7-day Southern Route – Dodecanese islands, Greece and Turkey

A sailing trip along the southern Dodecanese islands of Greece and a little part of Turkey, departing and returning from Kos, along Nisyros, Tilos, Chalki, Simi, and Datca.

We love this one week South because it has lots of variety, and we also get to see a glimpse of Turkey when we sail into Datca. There’s an active Volcano on Nisyros, Simi is always popular and simply beautiful, famous for its main town encircling the harbour, with rows of beautifully coloured houses.

Mentioned islands are indicative, as the routes we plan and the islands we visit always depend on sailing conditions dictated to us by the Greek gods Poseidon and Aeolus. As true SeaScapers we always make sure you’ll have the trip of a lifetime.

Sample itinerary

Day 1

Embark 9:00 AM in Kos. After boat briefing, unpacking, and generally getting comfortable with the yacht, we’ll set sail for Nisyros - the volcano island. After noonwe will stop in a quiet bay for a delicious on-board lunch and a swim, before we continue our sail to Nisyros. The island is not on the main ferry routes, nor does it have an airport... which has happily kept it from any mass tourist influx. The traditional little harbour town is just gorgeous - a photographer's dream of postcard material around every corner. The volcano is still officially active, though has not erupted since 1888. One can hike around the huge, lunar-like crater, the smell of sulphur still very much in the air. During the day we’ll arrange a car for you to hire so that you’re all prepared to head up to the volcano the next morning by the crack of dawn. After enjoying our first ‘anchor beer’ - our daily ritual after successfully docking the boat in port - we’ll go out for dinner in a small family taverna right next to the dock. Miles: 22.5 Duration: 4.5 hours

Day 2

Tilos is a green, eco-conscious island with just the right amount of charm to make you want to linger. The island is famous for its medieval ghost village, Mikro Chorio, perched on the hillside, where abandoned houses echo with the past and goats act as unofficial tour guides. Bonus trivia: dwarf elephants once roamed here. Yes, you read that right. History, wildlife, and a perfect swimming bay make Tilos a quiet, restorative stop. Miles: 18 Duration: 3.5 hours

Day 3

Next up is Chalki, a tiny island that’s basically Greek island life distilled. Pastel neoclassical houses cluster around the harbor, fishermen mend nets at the water’s edge, and the pace is slow enough that you start to forget what day it is. We want to arrive in Chalki on time to find a space at their tiny town dock. Many of our passengers say that Chalki was one of their highlights, not only because of its picture-perfect pastel houses, but also for enjoying the little things in life… Wandering around without specific destination, enjoy a delicious freddo cappuccino and meze dinner until late, or swim in the beautiful blue bay around the corner. Miles: 18 Duration: 3.5 hours

Day 4

From Rhodes we return to the delicate charm of Symi Town, a harbor that’s one of the prettiest in all of Greece. Pastel mansions climb the hills like an Aegean painting, their reflections shimmering in the water. While it has some similarities to the architecture you’ve seen in Chalki, Symi is more lively with all of its restaurants and bars around the horseshoe-shaped port. After we let all of you wander of in town, we reunite later for a dinner that will most certainly include Symi shrimp. Lively as Symi is, we won’t expect you to be back on the boat and in bed before midnight - this is the place to go out for some late night drinks if you’re up for it. Miles: 31 Duration: 6 hours

Day 5

Sail to Hayıtbükü - a lovely sandy beach; a little village and farmland as the backdrop. The key feature here is “Ogun's Place" - an off-beat little establishment, right on the beachfront. It's a restaurant, bar, hangout spot all rolled into one. We're welcome to use their beach beds, wifi, showers and generally feel like visiting family (we pretty much are, after all these years). The main character is Ogun himself - the larger-than-life, exuberant proprietor. He bounces around from table to table with his characteristic Ogun laugh; smiles are always infectious, and Ogun's Place reflects his contagiously positive energy. Ogun's sister, Semra is responsible for the very unusual array of home-cooked food which they are also famous for. Married to a French guy, imagine the combo of French and Turkish cuisine... yum!!! Miles: 18 Duration: 3.5 hours

Day 6

It is time to sail back to Kos. The luxury of land showers and a laundry, and perhaps a cold one at a bar. We will stop in a remote bay somewhere en route to enjoy our last lunch on board before continuing the journey back to Kos, where the loop began. After arriving back we’ll have an anchor beer, say YAMAS to this unforgettable time together, and possibly share favourite highlights with a sense of melancholy about this trip coming to an end. Our final dinner is usually at a gorgeous beachfront restaurant. Miles: 27 Duration: 5.5 hours

Day 7

Disembarkation is at 9:00 AM. For those wishing to stay longer in Kos, we can recommend some great little places to stay around the island. For onward travel, there are several daily flights to many European cities. You will definitely be heading home with a nice tan!

Best time to sail

May – October are the best months to sail along the Dodecanese islands of Greece.

For those who like a little adreline with their sailing, the midsummer months have the strongest winds: 25knots or so on average. It tends to be a little mellower in the early and late season. Even if you never sailed before, you could join any month really. There is no such thing as beginner months or intermediate / advanced months. From late May-Oct, it’s pretty much guaranteed sun, sun and more sun – once again, a perfect yachties’ playground!

Schedule for the 7-day Southern sailing route

View the schedule here (Shareboat trips are usually planned upfront in this schedule, while the remaining ‘open’ weeks are available for private charters along any desired route.)

7-day Southern route sailing options

Our 55' yacht Artemis, based in the Dodecanese islands of Greece

Shareboat

For individuals, couples, or friends travelling together – join likeminded adventurers on one of our shareboats.

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Private charter

Already have your own group? Charter the whole boat with our skipper to have the time of your life with your private group.

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Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Shareboat

Private charter

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