Kos Islands: Full-Day Boat Cruise with Lunch & Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.50 (635 reviews) 72% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/20

Duration8h

GroupUp to 80

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Swim in clear blue waters, taste island fish and stroll tiny villages

You’ll float between Kos’s islands by boat, stopping to swim in clear water at Plati, eat fresh fish on Pserimos beach, and wander Vathi’s sleepy lanes with a local guide. Expect laughter from your crew, homemade sweets, and moments of real quiet far from crowds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat cruise to three islands

Depart from Kos island
Visit Pserimos island and swim
Enjoy fresh fish at beach tavernas
Travel to Vathi village on Kalymnos
Explore Vathi village and try local sweets
Take photos of fjord, gulfs, and caves
Stop at Plati island for swimming
Relax on boat with cocktails
Return to Kos island

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was how the water off Kos looked almost fake — that bright turquoise you see in postcards but never expect in real life. We boarded the boat early (I’d barely finished my coffee), and the crew were already joking around with us, making sure everyone had sunscreen on. There was this salty breeze that stuck to my skin, and someone nearby was peeling an orange — so the air was kind of sweet too. Our guide, Giorgos, pointed out Pserimos as we got close. He said only about 130 people live there year-round. Hard to imagine, honestly.

Pserimos itself felt like a secret — just a few whitewashed tavernas right on the sand. I tried grilled fish for lunch (they brought it straight from the kitchen with lemon wedges), and it tasted like they’d pulled it from the sea that morning. There was this older woman sweeping outside her door who waved at us — she didn’t speak much English but smiled when I tried “kalimera.” After eating, we wandered along the beach barefoot; the sand was warm but not burning hot yet. You could hear cicadas buzzing somewhere up in the hills.

Vathi on Kalymnos came next. The boat slid into this narrow fjord — honestly, I thought we might scrape the sides — and suddenly everything went quiet except for the engine echoing off rock walls. We had an hour there; enough time to try homemade orange juice (so sweet it almost made me wince) and these little almond sweets at a bakery where two kids were playing behind the counter. The streets were empty except for a few cats sunning themselves. I took way too many photos of blue doors and bougainvillea.

Plati was our last stop before heading back to Kos. The boat anchored just off shore; some people jumped right in but I hesitated (the water looked cold!). Ended up going for it anyway — turned out to be perfect once you got used to it. You could see straight down to ripples on the sandy bottom, which is wild if you’re used to murky beaches back home. Someone handed me a cheap cocktail from the bar while I dried off in the sun. It all felt slow and easy in a way that stuck with me after we left — still does sometimes when things get noisy again.

What’s included

Your day includes optional hotel pickup in Kos town or nearby areas, all entry fees and taxes covered upfront, use of snorkelling gear onboard plus WiFi access throughout the cruise. A fresh lunch is served on board—vegetarian option available if you let them know ahead—and there’s an air-conditioned lounge area plus restrooms on deck for comfort between island stops.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Aegeas Travel