A Kos 3 islands boat trip leaves Kos Town harbour for a day at sea, with a stop in Pothia on Kalymnos, a beach on Pserimos and a swim near the islet of Plati. Browse other Greek tours for more days out in the Dodecanese.
This page covers the harbour, each island stop, the food on board, the timetable, the boats, the season, transfers, families and what to bring on a Kos 3 islands boat trip.
What does a Kos 3 islands boat trip include?
A Kos 3 islands boat trip is a full-day cruise from Kos Town to Kalymnos, Plati and Pserimos. It covers the sailing, one stop at each island and a crew on board all day. You get time to swim or walk ashore.
The islands lie close together. Pserimos sits between Kalymnos and Kos, and the islet of Plati lies near Pserimos. A Kos 3 islands boat trip hops between them.
The three stops have different jobs. On the pirate cruise, Pserimos and Plati are swimming stops, and Kalymnos is a sightseeing stop. You walk its traditional streets and shops instead of swimming. A Kos 3 islands boat trip therefore mixes a swim, a town walk and time on deck.
The order depends on the operator. The Odyssey boat sails to Kalymnos first, then Plati, then Pserimos, and each stop lasts about an hour. The pirate cruise goes to Pserimos first, then Kalymnos, then Plati. Both versions of a Kos 3 islands boat trip visit the same three islands.
On board, the pirate cruise lists toilets, music all day and life jackets. Non-swimmers can stay on the boat during swim stops, and a snack bar sells refreshments. One tour adds a shaded indoor saloon deck, away from the music. Tours also list shopping for souvenirs and local products on the islands.
Other tours list their own extras. One gives a free audio commentary on your phone, in your own language. It lists hosts who speak English, German, Greek and Italian. Another tour lists changing rooms, showers, free Wi-Fi and full passenger insurance.
Weather and sea conditions can change the itinerary, and operators make that change for safety reasons. Plan a Kos 3 islands boat trip with that in mind.
Which harbour in Kos Town do the boats leave from?
A Kos 3 islands boat trip leaves from the main harbour of Kos Town. One tour lists its meeting point as Akti Kountouriotou. A boat operator gives that same street as its harbour address.
A 14th-century fortress of the Knights Hospitaller stands at the entrance to the harbour and dominates the port. Kos Town is the island’s main port and population centre, and it is where the cruise begins.
Operators name the spot in plain terms for a Kos 3 islands boat trip. The Odyssey boat departs from the main harbour of Kos. The Malena cruise sells tickets at its vessel in the harbour every afternoon from 17:30 to 24:00. Guests must board at least 30 minutes before the morning departure.
One pirate cruise tells guests to look for the pirate boat named Pirates of the Aegean or Pirates of Kos. One operator says each vessel has its own boarding time, shown on the ticket. Its vessel cannot wait past the departure time. Early arrival gives a better choice of seats on a Kos 3 islands boat trip.
Not every boat leaves from Kos Town. One tour boards at Mastichari harbour, on the north-western side of the island. It returns to Kos in the late afternoon. Another listing says the excursion voucher shows the meeting point and the exact pickup time. Read the voucher before your Kos 3 islands boat trip.
What do you see in Pothia, the main port of Kalymnos?
A Kos 3 islands boat trip that docks at Pothia shows you the harbour, a sponge factory and old alleys. Pothia is the capital and main port of Kalymnos, set on the edge of a bay.
Walk the waterfront first. Sponge sellers work along the beachfront of Pothia. One operator lists a sponge factory visit, free time in the town and a lunch in a tavern. Another lists a walk around the harbour and the traditional alleys on its Kos 3 islands boat trip.
If your Kos 3 islands boat trip leaves time to walk, look for two Italian-era buildings. They are the Government House and the Town Hall, in the heart of the town. Both show neoclassical features. Venetian-style houses also went up under Italian rule. The town itself was built in the middle of the 19th century, when pirate raids eased.
The Nautical Museum sits next to the Town Hall, in the former Vouvaleios Technical School. It shows sponge-diving tools, early photographs of the divers’ departure, anchors and shipwreck finds. The museum lies about 700 metres from the port. Ask the crew how long your Kos 3 islands boat trip stays in Pothia.
Pothia also has an Archaeological Museum with finds from the island’s sites. The Castle of Chora encloses the old capital of the island. A trail of 235 steps starts at Pothia and leads up to it.
Not every boat uses Pothia. Other operators name Vathi, a village in a natural fjord, as their Kalymnos stop. Check the route before you book your Kos 3 islands boat trip.
Why is Kalymnos known for its sponge divers?
Kalymnos is billed as the Sponge-divers’ island. On a Kos 3 islands boat trip you visit the island that sponge diving made rich. Sponges were its main source of income.
Sponge diving made Kalymnos known across the Mediterranean. Divers fished sponges as close as Pserimos, an island on a Kos 3 islands boat trip. Others sailed as far as North Africa. The first divers worked without equipment. From antiquity they used a stone called the skandalopetra, weighing 8 to 14 kg, to sink fast to the seabed.
In the 19th century, divers began to wear suits with a helmet, called scaphandro, fed with air from the surface. The death and injury rate from decompression sickness was extremely high. The local folk dance Mihanikos depicts the crippling effects of that illness.
A disease hit the eastern Mediterranean in the mid-80s and destroyed a great number of sponges. Sponges are still fished by hand, one at a time, but fewer people do the work. At the sponge factory stop on a Kos 3 islands boat trip, you can watch how natural sponges are made.
After World War II, Kalymnos stayed the leading sponge-fishing centre of Greece and sent its sponges abroad. Three museums on the island now tell the story of the trade.
The trade shaped family life too. Men left for months on sponge-diving trips, far longer than a Kos 3 islands boat trip. Women waved white handkerchiefs at the farewell, then wore black clothes until their men returned. Every year, Sponge Week, a week after Easter, honours this “Kalymnian gold”.
What is the beach stop on Pserimos like?
The Kos 3 islands boat trip stops at Pserimos for a swim on a shallow, sandy beach. You get about an hour on the island. You can swim, walk the paths, or sit in a local taverna or cafeteria.
Pserimos is a small Dodecanese island, lying between Kalymnos and Kos. The Hellenic Statistical Authority counted 84 residents in its latest census. Tourism is the main industry, and visitors come for the remote setting and the beaches. One operator says the island gets busier in summer. A Kos 3 islands boat trip joins the cruise boats that call here.
Operators describe the water at Pserimos as emerald and crystal clear. One calls the stop a swimming stop with about an hour of free time. Another lists beachfront cafés and shops. The swim is the main purpose of this stop on a Kos 3 islands boat trip.
On a Kos 3 islands boat trip, you can walk from the port to the beach, where small taverns stand. Local sellers offer sponges and spices, and you can order a Greek coffee. Panagia, the island’s church, and the school are a walk away too. Stairs lead up to a view over the island.
The order of the stops differs by operator. One starts at Pserimos, and two start at Vathi on Kalymnos. A different cruise lists Vathi, Pserimos and the Blue Lagoon, a spot behind Pserimos that only boats can reach. Ask which order your Kos 3 islands boat trip follows before you book.
Where does the boat anchor for a swim near Plati?
On a Kos 3 islands boat trip, the boat anchors close to the land of Plati. This small islet lies between Kos and Kalymnos. Once the engines stop, you jump in and swim around the boat. The sandy bottom shows through the clear water.
Plati is an uninhabited islet. Operators say you can dive, slide or step into the sea straight from the boat. One operator lists Kalymnos as the sightseeing stop, and Plati as a swimming stop where you dive from the boat. On a Kos 3 islands boat trip, Plati is for the water, not for sightseeing.
Operators use the same words for the water at Plati: clear, blue and turquoise. One calls the blue water inviting. Another calls the dive from the boat into the clear water a must. These words come from the operators, not from a test of the sea.
Swimmers can reach the islet itself. One operator calls the Plati stop short, but says there is enough time to swim over to the island. Another says each of its stops lasts about an hour. So the time in the water on a Kos 3 islands boat trip differs from boat to boat.
Ask your operator how long the boat stays at Plati before you book. Ask how long you can stay in the water. Stop lengths on the operator pages run from a short stop to about an hour. Plan your swim around that answer on your Kos 3 islands boat trip.
What food and drinks come with a Kos 3 islands boat trip?
A Kos 3 islands boat trip includes a lunch served on board with Odyssey, Exas and Barco De Pirata. Drinks and snacks from the bar are bought separately, and each operator sets its own menu.
On the Odyssey Kos 3 islands boat trip, the menu is pork or chicken souvlaki with salad, tzatziki and bread. Beans and dolmades replace the meat for vegetarians. Lunch is a buffet, ready when you return to the boat from Vathi, the first stop.
The Exas listing names a barbecue lunch of chicken, souvlaki, Greek salad and bread. It adds that vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available on request. It does not include beverages or snacks from the onboard bar. Barco De Pirata serves a Greek lunch with a choice of chicken souvlaki or a vegetarian dish.
You can also eat ashore. At Vathi, Odyssey points to local sweets and homemade orange juice. At Pserimos, you can sit at a local cafeteria or taverna.
Not every cruise serves lunch aboard. Malena sends guests to a seaside tavern in Kalymnos for a traditional meal. On a Kos 3 islands boat trip with Katerina, reviewers mention homemade donuts and watermelon between stops.
Drinks on a Kos 3 islands boat trip come from the onboard bar. Odyssey’s bar sells drinks and snacks, and its happy hour starts while guests swim at Plati. Malena lists cocktails and soft drinks. Barco Tours does not allow guests to bring their own drinks on board.
What time does a Kos 3 islands boat trip leave and return?
On the boats we checked, a Kos 3 islands boat trip leaves Kos at 9:45 or 10:00 in the morning. The return is between 17:00 and 18:00, depending on the operator.
Each Kos 3 islands boat trip has its own schedule. On Barco De Pirata, boarding is at 8:40, departure at 9:45 and the return at 17:00. Odyssey and Exas both list a 10:00 departure and a 17:00 return. The Katerina cruise leaves at 10:00 and comes back at 18:00.
Boarding opens before departure. On Barco De Pirata it opens 65 minutes before the boat sails. Malena asks guests to board at least 30 minutes before departure. Barco Tours says the vessel cannot wait past its departure time. Arriving at the start of boarding also gives a better choice of seating.
If you run late for a Kos 3 islands boat trip with Malena, tell the crew as soon as possible. Guests with a ticket can ask to move to another date.
Tour listings give the length of the day as 7, 7.5, 8 or 8.5 hours, depending on the tour.
Your ticket carries the final times for the Kos 3 islands boat trip. Barco Tours says each vessel has its own times. They appear on every trip page, in the booking flow and on the ticket. Malena sells tickets at the boat every afternoon after 17:30.
Book ahead. Malena recommends booking at least one day ahead. Tour listings set a booking cut-off between 1 and 20 hours before the start.
Which boats sail the route, from wooden caiques to larger cruise boats?
A Kos 3 islands boat trip sails on a wooden boat, a pirate ship or a two-deck cruiser. One operator lists wooden yachts of 80 feet, and one cruise boat takes up to 126 passengers. The boat you get depends on the operator.
Wood is the old Aegean tradition. A caique is a traditional wooden fishing boat of that sea, brightly painted and rigged for sail. On this route, operators describe a wooden boat, a wooden yacht and a traditional wooden gulet. Gulets are popular for tourist charters and measure 14 to 35 metres.
Captain Hook is an 85-foot wooden yacht with sundecks, soft seats, covered areas and tables. Larger boats add more space and shade on a Kos 3 islands boat trip.
Malena has two open decks with personal sunbeds and an air-conditioned lounge. Nikitas Cruise holds 126 passengers and has an upper deck with extra seating, plus sunbeds and shade at the rear.
Barco De Pirata is the pirate ship that sails a Kos 3 islands boat trip. It takes up to 50 guests and has an indoor saloon deck for shade and quiet. Its booking page shows a real deck plan, so you can pick your seat. Karoline Cruise sails an 18-metre vessel to Pserimos, Plati and the Blue Lagoon.
One listing sells a brand-new luxury vessel with four stops instead of three. A catamaran also sails from Kos, but that listing goes to Pserimos only.
Ask for the boat’s name before you book a Kos 3 islands boat trip. One seller names two ships, Captain Hook and Santa Maria. It adds that you sail on one of its vessels, subject to availability.
The route changes with the boat too. The premium Kos Pearl swims at Vathi, Pserimos and the Blue Lagoon, not Plati.
In which months does a Kos 3 islands boat trip run?
A Kos 3 islands boat trip runs from late April to October, with the busiest timetable from June to September. In July and August every cruise sails every day, and popular cruises sell out days in advance.
Spring and October are the shoulder season. There are fewer departures, and not every small boat sails. Check the date online before you plan a Kos 3 islands boat trip around one boat.
Operators set their own dates. Barco Tours says each boat keeps its own calendar. Its booking calendar for Barco De Pirata shows the season ending in the last week of October.
A second seller lists a Kos 3 islands boat trip daily from late spring to the third week of October. Odyssey Boat says it sails every day.
Wind changes the picture in summer. The meltemi, a strong north wind, blows from about late spring to mid-September. It comes up in clear weather without warning and can reach force 7 to 8.
A Barco De Pirata listing says the route can change with weather and sea conditions on the day. Barco Tours lists the sea forecast beside each departure for the next seven days. Keep your plans flexible for a Kos 3 islands boat trip in these months.
How do you reach Kos Town harbour from the resorts?
Reach the harbour for a Kos 3 islands boat trip by hotel pickup, public bus or taxi. Kos Town is the island’s main port. One tour page lists pickup points in Tigaki, Marmari and Mastichari.
Hotel pickup means you need no bus or taxi on the morning of your Kos 3 islands boat trip. One tour page lists 37 pickup points, and another lists 23. A third says the transfer from your hotel to the harbour and back is part of the tour.
One page asks you to stand at the pickup point five minutes before the pickup time. Another says the exact pickup time and meeting point appear on your voucher. On one tour, hotel transfer is an option you add to the booking. One reviewer staying in Psalidi was picked up at the hotel and dropped off afterwards.
Without pickup, the public bus is the next choice for a Kos 3 islands boat trip. The official Kos tourism site puts the central bus stop in the heart of Kos Town, at 7 Kleopatras Street. It names bus routes to Tigaki, Marmari, Mastichari, Kardamena and Kefalos. Tigaki lies about 10 kilometres west of Kos Town.
Bus times change with the season, and there are more of them in summer. Check the bus company’s website before your Kos 3 islands boat trip. Taxis in Kos Town start from Akti Kountouriotou, and you can order one by phone or book online. Town buses also reach Psalidi, Lambi, Agios Fokas, Alikarnassos and Platani.
Is a Kos 3 islands boat trip a good choice for families with children?
One operator calls its Kos 3 islands boat trip a family-friendly cruise suitable for all ages. That boat has a shaded indoor saloon, life jackets and onboard restrooms. The day is long, at 7 to 8.5 hours on the tour pages.
The pirate boat has an extra indoor saloon deck. Its tour page calls this shaded area ideal for families with children, away from the music. Another boat that sails the Kos 3 islands boat trip lists an air-conditioned lounge, toilets with showers and changing rooms. It also gives each guest a personal sunbed.
One tour page says non-swimmers can stay on board during the swim stops. A reviewer on another page called the boat comfortable even for families with small kids, with seats inside and outside. A parent travelling with a seven-year-old wrote that the child had a go at steering the boat.
Think about the length of the day before you book a Kos 3 islands boat trip with young children. The tour pages list 7, 7.5 and 8.5 hours. The pirate tour page says the itinerary can change because of weather and sea conditions, for safety reasons.
Read the limits on the tour pages too. One page lists the cruise as not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Two pages list it as not suitable for people prone to seasickness. Read those notes before you book a Kos 3 islands boat trip for the whole family.
What clothes and kit do you pack for the day at sea?
For a Kos 3 islands boat trip, wear swimwear and comfortable shoes, and pack a towel, sunscreen and sunglasses. Tour pages from Kos operators list the same basics. Add a change of clothes and a photo ID.
A Kos 3 islands boat trip is a full-day outing, and one tour page asks for comfortable clothing. Another operator names sun protection, a towel, comfortable shoes and a camera. It also says to bring swimwear for the optional stops. A third adds a change of clothes and sunglasses.
The Malena cruise vessel has changing rooms on board, so you can switch into your swimsuit there. Its page says all you need is your ticket and a swimsuit.
Comfortable shoes are on two of the lists. At Kalymnos, the Barco De Pirata listing gives free time to walk around the harbour and visit local shops.
Photo ID matters on the Barco De Pirata pirate cruise. Its operator asks for a clear photo of a passport or driving licence before departure. The local port authority requires this. A second listing asks for a passport or ID card for children.
Drinks follow one rule on a Kos 3 islands boat trip with Barco De Pirata. Guests cannot bring their own drinks, and the cruise does not include any.
What else do travellers ask about a Kos 3 islands boat trip?
Can you cancel a Kos 3 islands boat trip?
Yes, within a cut-off. The Barco De Pirata listing gives a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. The Malena asks for the same notice. It also helps ticket holders who miss the boat to rebook another date. One agency refunds a deposit when you cancel more than 2 days ahead.
What happens to a Kos 3 islands boat trip in bad weather?
The Barco De Pirata listing says the route can change for safety. It depends on the weather and sea conditions that day. Another operator says trips can be cancelled because of sea conditions, and then offers an alternative date or a refund.
What if you get seasick?
The Barco De Pirata listing names people prone to seasickness as not suitable. So does a Kalymnos and Pserimos day-cruise listing. A Pirates of Kos listing says seasick guests find open water uncomfortable if the sea is a little rough. Weigh that before you book a Kos 3 islands boat trip.
Can people with limited mobility join a Kos 3 islands boat trip?
Check before you book. The Kalymnos and Pserimos day-cruise listing says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. A 3-island cruise page asks that elderly guests can manage the steps on and off the boat. The first listing also bars pets, though assistance dogs are allowed.
Is there a toilet on board?
Facilities differ by boat, so check the page for your own Kos 3 islands boat trip. The Malena page lists toilets with showers. The Barco De Pirata listing includes onboard restroom facilities and safety equipment, including life jackets.