A Kos tuk tuk tour is a one-hour ride from Kanari in a three-wheeled tuk tuk, with sea views, Roman ruins and a castle on the way. Pair it with other tours in Greece to fill the rest of the holiday.
This page covers what a Kos tuk tuk tour includes, where it starts and how long it lasts, the Lambi and Faros shores, the village of Platani, the Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, the other tuk tuk tours on Kos, who the ride suits and the questions travellers ask.
What does the Kos tuk tuk tour include?
The Kos tuk tuk tour includes a scenic drive along the Lambi and Faros shores and a visit to Platani. The village is a traditional one. Each person on the ride also gets a complimentary bottle of water.
Tuk Tuk Adventures runs the tour. The operator calls its vehicles eco-friendly tuk tuks. It says each ride is tailored to share the stories and secrets of Kos. Knowledgeable locals tell those stories along the way. The operator adds that its tours give an extraordinary perspective on the sights and sounds of the island.
The first inclusion is the drive itself. On the Kos tuk tuk tour, the road follows the breezy shores of Lambi and Faros. The tour page says the salt air and the wide sea views set a tranquil tone.
The second inclusion is a visit to the traditional village of Platani. The third is the complimentary bottle of water, one for each person. The page lists no other extras, so those three items make up the full list.
A short note sits under the heading “Know before you go”. It says the Kos tuk tuk tour includes a scenic drive and views of historical sites. The operator also promises charm and history at every turn of the streets.
Cancelling is simple. The page lists free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and the refund is a full one.
Where does the Kos tuk tuk tour start, and how long does it last?
The Kos tuk tuk tour meets at Kanari 12, Kos 853 00, Greece. The whole loop lasts 1 hour. The booking page shows the starting times when you check availability.
The address Kanari 12 is the meeting point listed for the tour. Arrive there at the starting time you pick. The ride then runs as one loop around Kos Town and its edges, and it ends back at base.
The route follows a fixed order. The tour page sums it up as a scenic tour of Kos that passes the Roman Odeon and Neratzia Castle. Each step below comes from the full description.
- A scenic drive along the breezy Lambi and Faros shores
- The road inland toward the traditional village of Platani
- A descent past the Roman Odeon and the ruins around it
- The streets of Kos Town
- Neratzia Castle and its stone archway
- The return to base
The Kos tuk tuk tour starts on the coast and then turns inland. As the road descends, the tuk tuk passes the remarkably preserved Roman Odeon and the sprawling ruins nearby. Then it rolls through the vibrant, sun-drenched streets of Kos Town.
The loop closes at Neratzia Castle. After it, the tuk tuk goes back to base, and the 1 hour is over.
The order is simple: coast, village, ruins, town, castle, base. Keeping that order in mind makes the 1 hour easy to picture. It also shows what the Kos tuk tuk tour covers before you book.
What do you see on the drive along the Lambi and Faros shores?
The Kos tuk tuk tour drives along the Lambi and Faros shores, two linked beach areas of Kos Town. Kos.gr calls Faros practically an extension of Lambi beach, and it places Lambi about 3 kilometres from the centre.
Kos.gr lists Lambi as one of the island’s popular beach spots, and the Kos tuk tuk tour drives past it. The sand is thick and mixed with gravel and pebbles, and the water is deep. The sea bed has smooth rocks, so sensitive visitors carry water shoes in parts of Lambi.
The area has seaside cafes, restaurants, beach volley courts and beach bars. The Nautical Club of Kos is in Lambi and gives swimming and sailing lessons for all ages.
Faros takes its name from a lighthouse in the area, and faros is the Greek word for lighthouse. Kos.gr describes a sandy beach about 4 kilometres from Kos Town, with boutique hotels and seaside resorts.
The tour page calls these shores breezy, and Kos.gr agrees that Faros can be windy and wavy. The Kos tuk tuk tour shows you this coast from the road, so you do not need to swim here.
Kos.gr says Faros has secluded spots to unwind in the sun. The view takes in the nearby island of Pserimos. The site names the area as worth a visit for a seaside walk or a coastal bike ride.
The long seaside road of Faros, called Aigaiou street, is a popular spot with locals. They use it for walks, runs and dog walks.
The same page rates Faros as a privileged place on the island for sunsets. It advises a return in the afternoon to watch the sun dive slowly into the sea. So the Kos tuk tuk tour is a first look at the shore. The sunset is a reason to come back.
What is Platani, the village on the Kos tuk tuk tour?
Platani is a village about 2 kilometres from the centre of Kos. The Kos tuk tuk tour turns inland to reach it. Greek Wikipedia gives its population as about 3,000 people, and about 1,800 of them are of Turkish descent.
English Wikipedia lists Platani among the smaller villages of the island, next to Zia, Zipari, Lagoudi and Asfendiou. It writes the name as Platani (Kermentes). It calls Platani a village with a significant Turkish population, near the town of Kos.
Greek Wikipedia puts the village at 20 metres above sea level. Its main square has Turkish tavernas, where visitors can try Turkish and Greek food and sweets. So the Kos tuk tuk tour moves from beach bars to a village with its own Turkish community.
The same page says Platani is 2 kilometres from the Asklepieion and 25 kilometres from the international airport.
Wikivoyage describes an Asclepieion as a therapeutic center built around a temple of Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine. It calls the Kos site an impressive archaeological site. It also calls it one of the first ancient hospitals and medical schools in the world.
The tour page lists a visit to Platani and no stop at the Asklepieion. Platani is the village stop on the Kos tuk tuk tour. The Asklepieion is the ancient site 2 kilometres away.
What is the Roman Odeon of Kos, and what ruins lie around it?
The Roman Odeon is an ancient building on Kos. The Kos tuk tuk tour drives past it with the ruins around it. The tour page calls it remarkably preserved, while Wikipedia calls it heavily restored.
The operator’s route for the Kos tuk tuk tour names “the ancient Roman Odeon and ruins” together. The tour listing adds “sprawling ruins” and says history unfolds as the route descends. Neither page names the single buildings in those ruins. Read the two views together: the site is old, and it has been heavily restored.
The same town left other remains. Wikipedia pictures the ruins of the Ancient Gymnasion. It also shows a Roman mosaic of the Abduction of Europa. The mosaic is in the House of Europa, in the Western Archaeological Zone of Kos town. The tour pages do not list these as stops.
The ancient market place of Kos was considered one of the biggest in the ancient world, says Wikipedia. Its open yard measured 300 metres in length and 50 metres across. The northern side had a monumental entrance. A round building with a Roman dome stood at the southern end. The Kos tuk tuk tour pages do not name the market place.
Wikivoyage says the Archaeological Museum, in the centre of Kos Town, holds statues found at the Roman Odeon. Wikipedia adds that Antoninus Pius rebuilt the city after an earthquake destroyed it. The Kos tuk tuk tour passes the Odeon on its way down into town.
What is Neratzia Castle, the last sight of the loop?
Neratzia Castle is a medieval fortress at the harbour of Kos. It is the last sight of the Kos tuk tuk tour before the ride returns to base. Wikivoyage dates this Knights Hospitaller castle to the 14th to 16th centuries.
The operator’s text for the Kos tuk tuk tour describes “the medieval Neratzia Castle and its iconic stone archway”. The tour page calls the castle imposing. It says the sight “serves as a grand finale to your loop”. Then the ride returns to base.
Wikipedia says the island has a 14th-century fortress at the entrance to its harbour, built by the Knights Hospitaller. Wikivoyage says the castle dominates the port and is where the Avenue of the Palms starts.
During the Ottoman conquest of Rhodes, Kos was surrendered to the Ottomans under an agreement, says Wikipedia. A castellan and guards were then sent to Nerantzia, the largest fortified castle, and it was repaired. Wikipedia spells the name Nerantzia, while the Kos tuk tuk tour pages spell it Neratzia.
Wikivoyage lists the castle entrance as permanently closed after an earthquake. Its note carries an as-of date, so check the current rules before you plan to go inside.
Close to the castle stands the Tree of Hippocrates, an oriental plane tree. Wikipedia places it on the Square of the Platane, in front of the Castle of Knights. This is in the centre of Kos town. Legend says Hippocrates taught his pupils medicine under it.
The crown is about 12 metres across. It is said to be the largest of any plane tree in Europe. Today’s tree has stood for roughly 500 years. Wikipedia says an original tree allegedly stood there 2,400 years ago. The Kos tuk tuk tour pages do not list the tree as a stop.
Which other Kos tuk tuk tours does the same team run?
The team behind the Kos tuk tuk tour lists eight tours on its website. The Kos Town Experience matches this loop. The other seven include the Taste of Kos Experience and two sunset tours.
The tours page also names the Mini Panoramic Tour, the Zia Village Experience and the Coast to Coast Scenic Tour. It adds the Sunset Wine Tasting and the Seaside Stroll Experience. The home page offers a Personalized Tour, where you pick the route and the sights.
The Taste of Kos Experience follows the agricultural heritage of the island. It visits a local farm for freshly picked fruit. Then it stops at an olive oil factory to see how the oil is made. At the Pandrosia Aloe Vera Farm you learn to strip aloe leaves. The tour ends with a vineyard walk and a wine tasting.
The Sunset Panoramic Experience begins with a coastal drive past Faros and the golden sands of Tingaki. It ends with a night ride through the lit streets of Kos Town and a finish at the Dolphin Roundabout.
The team also offers wedding day transport that shuttles guests between venues. It books spots on the 3-island boat trip as well.
A second listing from the same team is the Panoramic Tuk Tuk Tour with Scenic Views, which lasts 1 hour. It passes the Dolphin Roundabout, the harbour and the shopping high street. Then it follows the Psalidi coast toward Therma and climbs to a vantage point near the thermal spring.
From the vantage point you see the Greek and Turkish coastlines, with the outline of the Nisyros volcano behind you. The return passes the Castle of the Knights and the Archway Bridge. This second Kos tuk tuk tour climbs above the coast for its view.
What is a tuk tuk, and who is the Kos tuk tuk tour suited to?
A tuk tuk is another name for an auto rickshaw, a motorized version of the cycle rickshaw. The Kos tuk tuk tour suits small groups: the listings mark it as a private group of up to 4.
Wikipedia describes the common passenger type: three wheels under a sheet-metal body, a canvas roof and drop-down side curtains. The driver sits in a small cabin at the front, and passengers ride in the back. In Egypt and Kenya the rickshaw is locally named the tuktuk.
In India, Wikipedia says, auto rickshaws serve cities and towns over short distances. They are less suited to long distances because they are slow. In Cape Town they deliver groceries and, more recently, carry tourists. That short-distance role fits the Kos tuk tuk tour, which loops around Kos Town and its edges.
The team’s about page offers two choices. One is a led experience on a signature tour. The other is the freedom of renting your own buggy. The Kos tuk tuk tour is the first kind. It suits visitors who want a driver to handle the road.
The team says each Kos tuk tuk tour goes beyond the standard tourist trail. For the panoramic tour, the listing asks you to wear comfortable clothing and bring a camera for photos.
What else do travellers ask about a Kos tuk tuk tour?
How big is the island behind the Kos tuk tuk tour?
Wikipedia measures Kos at 42.1 by 11.5 kilometres, with an area of 295.3 square kilometres. The coastline runs for 112 kilometres. Wikivoyage calls Kos a fairly small island.
Kos has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers, according to Wikipedia. Tourism is the main industry, and the beaches are the primary attraction. Farming comes second, with grapes, almonds, figs, watermelons, olives and tomatoes as the main crops.
Where is Kos, and how large is its population?
Kos is part of the Dodecanese island chain in the south-eastern Aegean Sea, south of Kalymnos. It is the third largest island of the group, after Rhodes and Karpathos.
Wikipedia gives Kos a census population of 37,089, and only Rhodes has more people in the Dodecanese. The principal town, also called Kos, is the seat of the municipality. The Kos tuk tuk tour runs in that town. Wikipedia adds that the name Kos first appears in the Iliad.
Who was Hippocrates, and how is he tied to Kos?
Wikipedia says historians agree that Hippocrates was born around 460 BC on the island of Kos. It says he is traditionally called the Father of Medicine. It also credits him with the Hippocratic Oath, which remains in use today.
Wikipedia credits him as the first to believe that diseases were caused naturally, not by superstition and gods. Wikivoyage says a museum and garden for Hippocrates can be visited at the International Hippocratic Foundation. It lies between the Asclepieion and the town of Kos.
Which ferries sail to Kos before a Kos tuk tuk tour?
Wikipedia names Kos Town as the main port of the island. Wikivoyage lists daily ferry services from Athens (Piraeus port), Rhodes, Patmos and Leros. Ferries from Kalymnos sail more than once a day.
Tilos Travel sails from Bodrum twice a day all year, on a 25-minute trip for foot passengers only. Wikivoyage says a day trip either way is easy. The main ferry to Kalymnos leaves from Mastichari about every two hours.
How else can travellers get around Kos besides a Kos tuk tuk tour?
Wikivoyage says a public bus goes to every part of the island every now and then. From the airport, a public bus goes to Kos Town via Mastichari and to Kefalos. It lists plenty of taxis, and says scooters, ATVs and cars can be hired. A Kos tuk tuk tour is one more way to see the island by road.
Reaching Kefalos from Kos Town takes about 40 minutes by car. Wikivoyage also calls Kos a very safe area and asks travellers to take normal precautions.