Destination: Greece

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Best of the Dodecanese

FOUR WEEKS / KASOS TO PATMOS

This island-hopping odyssey takes in 13 of the 17 official Dodecanese islands. With a little more time you can easily fit in the whole set.



The journey starts on the tiny and almost forgotten island of Kasos and winds its way along the Turkish coast to the holy island of Patmos.

Take a slow boat from Piraeus to Kasos and really step back in time for a day or two visiting monasteries and caves before moving on to the elongated island of Karpathos with its vibrant, ancient culture and music. After a few days step onto a ferry to tiny Halki for some fine food and relaxed swimming. Take a caïque to the largest island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes and take in the stunning medieval old town. If time and budget allows, fly out to Kastellorizo, Greece’s easternmost outpost and home to a busy expat Greek-Australian community. Cruise across to rocky Symi with its oh-so-pretty harbour, then chill out in laid-back Tilos with its fine walking trails and down-to-earth lifestyle.

Hop across and northwards to visit a living volcano on craggy Nisyros then party on at holiday island Kos where there is ample room for everyone. Fly to startlingly bare yet unmistakably Cycladic Astypalea for a different taste of the Dodecanese, then fly back and on to Leros, an island that has not lost touch with its roots. Take a fast catamaran to Lipsi, almost out of sight of the mainstream, but much loved by aficionados of small and cosy islands for its good food and beaches. Finally make a pilgrimage to spiritual Patmos for some excellent food and even more enticing beaches and getaway corners.

When finished take a fast and luxurious ferry back to Piraeus or head on northwards to the islands of the Northeastern Aegean.