3 Island Cruise to Nisyros, St. Antonios & Yali from Kardamena

A volcanic island with a working caldera sits between two uninhabited stops and a traditional Greek lunch cooked on the boat.

This 8-hour cruise departs Kardamena at 10am and visits three islands in the Dodecanese: St. Antonios (uninhabited, with a church and beach), Nisyros (where you can explore the port town of Mandraki, climb to the Panagia Spiliani monastery, or pay extra to visit the volcano), and Yali (a small volcanic island with 21 residents, built for swimming and relaxation). The boat includes a traditional Greek BBQ with souvlaki, salad and bread, and an English-speaking guide leads the day. Return to Kardamena is at 5:30pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cruise to three Greek islands

• Depart from Kardamena port at 10am
• Arrive at St. Antonios Island
• Visit church and swim or sunbathe
• Enjoy Greek BBQ on board
• Arrive at Nisyros Island, explore Mandraki
• Optionally climb to Panagia Spiliani Monastery
• Optionally visit Nisyros volcano
• Relax or explore town and enjoy coffee
• Arrive at Yali Island
• Sunbathe, swim, and enjoy drinks
• Return to Kardamena port by 5:30pm

The Experience

The boat leaves Kardamena port at 10am and heads straight to St. Antonios, arriving within the first hour. This uninhabited island has a small church dedicated to St. Antonios and clear water for swimming; most travelers spend the time in the water or sunbathing on the beach while the crew prepares lunch on board. Around noon you arrive at Nisyros, the largest stop of the day. The boat docks in Mandraki, the island's capital and port, where the town spreads out in front of you with narrow streets, souvenir shops and the Ilikiomeni square—a place to sit with coffee or a traditional dessert if you want to stay near the waterfront. From Mandraki, about 200 steps climb to the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, which sits on the mountain and gives a panoramic view of the whole island and its Orthodox church. If you want to see the actual volcano crater, that's an optional paid excursion arranged with the crew.

Lunch happens on the boat: pork souvlaki, salad and bread, with vegetarian options available if you request them when you book. The meal is timed so you eat after leaving St. Antonios but before or after Nisyros, depending on the day's flow. The third and final stop is Yali, a volcanic island with only 21 permanent residents. There's no town to explore here—the point is to swim, sunbathe, try cocktails on deck, or test diving skills in the water. The island's volcanic geology is visible from the boat and the shoreline, and the water is clear enough that snorkeling or diving makes sense.

The day ends at 5:30pm when the boat returns to Kardamena. The whole experience is led by an English-speaking guide, and the boat itself is called a pirate boat—a traditional wooden vessel built for this kind of island-hopping. Liability insurance is included, and infants travel free as long as they sit on an adult's lap. The itinerary assumes at least moderate fitness; the climbing at Nisyros and the boat's motion are not demanding, but the day is long and spent mostly in sun and water.

What’s included

• Boat cruise to all three islands.
• pork souvlaki, salad and bread lunch prepared on board (vegetarian options on request).
• liability insurance.
• English-speaking guide for the full 8 hours.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SAIL AWAY TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if you want a full day on the water with three different islands and a mix of activities—swimming, exploring a town, climbing to a monastery, and relaxing on a volcanic shore. The boat's schedule and the included lunch mean the day holds together without you arranging transport between islands or meals; the trade-off is a fixed timetable and a shared boat, which is what keeps all three stops inside a single afternoon.

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Top questions

What is the Nisyros volcano and can I visit it on this cruise?

Nisyros is an active volcanic island with a caldera (crater) that you can walk into. The volcano visit is optional and costs extra; you arrange it with the crew once on board. If you skip it, you can explore Mandraki town instead, climb to the Panagia Spiliani monastery for views of the island, or simply relax by the water.

Is the Greek BBQ lunch included in the price?

Yes, lunch is included: pork souvlaki, salad and bread cooked on board. Vegetarian options are available if you request them at booking. Coffee, tea and drinks are not included, but cocktails and other beverages are available to buy on the boat.

How much time do I spend swimming and relaxing at each island?

St. Antonios is your first stop and gives roughly an hour to swim or sunbathe before lunch is ready. Nisyros is the longest stop—you have time to explore Mandraki town, visit the monastery, or rest at a café, or (with the paid volcano option) take a guided trip inland. Yali is the final stop and is built entirely around swimming, sunbathing and water activities until the boat departs for Kardamena at 5:30pm.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer to book this cruise?

The cruise is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and you should have at least moderate physical fitness. Swimming is optional at each stop—you can sunbathe or stay on the boat instead. The boat itself is stable and the sea is typically calm in this region, but the day is long and spent in sun and water.

What time does the boat leave and return to Kardamena?

Departure from Kardamena port is at 10am. The boat returns at 5:30pm, making this an 8-hour day including all three islands, lunch and travel time between stops.

Is there a guide on the boat, and what language does he speak?

Yes, an English-speaking guide leads the cruise and explains the islands, the stops and the activities throughout the day. Liability insurance for all participants is included.