An easygoing isle

Welcome to a circlet of islands where chalk-colored villages cling to steep precipices, sunshine glitters on fine white sand, and boats seem to hover on impossibly clear water. While other locales here in the Cyclades, like Santorini and Mykonos, have become magnets for tourists, Folegandros is still noted for its easy pace and quietude. Here we see the switchback path that leads trekkers from Folegandros' main town to an awesome view from the Church of the Panagia. Once you've conquered this quick out-and-back, the stroll needn't stop there. Thanks to a network of marked paths beaten by shepherds, this 8-mile-long island is full of hiking opportunities.