Marmaris – Rhodes – Chalki – Tilos – Nisyros – Symi – Marmaris

The route experience

Leaving Marmaris, the journey begins with a crossing to Rhodes. Behind the island’s fortified harbour lies its UNESCO-listed Medieval City, where the Street of the Knights leads towards the Palace of the Grand Master. Stone archways, enclosed courtyards and layers of Byzantine, Ottoman and medieval history make Rhodes the most substantial cultural stop on the route.

From Rhodes, the yacht continues to Chalki, one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese. Its only village, Nimborio, curves around a sheltered harbour lined with colourful neoclassical houses. With few roads and little traffic, the island has a peaceful rhythm that invites slow walks along the waterfront, swimming in clear bays and an unhurried evening ashore.

Tilos continues the quieter side of the journey. Livadia is the island’s main harbour, but beyond it lie walking paths, remote beaches and rugged landscapes with little development. The island’s open scenery and peaceful anchorages create a distinct sense of distance from the busier ports.

Nisyros changes the landscape once again. The island was shaped by volcanic activity, and its vast crater can be visited from the harbour town of Mandraki. Whitewashed villages, dark volcanic beaches and the colourful courtyards of Mandraki give Nisyros a character found nowhere else along the route.

The journey then turns south towards Symi. As the yacht approaches Yialos, pastel-coloured neoclassical houses rise steeply above the narrow harbour. Small shops, waterfront tavernas and lanes climbing towards the upper town create one of the most memorable arrivals in the Dodecanese.

The final crossing leads back to Marmaris, with additional swimming stops selected according to the day’s wind and sea conditions. The wooded Turkish coastline gradually returns to view, completing a journey through six islands and landscapes of very different character.

Planning notes

This is a sample itinerary rather than a fixed daily schedule. The final route is planned by the captain according to weather conditions, port availability and the yacht’s cruising permissions. Greek island itineraries also require customs clearance and involve additional port and local cruising expenses.

This route is ideal for guests who want to look beyond the best-known Greek islands and combine historic towns with smaller communities, quiet anchorages and unusual natural scenery. Request a charter and we will match the yacht and itinerary to your group.