Greece's far eastern seas are a kaleidoscope of distinct cultures, landscapes and cuisine. The islands in this part of the country boast deep blue waters, rare wildlife, welcoming locals and an east-meets-west approach to food. And did we mention that this is the perfect playground for anyone interested to work on their skipping skills?
Sailing in the Northern Dodecanese offers visitors a chance to step away from the tourist masses and experience some rather isolated yet stunningly beautiful volcanic islands and waters so clear that make snorkelling there a pretty unique experience of its own.
From the island of Kos that never sleeps to the ominously named Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos in the north, we invite you to explore the lesser known and even less visited tiny islands of Pserimos, Lipsi and Arkoi, as well as their bigger but equally charming neighbours Kalymnos and Leros.
Like all our sailing adventures, this one too goes far beyond mere island hopping, giving you a chance to explore way beyond each island's marina, as well as immerse in local culture, savor the local flavors and learn a thing or two about the history of this immensely beautiful part of the world.
Trip Highlights
Your adventure starts at the marina at the island of Kos. We board the sailing boat that will be your home away from home for the days to come and get settled.
Late afternoon we set sails north towards nearby Pserimos, first one of our island destinations. We arrive at the tiny island, with its pristine beaches and laid back atmosphere, before sunset.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Light lunch onboard
In the morning there is time for a swim or you can opt to explore the island a bit more. Our next destination is the bay of Panteli, on the island of Leros. The bay is a highlight of every visit to Leros, and you start to feel the hospitable atmosphere as soon as you disembark the yacht. Its tavernas offer some of the best food in the Dodecanese and you would be seriously missing out if you did not acquaint yourselves with the surrounding area on foot.
We get there late afternoon and you are free to explore the village, swim or chill on the deck, till hunger kicks in and it is time for a delicious taverna meal.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light lunch on board
Further north of Leros is the quiet island of Lipsi, a scarcely populated island that welcomes visitors who come for swimming or snorkelling in its crystal clear waters. On the list of things to not miss while you are there locally produced honey is on the very top, with dairy products a close second. Fresh seafood is a real treat in Lipsi and the few tavernas on the island use locally produced veggies, freshly caught seafood and take great pride in their cooking traditions. If you are feeling active, there is plenty to see and do in and around the main town. Make sure you get your camera with you though since sunsets on Lipsi can get pretty surreal in the summer months.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch on board
After breakfast and a morning swim we board the boat and set sails west towards Patmos, arguably the most cosmopolitan island of this sailing adventure. Patmos is famous around the world for the Book of the Apocalypse, its unique architecture and some beautiful wild and arid landscapes. u00a0
There is plenty to do in and around the great, the food scene is great and the locals are welcoming and warm when it comes to hospitality. There's many a bars, shops as well as an array of seaside restaurants and coffee places so we urge you to get lost in the town and get a taste of local life.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch on board
Waking up in Patmos is a real treat. After breakfast you get to explore around the town some more, have a swim, go snorkeling, you name it!
Early afternoon we hop on the sailing boat and head east towards the nearby, tiny rock of an island, Arkoi, a breath away from the Turkish coastline.
Few people inhabit the island, mainly local fishermen who have been living of the sea for generations on end, and there is not much of a nightlife, with the exception of a couple of tavernas serving fresh seafood in the summer months. We drop angkor in a quiet, secluded beach, get the fire started and prepare a delicious BBQ dinner for you, while you enjoy swimming in some of the cleanest waters the Aegean has to offer.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch, BBQ Dinner
We leave Arkoi in the morning and head south towards the island of Leros and its port town of Lakki. Midway we make a stop for a swim in one of our favorite spots in the eastern Aegean.
Later in the day we arrive at Lakki, Leros' main transport hub. The town boasts great examples of Italian architecture, an array of great restaurants and bars and beautiful swimming spots are a short hike (or even shorter bike ride) away. We spend the remainder of the day angkored in the main marina, while you get acquainted with the surrounding area.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch on board
After breakfast we leave Lakki behind us and set sails south, towards the island of Kalymnos and the bay of Vathis. Kalymnos is famous around the world as a premier destination for rock climbing, and many international teams arrive here every summer to train.
Midday we stop at one of the numerous bays for a swim. As the day goes away, we navigate the boat towards the bay of Vathis, where we drop angkor and you get to visit the mainland.. The bay is quite popular in the summer months and there is plenty of things to see, savor and enjoy.
Overnight: Cabin aboard the sailing boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch on board
We leave Kalymnos very early in the morning, heading south to Kos. Once there, we pack our bags, bid farewell to the sailing boat thatu2019s been our home for the past week and our adventure ends.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation/Single Room Booking
In order to guarantee a memorable overall experience throughout your sailing adventure with Bearing True South, we have carefully handpicked a fleet of 4 - cabin sailing yachts with a large sundeck and a comfortable indoor galley for meals and relaxing. There are four double bed cabins on the main deck of the yacht. There is also an extra inflatable boat and a boat ladder that facilitate our swimming and snorkelling activities.
In all our sailing trips, accommodation is operated on a twin share basis. This means that travelling as an individual, you will be sharing accommodation and room facilities with another person of the same sex or your partner, spouse, family, friend etc. There is also the option of booking a single cabin for an additional cost depending on availability at the time of booking.
Meals
When sailing with Bearing True South, you will experience a great variety of delicious food, based on traditional Greek cuisine. Emphasizing on the regional cuisine of our destinations, we can recommend carefully selected local, family run, restaurants for our groups.
On a day when a barbeque dinner is included in our itinerary, we usually buy local cheeses, vegetables, meat or fish and bread from local markets so you don't miss out on the specialities of the region. We always choose a quiet, beautiful island beach for our BBQs and you can either help with the grilling and marinating or, alternatively, you can opt to have a swim under the stars while we cook for you.
Generally meals on board the sailing yacht are included in the standard price of our tours. "Light lunch" and "breakfast" usually refers to fresh Mediterranean salads, sandwiches, omelets or fresh fruit and local cheeses. When a meal is not included feel free to ask your tour leader to suggest a local restaurant in the village or town you are staying.
For the meal plan of the tour please refer to the day to day itinerary and the extra info of the tour. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, have any food allergies or any special requests when it comes to food, please let us know at the time of booking.
The style of travel in our adventures provides us a great deal of excitement, however is dependent on several factors, such as weather, terrain conditions and technical problems of our transportation. These may create unexpected circumstances throughout our tours that we have to deal with by making minor changes to the tour itinerary or the activities included in a particular day. For that reason the described day to day itinerary is used as a guideline which gives us the flexibility to make changes when needed.
Some of the activities listed in the day to day itinerary are included in the standard tour price, while there are also optional activities at your own expense. When a guided tour at a historical/cultural site is mentioned, the costs of a professional guide is included in the standard tour price. In every outdoor activity we work with fully qualified operators whose safety track has been extensively assessed personally by us. The necessary equipment needed for every outdoor activity is always provided by the local activity operators. For your personal gear please refer to the "prepare for your trip" section below.
Please note that all activities are subject to availability, while due to the time limit in each destination, it may not be possible to do all the optional activities listed in the itinerary.
Please refer to What's included/What's not included section for the services that are included or not in the standard price of your tour. For the optional activities of our tour, outdoor activities and cultural sites? entrance fees, take a look at the Tour Activities.
Tipping Your Tour Leader/Local Guides
In appreciation to the outstanding quality of services provided throughout your adventure, you may also consider tipping your Tour Leader and Local guides. Although tipping is not compulsory and it may not be customary to you, it works as a kind voluntary gesture to the people who will guide you throughout your adventure.
Spending Money
Each traveller is different when it comes to spending money while travelling. Take your spending habits and requirements into account and prepare your tour budget allowing for food, drinks, souvenirs and participation in activities not included in the tour price.
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in Greece. You can exchange your currency for Euros at the airports or in major towns. Cash may also be drawn for ATMs available in most of our destinations. Credit cards are widely accepted in Greece. However, you should always have some cash on you, as in some remote villages no ATMs may be available.
At Bearing True South, we operate "Land Only" based adventures. This means that flights to Greece are not included in the tour price. Travellers are responsible to make their own travel arrangements and make sure that they will be able to join the group at the joining point and time announced when booking, as described at the overview of the tour. Please note that the finishing point of the tour is always the same as the joining point
Our "Land Only" adventures provide you the flexibility to join one of our tours as part of longer holiday in Greece. You may spend a couple of days before or after your tour in Athens or even visit another Greek region, combining adventure, leisure and rest.
In Athens, you may also consider joining one of our day activities. Take a dive at one of Greece's numerous wreck sites, easily accessible from downtown Athens, or participate in our Historical Athens Treasure Hunt, a 'walk-through-history' game around Athens.
Health Information/ Travel Insurance
Bearing true South travellers are required to be in good physical health in order to be able to participate in one of our adventures. Please read through the day to day itinerary carefully and take into account the "Level of Difficulty" icon that appears on each one of our adventures, before booking your place.
If for any reason you are not able to participate in activities included in the tour itinerary, please inform us before booking. For any other important health issue please don't hesitate to contact your tour leader.
Travellers with Bearing True South are required to hold valid travel insurance, covering a minimum medical expenses due to accident or sickness and 3rd party liability. We strongly advise you to ensure that your insurance covers you for all outdoor activities you intend to participate in during your adventure. There might be an additional charge for certain ones. Your travel insurance needs to be evident when you join our tours.
Visa Information
Holding a valid passport and visa in order to visit Greece is your responsibility. Generally EU citizens or citizens of Member-States of the Schengen Agreement do not need to display a visa in order to travel to Greece.
Visas are not required by holders of valid passports from the following non-E.U. countries if they want to visit Greece and remain in the country for up to 3 months (90 days): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Israel, Monaco, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein
For travellers not coming from the above countries, please contact your local Greek embassy/consulate for visa information. Please also note that most countries expect you to have at least 6 months validity on your passport in order to be issued a visa.
Before you travel, we encourage you to learn about the region you'll explore while on a tour. From local weather conditions to information on geography, local history and culture, all are essential in order to make the most out of you tour, while minimizing the possibility to face unexpected, unpleasant circumstances.
Weather Information
Greece in general has warm and humid summers lasting from May till October. In May and October weather can be less predictable with some rain and chilly temperatures being possible especially in the Greek mainland. Greek summers are generally hot, with temperatures rarely getting lower than 25 degrees Celsius in most of our destinations, while temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius during the day are not unheard of in July and August. In the open sea, weather can be tough to predict all year round, but in the summer the seas are generally calm and ideal for sailing. Generally, cool temperatures and occasional rainfalls occur especially at night, a fact that you have to take into account when packing for your adventure.
Packing for your tour
Space is limited on board so, while on one of our sailing trips, you are expected to bring with you a backpack or suitcase that you should keep as light as possible, as well as a daypack for your personal items and valuables.
Travel documents: Passport, visa if required, valid travel insurance
Personal health care items: personal medication, sunscreen, insect repellent, travel sickness tablets, sunglasses, insect bite gel
Clothing/walking/swimming gear (depending on the season and tour): waterproof & windproof jacket, sun hat, long trousers (wearing shorts is not permitted in monasteries and churches), shorts, swimming costume,extra towel for swimming, t-shirts, hooded tops, trainers/walking shoes, personal mattress or a sleeping bag (should you choose to sleep on the yacht's sundeck), torch, snorkelling mask and fins.
Contact for information and pricing on our 2024 departures at info@bearingtruesouth.com
If our dates don't suit your plans, or if you want to experience one of our adventures with your family or group of friends, we can arrange a private tour just for you on the dates that suit you, based on one of our existing itineraries.
Furthermore, with a minimum number of 4 participants, all of our tours can be customised as far as date of departure, activities and itinerary are concerned, according to your group's requirements. For groups of less than 4 travellers, standard tour prices are subject to change. In that case, please contact us in order to get a new quote.
For more information don't hesitate to contact us with your ideas at : sales@bearingtruesouth.com and we'll get back to you shortly with detailed information and pricing.
Duration: 7 days
Level of Difficulty: 2/5
Group Size: minimum 4 persons - maximum 8 persons per yacht
Ages: 8 years and older, younger kids travel at their parents' discretion and responsibility
Accommodation: 7 nights sailing yacht cabin
Meals : 7 breakfasts, 3 light lunches
Transport: Sailing boat rental costs, all electricity and water port costs, petrol costs, Airport transfers, Transfers from/to the marina
Tour Staff: Bearing True South tour leader, Bearing True South skipper, local guides when needed
Airline tickets
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Optional activities as listed in 'tour activities'
Local transport (such as taxis or buses on the islands)