Feedback on tentative itinerary - 6 weeks from late August to early October

YOu cannot fly from Naxos to Rhodes. THere are very few island-to-island flights. You will have to fly back to Athens then connect to a flight to Rhodes.

Thanks Janet,
Yes I’m aware we have to fly back to Athens to get to Rhodes. Still, it seemed like the only practical way to get from Naxos to Rhodes in a reasonable amount of time. Didn’t seem that ferries were a good option.

Similarly, we can’t fly from Peloponnese Peninsula to Santorini. Have to drive back to ATH to catch that flight. But again, that seemed more practical than taking a ferry to Santorini.

If I’m missing some options please let me know. Thanks.

Hi Mary -- This sounds like a wonderful trip! Your friends in Rhodes will have many ideas about how to spend your time in the Dodecanese, but I would like to offer two suggestions.

Kastellorizo -- This is a tiny island south of Rhodes, accessible via ferry and plane. It's absolutely spectacular; here's the hotel website that tempted us to visit. For such a small place, there's lots to do. You can hike up to the castle and see the Lycian tomb. Take a boat to the Blue Cave. Swim (weather permitting) with sea turtles in the deep harbor. Visit the two museums ... archeological and historical. Take a ferry for the day over to Kas in Turkey. Or just sit at one of the many tavernas lining the harbor, and marvel at the lovely views.

Nisyros -- This tiny, volcanic island is a bit north of Rhodes, between Tilos and Kos. It has a couple of pretty villages, a good museum showing the creation of the island, and a pretty little port. But the big attraction is the volcano itself. It's active, but not erupting, and you can walk right into the crater. An otherworldly experience. We were there by ourselves early in the morning, and we felt like we were walking on the moon. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, as some spots are warm and there is the occasional steaming fumarole. It gets busier later, as day-trippers come over from Kos and Tilos, so I'd recommend timing your visit so you can be there early (8-9 am). Rent a car or scooters. There's only one road, and virtually no traffic. We took the Blue Star ferry from Kastellorizo and arrived late at night. We spent the next day exploring the island, then took another Blue Star to Rhodes the following morning. I'm not sure if the Blue Star schedule fits yours, but it's handy if it does.

I hope you have a wonderful time in Greece!

Charlene,
Thanks for the recommendations. Our Rhodes friends said Kastellorizo is their favorite of all the Dodecanese Islands.