Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Island Hopping on the Dodecanese From the Palaces of Rhodes to the Beaches of Symi
Greece – Rhodes – Rhodes City – Symi – Lindos
Your journey starts in the medieval citadel of Rhodes, discovering historic sites like the ramparts and the Street of the Knights with a private guide, who will also highlight the city’s rich tapestry of Byzantine and Ottoman influences.
Next, set sail and swap the city for a small seaside village on nearby Symi for a few days of R&R. Here, the only thing you need to decide is which beach to visit next, as you hop between pretty bays in a water taxi.
Your holiday ends back on Rhodes, in the pretty town of Lindos, ready for more beach-hopping down the coast, wine tastings in local vineyards and a guided sunset hike through the majestic landscapes of Mount Profitis Ilias.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Your holiday begins today, so enjoy a relaxing start to your trip with snacks and refreshments in the airport lounge before boarding your four-hour flight to the island of Rhodes.
On arrival, meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel in the historic heart of Rhodes City. Then spend the rest of the day settling in and getting a feel for your surroundings. Relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel, or, if you’re itching to scope out the city, we can recommend plenty of great dining options on your doorstep.
Today is all about discovering the medieval city of Rhodes. When the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem conquered Rhodes early in the 14th century, they wanted to stay indefinitely. So, they set about building a simple, elegant and (most importantly) impregnable city. However, Rhodes City didn’t prove to be as impregnable as they had hoped; in 1522 Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire succeeded in taking siege of the city. Accompanied by your private guide, see some of the UNESCO-listed citadel’s most important sites: the ramparts, the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Street of the Knights, which is lined with the ‘inns of tongues’ (once home to knights of varying nationalities). While exploring, snap a photo of the Diagoras monument, which celebrates the feats of an Ancient Greek boxer from the fifth century BC. And don’t forget to sample some local fare to fuel your sightseeing…
This morning, your private transfer will take you to the port of Rhodes, where you’ll hop on a boat across the azure waters of the Dodecanese Archipelago to the idyllic island of Symi. Your home for the next two nights is one of the town’s charming hotels, many of which offer scenic sea views. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you like. We recommend savouring a long, lazy evening at the hotel to ensure you have plenty of energy for tomorrow’s adventures.
After a tasty breakfast, it’s time to discover the beauty of Symi. Spend the morning exploring the charming town, with its grand pastel-toned houses facing the sea and traditional fishing boats bobbing in the harbour.
After lunch it’s time to hit the beach and take a dip in the transparent turquoise ocean. You’re spoilt for choice around here when it comes to blissful beaches, so we recommend making use of the small water taxis to jet around the coast. If you like, we can also arrange for you to continue your sightseeing at sea with an optional trip aboard a caique – a traditional fishing boat.
Return to Rhodes today to embark on a journey to the beautiful town of Lindos. Enjoy the peaceful boat ride across the Dodecanese Archipelago before collecting your hire car. The drive to your next hotel should take around an hour, but don’t be surprised if the classic Greek landscapes tempt you into making a few photo stops along the way.
After a warm welcome at your hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next four nights, spend the rest of today relaxing and recharging from your travels. As afternoon turns to evening, tuck into a meal of gorgeous Greek cuisine.
Spend the next two days exploring Lindos and its beautiful surroundings. While it’s tempting to while away the hours on the idyllic Mediterranean beaches, instead make use of your hire car to discover every nook and cranny of this idyllic island corner.
Start the day in Lindos itself, a typically Greek, white-washed village set on a peninsula, alongside an ancient acropolis and a lovely ringed bay, Agios Pavlos.
Further south, the pretty villages of Asklipio and Lachania await. Scenery seekers – head west for pristine landscapes of vineyards, orchards, vegetable gardens, Aleppo pines, Italian cypresses and date palms. Or visit the shady valley that’s home to the beautiful Jersey Tiger moth. Ready for a good glass of wine? Make your way to the village of Embonas to sample varieties from nearby vineyards. There are also ample opportunities for wine tasting along the way, giving you a hint of local flavour.
Spend a leisurely morning and lunchtime savouring the island’s climate and cuisine, before later driving an hour inland for a sunset hike up Profitis Ilias. The mountain is the island’s third highest, and today you can walk its slopes, shaded by holly, pine and olive trees, to reach the village of Salakos. And if you happen across some surprisingly Alpine architecture, you’ve found ‘Elafos’ (the deer) and ‘Elafina' (the hind); twin hotels built by Italian settlers in 1929 and 1932. The Villa de Vecci (home of the island’s former Italian governor) and the Byzantine church can also be spotted along the way. As you climb, watch the sun sink over the Aegean Sea, the Turkish coastline and the neighbouring islands – a glorious, golden end to a special trip.
There’s also the option to make your last full day even more memorable with a sea kayaking tour, discovering pristine, pocket-sized coves with a local guide.
Sadly, the time has come to head back home, so make sure to soak up the last of the gorgeous Greek scenery on your one-hour drive back to the airport. Drop off your hire car and then settle in for a pleasant four-hour flight back to the UK – plenty of time to get planning that next holiday…
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
SYMI BY BOAT
Shipyards and sponge fishing made Symi a prosperous island until the beginning of the 20th century and many of its grander houses still show signs of this prosperity. One of the best ways to admire the island and its ornate architecture is on board a traditional fishing boat, known as a caique. Found in the eastern Mediterranean, the rigging, style and size of these caiques have all changed over time, but they are still elegant, slender and steerable boats that are a pleasure to sail. Head out with a skipper for an adventure around the island’s picturesque coastline.SEA KAYAKING AROUND RHODES
Kayaking is the best way to discover the wild coves, hidden bays and crystal-clear waters that surround the island of Rhodes. After some quick tips and tuition from your instructor, paddle from Kathara Beach to a number of tiny coves spread across the island’s coastline. Breaks for swimming and snorkelling, as well as a picnic lunch on the beach, are also on the agenda.
Why visit Greece with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Greece
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