A Perfect Tour Of Kos

Day 1

First swim

At Kos airport, pick up hire car, driving straight to a seafood meal in Kardámena or Mastihári. Have a refreshing swim off Polémi or Psilós Gremós beach before hotel check-in at Kos Town, Psalídi or Ágios Fokás.

Day 2

Kos Town

Explore the Knights’ Neratziá castle in the morning, then the Casa Romana museum. Swim near Tingáki or Marmári before lunch in or near Tingáki. Visit the hillside Asklepion in the late afternoon, before dinner at a Platáni taverna.

Day 3

Southwest coast

See the Archaeological Museum and ogle 1920s–30s Italian architecture before driving across Kos, visiting Andimáhia’s castle before lunch at Limniónas. Continue to the far southwest around Kéfalos, perhaps stopping to windsurf at Kamári. Spend sunset on a pre-booked, north-coast horseback ride from the Salt Lake stables. Dinner is at Ambavris Taverna, outside town.

Day 4

A climb and a soak

Try more advanced windsurfing near Cape Psalídi, before lunch at Old Pyli taverna in Amanioú. Afterwards, see Lagoúdi village’s frescoed church before climbing Khristós peak in the late afternoon. Dinner at Ziá’s Oromedon taverna; then drive to Bros Thermá hot springs to assuage aches and pains.

Day 5

Nísyros

Return hire car and take a morning excursion boat to Nísyros, where you overnight. On a scooter, tour the entire island besides its famous volcanic caldera – Pahiá Ámmos beach, the archaeological museum, two castles, two inland villages. Have lunch in Emborió, dinner in Mandráki or Lakkí, and patronise the thermal bath-house.

Day 6

Kálymnos

Board the catamaran from Nísyros to Kálymnos, arriving at lunchtime. From your Póthia base, head for Myrtiés by bus or scooter and take a little boat to peaceful Télendos islet. Return to Kálymnos to enjoy the sunset from a west-coast taverna at Linariá or Armeós.

Day 7

Tiny Psérimos

Take the daily caique from Póthia harbour to Psérimos islet, with its idyllic beaches and laid-back pace; lunch at Avlákia port. Evening return to Kálymnos, with dinner in Póthia.

Day 8

Léros

Pop into Póthia’s Archaeological Museum before getting the catamaran to Léros, arriving for lunch at Dimitris O Karaflas after hiring a scooter. Following an afternoon swim and a look at Lakkí’s Italian monuments, head up to the Knights’ castle above Plátanos for superb sunset views. Dinner near your hotel in Krithóni or Vromólithos.

Day 9

Pátmos

Visit the Álinda Historical/Folklore museum before mid-day catamaran to Pátmos, with a swim and lunch at a beach and then an atmospheric evening pilgrimage to Hóra’s magnificent monastery. Dinner at Tzivaeri in Skála.

Day 10

Back to Kos

Take the morning catamaran from Pátmos to Kos, arriving in time for your afternoon or evening flight home. Use any spare time in Kos Town.