En bref :<\/strong><\/p>\n Choosing a Dodecanese sailing itinerary usually comes down to one question: do you want the drama of open water and volcanic scenery, or the calmer, closer hopping of a northern circuit? Both work beautifully for a week aboard. Here\u2019s how to build each one, leg by leg, with realistic mileage so you\u2019re not fighting the clock every afternoon.<\/p>\n This route puts you in the Dodecanese\u2019s most photogenic corner: sheer cliffs, an active volcanic crater, and one of the prettiest harbor towns in Greece.<\/p>\n That\u2019s roughly 145 nm across the week, front-loaded with shorter legs and one longer passage mid week, which is exactly how a mixed-ability crew should schedule a trip.<\/p>\n Quieter water, shorter hops, and a strong argument for anyone traveling with kids or first-time sailors.<\/p>\n Total distance runs closer to 75 to 90 nm for the week, which leaves generous margin for weather days or an extra night somewhere you fall in love with. The SailingIssues Dodecanese itinerary guide<\/a> recommends building at least one spare day into any week-long plan for exactly this reason.<\/p>\n An 8-day version simply adds a night. The most common addition is a second night in Kos or an extra day around Nisyros to combine the crater with a swim stop at Pali. Sample 8-day write-ups from Frontier Yachting<\/a> confirm this pacing works well for May through June departures, when daily mileage can stay modest without losing any highlights.<\/p>\n A 10-day itinerary lets you combine both circuits: run the southern arc from Rhodes through Kos, then continue north into Kalymnos, Leros, and Lipsi before finishing in Kos rather than backtracking to Rhodes. This one-way structure, often called a Rhodes to Kos or Kos to Rhodes charter, avoids the single biggest planning headache in the Dodecanese: a long final-day passage against the meltemi to get the boat back to its starting marina. Most charter companies, including Sailarmada\u2019s curated Greece routes<\/a>, offer one-way options between these two hubs, which makes for a far more relaxed final week.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re short on days, shortening the southern arc to skip Chalki and returning directly from Tilos to Rhodes trims the week to a comfortable 5 or 6 sailing days without losing Symi or Nisyros.<\/p>\n The meltemi is a northerly wind that builds through summer and dictates almost every smart decision in Dodecanese route planning. It typically strengthens from July into August, sometimes hitting 25 to 30 knots in exposed channels, then eases considerably by mid-September.<\/p>\n East coasts of most islands sit in the wind\u2019s shadow when the meltemi is blowing from the north, which is why experienced skippers favor east-facing anchorages and harbors once the wind picks up. West coasts and open channels between islands, by contrast, can turn into a washing machine of chop and swell on a strong meltemi day.<\/p>\n Daily targets matter more than most first-time charterers expect. A comfortable day for a mixed-ability crew is 15 to 25 nm, roughly 3 to 5 hours of sailing, leaving time to arrive, settle into a berth, and actually enjoy the island. Ambitious crews with more sailing experience can push to 35 or 40 nm, but that only works if everyone aboard is comfortable reefing early and adjusting the plan on the fly.<\/p>\n Conseil de pro :<\/strong> Check the forecast the night before and again at first light. If the GRIB files show meltemi building past 20 knots for your planned route, flip the day: sail the sheltered leg first and save the exposed passage for early morning, when winds are typically lightest.<\/em><\/p>\n A short pre-departure routine keeps surprises to a minimum:<\/p>\n Roughly 65% of Dodecanese sailing days in peak summer see some meltemi influence, according to practitioner guides covering the region, which is exactly why May, June, and September remain the preferred months for a first Dodecanese charter.<\/p>\n Each island in the Dodecanese has its own personality, and its own berthing quirks. Here\u2019s the practical shorthand.<\/p>\n Most charter companies require a recognized bareboat sailing qualification, such as an ICC or RYA certificate, if you want to skipper the boat yourself. If nobody aboard holds one, a skippered charter is the easier and often safer route, especially for a first Dodecanese trip navigating meltemi conditions.<\/p>\n Charter insurance deserves real attention before you sign anything. Providers like Pantaenius<\/a> point out that charterer\u2019s liability cover varies significantly between companies, and it\u2019s worth confirming exactly what\u2019s included before you board, not after something goes wrong.<\/p>\n Budgeting for a Dodecanese week typically includes three add-ons beyond the base charter rate: the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance, usually covering fuel, dockage, and provisioning), local marina fees, and VAT, which applies to charter rates in Greek waters. Rhodes and Kos both have full-service marinas with fuel docks, water, and repair services, making them sensible embarkation points for restocking mid-trip too.<\/p>\n Conseil de pro :<\/strong> Build your provisioning list before you land, not after. A quick pre-trip shopping checklist<\/a> saves you from discovering on day three that nobody packed sunscreen or spare batteries.<\/em><\/p>\n Match the route to your crew, not the other way around. Run through this quick checklist before booking:<\/p>\n Small adjustments fix most mismatches: shorten the Chalki to Rhodes leg by cutting Chalki entirely, add a rest day at Lipsi if the crew is flagging, or swap an exposed west-coast passage for a sheltered east-coast alternative when the meltemi forecast looks unfriendly.<\/p>\n Sailarmada builds its Dodecanese offering around exactly this problem: matching route ambition to crew reality. The southern arc and the northern Kos loop both reflect years of local knowledge about where boats can actually berth, not just where a map suggests a nice hop.<\/p>\n Skippered charters solve the license question outright, and private bookings let a family or friend group set their own pace without merging with strangers. Sailarmada\u2019s team handles provisioning coordination, local logistics, and route customization, so a family debating between the volcanic drama of Nisyros and the calmer waters around Lipsi doesn\u2019t have to guess. That\u2019s the value of local practitioner knowledge over a generic map exercise.<\/p>\n Most itinerary advice online treats the Dodecanese like a checklist of pretty harbors to visit in sequence. That misses the point entirely. The real skill is sequencing legs around wind, not romance, and letting the romance happen once you\u2019re safely tied up.<\/p>\n The conventional wisdom oversells long, ambitious passages as the mark of a \u201creal\u201d sailing trip. In practice, the crews who enjoy their week most are the ones who kept daily legs modest, built in a spare day, and treated the meltemi forecast as the trip\u2019s actual itinerary author. A 15-nm day that ends with a swim off Tilos beats a white-knuckle 40-nm slog every time, particularly with kids or nervous sailors aboard.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one thing to prioritize first, it\u2019s flexibility in the plan itself. Pick a route structure, not a rigid schedule, and leave room to flip a leg or add a rest day when the wind says so.<\/p>\n - Voile<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sailarmada is the practical alternative to piecing together a Dodecanese trip yourself, boat rental here, skipper search there, provisioning guesswork on arrival. Every route above maps directly onto Sailarmada\u2019s curated Greece charters, whether you want a fully private week or a skippered boat that takes the licensing question off the table entirely.<\/p>\n Start with Sailarmada\u2019s private sailing page<\/a> if you want full control over dates and crew size, or browse curated Mediterranean itineraries for groups<\/a> if you\u2019re coordinating a larger party across multiple cabins. Booking includes route customization around your dates, a skipper option if nobody aboard holds a bareboat qualification, and help with provisioning and airport transfers so your first day starts on the water instead of in a supermarket line. Check current availability for Rhodes or Kos departures and request a custom Dodecanese itinerary through Sailarmada\u2019s Greece destinations page today.<\/p>\n A handful of reference sources are worth bookmarking before you commit to a final plan:<\/p>\n Practitioner curated 7 to 10 day Dodecanese sailing plans for mixed crews. Route first meltemi tactics, one way Rhodes to Kos options, and crewable…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\nTable des mati\u00e8res<\/h2>\n
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Recommended Dodecanese Sailing Routes: 7, 8, and 10-Day Plans<\/h2>\n
The 7-day southern arc: Rhodes to Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Kos, and back<\/h3>\n
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The 7-day northern Kos loop: Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi, and Patmos<\/h3>\n
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Extending to 8 or 10 days, and one-way alternatives<\/h3>\n
![\"Nisyros](\"https:\/\/csuxjmfbwmkxiegfpljm.supabase.co\/storage\/v1\/object\/public\/blog-images\/organization-26036\/1788098517041_Nisyros-crater-overlooking-a-swimming-cove.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nHow Do You Plan a Dodecanese Sailing Route Around the Meltemi?<\/h2>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/csuxjmfbwmkxiegfpljm.supabase.co\/storage\/v1\/object\/public\/blog-images\/organization-26036\/1788098580200_How-Do-You-Plan-a-Dodecanese-Sailing-Route-Around-the-Meltemi-overview-diagram.jpeg\")
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Island Highlights and Harbor Notes for Every Stop<\/h2>\n
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Charter Vitals: Licenses, Insurance, and Budgeting Basics<\/h2>\n
How to Choose the Right Itinerary for Your Group<\/h2>\n
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Why These Routes Work for Groups and Families<\/h2>\n
What Actually Matters When You Plan a Dodecanese Route<\/h2>\n
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Book a Dodecanese Sailing Week With Sailarmada<\/h2>\n
![\"Sailarmada\"](\"https:\/\/csuxjmfbwmkxiegfpljm.supabase.co\/storage\/v1\/object\/public\/blog-images\/organization-26036\/1775919146984_sailarmada.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSources<\/h2>\n
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Recommand\u00e9<\/h2>\n
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