Island Hopping in the Dodecanese

Day 1 of the tour sees your arrival in Rhodes and transfer to the port. After meeting your guide, embark on the boat to Tilos. Celebrate the beginning of your adventure by enjoying a delicious welcome dinner.

Today combines all you have ever dreamed of when thinking about Greece. Start from the beautiful seaside village of Livadia and hike along the coastline to lovely beaches, including a red beach.

Thereafter, having reached Lethra Beach, a green tree-lined paradise, begin the ascent towards Mikro Chorio (meaning small village in Greek). Once a highly populated village, it is now deserted. Houses have been abandoned and they remain along with the narrow alleys, green courtyards, and its few present inhabitants: goats. During the summer months, a bar operates here from which customers can stroll around this unique “ghost” village. Picturesque as it may be, eventually you will return to Livadia.

Today we start our Island Hopping the Dodecanese tour from the village of Livadia, and again follow the coastline, walking along by the beach, towards the end of the gulf, to the main port of Tilos.

The trail was once built on the ridge of a mountain slope and connected the port with the now abandoned village of Gera. Here, only a few houses and some threshing floors remain, overlooking the Aegean Sea which stretches as far as the eye can see. We continue our walk, and start our climb up through a riverbed full of trees to reach the highest point of our hike. With great views of the nearby islands, we then descend again towards Livadia.

This morning, head to Agios Panteleimonas, a monastery built in 1531 AD by a sailor who survived a shipwreck and had a vision of Saint Panteleimon in his dreams. As a result he decided to build the monastery to honour the saint who had saved him. And, as the myth goes, he discovered a natural spring at the spot where he decided to build the monastery. Nowadays, Agios Panteleimonas stands imposingly on top of a mountain slope, surrounded by maple trees, a juxtaposition to its harsh surroundings and a rare sight for an island. The trail starts on the outskirts of the monastery and leads to Agios Antonios – the second harbour of the island, offering fantastic views of the nearby island of Nisiros.

Arrive at Agios Antonios, and then ascend to Megalo Chorio (which means Big Village in Greek). Megalo Chorio is now the capital of Tilos. Built under the protection of a medieval castle, Megalo Chorio stands proudly overlooking Eristos, the biggest and most famous beach of the island. Take a boat to Halki in the afternoon and enjoy some sightseeing in the main town.

Today starts from the capital of Halki, Nimporios, which is also the main village and port of the island. From here you’ll gradually walk uphill through a fertile valley that leads up to the medieval castle of Chorio. The village of Chorio, in the west of Halki, was once the only settlement on the island. It is built around the hill upon which the fort stands in the traditional style of stone houses. The village of Chorio was slowly abandoned and today is deserted. The views from the castle are magnificent, and on a clear day, Rhodes, Nisiros, Karpathos, and Tilos are all visible, all surrounded by the endless blue of the Aegean sea.

On the way back, stop at Pondamos Beach for a refreshing swim and lunch at a seaside taverna.

Today you will explore a deserted island called Alimia. Set off from the port of Halki and sail to a wide bay where the main town once stood. This village was declared a protected settlement in 1978. Here, you’ll hike among its untouched treasures. Hike along forgotten trails, as the island has been uninhabited since the Second World War. In Hellenistic times, Alimia was used as a point of anchorage and an observation point for the Rhodian fleet. At the time, a tower was constructed on the highest peak of the island, on its eastern side, and still survives to this day.

Once you arrive at the second significant bay of the island, you have the chance to swim in its crystal-clear blue waters and then enjoy a BBQ on the beach. In the early afternoon, sail back to Halki.

Today, leave picturesque Halki and take the boat back to Rhodes. There’s lots to do if you want to extend your stay! Otherwise, it’s off to the airport.