A Kasos yacht charter takes you by private boat around the southernmost island of the Dodecanese and out to the islet of Armathia. For tours and transfers across the rest of the country, start at Greece Tours.

This page sets out the yacht cruise to book, the anchorages and harbours, the sea routes from Rhodes, Karpathos and Crete, the winds and months, the boats and licences, and the booking steps.

What is a Kasos yacht charter?

It means hiring a yacht, with or without a skipper, to cruise the sea around Kasos and its small islets. Kasos is the southernmost island in the Aegean Sea and belongs to the Dodecanese group.

Our island guide to Kasos covers life on land. This page stays on the water. A Kasos yacht charter treats the sea as the main event. The boat becomes your base for swims, sea views and quiet stops away from the ferry routes.

The island is part of the regional unit of Karpathos-Kasos. Its capital is Fri, a name that visitors and tour listings also spell Fry. That town is where charter guests step ashore to stretch their legs between swims.

Charters come in two broad shapes. A day charter starts and ends at the same port on the same day. A longer hire lets the group sleep on board and move from island to island. Both formats share one idea: a private group sets its own pace on its own deck.

Why choose a boat over the public ferry? The answer is freedom. A ferry follows a timetable and stops only at the port. A hired yacht can pause off a sandy islet, wait while the group swims, and then carry on. This Kasos yacht charter style suits people who want the coast, not just the crossing.

Each Kasos yacht charter sold for this area is aimed at small parties. The main operator says it runs private yacht cruises for couples and families. In practice, that means one booking fills the boat, and no strangers share the trip.

Who it suits: couples, families and small groups of friends
What it covers: the open sea, the islet of Armathia and the port town of Fry
What it is not: a scheduled ferry or a shared party boat

Which Kasos yacht charter can you book on GetYourGuide?

One listing fits. It is the Armathia & Kasos Odyssey Private Yacht Experience, a 7-hour private cruise from Karpathos to Kasos and Armathia. Karpathos Blue Cruises runs it and sells it through the GetYourGuide platform.

The Kasos yacht charter listing is short and clear. It describes a boat charter for one to ten guests, built around comfort and privacy. Here are its core details as the listing gives them:

Title: Armathia & Kasos Odyssey Private Yacht Experience
Duration: 7 hours
Group: 1 to 10 guests, with a private option and a small group tag
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Route: Karpathos to Armathia, then on to Kasos
Operator: Karpathos Blue Cruises
Status: marked as a new activity

The day runs in two parts. First, the yacht stops at Armathia, which the listing calls an untouched islet. Guests swim at Marmara Beach, also known as Marbles Beach. The listing praises its clear, emerald water.

Next, this Kasos yacht charter moves on to the main island. The listing presents Kasos as an authentic place, untouched by mass tourism. Guests get a look at the port town of Fry, with its narrow alleys and traditional buildings. Seaside cafés and an old pirate harbour mood complete the picture.

Because the boat starts from Karpathos, guests who stay on that island have the easiest access. Visitors based on Kasos itself need to check whether the operator can collect them. The listing summary we read does not say so either way.

That summary also leaves out three points: the exact meeting point, the list of inclusions and the cancellation terms. Check all three on the booking page before you pay. Karpathos Blue Cruises also publishes its own cancellation policy page, which includes a section on free cancellation. Compare it with the terms shown at checkout.

Group size matters when you plan a Kasos yacht charter through this listing. The cap is ten guests, so a larger party needs a second boat or a different plan. Smaller groups get more deck space and an easier time boarding the tender.

A second Kasos product appears on the same platform. It is “Karpathos: Ferry Journey Between Karpathos and Kasos”, a ferry ticket sold by Ferryhopper, not a yacht charter.

What is Armathia, the main stop of a Kasos yacht charter?

Armathia is the largest islet in the group around Kasos. It lies two nautical miles north-west of Fry, the island’s port, and covers 2.6 square kilometres. Nobody lives there today, and it belongs to the municipality of Kasos.

The islet is part of the Dodecanese group in the eastern Aegean Sea. Fry is close by, so a Kasos yacht charter reaches the islet soon after leaving the quay. The short hop leaves more of the day for the water.

Armathia was not always empty. At its peak, more than 100 people lived here. Their work was mainly mining gypsum for export. By the census of nineteen fifty-one, only eight residents were left. The islet has had no permanent residents since then.

Local sources say that families still grazed sheep, farmed the land and fished here until the early seventies. In its busy years, the small community kept seven coffee shops going. That was a lively scene for such a small islet.

Gypsum built that life. From the nineteenth century, 8,000 tons a year were shipped from Armathia. The cargo went to Odessa, Constantinople, Smyrna, Alexandria and Piraeus. On this Kasos yacht charter, guests pass the same shores where the loading boats once worked.

From the deck, you can still see the old village. Ruins of houses, stables, threshing floors and bakeries remain on the islet. The people of Kasos come over every 2 February to hold a liturgy at the Ypapanti chapel.

Armathia is also a Natura protected area. Protected bird species have been recorded on the islet. Crews on a Kasos yacht charter can help by taking all their rubbish back on board.

The shore has three beaches: Marmara, Karavostasi and the small Apopantoula. The islet can only be reached by sea. That is why a boat of your own is the easy way to get there.

Where does a yacht anchor and swim at Armathia?

The anchor goes down on sand, which holds well. A sailing guide calls this an isolated anchorage with good shelter from the meltemi. Sponge fishermen from Kalymnos favour the spot when they work these waters.

The cruising guide puts the anchorage at 35°26.1′N, 26°51.3′E. A sandy bottom lets the anchor dig in firmly. Skippers on a Kasos yacht charter still check that the anchor has set before anyone jumps into the water.

The guide only covers shelter from the meltemi. It gives no advice for winds from other directions. So the skipper reads the forecast each morning and picks the beach that suits the day. If the wind turns, the crew lifts anchor and moves.

Marmara is the main swim stop on a Kasos yacht charter. Its pearly sand is a mix of white sand and marble dust. Fine sand covers both the beach and the sea floor. Patches of white plaster on the bottom give the water its bright colours.

Rocks along Marmara form natural caves. These give shade on a hot afternoon, which matters on a beach with no trees or umbrellas. Guests can rest there between swims before heading back to the yacht.

Karavostasi is the second beach. In the past, ships loaded gypsum at this point. Swimmers can still spot the remains of railway tracks along the northern coast of the islet. They are reminders of the old export trade.

Apopantoula is the third and smallest beach. It sits in a tiny harbour below the Ypapanti chapel. Its small size makes it a quiet stop for a short swim on this Kasos yacht charter.

Getting ashore is simple. Visitors describe the boat stopping very close to the shore. From there, guests either swim to the beach or ride in the tender. One visitor timed the boat ride from the port of Fry at 20 minutes.

The beaches have no facilities at all. Visitors advise bringing everything you need from the boat:

drinking water
snacks
shade from the sun

The yacht is your base on a Kasos yacht charter. Cool drinks and a shaded deck are only a short swim away. Strong swimmers can go straight in. Others can stay dry and take the tender.

Which small islets does a Kasos yacht charter pass besides Armathia?

Fourteen small islands and islets surround the island, and together they carry the name Kasonisia. Besides Armathia, the main ones are Makronisi, Kariofila, Porioni, Mikro Pontikonisi, Megalo Pontikonisi and Lytra. In ancient times they were called the Kasion islands.

The Natura data form calls this group the southernmost island cluster of the Dodecanese. The local council still counts every one of them as part of Kasos. A Kasos yacht charter that threads between them never leaves the municipality.

Makronisi, also called Makra, is a rocky islet that sits north of Kasos, to the north-north-west of Fry. It covers 0.296 square kilometres. That makes it the largest islet after Armathia, which lies to its south-west.

People once lived on Makronisi, but a national census found it empty. Along its coast grows saltmarsh scrub. Low phrygana scrub covers its interior. For a Kasos yacht charter, Makronisi is the islet to learn first.

Kariofila, spelled Karofylla in Greek sources, is far smaller. This rock lies north of Kasos and covers only 0.032 square kilometres. Locals also call it Koskino. A census found no one living there.

Porioni: the smallest islet of the group, set between Armathia and Makronisi.
Lytra: an islet that still suffers from overgrazing.
Mikro and Megalo Pontikonisi: two named islets listed among the key members of the group.
Psira: a further islet listed by the Kasos municipality.

The data form adds that the remaining islets show rocky coasts and salt-tolerant plants. Sea cliffs mark Lytra as well. For crew on a Kasos yacht charter, these rocks are landmarks rather than landing spots.

Further out lies Chamili, also known as Kamilonisi. It sits in the Karpathian Sea, north-west of Kasos and Karpathos. Its area is 0.429 square kilometres. Old Kasos sailors named it for its low ground. Old British Admiralty charts mark it as Kamila Nisi.

What wildlife lives on the islets around Kasos?

Seabirds come first. The island and its islets form a Special Protection Area in the European Natura network, listed to shelter Audouin’s gull and Eleonora’s falcon. The Mediterranean monk seal also lives in the Dodecanese, and official records name Kasos as one of its areas.

Two sites of the European Natura network overlap here. Site GR4210028 is the bird protection area and covers 15,918 hectares. Site GR4210001 takes in Kasos, the Kasonisia and the wider sea, at 21,487 hectares. It sits in the sea between Crete and Karpathos, the same water a Kasos yacht charter crosses.

The marine part of that second site runs out to the 50-metre depth line. Water makes up 2% of the site. The data form names Kasos an Important Bird Area in Europe. It also notes that human impact on the bulk of the islets is now very restricted.

Eleonora’s falcon is the star bird for a Kasos yacht charter. In the south-east Aegean, this falcon nests in colonies on coastal cliffs or deserted islets. It nests from April till October, so summer sailing falls inside its breeding season.

Greece holds the larger share of the Mediterranean monk seal population. An IUCN estimate put it at 200 to 300 animals. Caves along the rocky shores of the Dodecanese give the seals places to rest and breed.

The main threats to the seal are a lack of safe sites and disturbance from unplanned resort building. Heavy fishing methods, such as trawling and purse-seine nets, also put pressure on the species.

Small land animals matter too. Kotschy’s gecko and the snake-eyed skink, in their local forms, occur only on Karpathos, Saria, Kasos and Armathia. The Kochylina salamander lives only on Karpathos, Saria, Kasos and Kastelorizo, and nowhere else in the world.

The Management Unit of the Southeastern Aegean Protected Areas looks after 22 Natura network sites in the Dodecanese. In any Natura area, visitors are asked not to touch or feed wild animals. On a Kasos yacht charter, keep the boat well clear of sea caves and nesting cliffs, and keep noise low.

Which bays on the Kasos coast does a yacht reach?

Helatros, on the south-west side of the island, is the bay that stands out. The municipality of Kasos says the bay served as a shelter for ships in ancient times. It adds that Helatros is very well protected from the north wind.

That shelter matters on a Kasos yacht charter. A bay that sits away from the north wind gives a crew a calmer place to stop and swim. Past the mouth of the bay, the municipality notes, the open sea forms waves. Those waves draw windsurfers to the point.

The beach at the head of Helatros is narrow, with soft pebbles and clear water, says one travel guide. Pine trees grow close by and give shade, a welcome sight from a Kasos yacht charter. The same guide calls the south-west side a good spot for scuba diving.

On land, this bay is hard to reach. The travel guide says visitors need a car or a private transfer. The municipality also calls the access relatively difficult. A yacht avoids that problem, because it comes in from the sea side instead of down a rough road.

On the west coast, in the Antiperatos area, lies Ammoua. The municipality describes it as an organised beach that fills with people. Next to it runs a row of four secluded beaches, with pebbles in all colours. A Kasos yacht charter gives easy access to this quieter stretch of shore.

Antiperatos beach sits right beside Ammoua, with turquoise water. The travel guide warns that its position leaves it exposed to the winds. On a Kasos yacht charter, the west side therefore suits calm days. Helatros stays the safer choice when the north wind rises.

Ammoua also offers a fine view of the sunset, according to the same guide. A late swim off this coast makes a calm end to a day afloat before the return to port.

Emporeio beach lies close to the main town. The guide found the water there crystal clear even in late September. Sail la Vie, a sailing company, lists Fri, Aghios Konstantinos and Helatro among the beaches sea lovers enjoy.

Helatros: south-west coast, pebbles, sheltered from the north wind.
Ammoua: west coast, organised beach, sunset views.
Four secluded pebble beaches: next to Ammoua, in the Antiperatos area.
Antiperatos: turquoise water, open to the winds.
Emporeio: clear water, close to the main town.

What cliffs and rocks does a Kasos yacht charter pass?

Bare rock fills the view from the deck. Sail la Vie describes Kasos as mountainous and rocky. Clusters of barren islets and rocky peaks surround the island. Travel writers describe the same rugged landscape, so expect stone and pebble, not long sand.

Orange and grey sea cliffs above a sandy cove and clear turquoise water

The ground is so rocky that, by Sail la Vie’s account, little of it suits farming. For a crew on a Kasos yacht charter, this means a coast of steep slopes running down to the water. The scenery changes with each headland the boat rounds.

Chapels add a human touch to these cliffs. For an island of its size, Kasos has almost 100 churches, says one travel guide. The guide adds that they are hard to reach, perched on cliff tops or near the coastline.

According to the same guide, these churches keep watch over seafarers and protect the island. Seen from a Kasos yacht charter, they stand out against the bare stone. They give the coast its own quiet character.

Rock also shapes the sea bed close to town. Kofteri beach, next to Fry, took its name from the sharp rocks that framed its sea bed. It once stood beside a beach called Vlycha. After the new port was built in Fry, the two became hard to tell apart. People now simply call them Fry Beach.

Sea caves are a different matter. The sources checked for this page name no sea cave on the Kasos shore. Ask the operator of your Kasos yacht charter before the trip if a cave visit matters to you.

A rocky coast also asks for care. Waves bounce back off steep stone, and the water near cliffs can feel rougher than in an open bay. A skipper on this Kasos yacht charter keeps a safe distance from the rocks. Swimmers enter the water only where the crew says it is safe.

The reward is a shore seen at its wildest. For more about the island on land, its villages and its history, read our guide to Kasos. From the water, the same island shows its wild and rocky side.

Where does a Kasos yacht charter leave from, and where does it berth in Fry?

The bookable Kasos yacht charter starts on Karpathos, not on Kasos. Its listing describes a private cruise to Kasos and the islet of Armathia. Departure is at 10:00 a.m., and the route takes guests into the port town of Fry.

The GetYourGuide listing calls the trip a remote seven-hour private cruise. The boat takes one to ten guests. So the start line is a Karpathos quay, and Fry is the stop on the Kasos side. Check your booking email for the exact meeting spot on Karpathos before the day.

On a Kasos yacht charter that runs for a week, Fry is the port of call. Fry is the capital and the only real port of the island. It sits right next to Bouka, a small fishing harbour. Bouka actually lies inside the wider Fry port, so yachts pass its entrance on the way in.

The island has three harbours in all. The new ferry port lies a little north of Fry. The small port in Fry itself holds traditional wooden fishing boats and yachts. The old ferry port is at Emborio, about one kilometre from the capital.

Skippers on this Kasos yacht charter choose between these three spots by wind and space. In strong wind, crews are told to moor behind the breakwater rather than along the open quay. That choice matters more here than in a full marina, because Kasos has none.

What do the harbours of Kasos offer a Kasos yacht charter?

Expect basic quays, not a marina. Boats berth stern-to or alongside in Fry, in depths of four to six metres. The new harbour has water and electricity. Fuel arrives only by road tanker, and the island has no repair yards.

A sailing guide to the island states plainly that there is no marina infrastructure on Kasos. Boats berth on the main quay, either stern-to or alongside. Space to turn is tight. Regular ferry movements mean a careful approach and short windows to tie up. Plan your Kasos yacht charter arrival around the ferry times.

A rock breakwater guards the port from the west. Its total length is 615 metres. Do not drop anchor close to its inner side. The bottom there is rocky, and anchors drag. A short jetty has depths of 5.5 metres at its head, but ferries use that spot.

A small yacht harbour, 120 by 70 metres, sits between the southern side of the quay and the opposite shore. Its water is shallow. The entrance faces north-west and is about 40 metres wide. A deep-keeled Kasos yacht charter boat checks its draft before entering.

Crews can also anchor in the outer harbour, in five to eight metres over sand and mixed sea bed. Holding there is only moderate. Ferry wash and harbour traffic rock the boat.

Emborio is well sheltered from the north-west and west, the direction of the meltemi. It is open to the north-east. Fishing boats fill it fast. One cruising crew lay alongside the old wall there without charge. They found no amenities and a rough wall, so they advise a fender board.

Services for a Kasos yacht charter are thin, so note this list:

Water and electricity: the new harbour has both, according to a visiting yacht.
Water pressure: low at times, and hose fittings can need an adapter.
Fuel: marine diesel by road tanker only, booked in advance, with no fixed fuel berth.
Petrol station: just outside town, open in the mornings and late afternoon.
Anchorages: no water and no fuel at any of them.
Repairs: no lift-out, no repair yard and no organised marine services.

Top up tanks before a Kasos yacht charter crosses to the island. Carry spare parts for the engine and the toilets too. A breakdown here means waiting for a part to come by ferry.

Fresh food shops are about ten minutes’ walk from the old harbour, in Fry. The town has small supermarkets, two butchers, a fruit and vegetable shop, a baker and a post office. Stock depends on ferry deliveries. Only a partial resupply is realistic, so this charter stocks up fully at its home base.

The Hellenic Coast Guard runs a port station on Kasos. Its phone number is 22450 41288, and its email is kasos at hcg.gr. Crews on a Kasos yacht charter report to this office for local port matters. Save the number before you leave your base.

Which marinas near Kasos serve as charter bases?

Rhodes and Kos are the departure ports Barbaros Yachting names for its Dodecanese charters, and both islands have international airports. On Crete, Sitia and Agios Nikolaos are the two ports with a sea link to Kasos.

A Kasos yacht charter does not start on the island itself in the sources read for this guide. Instead, the boat sails in from a larger base. The choice of base sets the length of your first leg. It also decides which airport you fly into.

Rhodes is the big base to the north-east. Its airport code is RHO, which helps when you search for flights. Before or after the cruise, the medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our guide to a Rhodes yacht charter covers the fleet and the marina there in full.

Kos sits farther north in the island chain, and its airport code is KGS. Barbaros Yachting describes Kos as having well-equipped marinas and sheltered bays. The same firm notes easy access from Kos to Nisyros and Kalymnos. For a Kasos yacht charter, Kos suits a longer trip that ends in the south.

Both Rhodes and Kos also suit a mixed route. Barbaros Yachting says Dodecanese charters combine easily with the Turkish coast at Bodrum or Marmaris. Plan any such crossing with your charter firm before you book.

Crete gives a southern option for this Kasos yacht charter. Direct Ferries lists Sitia and Agios Nikolaos as the Cretan ports that link to Kasos. Anek Lines routes from Kasos run to Heraklion and Sitia. Karpathos, the closest base of all, has its own charter guide on this site.

Rhodes: big northern base, airport RHO
Kos: northern base with marinas and sheltered bays, airport KGS
Sitia and Agios Nikolaos: Cretan ports with a sea link to Kasos
Karpathos: the near neighbour, covered on its own page

How far is Kasos from Rhodes, Karpathos and Crete by sea?

Karpathos is the closest neighbour, 18 nautical miles away on the port-to-port ferry route. Rhodes lies 88 nautical miles off by one ferry planner’s count. Crete is about 26 miles west of Kasos.

These numbers come from ferry planners and travel guides, not from a pilot book. Treat them as a first guide for a Kasos yacht charter. Then plot each leg on your own chart before you leave the dock.

Rhodes is the long leg of a Kasos yacht charter. Omio gives the Blue Star Ferries route as 88 nautical miles, or 164 km. Direct Ferries gives a longer figure of 95.6 nautical miles, or 177.1 km. The two counts differ, so a skipper checks the real course line.

Karpathos is the short hop on a Kasos yacht charter. Direct Ferries puts it at 18 nautical miles, or 34.0 km, between the two ports. A Greek travel blog says Kasos is only 3 nautical miles from Karpathos. The smaller number is the gap between the two islands, not the ferry route.

Crete is the southern neighbour of this Kasos yacht charter. The same travel blog places Kasos east of Crete, 26 miles away. The island’s official site lists a boat connection from Sitia to Kasos. That makes Sitia the natural Cretan port for a yacht heading north-east.

Yachts sailing from Athens face a far longer trip. Mysterious Greece puts Kasos 220 nautical miles from the harbour of Piraeus. Starting a Kasos yacht charter that far away costs days at sea, so a southern base saves time.

Karpathos: 18 nautical miles port to port (34.0 km)
Rhodes: 88 nautical miles (164 km) or 95.6 nautical miles (177.1 km), by source
Crete: about 26 miles
Piraeus: 220 nautical miles

For your chart plotter, Fry lies at 35°23′51″N 26°55′30″E, according to Wikipedia. The official island site places Kasos between Karpathos and Crete, at the southernmost tip of the Dodecanese. Enter the waypoint before you leave, so a Kasos yacht charter keeps a clear target for the final approach.

How does a Kasos yacht charter cross the Karpathos–Kasos channel?

Crews treat the gap between Karpathos and Kasos as open, wind-driven sea. One sailing guide calls it a high-wind corridor between larger landmasses. The plan for the crossing therefore rests on the forecast, reefing early and a clear fallback harbour.

Names on the chart need care here. The Marine Regions gazetteer places the Karpathou Strait next to Rhodes and Karpathos, to the north. Sailing guides call the stretch south of Karpathos the Karpathos–Kasos channel. A boat sailing between the two islands crosses this channel.

For a Kasos yacht charter, the approach is simple in terms of depth. Offshore, the sea runs deeper than 100 m. Within one nautical mile of the Kasos coast, it shoals to 20–30 m. Near the harbour limits, the soundings show 5–10 m. No narrow pilotage channels stand in the way.

Tide plays almost no part in the passage. The tidal range is only 0.2–0.4 m, and there is no tidal stream to work against. Wind-driven drift is strong, though, so the skipper plots the course with leeway in mind. Charts from the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service cover the approaches with reliable depth data.

The real test is the sea state. The Meltemi blows from the north and north-west. Under it, waves in the channel turn steep and irregular, with short gaps between crests. A Karpathos sailing guide rates this channel among the strongest wind acceleration zones in the Aegean. It reports winds of 25–35 knots rising to 35–45 knots or more there.

A cruising wiki adds that the Karpathian Sea around these islands is notorious for bad weather. For a Kasos yacht charter, the hazards on the crossing fall into a short list:

strong wind acceleration across the north and south approaches;
gusts and short, steep seas around headlands;
ferry traffic close to the island;
local fishing gear near the shore;
limited shelter, with little choice of fallback anchorage on Kasos.

On a Kasos yacht charter, direction matters as much as strength. The Meltemi gives fast passages from north to south, while the return leg against it is hard work. A skipper therefore sets aside spare days for the northbound trip. The guide also notes that manoeuvring margins shrink in exposed conditions, so sail is reduced before the boat leaves shelter.

Can a Kasos yacht charter continue to Crete?

Yes, the route can carry on west across the Strait of Kasos towards eastern Crete. This is deep, open water with no island to hide behind. The leg suits a strong crew, a sound boat and a settled weather window.

Wikipedia places Kasos east of Crete, with the Strait of Kasos right beside the island. Part of the Modified Atlantic Water enters the Sea of Crete through this strait. A Kasos yacht charter heading for Crete sails across the path of that inflow.

The sea floor drops a very long way below the keel. A geology study of the basin between Crete and Kasos found it split into seven long sub-basins. The deepest one lies in the east, at 2,800 m. The seabed there also holds submarine canyons and landslides.

On the Cretan side, the crossing points towards Cape Sidero in the north-east of the island. Wikidata describes Sideros as an island-like peninsula at the tip of the cape. It gives the peninsula a length of 3 km. A road runs over rocky cols to Cape Sidero Lighthouse.

Deep water surrounds this end of Crete. To the south runs the Hellenic Trench, between 2,000 m and 4,000 m deep. North of eastern Crete lie the two main deeps of the Sea of Crete. They reach about 2,200 m and 2,500 m.

The strait has also claimed ships over the centuries, a reminder for any Kasos yacht charter. A multi-year underwater survey found 10 shipwrecks in the Kasos Strait. The work was led by the Hellenic National Research Foundation and the Greek Ministry of Culture. The wrecks span 5,000 years of history, up to a ship lost in the Second World War.

A passage plan for this leg of a Kasos yacht charter checks wind direction first. Southerly winds are less frequent around Kasos, yet they raise longer-period seas on its south and east coasts. Outside summer, passing weather fronts turn the wind to the south. They bring rain and a long swell onto every exposed shore.

Once this Kasos yacht charter reaches Crete, a new set of harbours and routes opens up. Our guide to a Crete yacht charter covers the island’s own bases and cruising grounds. Crews who return to Kasos face the same deep strait again, so the weather window has to hold both ways.

Which winds and sea states shape a Kasos yacht charter?

The meltemi rules the summer sea around the island. In the southern Aegean and the Carpathian Sea, this seasonal wind blows from the north-west. It also speeds up between Karpathos and Kasos, so wind and waves shape each day afloat.

Weather experts call the meltemi by its older name, the Etesian winds. The name comes from the Greek word for “year”, because the wind comes back every summer. It brings clear, fine weather and takes the edge off the summer heat. Expect bright skies and a strong breeze on a Kasos yacht charter rather than storms.

One charter guide puts the meltemi at force 5 to 7 on the Beaufort scale. Its gusts can reach gale force 9. On that scale, force 7 counts as a near gale and force 8 as a full gale. Around Kasos, summer winds blow at 20 to 30 knots, with frequent stronger gusts.

The island lies right inside the Karpathos–Kasos channel, which sailors know as a high-wind corridor. The meltemi speeds up hard as it squeezes through this gap. Wind speeds here stay higher than in the waters around it. Every Kasos yacht charter has to plan for that extra push of wind.

The wind also follows a daily pattern. Mornings tend to bring lighter breezes, and the gusts peak in the afternoon. Near Kasos, the wind drops only a little after dark. When the meltemi reaches force 8 or more, it keeps blowing through the night just as hard. This pattern favours early starts for longer legs.

Under the meltemi, the sea around the island turns steep and irregular, with short gaps between waves. Wind pushes a yacht sideways more than the tide does. The tidal range is only 0.2 to 0.4 metres. A Kasos yacht charter has no real tidal stream to plan around.

Southerly winds blow less frequently, but they bring longer swells that roll onto the south and east coasts. The south coast gives partial shelter from northerly winds. A southerly system leaves that same coast open, though. No anchorage on the island is fully protected in all weather. The forecast decides each night’s stop.

Sailing guides give clear advice for meltemi days:

Head for an anchorage on the leeward side of the island, the side away from the wind.
Watch the swell as well as the wind speed.
Expect a rough night in any bay that is not fully protected once waves reach two metres or more.

Which months suit a Kasos yacht charter?

For a relaxed trip, go in late spring, June, September or early October. These months bring warm water and lighter winds. July and August bring the strongest meltemi, so those weeks reward crews with solid sailing experience.

Across the Dodecanese, the main sailing season runs from April to October. Winter sailing is much less common, because the weather is hard to predict and marina services are limited. A Kasos yacht charter therefore fits the warmer half of the year, when the sea is ready for long swims.

Spring and autumn give milder air, between 20°C and 28°C, plus lighter winds and quieter harbours. The Dodecanese also gets a softer meltemi than the central Aegean. Even so, the channel by Kasos still speeds up the wind. Check the forecast before every Kasos yacht charter, whatever the month.

Average sea temperatures off nearby Karpathos show how the water warms through the season:

April: 17.1°C
Late spring: 19.6°C
June: 22.4°C
July: 24.5°C
August: 26°C
September: 25.3°C
October: 23.2°C
November: 20.7°C

June and July bring the first, gentler wave of the wind, which Greek forecasters call the “forerunner” Etesians. The main Etesians follow in August and blow harder. An early-summer Kasos yacht charter gets steady sailing breezes and warming water. It also avoids the full August strength.

Peak meltemi weeks run from July into August, and strong spells can carry on into September. A whole summer rarely passes without at least one day above force 8. July also gives the longest sunny days, with about 13 hours of sunshine a day on Karpathos.

September keeps the sea warm, but the chance of clouds and rain showers rises as the month goes on. Later in autumn, passing areas of low pressure carry rain, long swells and winds from the south. Book a Kasos yacht charter for late September or early October if you want warm water with calmer winds.

Charter companies in the Dodecanese name late spring, June, September and early October as the top months. Families and first-time crews do well in these shoulder weeks. Confident sailors who enjoy a stiff breeze can plan this Kasos yacht charter for high summer instead.

What does a week-long Dodecanese route through Kasos look like?

One week from Rhodes can include a Kasos yacht charter stop if you join legs that Sailingissues publishes. The plan runs Rhodes, Lindos, Karpathos port, Kasos, back to Karpathos port, then Chalki and Rhodes. It covers about 210 nautical miles.

No published one-week Rhodes loop goes all the way to Kasos. The Sailingissues guide does list every leg you need, though. Its one-week Route N runs from Rhodes to Karpathos port and on to Chalki. Its three-week Route L adds the short hop between Karpathos port and Kasos port. A Kasos yacht charter week joins these legs.

Day 1: board the yacht in Rhodes and stay in port.
Day 2: Rhodes port to Lindos on Rhodes, 24 NM.
Day 3: Lindos to Karpathos port, 57 NM. This is the longest leg of the week.
Day 4: Karpathos port to Kasos port, 23 NM.
Day 5: Kasos port back to Karpathos port, 23 NM.
Day 6: Karpathos port to Chalki port, 47 NM.
Day 7: Chalki port to Rhodes port, 36 NM, ready for check-out.

Each leg length above comes from the Sailingissues route tables. On this plan, this Kasos yacht charter spends one night at Kasos. The guide says Route N gives “proper sailing”, and it calls Karpathos “really off the beaten track”. The Lindos to Karpathos leg needs an early start and a good forecast.

The three-week Route L comes at Kasos from a different direction. It sails from Tristomo on Karpathos to Kasos port, a 29 NM leg. The next day it goes on to Karpathos port, 23 NM, and then to Vigli on Rhodes, 39 NM. The whole loop is 390 NM.

The guide gives sailors a clear warning about this corner of the sea. Check the weather forecasts before you head for the “windswept and remote” islands of Karpathos and Kasos. For a Kasos yacht charter, that forecast check comes before every open-water leg.

The guide also offers a backup leg from Syrna straight to Vigli on Rhodes, 65 NM. That leg skips both islands and adds three rest or excursion days. It cuts the loop to 323 NM.

From Kos, the guide sees things differently. On its two-week southern route, Kasos and Karpathos are “worth the extra mileage”. Kasos sits at the far southern edge of the Eastern Aegean, between Crete and Karpathos. That position explains why every Kasos yacht charter route has longer legs.

How long does a Kasos yacht charter last?

Trips run from a single day out on the water to a week or more on board. Dodecanese routes are planned in one-week, two-week and three-week blocks. A Kasos yacht charter fits well into the longer blocks, which leave spare days.

The shortest option is a day out from Kasos itself. The private yacht trip sold on GetYourGuide is called “Armathia & Kasos Odyssey Private Yacht Experience”. It starts and ends on the island. Its listing sets the exact length of the trip, so check the hours there before you book a date.

A week is the shortest block in the route tables from Rhodes. For a Kasos yacht charter, a week leaves little spare time. The Sailingissues guide says the Rhodes area has longer sailing legs than the Kos area. Its one-week Route M, which stays well north of Kasos, already has zero rest or excursion days.

Two weeks give more room. With fourteen days, you can wait out a windy day in port and keep the plan. The guide’s two-week Route P is a good example. Its backup leg avoids the “windswept Karpathos-Kasos area” when the forecast is poor, and it adds two rest days.

Three weeks is the length of the one published route that stops at Kasos port. Route L covers 390 NM in twenty-one days. Its legs are shorter, and its rest days suit swimming or exploring on shore. This Kasos yacht charter length gives the calmest pace.

Leg length tells you how long each sailing day lasts. In the week plan above, the legs run from 23 NM to 57 NM. The two short legs between Karpathos port and Kasos leave the afternoon free. The long run from Lindos fills the greater part of a day at sea.

Here is a simple way to choose the length of a Kasos yacht charter:

One day: a private trip from Fry around the nearby islets.
One week from Rhodes: a fast route with a single night at Kasos.
Two weeks: time to wait out wind and still reach Kasos.
Three weeks: the full Route L loop with Kasos as one of its ports.

A longer Kasos yacht charter also gives you a spare day for weather. On every route that reaches this island, the open-water legs depend on the forecast.

Which boats can you hire for a Kasos yacht charter?

Four boat types serve these waters: monohull sailing yachts, catamarans, motor yachts and gulets. Istion names Kasos as an island reached by sailing west from its Rhodes base. Its fleet there mixes sailing yachts with catamarans.

Monohull sailing yachts suit people who love the classic feel of sailing on a Kasos yacht charter. Istion says they are a bit slower than other boats. They also lean to one side when the wind blows. Its smaller yachts have three cabins and room for six guests. Two more fit if they share the main cabin.

Larger monohulls in the Istion fleet reach six cabins and up to 12 guests. Among the boats listed for Kos or Rhodes is a Hanse 385 with three cabins for eight guests. A Bavaria Cruiser 41 offers the same three cabins and eight berths, plus two toilets.

For a small group, a monohull keeps a Kasos yacht charter simple. Istion adds that these boats are designed to be easy to handle.

Catamarans have two hulls, so they rock less than a monohull. Istion points out that this helps new sailors and anyone who feels seasick. A catamaran sits shallow in the water, which lets it come closer to the beach. Each cabin tends to have its own washroom.

The Lagoon 46 that Istion lists at Kos or Rhodes takes 12 guests in four main cabins plus two extra. Its Bali 4.6 also sleeps 12, with five cabins plus one. Both carry a fly bridge, a generator and a water maker.

Two families can share one catamaran, each with private space on either side of the main deck. That layout makes a catamaran a calm base for a Kasos yacht charter with children.

Motor yachts trade sails for speed and space. Istion describes them as fast boats with multiple levels, big bedrooms and wide living areas. They burn more fuel and need a professional captain and crew. Sail Ionian adds that motor yachts give fast, flexible routes and reach remote anchorages.

On a short Kasos yacht charter, that speed buys more hours at anchor. Barbaros lists Irene’s, a 26-metre motor yacht for ten guests in four cabins, based in Athens.

Barbaros Yachting sells crewed gulets and sailing yachts across the Dodecanese, with departures from Kos or Rhodes. Its Rhodes gulet Ece Arina is 24 metres long and sleeps eight guests in four cabins. For a Kasos yacht charter with a large family, a gulet works like a floating guesthouse.

Monohull: three to six cabins, up to 12 guests, classic sailing feel.
Catamaran: up to 12 guests, stable deck, shallow draught for beach stops.
Motor yacht: fast and roomy, always with a professional captain and crew.
Gulet: crewed and roomy, sailing out of Kos or Rhodes.

Bareboat or skippered: which suits a Kasos yacht charter?

A skippered or fully crewed boat suits the open sea around Kasos. Sail Ionian rates the Aegean, Dodecanese included, as the area for stronger winds and longer routes. Bareboat means you hire the yacht alone and run it yourself.

On a bareboat charter you handle navigation and every boat task yourself. The Istion monohulls and catamarans at Kos and Rhodes come either as bareboat or with a skipper. Istion frames the choice as freedom for the experienced sailor or the ease of a holiday led by a skipper.

A skippered Kasos yacht charter puts a professional at the helm while your group lives on board. Istion guests post reviews of skippered charters from both Rhodes and Kos. Your group can rest, swim and eat while someone else keeps watch.

A fully crewed Kasos yacht charter goes one step further. Sail Ionian says the crew takes care of sailing, cooking, cleaning and route planning. The smallest crew is a captain and a hostess. Larger boats add a chef, a chief steward, a deckhand and an engineer.

On a crewed boat the captain also handles docking and picks each anchorage. Sail Ionian lists crewed yachts from around 45 feet upwards, with cabins for six to ten guests. Its larger catamarans and motor yachts take more people, up to about 12. Istion pitches crewed charters at milestone celebrations and holidays with three generations on board.

Open water such as the Kasos Strait rewards experience. A crossing there means hours on open sea, far from a quiet bay. For that reason, this guide points first-time sailors towards a skipper. Only crews with real open-sea time are a good match for bareboat here.

Bareboat: you sail, plan and dock; this suits seasoned crews who know open water.
Skippered: a professional sails, you relax; suits mixed groups and families.
Fully crewed: captain, hostess and more; suits celebrations and guests who want every meal handled.
Motor yacht: crewed only, as Istion states they need a professional captain.

Whatever the format, match the boat to the crew first. A calm catamaran with a skipper turns a Kasos yacht charter into an easy week. Even a group that has never sailed can enjoy it.

What licences and documents does a Kasos yacht charter need?

A bareboat skipper in Greece needs a licence that the port authorities accept, such as the ICC. A second experienced crew member must also appear on the crew list. Hire a skipper and the licence question passes to that professional.

Greek bareboat rules come from the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and the local port police, the Limenarchio. On check-in day, the charter company must check the crew documents. Only then does the port let the yacht leave. For a Kasos yacht charter without a hired skipper, these checks happen at the base before you cast off.

The ICC, the International Certificate of Competence, is the safest licence to bring. Greek ports also accept the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical and the ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising certificate. The RYA Day Skipper is no longer accepted, because it covers daytime sailing only. Charter agents warn that photocopies, phone photos and PDFs of a licence are refused.

National licences from other EU countries need a sworn English translation. The charter firm sends it to the port authorities for approval before the trip starts. Greek rules allow leisure boating up to 12 nautical miles offshore. A coastal licence limited to 6 miles can be refused, so an offshore licence or the ICC suits open water.

One crew member holds an offshore-level licence.
A second experienced adult is named on the crew list to help with manoeuvres.
The skipper holds the SRC radio certificate to use the VHF.
A sailing CV goes with the application.

Solo bareboat hire is not possible, as there is a two-person minimum. Yachts above 24 metres need a professional captain. On a skippered Kasos yacht charter, guests need no licence, because the hired Greek skipper holds it.

The crew list is mandatory for every charter in Greece. Charter firms send the form to fill in before boarding. Yachts arriving from abroad show the port police a crew list with passport numbers and birth dates. Keep passports on board for the whole trip.

Greece also charges a monthly cruising fee called TEPAI. It covers every leisure yacht over 7 metres in Greek waters, whatever its flag. Owners pay it online through the AADE eTEPAI portal. A full month is due even when only three days of that month remain. Ask your charter company whether this Kasos yacht charter already has it paid.

Which safety rules and forecasts guide a Kasos yacht charter?

Dial 108 for the Hellenic Coast Guard in any emergency at sea. The European number 112 also works for every service. On the radio, VHF channel 16 carries distress, urgency and safety calls in Greek waters.

Olympia Radio keeps VHF channel 16 for distress traffic only. Channel 12 is the standard channel for every Greek port authority. Use it to reach the port police on arrival. For talk between yachts, pick a ship-to-ship channel such as 69, 71 or 72. A Kasos yacht charter keeps channel 16 on watch at all times.

The 112 line is free in Greece. It even works from a locked phone or a phone with no SIM card. The call centre passes you to the right service. Use 108 when the problem is on the water, such as a fire, a capsize or a person overboard.

Mobile phone signal reaches about 10 nautical miles from inhabited islands, says one Greek sailing guide. The same guide names Telekom, formerly COSMOTE, as the network with the widest coverage offshore. Still, carry a working VHF radio on every passage. Out of range, a phone is no help.

Safety notices also reach yachts through NAVTEX. Private yachts rarely carry a NAVTEX receiver. The Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service puts every active message on a live online map. These notices flag firing practice areas, and a yacht must stay out of them. Check the map each morning of this Kasos yacht charter.

For weather, the POSEIDON system of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research covers the Greek seas. It gives forecasts for wind, sea temperature, currents, and wave height and direction. It also shows real-time observations. Read the wave forecast before any open-water leg of a Kasos yacht charter.

Plan with care, because bareboat sailing in the Dodecanese is harder than in the Ionian Sea or the Saronic Gulf. The southern Aegean has a name for strong, windswept seas. Sailors new to such conditions can hire a skipper instead of going bareboat.

Where do you snorkel from the boat on a Kasos yacht charter?

You find the clearest snorkel water off the south and east coasts. Kasos Tours describes these shores as washed by the deep, crystal clear Libyan Sea. Their steep, rocky beaches are hard to reach by land, so a boat takes you straight there.

The island has about 60 kilometres of coastline, according to Kasos Tours. On a Kasos yacht charter, the crew chooses each swim stop by the wind of the day. A flat sea matters more than any beach name, because ripples and swell cloud the view below.

These coves stand out for snorkelling from a Kasos yacht charter:

Avlaki: a calm bay on the south-west tip, sheltered from the north wind, with clear blue water over pebbles. Just outside the cove, rock walls 80 to 100 metres high form underwater ravines.
Helatros: a south-west cove with a pebbled seabed and sparkling water, rated ideal for snorkelling. Strong currents and swell run just off its mouth.
Trita: a remote beach that boats can also reach, with plenty of good snorkel spots.
Agali: a boat-only beach on the south coast, where the water is clear enough to see the seabed.
Plaka: a south coast beach that its rocks shelter, a good swim when the north wind gets rough.
Antiperatos: five beaches with a rocky seabed and crystal clear water, but open to the north wind and big swell.

Divers head for a reef about 1.5 kilometres from Akti, on the east side, where a small sunken boat lies. This stretch sits close to the passage between Kasos and Karpathos. Currents run strongly here, so a Kasos yacht charter keeps the boat close and watches the drift.

Below the surface, look out for green meadows of Posidonia. Posidonia appears on the list of natural habitats in the Kasos protected area. This sea grass is a flowering plant found only in the Mediterranean. People mistake it for seaweed, though it is not.

Left alone, Posidonia beds slow down waves and protect the shore from erosion. On this Kasos yacht charter, ask the crew to drop the anchor on a sandy patch, not on the meadow. Sand also gives a better view, as fish stand out against the pale floor.

Boat traffic is the main risk for a swimmer on a Kasos yacht charter. Wear a bright swim cap or tow a small float, so other boats can see you. Stay near your own yacht and keep away from the stern while the engine runs. Agree on a simple hand signal before anyone jumps in.

What rules apply to fishing from a yacht off Kasos?

Greek law sets limits on fishing gear, seasons and boats. FishingBooker says guests who hire a licensed charter boat do not need to buy their own fishing licence. Shore fishing from harbours and beaches needs no licence either, by the same guide.

Another Greek guide adds that, on a charter boat, the operator holds the permits. That makes a skippered Kasos yacht charter the simplest way to drop a line. Ask before you book whether the yacht carries rods and whether its papers cover guests who fish.

Private boats are less clear-cut. An older guide from the Hellenic Communication Service says anyone sport-fishing from a boat needs a licence. The Greek travel site Nikana says no permit has been required so far. It adds that a new permit has been announced. Check with the port police before your Kasos yacht charter sets out.

A private boat faces one more rule. It must be registered with the local Greek port authority before anyone fishes from it. Bareboat crews on a Kasos yacht charter need this confirmed in writing at check-in.

Spearfishing has its own clear limits in Greece:

No spearfishing at all for one full month in late spring, when the fish spawn.
Only mechanical spearguns are legal. Compressed gas and air-powered guns are banned all year.
No spearfishing at night.
No spearfishing while using scuba gear.

Spearzen reports that Greece dropped the special spearfishing licence when it simplified its rules. Even so, these gear and season limits apply to every guest who brings a speargun aboard a Kasos yacht charter. Leave the gun stowed near swimmers and other boats.

Minimum fish sizes and protected species also apply in Greek waters. Before you keep a catch, ask your Kasos yacht charter crew or the port police for the current list. Take only what the group will eat that day, and return small fish to the sea at once.

What does a Kasos yacht charter include?

A crewed boat, safety gear and swim stops form the core. The Armathia and Kasos Odyssey Private Yacht Experience on GetYourGuide lasts seven hours. It is a private cruise from Karpathos to Kasos and the islet of Armathia.

The listing shows a private option and a small group format. GetYourGuide names Karpathos Blue Cruises as the operator. One set part of the day is a swim at Marmara Beach on Armathia. The listing also calls it Marbles Beach. Read the full list of inclusions for this kasos yacht charter on the booking page before you pay.

A week-long kasos yacht charter with crew follows a wider pattern. Sail Ionian says a crewed yacht comes with a captain and a hostess as a minimum. Larger boats add a chef, a steward, a deckhand and an engineer. The captain handles navigation, sailing and docking, and also picks the anchorages.

On a crewed kasos yacht charter, cabins come with fresh bed linens and towels, changed mid-week on longer trips. Daily housekeeping keeps cabins and lounges tidy. Water and electricity for normal use on board are part of the deal. The safety kit covers lifejackets, a life raft, an EPIRB beacon, a VHF radio and GPS.

Water toys belong to the package as well. Sail Ionian lists snorkelling gear and stand-up paddleboards, plus kayaks, floats and basic fishing gear on certain boats. On a gulet-style kasos yacht charter, Guletbookers says the boat comes fully staffed with a captain and seamen. The same company adds that luxury gulets carry a range of watersports kit.

Meals and drinks sit outside the base deal on a crewed charter. Sail Ionian places breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks under the Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA. Guests pay this sum before the trip. The crew then uses it to buy food and drinks and to fuel the yacht for the agreed route.

Fuel for normal cruising also appears on the APA list, and the company tells guests to check each contract. Unused APA money is normally refunded, while any overspend is settled before you leave. Specialist staff such as a dive guide, a yoga teacher or a nanny cost extra. A crew tip is your choice, and costs on shore are yours.

Part of the crewed deal: crew, cabins, linen, towels, housekeeping, safety gear, water toys.
Paid through the APA: food, drinks and fuel for the planned route.
Extra: specialist staff, crew tip, spending on land.

Before you sign for this Kasos yacht charter, match each line of the contract against these three groups. A day cruise and a week on a crewed boat follow different terms, so read both with care.

What do you pack for a Kasos yacht charter?

Soft bags, non-marking shoes and strong sun protection top the list. Space below deck is tight. Sail Ionian does not promise basic toiletries on every yacht, so pack your own wash kit.

Hard suitcases do not fit in yacht lockers and can scratch the woodwork. A soft holdall folds flat once you unpack. Keep the load light for a kasos yacht charter, since cabins on a sailing yacht offer little hanging space. Plan for one bag per person and leave spare clothes at your hotel.

Shoes with pale, non-marking soles protect the deck. Bring a pair of water shoes too, because rocky coves and harbour steps can be sharp underfoot. Bare feet work well on deck in calm weather. A light pair of trainers covers walks in Fry or on the islets.

The sun at sea is stronger than on land, since the water reflects the light. On a kasos yacht charter in summer, shade on deck is limited to the bimini or a sail. Pack these items:

High-factor, reef-safe sun cream and a lip balm with sun protection.
A wide-brimmed hat with a chin strap, so the wind does not take it.
Polarised sunglasses with a cord.
A long-sleeved shirt or rash vest for the hottest hours.
A refillable water bottle.

Motion sickness tablets or wristbands help on open-water legs. Take tablets before you board, not once you feel unwell. Ask a pharmacist which product suits you, and tell the skipper if you feel sick. Fresh air on deck and a view of the horizon also help.

On any kasos yacht charter, a dry bag keeps phones, wallets and cameras safe during dinghy rides to the shore. Spray soaks anything left loose in the tender. A small waterproof phone pouch lets you take pictures while you swim. Pack a power bank, as charging points on board are shared by all guests.

Carry cash in small notes for island cafés and kiosks, in case card machines are down. A warm fleece or windproof jacket helps on evening passages, when the breeze feels cool after sunset. Add a beach towel of your own, so the cabin towels stay dry and clean.

Your own mask and snorkel fit your face better, even though crewed boats carry snorkelling gear. Bring swimwear for every day, a light cover-up and any personal medicines in their original boxes. With this kit packed, a kasos yacht charter runs without fuss from the first swim to the last.

How do you book and cancel a Kasos yacht charter?

Booking runs online through GetYourGuide, which lists the Armathia & Kasos Odyssey Private Yacht Experience as a 7-hour trip. You choose a date, enter your group size, and read the cancellation terms shown on the listing before you pay.

On GetYourGuide, the trip appears on the page of Karpathos Blue Cruises, the business behind the cruise. The trip is a boat charter for 1 to 10 guests. A private option is on offer, so your party can keep the yacht to itself for the day.

GetYourGuide marks this Kasos yacht charter as a new activity on its site. Pick your date first, then check that the group size matches every person who plans to sail.

The cancellation rule sits on the listing page itself, close to the date picker. Read it in full before you confirm. Do not rely on the rule of another trip you booked before. Note the last day on which you can still cancel, and save the confirmation email on your phone.

Timing matters for a longer Kasos yacht charter too. Istion Yachting calls late June through August the peak sailing season in Greece. It warns that free boats grow scarce in those weeks and that early booking is essential.

Late spring into June, and September to early October, bring quieter islands, according to the same company. In April and October, not every island restaurant or shop is open, the company notes.

Before you sign a week-long Kasos yacht charter, ask the company these questions in writing:

Which day and hour is check-in, and when must the boat return to the base?
How is the security deposit held, and when is it released?
What happens to the booking if a storm warning stops the boat from leaving?
Which exact yacht, with its model and cabin count, is named in the contract?

Which questions do travellers ask about a Kasos yacht charter?

Families, couples and first-time sailors ask about start times, children, sea sickness and rough weather. The answers below come from the yacht listing, a charter company and traveller reports from the waters around Kasos.

Each answer is short and sticks to what the sources say. For the route and the stops, read the sections on the yacht gig and Armathia above.

A Kasos yacht charter depends on the sea, so keep your plans flexible. Leave a spare day in your holiday in case the boat stays in port. Keep the crew’s phone number saved, so you can hear about changes early.

What time does the Kasos yacht charter on GetYourGuide leave?

The listing gives a departure time of 10:00 a.m. Arrive a little earlier, so the crew can welcome everyone and cast off on time.

Can children join a Kasos yacht charter?

Yes. Istion Yachting says kids enjoy skippered trips a great deal. Under the skipper’s watch they learn the basics of sailing and even steer the yacht for a while.

What helps if you get seasick?

Choose the boat type with care. Istion Yachting explains that catamarans rock less than sailing yachts because of their two hulls. It suggests them for people new to sailing or prone to seasickness.

What happens if the wind makes the sea rough?

The crew can change the plan. One traveller report says Armathia is at times hard to reach because of wind and waves. Another describes a boat from Kasos that skipped the islet because the sea was poor.

Does this Kasos yacht charter suit couples?

GetYourGuide places the Armathia and Kasos trip in its list of activities for couples on Karpathos. The private option lets two people enjoy the boat without strangers on board.

Kasos Yacht Charter: Armathia Cruise, Islets, Harbours, Winds, Routes and Booking