Our Greek adventure starts today in the port of Kos, where we'll board our private 90' motor yacht, built in the traditional Turkish Gulet style, and our home for our island explorations. It features 5 private air-conditioned cabins, each with its own modern bathroom. This is the true way to experience life in the Greek Islands! There are great amenities, also...with on-board wifi, crew, chef, and topside deck with ample room for sunbathing and relaxing while we watch the island scenery drift by. (You may want to arrive a day early to explore Kos and get over your jet lag before your cruise, or you can extend your stay after your cruise in Kos. Kos, the second largest island of the 12 islands (Dodecanese islands) has a very mild climate and very fertile lands. The island houses a 560-year-old tree, a 211-year-old fountain and miles of gorgeous beaches scattered along its coastline. Kos is one of the islands with the best night life, too. Nafklirou, a street full of bars, is always crowded, colorful, and full of life. Asclepion, known to be the birthplace of Hippocrates, the "Father of Medical Science", is located here. Over many centuries and in fact millenia, many Eastern Mediterranean people with health problems were treated in Kos.
After we depart the harbor in late afternoon, we'll enjoy relaxing on deck while we journey to the harbor of Mandraki, on Nisiros island. Nisiros island means 'the place with figs'- but it is better known for its volcano which erupted in 1422 and is still active. Apart from being the capital of the island, Mandraki is also its harbor. It is one of the biggest villages on Nisiros, and you can enjoy a stroll around the exquisite pebbled narrow streets and squares (most typical of all being the Square of Dolphins) and take a close look at the white or colored two-story houses with wooden balconies. The houses are made of volcanic rocks and insulated with pumice-stone. The nightlife is not very intense, but our group can make their own party in one of the little tavernas of Mandraki.
Alfresco dining in a picturesque harbor of a remote Greek island is just one of the great dining experiences you should enjoy at least once in your life! So tonight, our cook will prepare a wonderful and authentic Greek dinner to welcome us aboard. Greek and Turkish cuisine from the Dodecanese is hearty and exotic, with plenty of beef, lamb, chicken dishes cooked with spices, herbs and nuts. Vegetarians need not feel left out, as Greeks are masters of meatless dishes as well. Depending on what the local fisherman have netted, seafood will find its way onto our table as well. And of course, a true Greek salad of fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, and olives topped with a slab of feta is a small piece of heaven! It's best to wash all of this wonderful food down with some of the local Greek wines or beers.
We're free to go ashore after dinner to wander and discover a local Greek taverna for drinks and relaxing. After hanging with the locals in the town square, we can head back to our comfortable private cabins on our yacht. A late-night aperitif is best enjoyed while lying on deck and watching the Mediterranean star display.