The North Eastern Aegean Islands are far less visited than the popular Cyclades and Dodecanese archipelagos yet they have much to offer the visitor including forested mountains, uncluttered beaches and fabulous walking trails through lush scenery which is hard to find on the barren, rocky islands further south. The seven major islands in the groups are Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Samos, Samothraki and Thassos. All of the islands, with the exception of Samothraki and Thassos, are nearer the west coast of Turkey than they are to the Greek mainland. Samos boasts some superb sandy beaches and is awash with tourist facilities. But if you take the time to explore beyond the busy beach resorts you'll find a beautiful mountainous interior dotted with unspoilt traditional villages, rushing streams and dramatic ravines carpeted with wild flowers. Ikaria, a green and tranquil island with good beaches, wonderful hiking trails and traditional tavernas mercifully free of foreign influence. Chios, has some of the best beaches in the group and some of the most fascinating medieval villages in the whole of Greece - the so-called "mastic villages", built as centres of production for the highly prized resin drawn from the local mastic bushes. The Turkish sultans and their harems couldn't get enough of the addictive mastic chewing gum and the resin was used for centuries in paints, cosmetics and drugs before the advent of petroleum based products. Lesvos is a lush green island, third largest of the greek islands and also known as Mytilini. Lesvos makes the best ouzo in Greece and ouzo drinking is an art. The volcanic island of Limnos remains largely untouched by mass tourism as does stunning Samothraki which boasts the highest mountain in the Aegean and has some of the most dramatic scenery of all the Greek islands. The Romans used to holiday on Samothraki and bathe in the curative waters of the island's hot springs which still attract visitors from all over Europe and beyond. Lush valleys, forested mountain slopes and cascading waterfalls make the island a favourite holiday spot for hikers. Thassos is the most northerly of all the Greek islands and has been a popular package holiday destination since the 1990s. Summer visitors pour in from the Greek mainland, Britain and Germany and many eastern European countries.