the walk.
On foot from Ano Meria allow forty minutes or more, with no shade. A scooter is not possible: the track is not for a 125 and riding off the asphalt is not covered.
| Option | Time from Chora | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATV + path | 25–30 min + 10 min | Hard | 2 km of dirt, steep path |
| On foot from Ano Meria | 40 min or more | Hard | no shade, ask locally |
| Scooter | not possible | – | dirt track, outside the insurance |
What to expect
Pebbles, rocks and deep, transparent water that make Ambeli one of the island's best spots for a mask. There is no shade at all, and no sunbeds, taverna, showers or rooms; only the flat area for parking above. The ravine keeps the cove sheltered from the meltemi, which is why it is worth it on the days when the north wind spoils the other beaches.
Ambeli is nudist-friendly and often empty. It is not for small children or for anyone who struggles on steep paths: the climb back up in the heat is the hard part.
Tips
The best time is from midday to the afternoon: the walls of the ravine keep the sun off the cove until late morning. Bring plenty of water, an umbrella, closed shoes for the path and water shoes for the pebbles, and do not go alone if you are unsure, because the phone signal is weak. Fill up at the island's only petrol station, on the Chora–Ano Meria road.
Dirt track and a steep path: ATV only, always on the marked track, because riding off-road voids the insurance. Do not attempt it on a scooter.
Road Runner delivers the ATV free to your hotel or the port, with helmets and 24-hour phone assistance if you need anything on the track.
Nearby
Livadaki is the bay below the lighthouse, Agios Georgios the big bay of the north, and Agios Nikolaos the easy, organised alternative on the south coast. Read the Ano Meria guide and the hidden beaches guide, and see our ATV rental page with the prices.
Ride there with Road Runner
The vehicles that reach this beach. Free delivery at the port or your hotel.
On the map
Frequently asked questions
Nearby beaches
Livadaki
Secluded · Non-Organized
Small beach with white pebbles. It can be reached by boat. There are some trees offering shade.
- Parking
- Snorkelling
Agios Georgios
Pebbled · Secluded · Non-Organized
Nice beach with sand and pebbles, some shade from tamarisks.
- Shade: Tamarisk trees
- Parking
- Family friendly
- Snorkelling
Agios Nikolaos
Partly-Organized · Family Friendly · Sandy
Lovely beach near Agali, ideal for families. Shade under the trees and 2 tavernas nearby.
- Shade: Tamarisk trees
- Sunbeds
- Taverna
- Rooms
- Family friendly
- Snorkelling
- Sheltered from the meltemi
The right vehicle unlocks the best beaches.
ATV for the dirt tracks, scooter for the paved roads. Free delivery to the port or your hotel.