Dodecanese Discovery
Kos → Rhodes Discovery
Eight nights across Kos, Kalymnos, Symi and Rhodes, following the Dodekanisos Seaways local network south toward Rhodes's old town.
This route runs the length of the central and southern Dodecanese: Kos for its easy pace and ancient sites, Kalymnos for climbing and sponge-diving history, Symi for its pastel harbor, and Rhodes to close with a proper city and airport. Eight nights at a balanced pace give each island two to three nights, enough to see the highlights without treating any stop as a layover.
Why this order
Kos opens the trip because it has its own airport and a fast Dodekanisos Seaways connection to Kalymnos, 35 minutes, four times a day. From Kalymnos, the onward hop toward Symi runs on the same local network that links the smaller Dodecanese ports, though it runs less often than the Kos–Kalymnos or Rhodes–Symi legs, so it deserves a buffer day rather than a tight same-day connection. Rhodes anchors the end because its airport supports direct flights home and its fast, frequent link to Symi, 50 minutes, three times daily, makes that a safe final crossing. Starting from Rhodes instead would front-load the trip's best-connected leg and leave the thinner Kalymnos–Symi stretch for right before a flight.
Best for
Fits travelers who want the Dodecanese without doing all of Rhodes or Kos alone — Kalymnos adds an active, climbing-focused stop and Symi adds a quieter, prettier one. The balanced pace suits people happy with one transfer every two to three days. Skip it if you want a beach-only holiday with no inter-island logistics, or if eight nights feels short once four stops are involved.
Islands on this route
- 1
- 2
Kalymnos Recommended nights: 2–3 No direct ferry - 3
- 4
Who sails it
- Dodekanisos Seaways Official timetable
- Blue Star Ferries Official timetable
Frequently asked questions
Why this order?
Kos opens the trip because it has its own airport and a fast Dodekanisos Seaways connection to Kalymnos, 35 minutes, four times a day. From Kalymnos, the onward hop toward Symi runs on the same local network that links the smaller Dodecanese ports, though it runs less often than the Kos–Kalymnos or Rhodes–Symi legs, so it deserves a buffer day rather than a tight same-day connection. Rhodes anchors the end because its airport supports direct flights home and its fast, frequent link to Symi, 50 minutes, three times daily, makes that a safe final crossing. Starting from Rhodes instead would front-load the trip's best-connected leg and leave the thinner Kalymnos–Symi stretch for right before a flight.
Best for?
Fits travelers who want the Dodecanese without doing all of Rhodes or Kos alone — Kalymnos adds an active, climbing-focused stop and Symi adds a quieter, prettier one. The balanced pace suits people happy with one transfer every two to three days. Skip it if you want a beach-only holiday with no inter-island logistics, or if eight nights feels short once four stops are involved.
How we plan it?
The Kalymnos-to-Symi stretch of this route runs on the local Dodekanisos Seaways network rather than the frequent Kos–Kalymnos or Rhodes–Symi lines, so treat it as the trip's tight connection and keep a spare night around it. All the Dodecanese crossings here carry a moderate wind rating; an August meltemi day can still disrupt the smaller high-speed boats even on a short-hop route.
Times, prices and frequencies are indicative and change by season and operator. Always confirm the live timetable before you book.