Dodecanese
by catamaran.

Geographic overview — Kos to Rhodes via Symi and Nisyros

The Dodecanese stretch roughly 100 nm north-to-south along the Turkish coast. From Kos in the centre, day-sails reach Nisyros (18 nm south), Symi (25 nm southeast), Kalymnos (12 nm north) and Leros (22 nm north). Patmos and Lipsi sit further north at 35 to 40 nm; Rhodes and Tilos further south at 50 and 35 nm respectively. The whole chain is sailable in a single week from Kos with two early starts.

A second classic itinerary starts in Rhodes and runs north to Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Kos and back — a 200-nm round-trip in a single week. The Rhodes base also opens easy day-trips to the southern coast of Turkey: Marmaris is 22 nm east, Bozburun and Datça are within 18 nm. Crossing the Turkish maritime border requires a transit-log declaration but is otherwise straightforward; we handle the paperwork on request.

Best time to sail the Dodecanese (May–October)

May to mid-June. Air 22–27 °C, water 20–22 °C, light westerlies. The Dodecanese are at their greenest in May (the south-facing islands are arid by July) and prices are roughly 30 percent below August. Tavernas are open and Symi is quiet — a major upside if you have seen photos of the harbour at peak.

Mid-June to mid-July. Reliable afternoon Meltemi at Beaufort 4–5, water at 23–24 °C, and most charter operators report this as the busiest two-week window of the year for bookings. Plan to arrive at Symi or Patmos before 13:00 in high season — the small harbours fill quickly.

Mid-July to late August. Peak Meltemi. Beaufort 5–6 most days with three-to-four-day Beaufort 7 spells. The Dodecanese Meltemi is marginally lower than the Cyclades equivalent — the chain runs north-south and the wind hits beam-to or quarter rather than head-on for most legs — but it is still serious sailing. Water hits 25 °C, harbours are full, prices peak.

September. The pick of the season. Wind eases after the first week of September, water stays at 25 °C through the month, and prices return to shoulder rates. Symi, Patmos and Nisyros are at their quietest. The season runs comfortably into mid-October with reliable swimming weather.

How much does a Dodecanese catamaran charter cost?

A four-cabin Lagoon 42 bareboat in shoulder season (May, June, late September) lands €5,000 to €7,000 per week. In July and the first three weeks of August the same boat is €8,500 to €12,000. The Dodecanese pricing sits between the Saronic and the Cyclades — slightly above the Saronic for similar boats, slightly below Cyclades because the fleet is more competitive and the marina premiums are lower. Newer Lagoon 46 or Bali 4.6 sit 25 to 30 percent above; older Lagoon 40s come in roughly 15 percent below.

Standard add-ons: €70 transit log, €280 to €380 final cleaning, fuel and water at cost. Dodecanese fuel burn is moderate — typically €400 to €600 per week, less than the Cyclades because the wind is slightly gentler but more than the Ionian because legs are longer. Marina fees of €50 to €110 per night when you choose to dock; Symi town quay carries a peak premium because of limited space. If you cross to Turkey, a Turkish-flag transit log adds about €120 for one night and is worth the cost for the food in Datça or Bozburun.

Optional crew rates are €190 per day for a skipper and €150 per day for a hostess. A skipper-only week therefore adds €1,330; a fully-crewed week (skipper plus hostess) adds €2,380. Provisioning typically runs €110 to €150 per person per day for a self-cooked crew. Kos provisioning is excellent and noticeably cheaper than Mykonos for a comparable basket.

Bareboat vs crewed in the Dodecanese

The licensing rules are the same as the rest of Greece — ICC, RYA Day Skipper, ASA 104 or equivalent for the named skipper, plus SRC for VHF. Dodecanese operators fall in the middle of the strictness scale — more flexible than Cyclades operators but tighter than Ionian operators on recent miles. A Day Skipper with a season of recent open-water experience can bareboat a standard Kos round-trip without difficulty; the same crew should book a skipper-only charter for any Rhodes-based itinerary that includes a Turkey crossing.

For first-time Dodecanese guests or guests planning a Turkish coast detour, a skipper-only charter is the right default. The skipper handles the Turkish-flag paperwork, the cross-border anchorages, and the heavier-weather Symi and Patmos approaches. You retain full privacy and choice on the itinerary.

Fully-crewed catamarans (skipper plus hostess) are popular on 14-metre cats and above. The hostess handles provisioning, breakfast and lunch on board; you eat ashore at the evening tavernas of your choice. Standard set-up for groups of eight or more.

Sample 7-day Dodecanese catamaran route from Kos

Saturday — Kos Marina. Check-in from 17:00, briefing on board, dinner in Kos Town. Provisioning at the AB Vassilopoulos near the marina. Walk the medieval Castle of the Knights at sunset.

Sunday — Kos to Nisyros (18 nm). Sail south to the active volcanic island. Mandraki and Pali harbours both have town quay space; Pali is the quieter option. Hike or taxi up to the Stefanos crater for a walk on the volcano floor — one of only four active volcanoes in Europe.

Monday — Nisyros to Tilos (15 nm). A protected bird-and-mammal sanctuary with quiet anchorages. Livadia is the main harbour; Eristos Bay on the west has a wide sand beach and good anchoring in 4–6 metres.

Tuesday — Tilos to Symi (28 nm).The longest leg of the week, sailed on the morning Meltemi. Symi's Gialos harbour is the most photographed in the Dodecanese — a cathedral of pastel-coloured neoclassical houses around a tight inlet. Stern-to on the town quay or anchor at Pedi on the east side and dinghy in.

Wednesday — Symi to Datça or Bozburun, Turkey (18 nm). Optional Turkey day. Cross to the south Turkish coast, eat a Turkish meze dinner ashore, sleep in the harbour, and cross back the next morning. Skip this leg if you do not want the Turkish-flag paperwork — sail back to Symi or push on to Knidos.

Thursday — Symi to Kalymnos (35 nm). A long sail north-northwest. Kalymnos is the sponge-diving and rock-climbing capital of the Aegean — the limestone cliffs at Massouri and Telendos draw climbers from all over Europe. Pothia is the main harbour with full services.

Friday — Kalymnos to Pserimos (8 nm) and Kos (4 nm).A short final leg with a swim stop at Pserimos's sand-bottomed bay. Last-night dinner ashore in Kos Town.

Saturday — Kos disembark. Easy morning return, fuel up, disembark by 09:00. A 14-day variant continues north past Kalymnos to Leros, Lipsi and Patmos before returning via Astypalaia and Kos — see our full Dodecanese sailing itineraries for the extended route options.

Marinas and check-in — Kos vs Rhodes

Kos Marina

The most common Dodecanese base. Kos KGS airport is 25 km from the marina, around 25 minutes by taxi (€30–€40). The marina is well-serviced with full provisioning inside the gate and the medieval Castle of the Knights at the harbour entrance. Pick Kos for a centre-of-the-chain itinerary that loops Symi, Nisyros, Tilos, Kalymnos and Leros — the most efficient one-week routing.

Rhodes Marina (Mandraki)

Rhodes RHO airport is 25 minutes from Mandraki by taxi. Rhodes Old Town is a UNESCO site and a destination in its own right — many crews arrive a day early to walk the medieval walls. From Rhodes, the natural one-week route runs north via Symi, Tilos, Nisyros and Kos and returns south. Rhodes is also the better base if you plan a Turkey night at Marmaris (22 nm east) or Bozburun (35 nm).

Local skipper tips

The Dodecanese reward an early start. The Meltemi typically fills in by 11:00 and the longer legs (Tilos to Symi, Symi to Kalymnos, Patmos crossings) are far easier on the morning calm. Plan the day so you anchor by 16:00, then swim and walk the village before dinner. Two specific calls: Symi's Gialos harbour fills by midday in July and August — if you are not stern-to by 13:00, switch to Pedi Bay on the east side and water-taxi in. Nisyros is best climbed at sunset rather than at midday — the volcanic floor is a furnace at noon and a magic place after 18:00 when the day-trippers have left.