KOS TO SAMOS
Day 1 – Welcome to Kos!
Upon boarding your yacht in the Kos Harbor at 4pm, you will be informed of the cruise itinerary and the boat. Asclepion, known to be the birth place of Hippocrates, who is “the Father of Medical Sciences” is located here. All the people from the east Mediterranean with health problems were treated in Kos, which is the 2nd largest island of the 12 Dodecanese islands. An island of very mild climate and fertile lands, Kos houses a 560-year old tree, a 211-year old fountain, a 14th century fortress and a 290 km beach. You may take a quick swim in Lambi Beach close to the Harbor and indulge yourselves in the nightlife this island has to offer. Nafklirou, a street full of bars, is always crowded, colorful and full of life.
Day 2 – Kalymnos
After breakfast or lunch, you will complete port formalities to exit Turkey and set sail to Greece, entering from Kalymnos. Kalymnos is called The Sponge Fishers’ Island. The scenery is wild and dramatic with high rocky mountains sweeping down to the sea. It is a terrific island for those who want to do more than just lie on a beach all day. Though only 13 miles long and about 8 miles wide, the island has a dramatic wild beauty as well as several lovely uncrowded beaches and bays. Vathi town lies at the end of the deep fjord of Vathi. It is a charming little anchorage for a day or two. On the western side of the island lie the villages of Myrties and Massouri and the very much quieter hamlets of Arginondas, Skalia and Emporios. On the northeast coast is the wild and beautiful bay of Palionisou where it feels as if life has stood still for a very long time. If you walk the track to the 5-6 houses which constitute the village, you will find Nicholas’s house, where you will have the enchanting experience of being in the middle of nowhere, but will be able to eat an authentic yet cheap meal in his little garden.
Day 3 – Leros
We will start to cruise early in the morning to the beautiful island of Leros. The main port is Aghia Marina, or Pandeli, an attractive port dominated by a huge crusader castle and six windmills on the hill. Spreading up from the port is the area known as Platanos, the social hub of the island, which sits astride the saddle of the hill and merges with the picturesque fishing harbor of Pandeli on the other side. The setting is very pretty with white houses dotted around the bay. Leros has plenty of beaches and secluded coves. The lovely shingle beach at Vromolithos is just a twenty minute walk from Planos and is a long, gentle sweep of a bay with a small island in the middle. You should try the famous Mylos Restaurant, better known as Taki’s for lunch or dinner, they have a sophisticated twist on the Aegean’s seafood dishes.
Day 4 – Lipsi
We will set sail to Lipsi Island after breakfast. Lipsi (or Lipsos locally) is a small group of islets near Patmos, offering a number of anchorages or a harbor at the capital (also called Lipsi). There are plenty of tavernas, cafes and shops in the village. Small churches and monasteries scatter the island, so many in fact that locals claim there is one for every family living on the islands. We will have a swimming break in one of the many small islands in front of Lipsi. Visit the beaches of Platis or Giolos with crystal green waters. On the island, the Church of the Catopanaghia constructed in the 7th century deserves a visit, along with the Church of Panopanaghia from the 15th century.
Day 5 – Patmos
We will cruise to Patmos early in the morning, with a breakfast and swimming break in a bay around the island. Patmos is not a big island, but it is one of the best known. It was here that St. John completed the last part of The Apocalypse of John, and this is why Patmos is sometimes called “The Jerusalem of the Aegean.” The Monastery of St. John’s towers above the capital, the Chora, and actually the island breathes faith and devotion. According to mythology, Patmos was a gift from Zeus to his daughter Artemis, the goddess of hunting and young women. She was worshipped here in antiquity, and the monastery of St. John was built on her temple. At your leisure, you may visit these monasteries and walk around the island of Patmos. Our yacht will stay in the Patmos Port for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 – Ikaria
Blessed with an imposing rugged landscape, some characteristic unkempt villages and lovely beaches, Ikaria will appeal to travelers looking for a taste of authentic Greece. The beautiful island of Ikaria is best known for the mysterious number of people living past 100 years, but also for its therapeutic hot springs, its wine and the legend of Icarus which it was named after. It is a rocky, mountainous and green island with traditional architecture, friendly people and unspoiled beaches – some of which are only accessible by boat and resemble that of those in the Seychelles. Ikaria has remained true to itself and to the ways of its people, it is still quite untouched by tourism, mainly because its inhabitants have resisted most attempts to develop their island to conventional tourism. We will arrive in the island of Ikaria in the morning to discover the island and swim in it beautiful bays with an early evening walk in town.
Day 7 – Samos
After breakfast, we will set sail to the island of Samos which is the birthplace of famous mathematician Pythagoras. Samos is famous for its excellent sweet wines, illustrated by the many vineyards that thrive on the fertile hills among lush vegetation. The island capital is Bathi, the city with maze streets, houses in neoclassical architecture, historical churches. The most interesting place to visit is the Heraion, the biggest archeological site on the island. According to the legend, here was born and lived Hera, the mother of Olympic Gods. Here you can also see the ruins of the Imvrassia Hera – one of the largest temples of the ancient world. Near the exotic village of Seintania, there is an area where there are waterfalls and a beautiful habitat of streams and lakes. We will anchor in Samos overnight spending the day at your leisure swimming in one of its beautiful bays.
Day 8 – Goodbye Greece!
After a leisurely breakfast in the morning, it is time to say goodbye to your yacht and the crew as they will prepare the yacht for her next charter. We hope to show you more of the Aegean Coast next summer!
