Journey III
Where Europe ends.
A perfectly round islet with a lighthouse — and behind it, nothing but sea and the rumour of Asia.
Strongyli means "round," and the name is literal — it's a near-perfect circle of rock rising from the sea, three nautical miles east of Kastellorizo. A lighthouse sits on its summit. That lighthouse is the easternmost European Union soil.
Standing on it, you're further east than any other EU citizen alive. Turkey is right there, close enough to read the hills.
Duration3–4 hours
LandingYes · steep climb
DepartureMorning only
BringShoes with grip
Itinerary
The crossing
Thirty minutes east. The sea here is over three hundred metres deep — darker, more serious.
Approach
We round the islet slowly. The cliffs are vertical. There's one landing place.
The lighthouse climb
A steep path up. The light itself is automated now. The view is not.
The easternmost point
We stand on it. We take no photo that isn't also a map.
Swim at Ag. Georgios islet
On the way back, a stop at the small chapel islet between Strongyli and Kastellorizo. Crystal water, no other boats.