Halki, a waterless limestone speck just west of Rhodes, is a fully fledged member of the Dodecanese complex in the southeastern Aegean in Greece. Arriving on Halki is like stepping into a composite of everything Greek; an old fisherman shelling  prawns under a fig tree, an Orthodox priest flitting down a narrow alley, while boats bob colorfully at the dock. All the limited action of this former sponge-diving island is based around its neoclassical harbour of Emborios. For the most part the island is rocky, but there are some temptingly quiet beaches wrapped in aquamarine water. And keep your eyes peeled – there are 14 types of butterfly, and over 40 kinds of birds.

The Emborios harbour with its turquoise bay and distinctive crayon coloured Italianate mansions, once the homes of 16th-century sea captains. Venetian-style shuttered windows grace facades of ochre and cream, below them cats yawn on the wharf-side, while oldtimers flick worry beads.

The impressive stone clock tower at the southern side of the harbour is a gift from the expat Halki community in Florida. The Church of Saint Nikolaos has the tallest belfry in the Dodecanese and boasts an impressive pebbled courtyard on the east side. The Traditional House offers a glimpse into the past in this recreation of an island cottage.

The population of Halki according to the last census is 480 inhabitants and depending on the season the foreigners are vastly outnumber. The total area of the island is 27.000 square kilometers and its exact geographic coordinates are 36°13’50.6″N 27°34’00.5″E on the Aegean Sea.