Kos
via 14 days.
Sail a 14-day yacht charter from Kos via Kalymnos, Leros, Patmos, Fourni, Lipsi, Levitha, Astypalaia, Nisyros, Tilos, Chalki, Rhodes and Symi. Full Dodecanese grand tour.
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.
Kos Marina → Kalymnos
15 nm shake-down north to Kalymnos. Pothia harbour for overnight; Telendos islet 1 nm west. World-class limestone climbing on the west coast. Stern-to in Pothia harbour, €30-50/night; Vathy on the east coast is the alternative for sheltered fjord-like inlet.
Distance
15 NM
Sailing
~3h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
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.
Kos Marina → Kalymnos
15 nm shake-down north to Kalymnos. Pothia harbour on the south coast is the standard charter overnight; the cliffs of Telendos islet are visible 1 nm west. Kalymnos hosts the annual climbing festival each October; world-class limestone routes at Massouri and Armeos on the west coast accessible by road.
Things to do
Climb Grande Grotta limestone cliff
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. Vathy on the east coast is the alternative for sheltered fjord-like inlet.
Kalymnos → Leros
12 nm north to Leros. Lakki on the south coast is one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean; sheltered, Italian-fascist Art Deco quay architecture from the 1930s. Agia Marina town quay on the north coast is the alternative for the photogenic pastel waterfront.
Things to do
Walk Lakki Art Deco quay (1930s 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.
Leros → Patmos
12 nm north to Patmos. Skala harbour on the east coast is the standard charter overnight — large quay, sheltered from N. The Cave of the Apocalypse and 11th-century Monastery of St John (UNESCO) 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
Mastiha cocktails in Chora alleys
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Skala harbour, €30-50/night. Large quay, sheltered from N.
Patmos → Fourni
24 nm northwest to Fourni — small archipelago between Ikaria and Samos, formerly a pirate hideout. Fourni Korseon harbour is the only practical overnight, sheltered from N. Quiet island stop — fewer charter boats reach this far north. Anchor in Kambi Bay on sand at 4-6 m as alternative. Plan to hike to the Christos Chapel viewpoint and anchor swim at Petrokopio Bay (boat-only access).
Things to do
Hike to the Christos Chapel viewpoint
Anchor swim at Petrokopio Bay (boat-only access)
Lobster astakomakaronada at a Kambi taverna
Buy hand-carved wooden boat models from local craftsmen
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Fourni Korseon harbour, €20-30/night, sheltered from N. Anchor in Kambi Bay on sand at 4-6 m as alternative.
Fourni → Lipsi
22 nm south to Lipsi — small island archipelago, 700 residents. Lipsi town harbour stern-to is the only quay; family tavernas on the waterfront, single bakery, single church-clock-tower square. Aspronissi Bay 2 nm east is the headline snorkel anchorage. Plan to snorkel Aspronissi Bay (2 nm east), walk to Chapel of Panagia (single rock), lipsiako cheese with thyme honey at a taverna.
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 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.
Lipsi → Levitha
22 nm west to Levitha — population 6, no scheduled ferry, no ATM, single goat-herding family running the only taverna. Ammoudi Bay anchorage on sand at 5-7 m, fully sheltered from N. The night sky here is the darkest in the central Aegean.
Things to do
Help the goat-herders at the family farm
Anchor swim at Ammoudi Bay sand bottom
Astakomakaronada at the only taverna on the island
Stargaze on deck — no light pollution
Mooring tip
Free anchoring in Ammoudi Bay on sand at 5-7 m. Fully sheltered from N. No services — bring cash, no ATM on the island.
Levitha → Astypalaia
22 nm south to Astypalaia — butterfly-shaped island, the geographic westernmost of the Dodecanese. Pera Gialos harbour on the east side of the kastro is the standard overnight; the Venetian castle of Querini sits on the cliff above. Vatses Beach south coast for sand-and-pebble swim.
Things to do
Walk Chora Venetian castle of Querini
Swim Vatses Beach (south coast, sand)
Ladenia tomato pie at Kaminakia Taverna
Search for Roman mosaics near Mesa Nisi
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Pera Gialos harbour, €25-40/night, sheltered from N. Maltezana on the south coast is the alternative for sheltered anchorage.
Astypalaia → Nisyros
38 nm long beam-reach southeast to Nisyros — active volcanic island. Pali harbour on the north coast is the standard overnight, sheltered from N. The Stefanos crater on the inland caldera floor is a hike from the ridge road and one of the more dramatic shore activities in the Dodecanese.
Things to do
Hike into the Stefanos volcanic crater
Walk Mandraki cobblestone alleys
Soak in Loutra natural thermal springs
Buy local capers (volcanic-soil grown)
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Pali harbour, €25-35/night, sheltered from N. Mandraki west coast is the alternative; smaller, exposed in NW wind.
Nisyros → Tilos
15 nm east to Tilos — first zero-waste island in Greece (powered by solar + wind, no plastic bags allowed since 2018). Livadia harbour on the east coast is the standard overnight. Mikro Chorio is a 19th-century abandoned mountain village rebuilt as a single taverna-and-bar destination.
Things to do
Hike to Agios Panteleimon monastery
Mikro Chorio abandoned village taverna at night
Mizithra cheese with thyme honey at a hilltop kafeneio
Tilos organic wine tasting
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Livadia harbour, €20-30/night, sheltered from N. Eristos Bay south coast is the alternative.
Tilos → Chalki
15 nm south to Chalki — small island west of Rhodes, car-free village, 300 residents. Pontamos Cove 1 nm east is the headline snorkel anchorage. Knights' Castle on the ridge above the village is the medieval fortification. Stern-to in Emporio harbour, €20-30/night, sheltered from N. Pontamos anchor on sand at 4-6 m for swim alternative.
Things to do
Snorkel Pontamos Cove (neon-blue water)
Hike to Knights' Castle on the ridge
Pougia sun-dried octopus at Taverna Giorgos
Buy souma fig spirit from Yiannis distillery
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Emporio harbour, €20-30/night, sheltered from N. Pontamos anchor on sand at 4-6 m for swim alternative.
Chalki → Rhodes
32 nm east to Mandraki Marina at Rhodes. Rhodes Old Town (UNESCO, the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe) is the headline shore activity — Knights Street, Palace of the Grand Master, the medieval walls. Anchor swim at Anthony Quinn Bay south of Mandraki on the way.
Things to do
Walk the Street of the Knights (UNESCO)
Visit the Palace of the Grand Master
Swim Anthony Quinn Bay (south of Mandraki)
Cocktails at Socratous Garden hidden courtyard
Mooring tip
Mandraki Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €60-90/night. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth before mooring.
Rhodes → Symi
24 nm NNW to Symi — most photographed neoclassical waterfront in the Dodecanese, ochre and peach captains' mansions on tiered slopes. Inner quay stern-to fills by 16:00 in peak; Pedi Bay 2 nm east of the town is the alternative.
Things to do
Walk to the 18th-c Panormitis Monastery
Buy fresh sponges from harbour stalls
Symian shrimp at a quay taverna
Swim Nanou Beach (boat-only access)
Mooring tip
Stern-to inner quay, €30-50/night, slot fills by 16:00 in peak. Pedi Bay 2 nm east anchor on sand at 5-7 m as alternative.
Symi → Kos
38 nm long beam-reach northwest back to Kos Marina. Largest charter base in the Dodecanese, full services, fuel berth. Refuel before tying up. Last evening: kleftiko slow-cooked lamb on Platia Platanou under the 2400-year plane tree. Kos Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €60-90/night. Plan to walk Kos Town Asklepion ruins and swim Therma Beach hot springs.
Things to do
Walk Kos Town Asklepion ruins
Swim Therma Beach hot springs
Kleftiko slow-cooked lamb on Platia Platanou
Refuel and clean the boat at Kos Marina
Mooring tip
Kos Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €60-90/night. Refuel at entrance fuel berth before mooring. Confirm handover slot 24h ahead.
Kos → Check-out
Handover at Kos Marina before 09:00. Inspection — deposit released within 7 days. KGS airport 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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