Boat Trips on Kos

Most go to Kalymnos, Pserimos and Plati, the islands just north of Kos, and run seven to seven and a half hours with swimming stops and lunch on board. Not every listing names its islands, so check the booking page if one matters to you.

The listings from Kos give about eight hours in total, the ones from Kardamena about seven, and one of those names five hours on the island. If you stay in the south of Kos, Kardamena saves you the transfer; plain ferry tickets between Kardamena and Nisyros are also sold, with sailings at noon and in the evening on selected days.

Yes, there is a ferry day trip of about eight hours to Bodrum with Halicarnassus and the Castle of St Peter. Bodrum is in Turkey, so check the booking page for the identity papers required before you pay.

Not necessarily. Public transport on the island is neither reliable nor frequent, but most land tours include hotel pickup, and Kos Town and its beaches are close together. A car makes sense if you want to reach villages and beaches at your own pace over several days.

In summer strong wind can change or cancel boat trips. Cancellation terms are on each booking page, so read them before you book, and keep a flexible day early in your stay.

On the listing for the guided jeep or quad tour, the jeep passenger option is described as joining without a licence. Driving a quad yourself needs one.

The pirate-boat cruise is described as an adventure for all ages, but minimum ages differ between listings and are shown on each booking page. Check them before you book, especially for jet ski, scuba and quad tours.

The town beach is a narrow urban one. Two pebble beaches, Lambi and Psalidi, are close by, and Kardamena has two long sandy beaches. For sandy swimming stops most visitors take a boat day.