SeaTV · Greece · Dodecanese Islands · Our Route
Dodecanese Islands — Our Route · Kos · Nisyros · Tilos · Halki · Rhodes · Symi
A southern-Dodecanese sailing route from the marina of Kos through the active volcano of Nisyros, the quiet renewable-energy island of Tilos, the smaller-Symi neoclassical Halki, the Knights’ UNESCO old town and Lindos acropolis on Rhodes, and ending at the harbour of Symi with the Panormitis Monastery on the SW corner. Each island tells its own story · plus Captain Rahav’s audio briefing on the wind patterns that shape the route.
A sailing journey through the Southern Dodecanese Islands, starting from the busy marina of Kos. The adventure begins on a chartered sailboat heading south for Nisyros and the active Stefanos volcanic crater — one of very few active volcanoes you can walk into in the Mediterranean. Next stop is Tilos, the renewable-energy island with the prehistoric dwarf-elephant cave and the unspoiled coastline. Halki (Chalki) follows — the smaller-Symi neoclassical waterfront with the abandoned Chorio and the Knights’ castle on the ridge. Then Rhodes, the island of knights — the UNESCO medieval old town with the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights, plus the cliff-top Lindos acropolis 24 NM SE. The voyage ends at Symi, the harbour ringed with neoclassical houses and the Panormitis Monastery on the SW corner with its panoramic views. The northern Dodecanese (Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos) is a separate route.
Sailors’ Tip — Captain Rahav on Dodecanese Wind Patterns
Listen to Captain Azriel Rahav explain the wind regime around the Dodecanese islands · the Meltemi behaviour, the seasonal patterns, the local effects from the Turkish coast, and the planning advice that separates a comfortable summer charter from a difficult one. Essential listening before you set out.
Capt. Azriel Rahav — The weather patterns in the Dodecanese islands, Greece
⚓ The Route at a Glance
Start · End
Kos → Symi (or reverse)
Distance
~150 NM total · 6 stops
Suggested duration
10-14 days · charter scale
Best season
May-June · September-October
Summer wind
N-NW Meltemi (peak July-August)
Coverage
Southern Dodecanese only
The Stops, In Order
Stop 1 · Kos · Hippocrates’ Birthplace
Start at the Marina of Kos
Why start here: Kos has the largest sailing infrastructure in the southern Dodecanese — Mandraki Port at the medieval old town and Kardamena on the south coast (10 minutes from Antimachia airport). Most charter companies hand over here.
What to do before sailing: Visit the Asklepieion (the ancient medical sanctuary where Hippocrates institutionalised Western medicine), the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, and the Knights’ Castle of Neratzia · provision properly · listen to Captain Rahav’s audio above.
Sea TV pages: Kos Island · Mandraki Kos · Kardamena.
Stop 2 · Nisyros · ~8 NM SE of Kos · Active Volcano
Stefanos Crater & the Lakki Caldera
The headline: Walk into the Stefanos Crater — 260 m wide, 30 m deep, with active fumaroles and bubbling sulphur. One of very few active-volcano experiences accessible by sailing yacht in the Mediterranean.
Mooring: Port of Palon on the NE coast (30 berths · max LOA 12 m · max draft 2-2.5 m · ⚠ reef N + entrance depths) is the practical option · Mandraki Port (NW) is a calm-weather day-stop only.
Pro tip: Visit the volcano early morning · the crater floor is HOT and 7-9 AM is optimum · drive up to Nikia village afterwards for lunch with the caldera view.
Sea TV page: Nisyros Island.
Stop 3 · Tilos · ~10-15 NM SE of Nisyros · Renewable-Energy Island
The Quiet Mediterranean’s-First-Renewable Island
The headline: Tilos became the first Mediterranean island to run on 100% renewable energy in 2019 · plus the Charkadio Cave with prehistoric dwarf elephants (Palaeoloxodon tiliensis), the abandoned medieval Mikro Chorio, the Saint Panteleimon Monastery, and Eleonora’s falcon nesting cliffs (Natura 2000).
Mooring: Livadia on the E coast — port + small marina · Panagiotis the bar owner is harbourmaster (+30 698 665 3695) · only ONE mooring line, bring your own. Eristos sandy bay on the S for daytime swimming.
Sea TV pages: Tilos Island · Eristos Bay.
Stop 4 · Halki (Chalki) · ~25 NM E of Tilos · The Smaller Symi
Italian-Era Neoclassical Waterfront
The headline: Nimborio’s pastel waterfront has the same colourful character as Symi but at a fraction of the population (~330) · the abandoned medieval Chorio with the Knights’ castle on the ridge above · the Tarpon Springs Florida Greek-American sponge-diver diaspora roots.
Mooring: Floating pontoon 65 m offshore (no lazy lines) or anchor in the SW or N parts of the bay (~35-39 m mid-bay) · ⚠ submarine cables S and NE (180 m no-anchor zones) · windmills SW are the visual landmark on approach.
Sea TV page: Chalki Island.
Stop 5 · Rhodes · ~30 NM E of Halki · The Knights’ Capital
UNESCO Old Town & the Lindos Acropolis
The headline: The largest of the twelve Dodecanese islands · the UNESCO medieval old town built by the Knights of St John (1309-1522) — the Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of the Knights, the Inns of the Tongues. Plus the cliff-top Lindos acropolis 24 NM SE with the 4th-c BC Doric Temple of Athena Lindia.
Mooring: Mandraki Port (historic, max LOA 40 m, ⚠ N reef) for the old-town atmosphere · Rhodes Marina (modern, max LOA 60 m, 1.5 NM S) for capacity. Day-sail SE to Anthony Quinn Bay (~7.5 NM) for swimming, then to Lindos (~24 NM) — daytime arrival required at Lindos (no harbour lights at night).
Sea TV pages: Rhodes Island · Rhodes Marina · Anthony Quinn Bay · Lindos.
Stop 6 · Symi · ~25 NM NW of Rhodes · The Final Stop
Neoclassical Postcard Harbour & Panormitis Monastery
The headline: The deep harbour at Symi Town is ringed with one of the most-photographed neoclassical waterfronts in the Aegean, paid for by 18th-19th century shipbuilding wealth. Plus the panoramic Panormitis Monastery on the SW corner — the 18th-century Monastery of the Archangel Michael, patron of sailors.
Mooring: Symi Town N or S quay (12-20 m, mud+rock, ⚠ S-wind surge dangerous, brace for ferry wash) · Pedi over the hill SE (poor holding, lines ashore) · Panormitis SW corner (3-6 m good holding, all-weather refuge — use this if S forecast).
Sea TV page: Symi Island.
Wind Strategy for the Route
Meltemi (NW summer): The dominant pattern · prevailing N-NW · strongest July-August (often 25-35 knots, sometimes more) · the route runs broadly across the wind on the southbound legs and to-windward on the return — plan a comfortable forecast window for the homeward run.
⚠ S winds (uncommon in summer, more common in spring and autumn): Symi Town surge becomes dangerous · move to Panormitis on the SW corner. Eristos Bay on Tilos is exposed to S — switch to Livadia.
Local effects: Strong Meltemi creates confused seas off Ak Ammoglossa near Mandraki Kos · gusts off the high land at Pothia (Kalymnos) and Symi Town · Captain Rahav’s audio above covers the local effects in detail.
Best season: Late May to mid-June and September to early October give the most settled conditions · July-August has the most reliable Meltemi but also the most boats and the strongest winds.
Route Decisions
Direction: Sail Kos → Symi (clockwise via the south coast) for downwind legs in Meltemi · or sail Symi → Kos (counter-clockwise) if your charter starts in Rhodes/Symi area. The southbound leg from Kos catches the prevailing N for the easier sailing.
Days at sea vs days at anchor: 6 stops over 10-14 days means most days are anchored or in port · the longest single leg is Halki to Rhodes (~30 NM). Plan rest days at the layered cultural stops (Rhodes, Symi).
Charter logistics: Most charter companies operate from Kos (largest sailing infrastructure in the southern Dodecanese) · one-way Kos → Rhodes or Rhodes → Kos charters are available but cost more · easier to do a round-trip from Kos.
Northern Dodecanese: Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos make a separate northern route — do them as a different charter. Don’t try to combine north + south in a single 10-14 day window.
Pro Tips for the Route
Listen to Captain Rahav before leaving Kos. The audio above covers the wind regime that shapes every leg of the route · essential planning input.
Provision properly at Kos. Largest provisioning options between the southern Dodecanese stops · stock up before sailing for Nisyros and Tilos where shop-stocking is limited.
Daytime arrivals only at Lindos. No harbour lights at night · plan the leg from Anthony Quinn or Rhodes to arrive in daylight.
Move to Panormitis if S forecast at Symi. The S-wind surge in Symi Town harbour becomes dangerous · the SW-corner monastery bay is the all-weather refuge.
Cross-border to Turkey if you have time. Marmaris is ~25 NM E of Rhodes and Kaş is ~1.25 NM E of Kastellorizo · cross-border clearing required at both ends but doable as a side-loop.
Plan the Lindos visit early. Tour-bus crowds peak midday at Lindos · climb the acropolis early before they arrive, walk the village in the late afternoon after they leave.
Emergency Numbers — Southern Dodecanese
European Emergency: 112
Greek Coastguard: 108
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Mandraki Kos: +30 22420 23115 · VHF Ch 74
Rhodes Marina: +30 2241 440970 · VHF Ch 71
Mandraki Rhodes Port: VHF Ch 09
Related SeaTV Pages
The 6 Stops on the Route
→ Kos Island · Mandraki Kos · Kardamena
→ Rhodes Island · Rhodes Marina · Anthony Quinn Bay · Lindos
Northern Dodecanese (Separate Route)
→ Leros Island · Leros Marinas (Lakki) · North Coast of Leros
Sailing the Southern Dodecanese?
Kos → Nisyros → Tilos → Halki → Rhodes → Symi · 6 stops over 10-14 days · ~150 NM total · listen to Captain Rahav’s audio above before you set out.
→ Start at Kos · End at Symi · Hub
“Sail the Southern Dodecanese — Kos to Symi via Nisyros, Tilos, Halki, and Rhodes — over ten to fourteen days and roughly one hundred and fifty nautical miles. Each island tells its own story: Kos gave the world Hippocrates and the Asklepieion, Nisyros opens its active volcano floor for you to walk into, Tilos became the first Mediterranean island to run on a hundred percent renewable energy, Halki’s neoclassical waterfront is the smaller-Symi alternative, Rhodes anchors the route with the UNESCO Knights’ old town and the cliff-top Lindos acropolis, and Symi closes the journey with the most-photographed neoclassical harbour in the Aegean and the Panormitis Monastery on the SW corner. Listen to Captain Rahav before you set out, plan around the Meltemi, and the southern-Dodecanese charter opens up as a six-stop layered Aegean route.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Dodecanese Edition
