Kos is a lively island famous for its abundance of sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife. There are also various activities to do in and around Kos Town. It is the ideal destination for a relaxing holiday in the sun with your family, lovers or friends.

With near perfect sailing conditions and a real taste of the East, a week or two with a Yachtgr will give you wonderful memories of some of the most beautiful and diverse islands in the Greek Aegean.

The name Dodecanese literally means Twelve (12) Islands (Nisa).

Being a remote suburb of Greece, they have their own cultures that are often very different from those of mainland Greece. You will find life to be relaxed and the locals very welcoming to visitors.

While there are nightlife resorts like Rhodes and Kos that are heavily focused on partying, most of the Dodecanese islands are quiet suburbs of the Greek nation.

Bring your family by sailboat here to enjoy the laid-back charm of islands like Patmos, Kalymnos, and Tilos without the nightlife keeping you up all night!

The islands are often large enough that you can rent a car from a reputable car rental company (check Trip Advisor for the best - don't go anywhere else) to explore the islands and find your own piece of hidden paradise!

Boarding a Yachtgr Greek yacht will involve a direct flight to Kos or Rhodes airport, although if there are no direct flights from your country, you can fly into Athens and take a ferry to Kos to pick up your boat.

Climate
As a sailor, you’ll always be keeping an eye on the weather. Average temperatures can drop to 12 degrees Celsius in February, but reach 35 degrees Celsius or more at the height of summer. In the winter months you’ll often find that the sea is warmer than the air, with the water temperature rarely dropping below 17 degrees Celsius, even in the cold of winter.

It’s warm and dry in the summer months, with plenty of welcome rain in the autumn, although don’t expect British levels of rainfall at any time of year!

The winds.

Sailing is all about the wind. The lively Aegean Meltemi is part of the sailing package in this area, but it doesn’t blow as strongly in this part of the world as it does further south and west. Expect 3-4 degree winds all year round, which is almost perfect if you’re taking your family to the sea with you!

Culture
The Dodecanese are located at the crossroads of civilizations – to the east, you have Africa, Asia and the Orient, while to the west, you have Europe and America.

This made the islands rich, due to the trade that ran from there, along the Silk Road from China.

Religious festivals, local customs and cuisine are often unique, if not to the island chain, but to the locations themselves.

The islands themselves are products of intense geological activity due to tectonic plates rubbing together beneath the surface.

Expect to see towering mountains jutting out of the sea or even a live volcano surrounded by lush vegetation, in the case of Nisyros.

Some islands, such as Kasos, Symi and Kastellorizo, have experienced a great boom thanks to the abundant fishing around the islands. Sponge fishing is an ancient but still valuable profession in this area as well.

Cost of living
This can vary from island to island. In the busy ports of Kos and the old town of Rhodes, you should expect to pay more than you would in a quiet fishing village like Nisyros or Tilos.

Generally, the quieter the life, the less you should pay.

For a family holiday with a sailing boat, swimming in the sea or a good meal, you don't need to spend a lot of money on your holiday.
The local grocery stores focus on regional trade, so you can stock your Greek yacht very cheaply for the next few days.

On a sailing holiday in Greece, the choice is yours!

Rhodes

It started out as a prosperous trading and fishing port, but in recent years it has turned its attention to tourism. With a bustling Old Town and fantastic beaches, you won’t be disappointed with the opportunities to have fun and enjoy Greek tourism at its best. Be aware that nightclubs sometimes close after dawn, so you might not want to stay there for a quiet night in...

Kos

Hometown of the medical philosopher Hippocrates, like Rhodes, it gained its wealth from foreign trade and agriculture, but it has also turned its attention to tourism. Modern pleasures are the order of the day, although you’ll find Italianate architecture in Kos Town and Roman ruins elsewhere on the island. Being close to Turkey, not the whole island is open to the public, with regular military exercises taking place on the fertile grounds.

Kalymnos

Dominated by nearby Kos during the Trojan War. Very close to its larger neighbor, it is remarkably different. Life here is very laid-back and mass tourism a failed experiment, as it competed in vain with Kos. You will find beautiful, almost empty beaches and locals who welcome foreigners as visitors, rather than as a significant source of income. For those looking for an adventure away from the ordinary, Kalymnos would be well advised to visit!

Patmos

Widely considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Dodecanese. With no airport, it is also very quiet, with day trippers dominating the island’s tourists. Especially after the last boat of the day has left, you can find yourself on a stunning beach at least as good as any in Greece - but only you and your crew there. Don't be wary - you simply have the privilege of holidaying on a Greek yacht here...

Leros

It has some lovely little coves to anchor in due to the indentation of the coastline. There is no commercial capital on the island, as the towns are all about the same size. We recommend heading inland for dinner and drinks in Panteli and Alinda, as they are favourites with tourists. One peculiarity of Leros was that it was the scene of a fierce battle in World War II, when the Nazis recaptured the island from the Allies after the capitulation of Italy. As a result, there are bomb casings and war debris that decorate many of the villages and houses here today.

Nisyros

is the site of a volcano that is still steaming. A short drive inland you can see the steaming vents and cones that make this island so attractive. Due to the ash and lava, the soil is very good and Nisyros is one of the most fertile in the Dodecanese. Day trippers leave the island every evening, so with a Greek charter yacht you can have the island almost to yourself - a bad thing for those who want some peace and quiet. The local restaurants are definitely worth a visit in the evening too, as they cater almost exclusively to locals.

Tilos

Has just 100 inhabitants in the winter months, which belies its rich history as the "breadbasket of the Dodecanese". Until globalization destroyed its cultivation in the 1970s, its rich soil made it the chain’s main wheat-exporting island. A tiny island between Rhodes and Kos, it has its own story to tell in world history, and walkers will often find an abandoned knight’s castle or two as they wander. Those who visit today tend to come for longer stays to relax – Tilos is an almost deserted island all year round.

Symi

It was once busier than Rhodes due to its shipbuilding and sponge industries. A plague has killed off many sponges (as well as artificial ones) and the industry itself. Need we talk about shipbuilding? Symi is extremely popular with sailors, so be prepared to compare yourself to other Greek sailors chartering yachts. Although there is no good water supply (there are only a few monasteries inland, as well as a few villages), there are some excellent restaurants in the island's capital.

Halki

is a limestone rock not far from Rhodes. Its only industry was sponge fishing, which died out with the sponges and is now exclusively day tourism. It has 300 residents who make their living in the high season and have the place to themselves in the low season.

Karpathos

With a 1200-meter-high mountain range dividing it in two, Karpathos is one of the most impressive and beautiful islands of the Dodecanese. The mountain range divides it into two - the mountainous north with villages perched on cloud-capped mountains and the flat south. Karpathos is very rich thanks to its children who emigrated

Check out Tripadvisor to find out more about the destinations you have planned.

The Islands
Here is a taste of the islands you will be able to visit during your stay in the Dodecanese. It is worth doing your research to find the right combination of fun and relaxation in other locations, but this should be a starting point.