This is a small‑group, expert‑led cultural cruise that focuses on the distinctive history and atmosphere of the southern Aegean. Instead of going port to port at night like many large cruise ships, we travel slowly during the day, so you can truly appreciate the landscapes and seascapes as we hop from island to island. We visit a carefully curated selection of islands, including Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Nisyros and Kos — each with its own distinct history and atmosphere. With two expert guides on board, we visit world‑renowned sites such as the Monastery and Cave of St John on Patmos and the Asklepieion of Kos, together with fascinating and less frequented places. This trip is a very special and intimate way to experience some of the finest Dodecanese islands in Greece.
Fitness Level
The Dodecanese islands are perhaps the most ethereally beautiful part of the Aegean. Set in a sparkling topaz-blue sea, they have a rich and intricate history stretching back millennia, and a distinctive culture. Aboard our elegant gulet, you will ride in comfort as the islands come to you, each with its own distinctive silhouette and story: mountainous Kalymnos; Nisyros with its brooding volcanic cone; Patmos crowned by its extraordinary monastery – a World Heritage Site – and serene, secluded Leipsoi. Anchoring in coves of the bluest shimmering water and harbours with bright white houses rising above, you can relax as you wish before dining on meals freshly-prepared on board or go to specially selected tavernas on the islands themselves. In a tranquil and unhurried way, you can drink in the vistas of picturesque villages, rocky backdrops and volcanic cones as verdant headlands and glittering bays slide by.
The islands have a long history as a place where cultures met and learned from each other, or came into conflict. Our expert guides will introduce you to some of the finest traces of this long past. You will see the great columned temples of the Greeks, including the famed healing shrine of the god Asklepios on Kos, and their spectacular statues, some newly brought up from the depths of the sea. Roman imperial rule brought with it great commerce and affluence, as witnessed by elaborate homes and their fine contents, a testament to a long era of peace. As the Roman Empire became the Christian Byzantine Empire, so we find artists’ hands turning to the intense and timeless emotion-filled icons of Orthodox Christianity, and lovingly-made manuscripts prepared in the exceptional monasteries central to their way of life.
With the fading of Byzantine power, we encounter new strands in our story: the Crusader Knights of St John, who ruled the islands and added their own military stamp to them as they strove long and hard in a doomed struggle to maintain an increasingly-isolated Christian outpost in the east. The long Ottoman years followed, adding another layer with their own characteristic architecture and culture, fountain houses and baths. From the unexpected and singular traces of Italian occupation, we reach modern times and the captivating culture of today’s islanders. From the food, sounds and atmosphere of the welcoming tavernas, via a wine-tasting taking in local produce prized by hard graft from a most unlikely landscape, to the unique local craft of sponge-diving, on this gulet cruise in Greece, you will come away feeling truly immersed in this varied archipelago’s many delights.
Prefer a longer tour? We have a 2-week version of this trip – Cruising the Dodecanese
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I would like to book, what else do I need to know?
For information not covered below please refer to our FAQ’s or contact us directly on [email protected]
Arrival and Departure Information
Arrival Airport – Kos
Departure Airport – Kos
Arrival Location – Kos Harbour (approx. 40 mins from airport)
Departure Location – Kos Harbour (approx. 40 mins from airport)
Embarkation and departure is planned for approx.17:00. You are more than welcome to arrive earlier to drop off your bags, but please be aware that the crew will be busy cleaning and tidying making everything ready for your group so you will not be able to settle into your cabin.
If your travel plans or flights do not allow you to arrive before 17:00 we recommend arriving the day before the tour starts. This would also allow time to relax, recover from any jet lag and arrive at the boat on time for embarkation and departure.
If you arrive at the gulet after 17:00, we will do our best to enable you to join the tour at a later time and place.
Please Note: Departure time is subject to change depending on weather, harbour, or other conditions.
Disembarkation is around 09:00. We will arrange local transfers on the first and last day of the tour.
Booking Flights: The cheapest way to book flights is directly with the airline online.
Please note: Flights are subject to change. Please contact the airline for exact details.
If you prefer to book with a travel agent, we are happy to recommend specialists in a number of countries around the world, please contact our office for more details.
Travel Insurance:We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. You should ensure that you take out a suitable policy, to make sure that your trip is properly covered.
The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries using the system. The EES will modernise border management of the Schengen countries, gradually simplify border controls and prevent identity fraud. ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for non-EU visa-free nationals.
You find out more about EES & ETIAS using the link below
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/pb
Visas
For UK Nationals, You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Greece, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
Citizens of European Union or Schengen Treaty member states need no visa for Greece, those from the United States, Canada and Australia do not need to apply for a visa to visit Greece for trips of less than 90 days duration.
Athens, Kos and the Greek islands If you are planning to stay in Athens before or after your tour or if you intend to add time on Kos or any other Greek island, we are happy to offer information and advice.
Nature of the itinerary Cruising and Itinerary: This remarkable cruise has a character very different to that of most of our other gulet cruises. We will be crossing some stretches of wide open sea between the islands and covering considerable distances on some of the days. In so doing you’ll gain a wonderful appreciation of the nature and beauty of this part of the Aegean, a thoroughfare for sailors since the Bronze Age. There will be some early starts so we can make passage in the early morning before the wind picks up in the afternoon. While the average travelling time will be longer than our normal coastal gulet cruises, there will be opportunities to swim each day (schedule and weather permitting).
As with all of our gulet cruises, we have spent a great deal of time crafting the itinerary to be as good as it can be, but we are travelling aboard a boat and may need to make changes according to the weather and the captain’s advice.
Overnights: Compared with our coastal gulet cruises in Turkey and Italy, where we tend to spend a good number of nights moored out in isolated bays, on this trip we will be spending more nights in harbour on the islands. This means you’ll have the chance to explore not only as part of the expert led outings, you’ll also be able to go ashore and wander in the mornings and evenings when we are tied up in the picturesque Greek harbour towns.
Food: The boat you’ll be travelling on is a Turkish gulet with a Turkish crew including a chef who will be cooking up wonderful meals throughout your cruise. As such the food served on board will be traditional ‘Turkish’ or Eastern Mediterranean. We will be going ashore to eat authentic Greek food in family run tavernas at intervals along the way and your tour leader will ensure you’ll have the chance to sample a good many of the local Greek delicacies of the islands. The gulet will be stocked with Greek wine and spirits and your guide will introduce you to some of the best beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) the Greek islands have to offer.
Tour Includes:
Cruising aboard the 8-cabin gulet Athen A
Full board accommodation with water, tea and coffee and wine with dinner
Airport transfers on the first and last day of the tour
Travel by private minibus
Harbour fees and crew services
All entrance fees and tips on land
The services of your expert tour leaders throughout the entire trip
WiFi (coverage permitting)
Not included:
Flights and airport taxes
Visas
Travel insurance
Gratuities on the gulet. It is customary to tip the crew at the end of a tour (we recommend a minimum of 20Euro per day per guest)
Tips for guides
Nigel Spivey
Peter had the good fortune of directing Nigel a good few years back in a documentary about Britain’s ancient monuments. We are absolutely delighted that he is one of our tour leaders.
Nigel is a Fellow of Emmanuel College and Senior Lecturer in Classics at Cambridge University, where he teaches Classical Art and Archaeology. His books include The Ancient Olympics, Greek Art, and Panorama of the Classical World. A renowned TV presenter, his credits include How Art Made the World (BBC), Kings and Queens, and Heroes of World War II. He’s also an experienced tour lecturer. His knowledge and passion make him an ideal guide for bringing past Mediterranean cultures to life.
What previous guests have to say about Nigel:
"I can't say enough good things about Nigel. He gave us just the right amount of fascinating history to make us think about what life may have been in ancient times. He made himself available at all times for questions and chitchat. We loved having him as part of the group." Carol Wade
"Our trip was outstanding, but then, We had an amazing Cambridge Classicist with us! It was a treat to be able to combine the archaeological sites with Dr. Spivey's encyclopaedic knowledge of the ancient world. I hope Peter Sommer Travel knows what a treasure they have in Dr. Spivey. He is friendly, jovial, kind and instinctively knows how to adjust his interesting and engaging presentations for the audience in front of him which comes from years of teaching. Few Classicists have his range of knowledge." Margaret-Anne Gillis
"I so enjoyed the expertise of Nigel. He made a real contribution to the trip. His commentary was insightful and thought provoking. Nigel connected well with all the guests and cared about his audience's perspectives and interests. I could listen to Nigel all day, he's such a great speaker." Rosanne Taylor
"Nigel was wonderful. Superb in every way. He adapted so well to all of the clients. Unsurpassable. An experience of a lifetime." Pamela Lyon
"Exploring the amazing history of the area was fascinating. Nigel gave the right level of information, education and stories to bring it to life in a way that will stay with us forever! Though we are sure all of your expert guides are wonderful, we are so glad that Nigel Spivey led our cruise. He offered the right level of context on what we were going to see and what we had seen, left no-one ‘behind’, and generally elevated what was already a great experience to a truly memorable one." Julie Kleinman
"Nigel was delightful, as always. He is always interesting to listen to and learn from. Excellent." Carol Theodore
Maria Girtzi
Born in Thessaloniki, Maria is an Archaeologist and professional tour guide. She studied Archaeology and Art at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and did her postgraduate studies on Greek Archaeology (MA and PhD.) at the University of Birmingham in the UK. She has taught History, Archaeology and Art history at the Universities of Thrace, Birmingham (UK), Cornell (USA), the Hellenic Open University and the Open University of Cyprus as well as working as a field archaeologist on excavations in Macedonia, Thrace and on Crete. Maria is the author of the book “Historical Topography of Ancient Macedonia”.
A great believer in “lifelong learning” she is involved in the design and implementation of educational programs that appeal to a wide range of ages (primary-secondary education and adults) and is an expert of the Institute of Educational Policy in Educational Programs. We are delighted to welcome her as part of our team.
What previous guests have to say about Maria:
"Maria is a terrific guide. Her stories and explanations were excellent. She combines deep knowledge with extraordinary organizational skills." Raymond Kulla
"the highlight of the tour was having such a wonderful and accomplished tour leader as Maria. She made all the sites come alive with her dramatic flair in explaining the history, mythology, geography, culture, and even the cuisine of the different localities. I have been on many tours before and never have I had such a marvelous guide as Maria. With her background in archaeology and her experience on digs and her wide knowledge of history, she was truly a ne plus ultra in the guide department. She was also most solicitous of the comfort of each tour member. At the Farewell Dinner we all raised our glasses high to Maria and declared that this had been the best tour we had ever been on! Maria is the most accomplished, knowledgeable, professional, conscientious, and just plain nicest guide I have ever had on a tour!" Louise Lindemann
"Maria our guide was an absolute star - her passion, energy and deep knowledge not only of the archaeology but the region and its people made the whole holiday experience outstanding. She could not have done more to inspire, educate and enthuse us and bring the history alive." Giles Cockerill
"Dr. Maria Girtzi has to be the highlight of the tour. She was truly amazing, she had boundless energy, enthusiasm and joy in sharing her knowledge." Janet Cowell
"a guide whose expert knowledge and passion was transmitted to us with energy and colour. She painted a picture of the past, with readings from ancient historians and philosophers so that the spirit of the archaeology, culture and history meant the ancient world came alive. We were grateful for her generosity in imparting her knowledge and passion for her country. She was also attentive to our appreciation of the food of the places we visited, giving us many great culinary experiences, in addition to attending to our individual needs or requests. We could not have had a more passionate and engaging guide in this region and of the historical periods. She made the tour come alive for us, painting a picture of the past so that we easily followed in the footsteps of the historical giants." Wendy McCartney
What makes this cruise different from other Greek island holidays?
What is life like on board the gulet during this cruise?
Your gulet is a traditional wooden motor‑cruiser, spacious and elegant, with comfortable en suite cabins and generous deck areas for relaxing, dining, and watching the islands drift by. Days blend gentle cruising with swimming stops in secluded coves, meals prepared by the onboard cook, and evenings anchored in quiet bays or small harbours. It’s an unhurried, immersive way to experience this crucible of civilisations in the Mediterranean — peaceful, scenic, and wonderfully sociable.
Who leads this tour?
Your journey is led by two of our expert guides, specialists in the history, archaeology, and culture of the Greek islands. They accompany you throughout the voyage, offering insightful explanations at every site. Guests often tell us that travelling with passionate, knowledgeable and erudite guides is what makes a Peter Sommer Travels’ cultural cruise truly exceptional. Please click on the tour experts’ names under the tour dates to read full bios and testimonials.
Who typically joins this Dodecanese gulet cruise?
Guests tend to be curious, culturally minded travellers who enjoy archaeology, history, good food, and the pleasure of exploring in a small group. With a maximum of either 12 or 14 guests, the atmosphere is friendly and sociable, and the presence of two expert guides ensures plenty of personal attention and in‑depth interpretation throughout the journey. It’s ideal for solo travellers, couples, and friends seeking a thoughtful, and life enriching holiday.
What kind of food will we enjoy during the cruise?
Food is a highlight of this journey as it is on all of our tours. You’ll enjoy a mix of freshly prepared meals on board and carefully chosen tavernas and restaurants ashore, ranging from home‑cooked island dishes to some of the finest regional cuisine. Expect local fish, seafood and meats together with seasonal vegetables and fruits, and local Greek specialities unique to each island. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
How physically demanding is the itinerary?
Our Kos to Patmos cruise is designed for travellers who enjoy gentle walking and exploring historic sites. This is one of our easiest rated trips, with light walking mostly on relatively flat ground, with some short stretches on tracks or paths that may include some steps and uneven terrain. The pace is relaxed, and there is always time to enjoy the expert commentary, absorb the atmosphere of a place, or take photographs or appreciate the views. Good walking shoes and a reasonable level of fitness will ensure you get the most from the experience. The tour is rated 1 out of 5 on our intensity scale, meaning it is classed as light. You can find out more by visiting the fitness levels page on our website.
