Aegean Gems: Rhodes, Symi, Chalki, Tilos
Overview
Explore the stunning Greek Islands – Rhodes, Symi, Chalki, Tilos, and other lesser-known gems of the Dodecanese Island group. Join our Gulet Aurora cruise, a comfy gulet with 9 cabins for up to 25 passengers. Other gulets like M/S Harmonia, M/S Aphrodite, M/S Eros, M/S Agiotis, and M/S Panagiota operate the Ionian cruise too. Enjoy a week-long itinerary covering Rhodes, Symi, Chalki and Tilos for an adventure and historical sightseeing. Cabins offer comfort mattress, wardrobe, reading light, a/c, a hairdryer, and a private shower.Small Ship Cruising
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Itinerary
Our Rhodes cruise starts with boarding after 4:00 pm. Disembarkation takes place exactly one week after embarkation, at 09:00. With this in mind, we start our journey from Rhodes Harbour. Rhodes Harbour is a vibrant area filled with Greek tavernas, local product markets, and plenty of antique shops.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed “Old Town” of Rhodes offers a unique scenic experience with its distinctive architecture and historic charm. Dinner and overnight stay in Rhodes New Marina.
Between 10:00 and 13:00, after formalities and taking fuel, we cruise towards Symi, one of the Dodecanese Islands and a real gem. Symi is known as one of Greece’s most beautiful little islands. Our first stop will be Nanou Bay, where we will enjoy lots of swimming in its crystal-clear waters, surrounded by lush forests and green hills.
In the afternoon, around 4:00 pm, we will cruise to Symi Port. Be sure to have your camera ready to capture wonderful images of this small, fairytale-like Greek village.
While dinner will be served on board, you may wish to dine ashore at one of the numerous idyllic tavernas lining the marina. If you choose to do so, please inform the captain in advance; the local tavernas on Symi are very tempting, and the captain will understand your choice.
Overnight stay in Symi.
Today, we leave Symi port after breakfast between 09:00 and 10:00 am. Our first stop will be St George Bay or one of the other many bays for lunch, swimming, and relaxing in the crystal-clear waters. In the afternoon, around 4:00 pm, we will cruise towards Panormitis, located in the southern part of Symi. Here, you can visit the Monastery of the Archangel Michael Panormitis. This Greek Orthodox Monastery, built in the early 18th century, is still inhabited by monks. It attracts visitors from around the world, and many Greeks pay yearly homage to St. Michael of Panormitis. Please note that loud music is not allowed here, to preserve the tranquility of the monastery.
If sea conditions are not optimal, we may need to cancel our visit to Panormitis and go to Pedi instead.
In the evening, enjoy a relaxing dinner and take in the serene surroundings.
Overnight stay in Panormitis.
Today, after breakfast between 09:00 and 10:00 am, we cruise towards the beautiful island of Tilos. Tilos is surrounded by high and rocky mountains, steep coasts, beaches with transparent waters, and caves. We will enjoy the day at Akrogiali Bay, where you can relax and take in the stunning scenery.
In the late afternoon, around 4:00 pm, we will enter Tilos harbor. This will give you a chance to stretch your legs and walk around the charming little town. In the center of the island, there is an abandoned village called Mikro Chorio, situated on a hilltop and reachable by taxi or bus. You can also visit Mikro Chorio in the evening to have a drink at the bar and experience its unique atmosphere.
Later in the night, enjoy a dinner at a local tavern, savoring traditional Greek cuisine. Note that this late-night dinner is not included in the initial package price.
Overnight stay in Tilos harbor.
Today, we cruise to the beautiful Island of Chalki, northwest of Rhodes. Depending on the sea conditions, we will start cruising before or after breakfast (between 06:00 and 10:00 am). Chalki is a perfect destination for peace and privacy, as tourism has not developed much here. The island is famous for its crystal-clear beaches. We will enjoy the day at Trakhia Bay or one of the other beautiful bays.
In the late afternoon, around 4 pm, we cruise to Nimporio, the island’s only village and main port. The beach promenade of Nimporio is lined with charming cafeterias and taverns. Be sure to visit the local church, where there is a mass between 7:30 and 8:00 pm.
After a day of exploration and relaxation, enjoy a traditional local Greek seafood dinner or Meze at one of the many local taverns run by the local fishermen.
Overnight stay in Chalki.
Today, we have an early start towards Rhodes Island. Breakfast will be served on the way or upon arrival at Anthony Quinn Bay, depending on weather conditions. This beach is named after the actor who bought this part of the island while filming “The Guns of Navarone.” Afterward, we cruise to Kalithea, where we will spend the rest of the day.
Kalithea is home to beautiful coves and beaches, perfect for swimming and relaxing. Its vibrant atmosphere and charming surroundings make it a delightful destination for our last full day.
Dinner and overnight stay in Kalithea.
We arrive at the New Marina in Rhodes between 09:00 and 10:00 am, giving us plenty of time to explore. Today is a free day to visit one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
We spend the night at the New Marina of Rhodes, where we enjoy an optional traditional dinner with the group for our final farewell party. After that, we head to the gulet to enjoy our last night together on board. The next day, early in the morning, we sadly depart.
As we have successfully cruised around Rhodes and its island complex, this is our departure day. Enjoy your last delicious Mediterranean breakfast on board. Disembarkation in Rhodes is scheduled for 09:00.
We say goodbye to each other, take some last photos, and head back! Hopefully, though, we will see you again. Until then, we wish you all the best!
Inclusions
Onboard Standard Ensuite Accommodation
The Crew (Captain, Engineer, Steward, Chef)
The Daily Fuel Consumption (4 hours/day)
Half Board (Buffet Breakfast - Plated Lunch)
Welcome Dinner & Captain’s Dinner
Private Beach & Swim Stops
Use of Snorkeling Equipment
Basic Bath Amenities
Free Cellular Wi-Fi (Subject to Limitation)
A/C (Subject to Limitation)
VAT
Exclusions
Superior en suite accommodation
Optional Excursions/ Activities
Accommodation, pre/post cruise
Local Transportation
Full Board/Dinners
Drinks/Drink Packages
Overnight A/C & Fan
Beach/Deck Towels
SUP / Kayak
Port Fees: AUD 357/person (Mandatory Change)
Flights –Not Optional
Kindly note, that although not included, all the above-mentioned exclusions, except the flights are optional.
Notes
Explore the stunning Greek Islands – Rhodes, Symi, Chalki, Tilos, and other lesser-known gems of the Dodecanese Island group.
Meeting Point: New Marina, Rhodes
Check-in (Embarkation): Saturday (May-October) at 17:00
Departure: Sunday (May-October) at 09:00
Check-out (Disembarkation): Following Saturday at 09:00
Our main periods are:
Peak period (July, August)
Shoulder period (June, September)
Low period (May, October)
Port Information
All ports we dock at during the cruise, at Symi, Tilos, and Chalki are public. This means that all ports we visit, operate on a first-come, first-served basis. For this reason, and especially during the high season (July and August), our vessels typically dock between 2:30 and 4:30 PM to secure a berth for the night. Thus, our Captains are not able to reserve a docking birth beforehand and that is why , the earlier we arrive at each port, the more likely we will find berthing availability.
The stated prices are subject to change without any notice. Keep in mind, that as the departure date of the sailing tour comes closer, the prices might increase, so it is wise to book in advance and secure the cheapest price possible!
Please note that the prices tend to increase from those listed below, as prices fluctuate, depending on the availability and the period.
Standard Cabin Type
All our standard cabins besides, their comfortable mattresses, are ensuite with their own shower, a hair dryer, a wardrobe for storage, reading lights, their own individual A/C device and an electric fan! Regarding our cabins, we do have a variety of doubles/twins (lower beds/bunk beds) and a few triples and quads, depending on your cruise package and demand.
Standard Plus Cabin Type
Our standard PLUS cabins are available on the majority of our gulets, always subject to availability. By standard PLUS cabin we define cabins that have a separate shower box inside the WC.
Important Note: The only additional charge you need to expect is the local port fees (AUD 357 per person), which need to be paid upon arrival, in order to assure some basic operational needs for the cruise.
*We cannot guarantee any specific bank ATM at any of the destinations we visit, so we advise you to have cash during the cruise.
If you want to have your own private cabin, there will be an extra charge of 50% of the total amount of 1 person’s price.
The itinerary is subject to change, due to inclement weather, difficulties at docking, or further unforeseen circumstances. This decision will be made solely at your captain’s discretion, based on the vessel’s and group’s safety.
Operational and Important Information:
1. All cabin lights, fans, showers, and toilets onboard, work at 24V. Additionally, as the vessels are equipped with batteries that
supply an output of 24V, there is no need for an external power supply for the electronics inside your cabin to operate.
2. The onboard Wi-Fi router works only when the vessels are connected to the equivalent port’s power supply, or while the onboard generator is working.
3. The A/C on board is working only when the generator is on and running but unfortunately due to local port regulations,
generators are prohibited from working after midnight.
4. The power supply from the shores at Zante’s Port, Ag. Effimia, Nydri and Ithaca (weak infrastructure) is not powerful enough to operate all our A/C units simultaneously.
Note: The ports we dock at, at Ag. Nikolaos, Fiskardo and Meganisi, do not have electricity at all.
5. The standard daily operating hours for all onboard A/C devices is up to 6 hours and does not include any type of overnight service. For the overnight A/C service, you will have to upgrade your cabin entry, at an additional cost of AUD 333 per person.
6. Onboard cleaning service includes daily basic floor cleaning, dusting, bin changing, bathroom cleaning and the sanitization of all shared areas. During the weekly cruise, our stewards change sheets and bath towels once.
7. Cabin keys are not provided for locking the cabins. If you have personal belongings that you wish to keep secure, you can entrust them to the Captain for safekeeping.
8. Regarding shower water, you can have a shower at any given time of the day.
Keep in mind that when the gulet is docked at any of the ports we visit, the engines are turned off, the water flow is reduced, and thus there is in no warm/hot water after midnight. Also, all water tanks onboard are limited, meaning when multiple cabins shower at once, hot water is likely to run out faster. If this happens, and you do not have warm/hot water available, inform your operating Captain so that he can activate the water heater. After 15 to 20 minutes, you will have warm/hot water again.
In case of any price increase/decrease, you will be informed in time, accordingly. Prices fluctuate regularly, in line with the demand. Our Price Promise ensures clients, who book early, that they will never have to pay more, than those who book quite after them.
