Located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, Karpathos is the second largest of Greece’s Dodecanese islands.

As on other Greek islands, Karpathos’ villages features dozens of white-washed buildings on hilltops that overlook the Aegean Sea’s uniquely blue waters.

Because of its remote location, the island’s approximately 6,300 inhabitants have preserved many traditional aspects pertaining to dress, customs and Greek dialect.

Katie Sehl, a freelance writer and editor based in Montreal, traveled to Karpathos on behalf of CNN Travel to explore the island’s unique history, traditions and people — especially its women.

“There’s something a little bit mystifying about landing here,” Sehl says in the video (below). “You have a feeling that you’re on the edge of the world.”

The visit comes at a time when lesser known Greek islands — including Karpathos — are growing increasingly popular due to over-tourism on islands such as Mykonos and Santorini.

Watch the video below and see what Sehl discovered during her trip to Olympos, a village where women are said to be the leaders of society.

Featured Image / Spiro Vathis

The Women of Olympos: CNN’s Nostalgic Journey to Karpathos