Europe Yachts
— Route · 14 days · one-way
Yacht charter route · Dodecanese

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.

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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.

Kalymnos
Day 1

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

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun – Sep)
Duration
14 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 / 14
Kalymnos
1
Day 1

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.

Leros
2
Day 2

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.

Patmos
3
Day 3

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.

Fourni
4
Day 4

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.

Lipsi
5
Day 5

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.

Levitha
6
Day 6

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.

Palaia
7
Day 7

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.

Nisyros
8
Day 8

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.

Tilos
9
Day 9

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.

Chalki
10
Day 10

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.

Rhodes
11
Day 11

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.

Symi
12
Day 12

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.

Kos
13
Day 13

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
14
Day 14

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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