For years, travellers seeking a Greek island escape have followed the same well-trodden path: Mykonos for its hedonistic beach clubs, Santorini for its postcard-perfect caldera sunsets. But a new chapter is being written in the Aegean: one that whispers rather than shouts. Welcome to Folegandros, the rising star of the Cyclades, where a different, more muted kind of luxury awaits.

While popular Greek islands such as Mykonos and Santorini have grown ever more crowded, expensive, and commercialised, Folegandros – with its raw, dramatic landscapes, impossibly blue waters, and an authenticity that feels increasingly rare in the Cyclades – remains blissfully untouched.

Here, there are no cruise ship crowds, sprawling mega-resorts, or blingy stores; just earthen villages clinging to cliffsides, hidden beaches accessible only via boat, and the kind of unfiltered beauty that luxury travellers are craving in 2025.

Folegandros is the antidote to over-tourism – a place where exclusivity is defined not by velvet ropes or private jets, but by the privilege of solitude. It offers a return to the Greece our mind's eye conjures: sleepy harbours where fishermen haul in the morning's catch, family-run tavernas where octopus dries in the sun, and days that stretch endlessly, shaped only by the rise and fall of the Aegean tide.

This captivating island is a mere 32 square kilometres, home to roughly 700 permanent residents, and features three quaint villages including the capital, Chora. Located in the centre of the island, the entire town is pedestrian-only, with narrow, cobbled alleyways dissecting the traditional, white-washed Cycladic homes, ancient churches and romantic squares in an aesthetic honeycomb pattern.

In an era where luxury is becoming less about excess and more about experience, Folegandros is a revelation. And at the heart of this shift towards quiet luxury is Gundari, the island's most exquisite new – wholesomely sustainable – retreat (and only 5-star resort).

Perched high above the sea on a rugged clifftop, Gundari transcends a place to rest your head while in town – it's a baptism into the island's raw beauty. Every element of the design reflects a deep respect for the landscape, from hand-chiselled stone walls to sun-bleached timber that blends seamlessly with the terrain. There are no over-the-top extravagances here – just the profound luxury of space, serenity, and impeccable attention to detail.

Mornings begin with sunrise yoga on the clifftop pavilion, afternoons are spent exploring hidden coves or savouring long, wine-soaked lunches, and evenings unfold over candlelit dinners under a sky ablaze with stars.

Despite its quiet allure, Folegandros is still home to the kind of traditional luxury that makes Greece so intoxicating — experiences defined not by opulence, but by authenticity. Gastronomy here is a celebration of simplicity, where age-old recipes and fresh, local ingredients take centre stage. Visitors can feast on handmade Greek pasta at family-run tavernas, dine in converted Cycladic homes steeped in history, or enjoy al fresco meals in scenic village courtyards, where time slows to the rhythm of the island.

At the heart of this culinary renaissance is Gundari's Orizon, a restaurant that elevates Folegandros' dining scene to new heights. With a menu curated by Lefteris Lazarou —the first Greek chef to ever win a Michelin star — Orizon reimagines local flavours with refined technique, offering a taste of the Aegean that is as sophisticated as it is soulful.

As Gundari founder, Ricardo Larreria, says: the tides of luxury travel are shifting. “In 2025, the ultimate indulgence isn't found in high-gloss grandeur – it's found in stillness, in space, in the kind of beauty that hasn't been, nor needs to be, curated. Folegandros, with its untamed landscapes and rare authenticity, is the island everyone will be talking about. And Gundari is its crowning jewel – an invitation to experience Greece at its most raw, refined, and unforgettable.”