As you effortlessly travel from one location to another, climb the best sea cliffs of this rocky island paradise! Kalymnos, one of the most beautiful and well preserved archipelagos in the Mediterranean sea, boasts wonderful scenery, Greek tradition, cozy weather, and stunning sea views. Relatively new on the world climbing scene, Kalymnos is considered to be an incredible addition to sport climbing — easy access, especially by a sailboat, and Aegean Sea surrounding the limestone cliffs make the location arguably one of the best in Europe! The island has almost 4000 well-equipped sport climbing routes ranging from 5.7 to 5.14d! Climb anything from easy slabs, technical wall climbs, wild overhanging, and even climbs between stalactites. With well-bolted crags and a community centered around climbing, it’s the perfect spot for an active vacation, especially when you spend the rest of the time sailing around the island and exploring the best locations it can offer. Find out why you should head to Kalymnos for the best sport climbing in Greece from Emily Cole, avid sport climber and founding member of Crux Crush.
Spend eight amazing days of fantastic rock climbing and sailing around the island in the idyllic setting of a Greek holiday! Discover superb rock climbing only accessible by boat, relax with your group under the cozy Greek sun, and make the most of your active vacation. Let your certified guides plan out the perfect days on the rocks and spend the rest of the time exploring the spectacular scenery, traditional cuisine, and amazing locations around Kalymnos including Telendos Island, crags of Eros, Pescatore and Irox, iconic crags of Grande Grotta, Sykati Cave and more! During your week on the sailboat, relax, discover spectacular vistas from the limestone cliffs, and upgrade your skills with an expert guide!
Meet your guides in Kos marina in the afternoon hours and embark on your 8-day journey. Organize your equipment, settle into your rooms and get to know the group you will be sailing with for the rest of the week over a welcome dinner in a typical Greek taverna in the old town of Kos.
Sail out to Telendos and start to climb! You will be among the few lucky climbers that get to climb on Telendos island since it is only accessible by sea, so you can expect a relaxed atmosphere without any crowds. The crag is perfect to get into the climbing mood. There are routes of all grades to warm up for the week and refresh your skills. Enjoy the amazing view of Kalymnos as you climb and spend the evening having fun on the sailboat.
Wake-up and dive from the boat before a hearty breakfast! Drop the anchor in Arginonta’s beautiful roadstead where over 900 sport climbing routes await you. This is the ideal place to go to when there’s wind blowing and you want a protected spot in the sun. Plenty of possibilities, wonderful views, and caves waiting to be explored make Arginonta one of the most interesting spots in the area.
One day is not enough for Arginonta so spend the morning of day 4 exploring new crags and check-out as many ascents as you can. Sail through the Dolphin’s Bay, also a well-known climbing spot, and move on to the yet unexplored north coast of Telendos where some recently bolted crags will give you the “sharp touch” to wrap up the day.
Put your sailing skills to the test and see what you’ve learned so far from the skipper! Sail towards Sykati Cave, one of the most incredible climbing spots on the island as well as a wonderful natural harbor where you’ll drop the anchor and spend the rest of the day. The crag called “The beach” will be at a swimming distance from the boat, ideal for climbing until the sunset, when you’ll join your group for a BBQ on the beach!
After a nice breakfast, continue on to a nice climbing crag characterized by long pitches on red limestone. Climb until dark with breaks for lunch and swimming, and end the day at the local taverna. Taste the typical Greek cuisine served at the terrace right on the sea.
Today you’ll get the chance to climb right from the sea. In Vathis’ roadstead you’ll find two gorgeous spots: one cave perfect to do some deep water solo and a cliff with bolted pitches where the belayer will have to do his job while floating on the dingy! In the afternoon, sail back to Kos by 18:00.
Pack up and take a few last photos of this wonderful location, exchange contacts with your new friends, and say farewell to Kalymnos! Disembark in the morning before 9.00 a.m.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Greece, please refer to the Discover Greece website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
If you have any dietary restrictions, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
What’s not included:
Good physical shape is important but don’t worry — it doesn’t matter the grade you can climb on, you’ll always find a partner matching your level, and if that’s not the case, your guide will be there for you. Rock climbing is more about using good movement technique rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength. To ensure you have a fun retreat, your guide will be there to supervise the climbing and to help all the climbers to improve their skills, and to choose routes that best suit your skill and fitness level. You don’t need any knowledge of sailing — the skipper will take care of everything!
Kalymnos has plenty of options for beginner climbers. Whether you’ve never climbed before or are transitioning from the gym to outdoor climbing, your guide will customize the day to suit your skill level and objectives. With a guide by your side, you’ll learn something new, stay safe on the rocks, and most importantly, have fun!
For intermediate to advanced climbers, Kalymnos has loads of routes to spend the day on. Your guide will discuss your objectives and customize the day to your goals. Let your guide plan the day so you can focus on developing your skills while climbing the classic routes or best hidden gems the area has to offer.
If this is your first time on a sailing boat and you don’t know what to expect, here is what you can expect:
Here’s what you’ll need:
Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Climbing days can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
There is a $600 deposit for reserving your place onboard. Once the tour is confirmed, your guide will notify you via email. The remaining amount of the trip cost will have to be paid within 90 days prior the departure.
If the minimum number of 6 participants is not ensured, you’ll have the option to either receive a full refund of the deposit or to switch to another tour with Vertical Sailing Tours.
A deposit fee of $360 (300 euros) in cash per person will be collected by the skipper when boarding. The deposit serves as a guarantee fund which will be returned at the end of the trip if no damages had been made.
To get to Kalymnos, most people fly into Kos International Airport, about 30 minutes away from the marina. You can also fly to Athens International Airport, Greece, and then fly to the island of Kalymnos just an hour away. Once you get there, you can rent a car or motorbikes to get to the Kos marina.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. You should be at the Kos marina at 4 PM on the first day.
All policies regarding cancellation will be clearly laid out by your guide after booking your adventure.
If the tour is cancelled by the guide due to the lack of participants, the down payment will be fully refunded. Please note the trips for 2022 are expected to reach the minimum number of people soon, and the likelihood of trip not happening is very low. Once the tour is confirmed, the down payment cannot be refunded anymore.
If Client cancels the Booking forty (40) calendar days or less in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is not entitled to any refund.
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I would totally recommend the Vertical Sailing Tour experience to any climbers, from the most passionate and advanced to the beginners and the ones that are curious to discover this amazing sport in the best way possible, on a sailing boat ! The team is very professional but above all fun, the best mix to have an incredible climbing experience in the best corners of Europe !