The Dodecanese Islands

General information

The Dodecanese is the most southerly group of islands in the Southern Sporades, lying east of the Cyclades, west of the coast of Asia Minor, and north-east of Crete. The name "Dodecanese" is of relatively recent origin and it means "Twelve Islands" although they are more than twelve.
The Dodecanese, with their 14 larger islands and more than 163 islets and rocks, are a real sailor's paradise. The biggest islands are Rhodes and Kos, which are also the most popular turist destinations. On each island there are numerous beautiful beaches and bays, blue skies, white houses, olive trees and many more. This is why these islands are the perfect place for relaxing holidays and for the return to the traditional way of living. You should not miss the castels and palaces of Rhodes, the ruins of Asklepieion on Kos, the historical monastery on Patmos and folcloristic treasures of Karpathos.
The Dodecannese Islands are mostly bare of vegetation although not as much as the Cyclades. Some islands, like Kos and Rhodes, are relatively green and wooded, thanks to their abundant natural springs. Because of the mild winters and refreshing summers, the Dodecanese have one of the healthiest climates in the Mediterranean.

History of the Dodecanese

Like the rest of Greece, the Dodecannese Islands have a long and rich history and the first settlements on these islands date back to pre-mycanean times. Newertheless, neither in Greek or in Roman times was the Dodecanese a separate political entity. It was an administrative region of the Byzantine Empire, and it was only when the islands came under Turkish rule in the 16th century that they were given extensive rights of self-government in domestic affairs and gained a common political status. In 1912 most of the islands were occupied by Italy as a counter-measure to the Turkish occupation of Libya. Under the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 Turkey formally ceded the whole of the Dodecanese to Italy. After being occupied by German forces during the Second World War the islands were reunited with Greece in 1947.

 

Dodecanese Islands

The islands of the Dodecanese archipelago are: Agathonisi, Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Nisyros, Symi, Astypalaia, Tilos, Chalki, Rhodes, Kharpatos and Kasos.

Wind and sailing conditions

In the summer the prevailing wind is the meltemi blowing from the NW-W direction at force 4-6. Usually it starts in June, blows strongly from July to September and fitfully in October. It doesn't blow every day, but when it starts it can blow for 5-10 days without break. In July and August, when the meltemi is at its strongest, the gusts off the lee side of an island can be considerably stronger than the wind strength in the open sea. Gusts are particularly strong off Patmos, Kalymnos, Kos, Nissyros, Tilos, Karpathos and Astypalea. Although it is possible to go N when the meltemi is blowing, it makes better sense to plan to be heading S in July and August.
In spring the meltemi blows mainly SE and it is not very strong. During the winter it usually blows SE and sometimes N or S. Temperatures in the summer can reach 35 degrees Celsius.

Travel tips & itineraries

There are direct flights to Rhodes, Kos and Samos, while from Pireaus there are regular daily ferries and fast ferries lines. The most convenient charter bases are in either Kos or Rhodes. Do not forget that the northerly winds influence the itineraries and that a one-way charter from Kos to Rhodes should certainly be considered. Other charter bases in the area are Samos (Pythagorion port) to the north and Paros (Paroikia port) to the west.

 

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