NISYROS – If you go to Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Rhodes or other popular Greek islands in the summer you can be prepared to be disappointed at the crowds, cost and visiting what seems to be a Las Vegas or Disneyland version.

Those in the know, and those who don’t want that experience can find some genuine Greek charm while it lasts on the few remaining islands that, so far at least, haven’t been totally overrun with tourists wearing socks and sandals.

In a review, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph – British tourists do love them some Greece – said they can be found if you’re willing not to follow the madding crowd to find some peace and serenity without the noise.

Where are they?

The newspaper’s top last 10 were named as Ikaria, Alonissos, Anafi, Nisyros, Kythera, Samothraki, Folegandros, Koufonisia, Kastelorizo, and Nisyros, places where you can dine with locals, not look at your watch or face restaurant hawkers beckoning and menu signs bigger than you.

“Scattered across the teal-blue sea as if the gods had dropped their marbles, the Greek islands are like nowhere else on earth. They are the stepping stones to sun-dappled freedom, thyme-scented breezes, drowsy olive groves and retsina-soaked nights under a brilliant frieze of stars,” the paper put it.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/greece/the-last-unspoilt-islands-of-greece/

“From that first sidestreet pitta souvlaki, with a stray cat rubbing against your ankles, and that first icy Mythos on a white-pebble cove, the colossal weight of the world slips from your shoulders the minute you arrive,” it said.

That sounds a tad better than blaring music, drunk British hooligans fistfighting in the streets of Zakynthos, being gouged on Mykonos or being elbow-to-elbow with foreigners who think plastic souvenirs are treasures.

The paper said the 10 islands have something elemental: “the light bouncing off white walls; the warm, silky sea; the wind and waves. After a few days, you’re breathing deeper, moving slower, tuning into forgotten biorhythms.”

That seems like a vacation to remember, lazing away on a beach without having to fork out money to private operators confiscating them – they are everywhere, of course – and taking your time to read, swim and think.

There are some 1200-6000 Greek islands, with 166-227 said inhabited but it seems like tourists go to the same handful year after year, overrunning and ruining them beyond repair.

And there are others outside the 10 chosen still worthy of seeing without being cheek by jowl with others although that’s changing fast too but for now you can try places like Kos, Symi, Sifnos, Serifos and Halki – where there aren’t cars.

The paper said it’s choices and a few others offer “a Greece beyond the sunset-hogging Instagrammers, two-for-one-cocktails and sirtaki dancing on tables,” that have lured the lemmings.

“After doing the Greek salad-tzatziki-beach thing to death, you swear it’ll be Italy next year – but deep down, you know the tug of your new favorite undiscovered Greek isle is too strong. You’ll be back. Oh, and that week you booked off? Make it two. The Greeks don’t rush – neither should you,” was the advice.