The Dodecanese stretch along Turkey’s Aegean coast in a chain of twelve major islands and dozens of smaller ones, from Patmos in the north to Rhodes at the southern tip. They are Greece’s most easterly islands — closer to Bodrum than to Athens — and they carry a layered history that no other Greek island group can match: Classical, Byzantine, Crusader, Ottoman, and Italian occupations have each left their mark in stone. The sailing here is varied, the waters are warm, and the crowds thin noticeably once you move beyond Rhodes and Kos.
The Dodecanese are where the Aegean meets the Levant — in the architecture, the light, and on the plate.
Geography and Sailing Conditions
The chain runs roughly 100 nautical miles north to south. Islands are well-spaced — 10 to 20 nautical miles between major stops — with the Turkish coast providing additional shelter and the option to clear in for a lunch stop at Bodrum or Datca (formalities permitting). The Meltemi reaches the Dodecanese but with less force than the central Cyclades; typical summer winds are 10–20 knots from the northwest. The sea between islands is generally less confused, and anchorages on the southeast sides of islands offer reliable shelter.
Key Islands
A Typical Charter Week
Starting from Rhodes or Kos, a week allows a thorough exploration of five to seven islands. A northbound route from Kos: Kalymnos, Leros, Patmos (two nights merited), Lipsi, return via Leros and Kos. A southern loop from Rhodes: Symi (overnight), Tilos, Nisyros, Kos, and back. Passages are moderate and the routing is flexible — the wind rarely forces major changes.
Season
The Dodecanese are not the first Greek islands most charterers consider, and that is part of their appeal. The history runs deeper, the harbours are less contested, and the eastern Aegean light — sharper, warmer — is something you notice from the first morning.
