PILGRIM SAILING TOUR TO THE DODECANESE ISLANDS
The Route : 1st day KOS - LEROS 25 NM 2nd day LEROS - LIPSI 11 NM 3rd day LIPSI - PATMOS 11 NM 4th day PATHMOS - KALYMNOS 32 NM 5th day KALYMNOS - NISYROS 28 NM 6th day NISYROS - KOS 22 NM
1st Day : Voyage fron Kos to Leros The Byzantine castle which was founded on the ruins of the ancient acropolis of Leros in the 7th century A .D. and completed during the time of Knights of St. John and the Venetians, is well- maintained. In its time it was impregnable with three ramparts and offered a sure refuge to the inhabitants during periods of hostile incursions. The church of the Panayia stands out among the three small churches at Kastro; it lies on the west side and is the most important religious site the Lerians have. It has a iconostasis with gold inlays and icons worthy of note. The island hostsrare, Byzantine, ecclesiastical monuments such as the church of Agios Ioannis Theologos at Lakki with building phases date to the 10th century, Agios Zacharias at Merikia, Agioi Apostoloi at Kamar, Agios Petros at Drymonas, Agios Georgios at Partheni, the Virgin Mary Gourlomata and the Basilica of Agia Barbara. There are also many small, single roomed churches of the post-Byzantine period scattered through out the island.
2nd Day : Voyage from Leros to Lipsi Lipsi or Lipsos is a small group of islets at the northern part of the Dodecanese near to Patmos island and Leros. Lipsi is the biggest island of the group ,there located the capital of the island Lipsi. There are several small churches and monasteries scattered around the island. So many are they, in fact, that the saying according to which there is one church for each family in Lipsi might just as well be justified. Let us name a few: Panagia tou Harou between the 7th and 8th Century AC. Agios Ioannis Theologos, The church of Panagia at Kouselio, build on the very foundations of an early Christian church. Embedded in the walls of this church – therefore still to be seen – are inscriptions – bearing marbles of that earlier construction that were later used as building meterial for the new church. Other notable visits are the churches of A gios Theologos tou Moschatou 17th century and Agios Panteleimon.
3rd Day : Voyage from Lipsi to Patmos One of the most beautiful and distinctive of the Dodecanese Islands, Patmos is best known as the place where St. John received his visions and wrote the Book of Revelation. A small island with a population of about 3,000, Patmos has managed to remain one of the least touristy of the Greek islands, despite its many visitors and firm presence on the cruise circuit. It remains delightfully unspoiled, yet it has still developed a good tourist infrastructure, with a number of excellent restaurants, hotels and beaches. Patmos is located in the South Aegean Sea near the island of Kos and not far from Turkey. There are two main "cities" on Patmos: Skala, the harbor area and where most of the residents live; and Hora, the hilltop area dominated by the Monastery of St. John. The monastery and the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse, where the revelations took place, are major pilgrimage destinations and popular tourist sights as well. Many package tours and cruises stop in Patmos and there are frequent ferry and hydrofoil services. Monastery of St. John Cave of the Apocalypse Monastery of St. John
4th Day : Voyage from Patmos to Kalymnos The first thing that comes to mind when one talks about Kalymnos is the sponges. The island has been known for these for about 500 years now, and is a must when it comes to buying souvenirs. Every spring, the fishermen leave the island after festivities, and after five months they return, which again is a reason for great celebrations. The sponges today are taken from the coast of North Africa. In the island's capital Pothia (Kalymnos) you'll find a nice museum about the island. There is also a beautiful church here dedicated to Christ. There is also a nunnery, Ag Savas, which is open to the public and is well worth a visit. Don't forget to wear a long skirt and to cover your shoulders if you are a woman, and to wear long trousers if you are a man. There are also several sponge factories you can visit. Chorio is the old capital, and here you can visit the castle of Golden Hand (Kasto Chrysocheiras) where the Knights of St. John resided. There is also a citadel from the 9th cent. AD, Pera Kastro, and the remains of a church from the 5th century: "Jesus of Jerusalem". Over the hill to the east of the port a huge cross dominates over the town of Pothia.
5th Day : Voyage from Kalymnos to Nisyos Formed from volcano eruptions, Nisyros is a place of wild beauty. According to mythology, during the period of the Gigantomachy (war of the Giants) Poseidon (the god of the sea) plucked a rock from Kos and in anger threw it at the giant Polyvotis with the intention of killing him. This rock, which crushed the giant, became Nisyros, and the half-dead giant shakes the earth every now and then with his groans, thus awakening the volcano. The Castle of Spiliani dominates the harbour from a height of 150m, a memento from the Knights’ passing. The view from here is unique revealing the harbour, black volcanic rock shores and the islets of Gyali, Pergousa, Strongyli and Pachia in the background. In the Castle’s courtyard stands the Monastery of the Panagia (Virgin Mary), the patron saint of the island, on the same site where around the 4th Century B.C. the walls of the old city and remains of temples and ancient cemeteries used to i t
6th Day : Voyage from Nisyros to Kos Kos lies in the middle of Dodecanese and it is one of the most popular Greek islands. Sandy beaches and rich history are the two major attractions of Kos, along with vivid nightlife. The Castle of Antimachia in Kos: On a small hill above Antimachia village, to the south of Kos Town, there is a Venetian Castle that is know as the Castle of Antimachia. Its construction started in the 14th century by the Order of the Knights of Saint John but works were intensified in the end of the 15th century, as it can be seen at an inscription above the main gate which has the date 1494 engraved on it. This is about the same period of the construction of Nerantzia Castle in Kos Town. Inside the Castle, there are two Venetian churches, the church of Agios Nikolaos dating from the 16th century and the church of Agia Paraskevi, built in early 18th century. The Complex of Early Christian Basilicas of Saint Stephen: This complex consists in two Basilicas dated to the 5th and 6th century AD. The Church of Ipapandi : The beautiful Byzantine church of Ipapandi stands within the ruined walls of a Byzantine fortress, in the village of Pyli, west of Kos Town. The castle of Antimachia
Agios Nikolaos
Agia Paraskevi
Prices: •Bavaria 49 (5 cabins/ 10 pax + 3 WC) = high season 4.010€/ middle season 3.310€/ low season 2.050€/ off season 1.400€ •Beneteau Oceanis 46 (4 cabins/ 8-10 pax + 2WC) = high season 3.780€/ middle season 3.250€/ low season 2.150€/ off season 1.260€ •Bavaria 40 Cruiser (3 cabins/ 7 pax + 2 WC) = high season 2.520€/ middle season 2.150€/ low season 1.640€/ off season 980€
•Please notice that upon request we can offer you any other Yachts.
Charter fees include: •Charter of the Yacht for one week •VAT •Yacht equipment & insurance •Bed linen & towels •Cooking gas •First & last night at the marina/port •Autopilot •Dinghy & outboard engine •Brokers/Agents commission of 15% Not included in the price are: •Food & drinks •Water •Fuel about Euro 200 to Euro 400 depending on the size of the yacht and the use of sail & the weather. •Marina & port fees •Skipper Euro 140 per day + food •Hostess Euro 120 per day + food •Final cleaning Euro 25 per cabin.