The Dodecanese by crewed yacht
The Dodecanese run down the Turkish coast: small, quiet northern islands, the old towns of Rhodes and Kos, and Turkey a short crossing away. June and September are the gentlest months. They suit couples most.
The Dodecanese run down the coast of Turkey. Rhodes is in the south and Patmos in the north, and the Turkish shore is in sight most of the way. That closeness is the point. It is the one island group of Greece where a week can include a second country without a long crossing, and its small northern islands are among the quietest in Greece.
Why go, and whom it suits
Couples
The best fit: Lipsi, Arki and Marathi are small, slow islands with a taverna or two, and Patmos's monastery town sits above them. For a quiet honeymoon week, this is a strong alternative to the Cyclades.
Families
Good. The northern legs are short, Pserimos and Lipsi have sandy beaches, and Kos and Rhodes have castles and old towns to walk through. The meltemi blows here in summer too, and the captain plans the legs round it.
Friends
A relaxed week rather than a party one. Kos town and Rhodes are lively. For a scene, Bodrum, across the water in Turkey, is the place to add.
What's there
Kos
A harbour town with a castle and an airport, and the usual start for the northern islands.
Pserimos
A small island between Kos and Kalymnos, with a sandy bay.
Kalymnos and Telendos
Kalymnos is the sponge-divers' island, now known for rock climbing as well; Telendos is the small island facing it.
Leros
Deep bays, and less visited than its neighbours.
Lipsi, Arki and Marathi
Very small islands with a few tavernas each, and some of the quietest anchorages in the group.
Patmos
The Monastery of St John and the Cave of the Apocalypse above the harbour, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rhodes, Symi and the south
Rhodes's medieval old town, and the islands near it. These make a different week from the northern one.
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When to go
May to October. July and August bring the meltemi, as in the Cyclades, but the short distances in the north make it easier to plan around. June and September are the gentlest months.
What it costs
The fee is each yacht's own weekly rate, shown "from" on her page. VAT is added: a reduced 13% for a crewed charter over 48 hours, the standard 24% for a shorter one, shown in each quote. The APA is paid on top for fuel, food, drinks and berths; budget up to 40% of the charter fee for it, and whatever is not spent is returned to you. A day in Turkey adds port formalities. For what a crewed charter costs, line by line, see our guide.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
A sample week
Kos and the small northern islands. A round week from Kos with short legs, ending with Patmos.
- Day 1: Kos. Board in the afternoon. The harbour and the castle, then dinner in the old town.
- Day 2: Pserimos. A short hop to Pserimos's sandy bay; the island empties in the evening.
- Day 3: Kalymnos and Telendos. Anchor in the channel between the two. Take a walk, or a climb if anyone wants one.
- Day 4: Lipsi. North past Leros to Lipsi's small harbour, with swimming in its southern bays.
- Day 5: Arki and Marathi. The quietest day of the week: an anchorage, a taverna and almost no one else.
- Day 6: Patmos. The monastery and the cave, and the night in Skala or in a quiet bay.
- Day 7: Back to Kos. A longer leg south, with a swim stop off Leros on the way, then disembark.
Adding Turkey: Bodrum is a short crossing from Kos. A day or two there means leaving Greece and entering Turkey, with passport and customs formalities, and again on the way back. See Bodrum and the Gulf of Gökova. The yacht, the weather and the group decide the real route.
The yachts
Greece has the widest choice of any country we cover: catamarans, sailing yachts and motor yachts of every size. Every yacht we show in Turkey also cruises Greece, so a Greece-and-Turkey week is possible on any of them; we confirm where each one is based. The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Practical questions
Rene GaspersicYour broker
Which airports serve the Dodecanese?
Kos and Rhodes have the main airports. Leros and Astypalea have small airports with flights from Athens.
Can we visit Turkey during the week?
Often, yes. Bodrum is close to Kos, and Marmaris is near Rhodes. Leaving and entering each country takes formalities. Check the visa rules for Turkey for every passport in your group.
North or south Dodecanese?
The north (Kos to Patmos) is small islands, short legs and quiet harbours. The south (Rhodes, Symi and their neighbours) has bigger towns and more history, and pairs with Marmaris in Turkey.
Is the meltemi strong here?
It blows in July and August, as across the Aegean, and on its strongest days the captain will stay put or choose a short leg.
Can we combine the Dodecanese with the Cyclades?
Yes, by way of Astypalea, the island between the two groups, and Amorgos, on a longer week or a one-way route.
Is it good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Lipsi, Arki, Marathi and Patmos are among the quietest islands in Greece.
Is VAT included in the "from" price?
No. VAT and the APA are added to the fee; each yacht's quote shows both.
Can we start in Rhodes instead?
Yes. Rhodes has more flights, and a week from there covers the southern islands. Reaching the northern islands from Rhodes means longer legs, or a one-way week ending in Kos, which can carry a delivery fee for fuel, crew and berths, stated before you sign.
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family summer, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
Plan
The Dodecanese by crewed yacht.
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