Top Recommended Yacht Itinerary in the Dodecanese

the best spots to explore during a dodecanese yacht itinerary

The Dodecanese is an archipelago of about 163 islands and islets that rise in the southeastern Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. The Dodecanese (literally meaning “twelve islands”) is in fact an island region of Greece, between Turkey to the east, the island of Crete to the south, the Cyclades to the west, and the island of Samos to the north.

START PLANNING YOUR CHARTER IN THE DODECANESE

The main island is Rhodes, where the capital is also located.

Located in a region of passage between east and west, the islands bear evident signs of their past, from the classical era to the Knights of Rhodes, until the Turkish and Italian occupation. Different denominations have left traces in the culture and architectural testimonies.

Only 26 of its islands are inhabited, and some of the most famous are Symi, Lipsi, Nisyros, Tilos, Kasos, Khalki, Rhodes, and Karpathos.

How to get to the Dodecanese?

Depending on the itinerary you will follow, the tourist port from which it is more convenient to set sail changes. In our opinion, the ideal is to arrive by air on one of the main Dodecanese islands and then organize the tour’s departure from the nearest tourist port.

In this regard, Rhodes, one of the southernmost islands of the archipelago, hosts an international airport with daily flights arriving from all over Europe. It is located 14 miles (about 25 minutes by car) from the Rhodes marina.

Alternatively, it is possible to land on the island of Kos, which, however, is further north than Rhodes. Its international airport is about a 30-minute drive from the nearest marina.

Finally, as a third option, you could reach Crete Island, landing at Heraklion International Airport, located just 5 kilometers east of the island’s capital, which has a large marina.

What climate awaits us as we sail the Dodecanese?

These islands are particularly arid and characterized by a hot and dry climate, while the winds blow mainly from the north-west. Furthermore, since they are located at the southern end of the Greek territory, they are considered the hottest destination in the country to visit, or “the sunniest corner of Greece,” as someone calls them.

For this reason, it is also worth visiting them in April (at the beginning of the season) or towards the end of October and early November, when the winds are quieter and blow from the south-east.

Which is the best yacht charter itinerary in the Dodecanese?

Depending on your available time, you can plan a different type of itinerary. Starting from Crete, it is possible to go up the Dodecanese from the south up to the heart of the Aegean Sea. Or, starting from Kos or Rhodes, it is possible to zigzag between the various islands, not maintaining a well-defined route but rather deciding it day by day.

Whatever your choice, for this kind of travel, it is always good to rely on specialized rental companies. Our advice is to rely on Your Boat Holiday, a serious and responsible company, to entrust the complete management of your trip to.

Finally, let’s see some of the islands that you will encounter during your 7-day boat itinerary in the Dodecanese, describing them briefly:

Rhodes, the largest island in the Dodecanese, is a wonderful island, full of history, picturesque villages, and beautiful beaches. The good weather in Rhodes lasts for most of the year: the turquoise sea, its variety of landscapes, its forests and mountains, its vineyards and hills, its historical sites, the beautiful city of Rhodes with its ancient ruins, will make your visit unique and unforgettable. As a docking port, we recommend the moorings at the Rhodes town marina. Around 380 berths for boats up to 120 meters are available here. Rhodes was protected by one of the seven wonders of the world: the famous Colossus of Rhodes! A city poised between ancient and modern, it offers the visitor unique views.

Symi is one of the most beautiful and welcoming islands in the Dodecanese, located north of Rhodes, near the southwestern coast of Turkey. The city of Symi, which gives the island its name, is a village with Italian neoclassical architecture that descends from the hills and reaches the Gialos port’s crystalline waters. It is characterized by large stairways that connect the lower part of the city to the highest part called Horio, the oldest part of the island. Horio is full of small alleys where pastel-colored houses alternate with ancient ruins. Here are also the ruins of the castle built by the Knights of San Giovanni in the early 1400s. The main night anchorage is that of Gialos.
Nisyros In complete contrast to Symi, Nisyros features the classic Greek landscape with whitewashed houses. Obviously, the most important attraction and the one that alone is worth the trip is visiting the Nisyros volcano. The main crater is divided into five other small craters from where pinnacles of sulfurous smoke emerge continuously. Due to the summer temperatures of the place, it is recommended to arrive early in the morning. Anchorages are available at Mandraki Harbor, in the southeast corner of the island.

Tilos is full of small treasures but remains far from the flows of mass tourism that cross the Aegean Sea. A result is a place where a quiet and very relaxing atmosphere prevails. This small island, with approximately 400 inhabitants, offers several beaches, 12 mountains, a famous cave, and a handful of more or less ruined castles.
The gateway to the island is the port of Livadia,
where most of the accommodations are also concentrated.

Kos Second, for extension after Rhodes, Kos is rich in history and natural beauty. Here, 2500 years ago, in the shade of a large plane tree, the father of modern Western medicine, Hippocrates, taught his disciples. A large plane tree is located in the main square of the city, Plateia Platanou, and it is said to have been planted by him himself. Archaeological excavations have brought to light the remains of its ancient past, when it was one of the richest and most powerful islands in the Aegean Sea, and when its trade also flourished.
If you stop in Kos, you cannot fail to enjoy its splendid beaches. Among the many, we mention the Kardamena beach, in the southern part; the Kefalos one, also in the south of the island, famous for its transparent waters, with various clubs and the possibility of practicing water sports.Finally, the wonderful beach of Mastichari, an exotic white sand beach with turquoise waters, isalso equipped with a small port.

Chalki, or Halki, is a small and wonderful island, once inhabited by fishermen who emigrated elsewhere, located west of Rhodes. Far from mass tourism, today its houses have all been restored following the typical Greek architecture and are rented to tourists. Its 34 kilometers of coastline make it one of the smallest islands in the Dodecanese archipelago. The landscape that distinguishes it is mountainous, with small, rocky beaches. Among the places of interest, we mention the abandoned village of Hora. Nimporio is the only town and the island’s main port.

Contact now YBH Charter Brokers:

You can contact us by email at ask@yourboatholiday.com or by phone at +39 33436 00997, and we are also available on WhatsApp for both calls and text messages.

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