My husband and I are going to the greek islands in August....but we want to stay away from mass tourism and are looking for some suggestions? we are going to santorini for 2 nights, but have 4 other nights and would like to visit one or two more islands. We are coming from Athems to Santorini, then after our last island we are heading to the Turkish coast.

Crete

You want to avoid mass tourism in August, yet you are going to Santorini? You're kidding, right?

Well, there's no use talking u out of it, I'm sure ...

If you are doing this all by flying, you could fly back to Athens in the am and then fly on soonest possible plane to Samos --


It is MUCH less crowded and touristic if you stay away from Kokkari and the beach town of Pythagoras. Rent a car and go to Soutwest Samos ... lovelly sand beaches (and you don't get those on Santorini!). Try this on Limnionas Beach:
http://www.studiosioanna.com/

From Samos you can take a 45 minute ferry to Kusadasai, Turkey.

Symi is lovely, though we only did a day trip there from Rhodes. It seemed quiet, especially the further away from the centre we walked.

Kay

Consider nearby Folegandros. Amorgos is nice; Karpathos is fantastic. I second Crete and Samos. Chios, also off the Turkish coast, is really nice as well.