When you arrive on Rhodes, you don’t set out immediately, you have a day to relax and prepare. This is also the time the captain and crew get acquainted with you and any last requests can be provisioned for before setting sail on the next days morning. This is the time you also have to walk around Rhodes and enjoy this UNESCO world heritage site with over three thousand years of history reaching back to the time of legends and ancient Greek gods. This is the island of the famous Colossus of Rhodes, long gone due to an earthquake many centuries ago. Take your time and visit the Palace of the Grand Master and the architecture of the Knights of St. John notable features.
Our next destination is the charming bay of Nanou in Symi Island where the boat will anchor for lunch and a swimming break. We will anchor at Symi Port late in the afternoon. You can see the shoreline with its neo-classical houses and the peripheral districts. You are going to adore Symi Island for its pine and oak forests and unique bays.
When you arrive ay Nisiros island, you will be taken aback by the elegant scenery that the port of Mandraki gives as you enter its waters. The ancient fortress, Paleokastro is situated in the village and there are plenty of amazing white washed walled houses with winding alleyways and colorful flowers, doors and windows overlooking amazing taverna and bars. This is a great place to visit, and a must stop over for a days visit when sailing in the area.
Klymnos is a beautiful island and its main town, aptly named Klymnos town provides that amazing Aegean skyline of whitewashed walls, red roofs and clear blue skies. Add to this amazing vista the wonderful inhabitants and the many-colored shutters, and you have a photo shoot part excellence. The island is famous for its rock climbing and sponge diving activities.
One of the lesser visited sites in the Dodecanese chain is Lipsi. This small island is next to the more popular Leros, but don’t overlook it. Lipsi has beautiful beaches and an even more inviting town, with wonderful taverna and shops to enjoy. If you want a quieter atmosphere, then this is the place to visit.
From here, sail to Patmos and dock in the main port of Skala. Patmos’ breathtaking scenery and special atmosphere have made it an ideal getaway for those seeking inspiration or a quiet retreat. The island is built around the important Monastery of St. John and its medieval fortress, which is visible from nearly everywhere on the island, and stands to overlook Chora as a reminder of Patmos’ historical and spiritual significance. St. John is said to have penned the Book of Revelations and the Apocalypse here on Patmos. The monastery houses some spectacular frescoes and a museum well worth visiting. The smaller monastery of the Apocalypse halfway down the hill from Chora grew up around the grotto where the Evangelist is said to have heard the voice of God.Although Patmos is traditionally a place of spiritual pilgrimage, it is has diversified somewhat, and you’ll also find there great designer boutiques, Greek-style local cuisine, cafes with spectacular views, and what’s more after dinner the island certainly doesn’t just sleep and there is a lively buzz into the early hours.The International Film Festival of Patmos takes place this year from July 21– 27 and the Patmos Festival of Religious Music happen late August - early September.
Around 8 kilometers from Patmos lie the islands of Arki and Marathi. They are the main island stops for day trip tourism, so they are always filled with visitors and many yachts dot the bay. The taverna provide fresh seafood caught early morning and the main bay is a great shelter on windy days.
When visiting the island of Samos you must take the time to visit the little town where Pythagorus lived, and died. This lovely town has all the wonderful small winding street, cafes and taverna as well as souvenir shops that attract visitors from around the world.
At the northern tip of the Dodecanese island chain lies Agathonisi island. This was a pirate plunder paradise, so the inhabitants decided to build their city inland, and Megalo Chorio is not seen from the sea. The island itself is sparse with rocky surface, occasional olive trees and is not a place to stock up on supplies. It does have a few nice taverna, so if you are in need of land, this is a simple stop.
The large port town of Lakki on Leros islands beckons you with its white washed houses and neo-classical architecture. The streets are wide and lined with palm trees, and the local restaurant, cafes and tavernas provide you with a plethora of cuisine, including famous local delicacies and international dishes.
Pserimos is a small island with a population of 35 residents. This is a tourist island, and its closeness to Kos and Kalymnos attract visitors for its remoteness and the wonderful local cuisine and hospitality. Many a visitor falls in love with this wonderful isolated island.
It’s a sad time to leave, and Kos makes it even harder, the beautiful ancient town with its legendary history make a perfect place to finish your wonderful voyage into the wonders of the Greek islands. If you didn’t get a chance to walk the streets and alleyways, we suggest you take some time before you dahs off home. Take a quiet stroll and visit the old plane tree where Hippocrates taught his students over 2,500 years ago. Then sit down to a wonderful local meal of fresh seafood and amazing wine in one of the wonderful and shaded taverna.
Another quiet spot to visit from the madding crowd is Chalki. So many tourists overlook this lovely island, and the beaches are mostly empty, the town has a port with a small promenade, and some local eateries which provide excelled local cuisine.
Rhodes is a world-famous island, with its UNESCO world heritage town and is the largest of the Dodecanese islands. Rhodes has over 200 kilometers of coastline and is filled with everything an advanced society based on ancient heritage can provide. You have access to culture, architecture, history, religion, entertainment and of course, cuisine. Unfortunately, what you cannot get is a view of the colossus of Rhodes, this amazing feat of ancient sculpture was destroyed in an earthquake centuries ago, but there is plenty more to see around the old walled town.
When you arrive back at your starting point, the wonderful Island of Rhodes, don’t leave on the first day back. Take a day to enjoy this wonderful island, and especially the amazing city with wall its beautiful and ancient architecture built and rebuilt over millennia. The amazing cuisine is implemented by amazing views, wonderful beaches, glorious night life and exceptional atmosphere, only found in a place that has a culture older than religion.
10 Guests
3 Crew
18 Guests
4 Crew
