Europe Yachts
— Route · 7 days · round-trip
Yacht charter route · Dodecanese

Kos
round-trip.

Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Kos via Leros, Patmos, Lipsi, Arki and Kalymnos — northern Dodecanese loop with sponge-diving heritage and Byzantine pilgrimage sites.

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The route

Day-by-day route

Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.

Leros
Day 1

Kos Marina → Leros

32 nm shake-down NNW to Leros along Kalymnos west coast. Lakki bay (south) is huge and sheltered; Agia Marina (north) is photogenic but exposed in N Meltemi above 22 kn.

Distance

25 NM

Sailing

~5h at 5 kn

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun – Sep)
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Kos
Sailing area
Dodecanese

Route summary

Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.

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The full story

Day-by-day journey

Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.

Day 1 / 7
Leros
1
Day 1

Kos Marina → Leros

32 nm shake-down NNW from Kos Marina along the limestone west coast of Kalymnos. The Dodecanese summer wind regime is the Meltemi from N — at this latitude consistently 18-25 knots in afternoon, building from 13:00. Lakki on the south coast of Leros is one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean and a sheltered overnight; Agia Marina town quay on the north coast is the alternative for the photogenic pastel waterfront scene.

Things to do

Walk Lakki Art Deco quay (1930s Italian fascist architecture)

Climb to Panteli Castle for the panorama

Swim Xerokambos Beach (south coast)

Pitaroudia chickpea fritters at a quay taverna

Mooring tip

Lakki Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €40-60/night, fully sheltered. Agia Marina town quay €25-40/night but exposed in N Meltemi above 22 kn.

Patmos
2
Day 2

Leros → Patmos

22 nm north to Patmos. Skala harbour on the east coast is the standard charter overnight — large quay, sheltered from N. Patmos is the UNESCO-listed Greek Orthodox pilgrimage island; the Cave of the Apocalypse (where St John dictated the Book of Revelation in AD 95) and the 11th-century Monastery of St John are both on the road from Skala up to Chora.

Things to do

Walk to the Cave of the Apocalypse (UNESCO)

Visit the 11th-c Monastery of St John

Swim Psili Ammos golden-sand beach (south)

Mastiha cocktails in Chora alleys

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Skala harbour, €30-50/night. Large quay, sheltered from N. Anchorage in Grikos Bay south coast is the alternative for swim-anchorage.

Lipsi
3
Day 3

Patmos → Lipsi

12 nm southeast to Lipsi — small island archipelago, 700 residents. Lipsi town harbour stern-to is the only quay; small, family tavernas on the waterfront, single bakery, single church-clock-tower square. Aspronissi Bay 2 nm east is the headline snorkel anchorage.

Things to do

Snorkel Aspronissi Bay (2 nm east)

Walk to Chapel of Panagia (single rock)

Lipsiako cheese with thyme honey at a taverna

Buy fresh koulouria sesame rings at the village bakery

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Lipsi town quay, €15-25/night, sheltered from N. Anchor in Aspronissi Bay on sand at 4-6 m for swim alternative.

Arki
4
Day 4

Lipsi → Arki

8 nm short hop east to Arki — population 40, no scheduled ferry, single taverna on the harbour. Tiganakia Bay on the south coast is the headline anchorage of the entire Dodecanese — turquoise shallows over white sand, sheltered from N. Stavento taverna at the harbour is the only restaurant; the fisherman-chef brings the day catch direct.

Things to do

Anchor swim at Tiganakia Bay turquoise shallows

Hike to the mountaintop Panagia chapel

Lobster astakomakaronada at Stavento taverna

Read on deck under the cicadas

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Arki harbour, €15-20/night, sheltered from N. Anchor in Tiganakia Bay on sand at 3-5 m for the headline swim anchorage.

Kalymnos
5
Day 5

Arki → Kalymnos

22 nm south to Kalymnos — sponge-diving heritage island, world-class limestone climbing routes (Kalymnos hosts the annual climbing festival each October). Pothia harbour on the south coast is the main charter overnight; the cliffs of Telendos islet are visible 1 nm west, the climbing zones at Massouri and Armeos on the west coast are accessible by road from Pothia.

Things to do

Climb the Grande Grotta limestone cliff (route guide at Climber's Nest cafe)

Snorkel Vathy Bay turquoise inlet

Visit the Sponge Diving Museum at Pothia

Mououri stuffed squid at a Pothia ouzeri

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Pothia harbour, €30-50/night, sheltered from N. Vathy on the east coast is the alternative for sheltered fjord-like inlet.

Kos
6
Day 6

Kalymnos → Kos Marina

15 nm south back to Kos Marina. Optional swim stop at Pserimos (small island halfway, sand 4-6 m, sheltered from N). Kos Marina is the largest charter base in the Dodecanese — full services, fuel berth, lazy lines, well-protected from any direction. Refuel before tying up.

Things to do

Optional Pserimos swim stop

Walk Kos Town Asklepion ruins

Swim Therma Beach hot springs (south coast)

Kleftiko slow-cooked lamb under the 2400-year plane tree

Mooring tip

Kos Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €60-90/night. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth before mooring. Confirm handover slot 24h ahead.

Kos
7
Day 7

Kos → Check-out

Handover at Kos Marina before 09:00. Boat inspection — deposit released within 7 days. Crew transfer to Kos airport (KGS) is 25 minutes by road. Deposit released within 7 days post-inspection. Plan to final inspection with the base manager and last swim at Tigaki Beach (north coast).

Things to do

Final inspection with the base manager

Last swim at Tigaki Beach (north coast)

Coffee at a Kos Town café

Airport transfer (25 min from Kos Marina)

Mooring tip

Hand over at Kos Marina before 09:00. Deposit released within 7 days post-inspection.

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