The Founder

The Caravia Beach Hotel & Bungalows stands as a testament to the vision and profound humanitarian spirit of its founder, Socrates Fanourakis. Born on the beautiful Dodecanese island of Chalki, Socrates Fanourakis pursued dentistry at the University of Athens. His entrepreneurial journey led him to Zaire, where he built significant wealth through diverse business ventures.

Upon his return to Greece in the early 1970s, he “discovered” Kos and instantly embraced it as his second home. Here, he acquired land in Marmari and embarked on the creation of the Caravia Hotel, a landmark development that helped shape the region. Beyond hospitality, he also dedicated years to aquaculture.

What truly defined Socrates Fanourakis was his deep-rooted desire to give back. An ascetic and profoundly empathetic individual, he generously allocated a significant portion of his income to philanthropy, supporting those facing financial hardship. As the Medical Association of Kos noted upon his passing, “Throughout his life, he showed boundless humanity, sensitivity, and resources to help young people at the start of their lives, senior citizens, large families, people with disabilities, and generally our fellow human beings in need.” His unwavering support for his birthplace, Chalki, was also significant.

Socrates Fanourakis held a special empathy for impoverished elderly individuals and young people eager to pursue education but hindered by financial constraints. Driven by this purpose, and in an era when national benefactors were scarce, he envisioned and established the Captain Fanourakis Foundation https://fanourakisfoundation.org/ in 2011, bequeathing his entire fortune to it. He led the Foundation, with the support of its Board, until his passing on July 12, 2013, leaving behind an inspiring legacy of altruism.