Why book the Dodecanese Hidden Gems tour?
Dodecanese Hidden Gems is an 8-day, 7-night gulet cruise through the northern Dodecanese, starting and ending at Kos Marina. Instead of the big tourist hubs you sail to Pserimos, the sponge-diving island of Kalymnos, Italian-influenced Leros, tranquil Lipsi, sacred Patmos with its UNESCO-listed Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, and the virtually uninhabited islet of Levitha. Days are set by the rhythm of the sea: swim stops in clear bays, lunch on deck, and evenings in family-run tavernas ashore. The traditional wooden gulet has 9 cabins and carries a maximum of 25 passengers.
What route does the gulet follow?
Day 1 you board at Kos Marina at 17:00 and spend the evening in Kos Town. Day 2 sails to Pserimos for a morning swim and on to Kalymnos for the night. Day 3 heads to Leros with a swim stop and an evening in Lakki. Day 4 is Lipsi, with a swim at Platis Gialos Bay. Day 5 reaches Patmos, where you can visit Chora, the Monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse. Day 6 is a full day at secluded Levitha. Day 7 is the long scenic sail back to Kos via a bay off Kalymnos, and you disembark at 09:00 on Day 8.
How does this differ from the Dodecanese Sailing Explorer?
Both are 8-day gulet cruises on the same style of 9-cabin, 25-passenger boat, but they cover different halves of the archipelago. Hidden Gems is the northern route from Kos, taking in Pserimos, Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos and Levitha. The Dodecanese Sailing Explorer runs the southern islands from Rhodes. If you have done one, the other is a natural follow-up with no repeated islands.
What is special about Patmos?
Patmos is one of Greece's most sacred and historically significant islands. From the harbour you can head up to Chora to see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse, then have dinner overlooking the historic harbour. On this tour you visit on Day 5, with the option of seeing Chora and the monastery by night before the gulet stays overnight in Patmos.
Why does this tour cost what it does?
You are paying for 7 nights aboard a traditional wooden gulet with your own en-suite double cabin, the services of a fully qualified captain and crew who handle all navigation, mooring and cooking, and 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners. Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of two people, and the boat is limited to 25 passengers so the experience stays intimate. Prices start from GBP 889 per person for early-season 2027 departures.
What's actually included in the price?
Included are transport by gulet boat, 7 nights gulet accommodation in a double cabin, the services of the captain and supporting crew, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners (the welcome dinner on board on Day 1, plus a second dinner whose day may vary). The gulet also carries snorkels and masks, fishing lines and board games for your use.
What's NOT included and how much extra should I budget?
Not included are international flights, airport transfers, pre and post tour accommodation, compulsory travel insurance, optional activities, tips for the captain and crew, and drinks, snacks and personal expenses. Two local charges are payable at the start of the trip: port fees of 100 EUR per person and a government-imposed cruise tax of 50 EUR per person. Most dinners are at your own expense in local tavernas.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Secure your place with a deposit or use the reserve-now-pay-later option, with the full balance due 8 weeks before departure. Prices are displayed per person based on two sharing a cabin; the Dates & Prices tab shows the current amount in your currency.
How physically demanding is this tour?
Not very. Most of the week is spent on deck, swimming at anchor and wandering small port towns on foot. You will need to manage your own luggage on and off the boat via the gangway, and exploring places such as Chora on Patmos or the hilltop Castle of Panteli on Leros involves some uphill walking, but all shore visits are optional. No sailing experience is required and you are not expected to help with the rigging.
What if I have mobility issues?
The gulets we use are not suitable for passengers with special mobility needs. Embarkation gangways do not fit all types of wheelchairs, and cabin bathrooms and staircases have restricted space. If you have other physical disabilities please contact us to discuss; any passenger requiring special attention or assistance is expected to travel with an escort.
Is this suitable for non-swimmers?
Yes. Swimming and snorkelling stops are optional and you can relax on the sun deck while others are in the water. Life jackets are provided on board. Please do not jump into the sea while the engine is running and keep away from ropes and hawsers while sailing.
Is Greece safe to visit right now?
Greece is one of Europe's most established holiday destinations and the Dodecanese islands are relaxed, welcoming and used to visitors. Your captain and crew are with you throughout the cruise. As always, check the latest government travel advice for your home country before departure.
How safe is sailing on the gulet?
All the gulets we use are government approved with fully qualified captains. Each boat carries a dinghy with outboard, a ship-to-shore radio, a mobile telephone, life jackets and fire extinguishers. The captain has final say on the route and will adjust it for weather or sea conditions; Levitha in particular is known for reliable shelter from Aegean winds.
Is it safe for women travelling solo?
Yes. You are part of a small group of up to 25 on a single boat with a professional crew, the islands on this route are quiet and low-key, and evenings ashore are spent in small harbour villages. Many of our gulet passengers are solo women.
What happens if I get sick on tour?
The gulet moors in or near a port most nights, so the crew can get you to a local doctor or pharmacy on the islands, and the boat carries a ship-to-shore radio and mobile telephone for emergencies. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability is compulsory on this tour.
What's the accommodation actually like?
You sleep on board a traditional handmade wooden gulet with 9 cabins for up to 25 passengers. All cabins are double with en-suite toilet and shower; Standard cabins have a wet-room shower while Standard Plus cabins have a separate shower cubicle. Cabins are compact, so pack light. Many passengers choose to sleep under the stars on mattresses on the deck and use their cabin mainly as a wardrobe.
What is the difference between a Standard and a Standard Plus cabin?
The cabins themselves are the same; the difference is the bathroom. Standard cabins have a wet room where the shower is integrated within the bathroom space, and Standard Plus cabins have a separate shower cubicle. Where Standard Plus cabins are offered you can select them at the time of booking.
What facilities are there on board?
Most of our gulets have an interior salon and bar area, both indoor and outdoor eating areas, a fully equipped galley, a spacious sun deck and cushioned seating in the shade of the aft deck. There are freezers to keep drinks cold, a CD/cassette player (bring your music), snorkels and masks, fishing lines and board games. Charging points are available in your cabin but you will need to bring an adapter, and you need to bring your own beach towel.
Will I have Wi-Fi and air conditioning?
Facilities vary from boat to boat and we only receive the final boat name from the captain a week before departure, so we cannot guarantee Wi-Fi or cabin air conditioning. Most ports and tavernas have Wi-Fi, and the Aegean breeze keeps the deck comfortable, which is why so many passengers sleep outside. Contact us if either is essential to you.
What kind of food will we eat?
Breakfast is served on board every day and lunch is prepared in the galley and served on deck while anchored at a swim stop on six days, generally fresh Mediterranean food. The welcome dinner on Day 1 is on board. Other evenings you eat ashore at your own expense in family-run tavernas: the waterfront at Kalymnos, Lakki on Leros, freshly caught seafood on Lipsi, dinner overlooking the harbour on Patmos, and the single family-run taverna on Levitha.
Can you cater for vegetarian or vegan diets?
Please tell us about any dietary requirements when you book. We are always willing to look at them and, where possible, we will do our best to accommodate you, although we cannot guarantee that every restaurant, hotel or boat on the route will be able to meet every need. Your guide will also help you find suitable options along the way.
Is it safe to drink the water?
Tap water on gulets is generally for washing only and is not drinkable. Buy bottled water ashore or bring a Water-to-Go filter bottle to cut down on plastic waste; the boat has freezers to keep your drinks cold. Use code ENCOUNTERS25 for 25% off at Water-to-Go.
Is this trip good for solo travellers?
It's ideal. Life on a gulet is inherently communal: you share the sun deck, meals on board and evenings ashore, so friendships form quickly. With a maximum of 25 passengers on one boat, you are never lost in a crowd but there are always people to explore Kos, Kalymnos or Patmos with.
Do I have to share a cabin?
Single or twin-bedded cabins are not generally available, so if you book a solo place be prepared for a same-sex cabin share with another solo traveller. Where a same-sex share cannot be arranged, a single cabin supplement applies. Contact us for current solo pricing.
What's the group size and who else will be on the trip?
Minimum 2, maximum 25 passengers in 9 cabins. Departures are guaranteed with just two people booked. Expect a friendly, relaxed mix of couples, friends and solo travellers of different nationalities and a wide age range who enjoy swimming, quiet islands and taverna evenings rather than a party scene.
Is there a tour leader on board?
No. On our gulet cruises you are looked after by the boat captain and crew, who speak enough English to communicate effectively even if not fluently. We do not send an additional tour guide. Shore visits are independent, and the crew can point you towards the sights and tavernas in each port.
Can I book this as a private charter?
Yes. The gulet is available to book as a private charter for groups of friends, families or clubs, giving you the whole boat and more say over the daily rhythm. Contact us for details and prices.
Where and when do I board and disembark?
Boarding is at 17:00 on Day 1 at Kos Marina, and disembarkation is at 09:00 on Day 8, exactly one week after embarkation. Airport transfers are not included, so arrange your own flights to Kos and transport between the airport and the marina. We receive the final boat name and exact docking location from the captain a week before departure, so your final confirmation voucher arrives around 6 days before the trip rather than our usual 2 weeks.
Do I need a visa for Greece?
Greece is in the Schengen Area. Most nationalities, including UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and EU citizens need only a passport or ID card. Check the current requirements for your nationality well before departure, as rules can change.
What should I pack?
Pack light in a soft bag, as cabin storage is limited. Bring swimwear, a beach towel (not provided), sun hat, sunscreen, sandals and comfortable shoes for walking in port towns and up to Chora on Patmos, light casual clothing for taverna evenings, a light layer for breezy nights on deck, and a travel adapter for charging in your cabin. Snorkels and masks are on board but you may prefer your own.
Do I need to pay anything on day one?
Yes. Port fees of 100 EUR per person and the government-imposed cruise tax of 50 EUR per person are payable at the start of the trip. Have 150 EUR ready on Day 1. Greece uses the Euro, and card acceptance in small island tavernas can be unreliable, so carry enough cash for your dinners ashore, drinks and tips.
What about tipping?
Tips for the captain and gulet crew are not included and are at your discretion. It is customary for the group to pool a tip and present it to the crew at the end of the cruise; your captain or our team can advise on a typical amount. A small tip of around 10% is appreciated in tavernas for good service.
Can I upgrade to a Standard Plus cabin?
Yes, where Standard Plus cabins are offered on your departure. They are the same as Standard cabins but with a separate shower cubicle instead of a wet room. Compare the two prices on the Dates & Prices tab for your chosen departure.
Can I add nights in Kos before or after the cruise?
Yes. Pre and post tour accommodation is not included in the price, but boarding is not until 17:00 on Day 1 and you disembark at 09:00 on Day 8, so an extra night or two in Kos Town is easy to add. Contact us if you would like help arranging accommodation.
Are there other sailing routes I could combine or compare?
Yes. Related gulet cruises include the Dodecanese Sailing Explorer (8 days, southern Dodecanese from Rhodes), Sailing the Ionian Islands (8 days) and Set Sail From Zakynthos (8 days). Two Dodecanese routes can be combined into a fortnight afloat. Contact the team to compare routes and dates.
How far ahead should I book?
As early as you can. We run regular departures between May and October, generally starting on a Saturday, and nearly all sailings sell out well in advance. Availability during peak summer months is particularly limited, so book early to secure your preferred date and cabin type.
How does booking work?
Reserve online through the Dates & Prices tab. Pay a deposit or hold your spot with reserve-now-pay-later, with the balance due 8 weeks before departure. Choose your cabin type at the time of booking. Because the final boat name comes from the captain a week out, your final voucher with emergency contacts arrives about 6 days before departure.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Travel insurance is compulsory on all Encounters Travel tours and must cover personal accident and liability, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and travel delay, with cancellation and baggage cover strongly recommended. You must provide your policy details before departure. World Nomads Travel Insurance covers over 150 activities.
What's your cancellation policy?
Cancellation charges apply on a sliding scale depending on how far in advance you cancel; full details are in the booking conditions. All bookings are financially protected through Trust My Travel, a UK-registered financial protection scheme, so your funds are safe in the event of company insolvency.
What if the itinerary changes after I book?
Gulet cruises and itineraries are subject to alteration before departure or en route at the final decision of the boat captain, sometimes at short notice, due to weather, the number of other boats in certain bays or other practical reasons. This is out of our control and a condition of booking, but the same overall experience is always maintained. If your dates are sold out, join the waitlist, try a neighbouring Saturday departure, or consider the Dodecanese Sailing Explorer.
