Mourtia Beach, Samos: The 300m Pebble Bay 8km East of Vathy, With Palm Trees Creating a Tropical Feel and No Facilities — No Chairs, No Umbrellas, No Snack Bar

Greece | Kamara | Samos, Northeast Aegean Islands

One of the most beautiful areas of the island of Samos we found in the east of the island, in the bay of Mourtia. It is a hilly area with olive trees and pines. The beach of Mourtia (pebbles) is reminiscent of a beach in the Caribbean Sea because of the turquoise colours of the sea, lush greenery and palm trees on the beach. On the beach there are no chairs or sunbeds, there is not even a snack bar.

The palm trees are the distinguishing visual detail — not Cretan date palms or planted resort palms, but the specific tropical framing created by the combination of palms, pines, and the turquoise water behind them that makes Mourtia look, in photographs, like somewhere it is not. Exotic palm trees close to the beach, perfect during the hottest hours of the day where you can find a moment of respite and which give the landscape an almost tropical flavour.

It is not equipped at all. Mourtia beach is still wild and in the wild, here Mother Nature grows and shows itself as it was at the origin. No sunbeds, umbrellas or kiosks where you can find something to drink or eat, so if during your holiday in Samos you decide to dedicate a whole day to it rather than a few hours, remember to bring everything you need.

Getting There: 8km From Vathy, Navigate to Kamara Village, Then 2km Further East on a Paved Road, Free Parking

Mourtia is located two kilometres east of Kamara and about eight kilometres from Samos Town. When you use navigation, type in “Kamara” and when you reach the village of Kamara, signs will point you further down the road.

To reach Mourtiá Beach by car from Vathy, head east towards the village of Kamara. Follow the paved road through the Vlamari valley, keeping Kamara as your reference point. Once in Kamara, follow the signs leading to Mourtiá Beach. The beach is located below the village, and a short drive will bring you to the parking area. Parking is free. The road to Mourtia Beach is narrow and unpaved in the final section.

By bus from Vathy, take the service towards Karlovasi or Kokkari and inform the driver you want to stop near Mourtiá Beach, close to Mavratzei village. Bus fare approximately €2. From the bus stop, follow the path down to the coastline — this requires a walk.

The Beach: 300m Long, Pebbles Everywhere, Water Shoes Essential, Depths Drop Quickly, Not Ideal for Very Small Children

The beach is approximately 300 metres long and is nestled in a sheltered bay, offering natural shade from surrounding trees, which cover most of the beach.

It has a coastline of small and large pebbles, clean and crystalline waters, a turquoise and emerald-coloured sea with depths that descend quite quickly and full of stones, therefore not particularly suitable for families with small children, so much so that we recommend using rock shoes to enter.

This is the specific honest contrast with Kerveli Beach Samos Greece 3 kilometres south — Kerveli has a gradual sandy seabed, relatively suitable for small children. Mourtia has a pebble seabed with quick depth increase, better suited to confident swimmers. Both are on the eastern coast, both are quiet, and both face the Turkish coast — the difference is in the seabed and the depth profile.

I think it is the best beach in Samos. It is located in the eastern part of the island and is not caught by the northern winds. The beach has pebble and the sea has the ideal depth for young children.

The Tropical Aesthetic: Palms, Pines, Olive Trees, and the Caribbean Comparison

The comparison to the Caribbean is the one that every description of Mourtia includes — and the specific combination of turquoise water, palm trees, olive trees, and complete silence is the reason. Behind it the mountains that protect it from the winds that cyclically blow on the Greek islands, with expanses of olive trees, maritime pines and luxuriant vegetation, an identifying feature of Samos, as well as exotic palm trees close to the beach.

Moni Zoodochos Pigi and Mikri Lakka

Near Mourtia Beach, visitors can explore the nearby Mikri Lakka and Megali Lakka beaches for even more secluded swimming spots. The Moni Zoodochos Pigi monastery is also nearby — one of Samos’s historic monasteries, accessible by the road above the beach. Both the monastery and the Lakka beaches make Mourtia a base for a broader eastern Samos exploration rather than just a single-beach day.

Mourtia Beach on Samos is the 300-metre wild pebble bay 8 kilometres east of Vathy — no chairs, no sunbeds, no snack bar (bring everything), palm trees creating a tropical aesthetic that explains the Caribbean comparison, water shoes essential, depths drop quickly (not ideal for very young children), navigate to Kamara village and follow signs 2 kilometres further, free parking, and the Moni Zoodochos Pigi monastery nearby.

Set the navigation for Kamara. Follow the signs. Bring your own water and shade.