The Twelve Islands where Stunning Scenery and History Await
The Dodecanese sailing region is perfectly suited for a yacht charter holiday. This string of islands, located just off the Turkish coast, is a part of Greece that remains somewhat off the beaten path, offering a rare opportunity to experience the timeless charm of Greece. The region’s sailing waters are centered around Kos, the main charter base in the area, making it the ideal starting point for your adventure.
Protected from the stronger Meltemi winds by the Turkish landmass, the Dodecanese offers some of the finest sailing conditions in Greece. Your course will zig-zag from island to island, allowing you to savor the unique character of each port of call and providing a truly fulfilling sailing experience.
With around two dozen islands in the Dodecanese group, each offering shelter and relaxation for the charter sailor, there are many fantastic stops to choose from. While some islands are particularly recommended, all of them contribute to what is undoubtedly one of the best Greek island sailing holidays.
Some of the Dodecanese islands are so close to Turkey that you might consider a charter that includes both countries. Our advice, however, is to treat these as two distinct adventures, taking the time to fully appreciate the unique culture and experiences of each. If you have the time and wish to explore both, starting from the Turkish base of Fethiye can be an excellent option.
But if it’s the Greek islands of the Dodecanese that have drawn you in, let us help you plan a route from Kos that ensures you get the most out of your time and travel arrangements, creating a memorable and seamless sailing experience.
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Greece
Rating: 5 / 5Boat had plenty of space for the 7 of us. The sleeping cabins were well appointed and clean as were the communal areas.
The skipper Socarates took us to pristine beaches and bays that were not overrun with other boats. Loved being able to sail during the day and then visit the local towns at night. The skipper always gave us recommendations and asked what we would like to do each day. Crew were totally there to make our trip comfortable and to experience the beautiful Greek islands
The booking experience with Sail Connection was good would recommend to friends wanting to charter a boat. Anna, Australia, Oct 2nd, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5Boat was fantastic - was it's first charter so perfect condition. We sailed around Ithica and Kefalonia - both islands were beautiful. Sail connections was easy to deal with. Kurt, Australia, Jul 12th, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5(The boat was) perfect for our family of four. Only slight negative is that the helm position has a fairly large blind spot and there is no shade.
Favourite spot ... Sarakiniko Beach, Ithaka. This beautiful spot offered good anchorage, a local taverna and easy access over the hill to Vathy.
(Your service was) excellent. Dimitri in particular was very accommodating and nothing seemed to be a problem.
Stephen, Australia, Jul 8th, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5The Lagoon 46 was the best catamaran we have chartered. There was plenty of deck and seating space and all the bedrooms/ensuites were a good size.
Preveza was a great starting point and we enjoyed travelling south to Ithaki and north to Paxi. Kalamos was a highlight we tied up to a pier next to a taverna for the night and it was a lovely spot.
We had very good service from Robert and Sue at Yachting Holidays and dealing with an NZ company gave us peace of mind. The service from Fyly in Greece was also excellent. We really appreciated being able to board the boat early and our skipper was also very friendly and easy to get along with.
Our skipper Adrian Dimitru was keen to get away on Saturday afternoon so we headed south and got a day ahead which was great. .he cruise was excellent and Adrian got us to some of his favourite spots so we were very lucky.
Ithaki not to be missed. Craig, New Zealand, Oct 18th, 2023
Rating: 5 / 5Dear Sue, we would like to thank you and Robert for all the work you put in to make our charter run so smoothly from your end. We absolutely loved the Greek Islands, they were everything we had ever imagined. Jill and Pip, New Zealand , Oct 9th, 2019
Good breezes that provided just the right level of challenge. Not super crowded - no troubles berthing / mooring / eating / etc. Fairly chilled - at least compared to Croatia. Patmos was very good. John, Australia, Aug 17th, 2019
Had a great time. The wind was terrific - good fun, but nothing too hairy - exactly what we were looking for to take it up a notch or two from Croatia last year. And the Dodecanese were really good - nice ports, not too crowded (esp compared to Croatia) - just felt a bit more out of the way. DYC were fine - a little bit more on the 'smell of an oily rag' end of things compared to the very efficient German-run scene at Trogir, but it all worked and no real issues. Excellent recommendation Robert - boat and destination - you nailed it!
John, Australia, Jul 31st, 2019
The Lucky Clover was fantastic. We travelled around the Saronic Islands which were beautiful. A new adventure every day. One day we hired scooters and explored the islands. Great service thank you. 10 out of 10, a trip of a lifetime! Deborah, New Zealand, Aug 1st, 2017
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