Self-Launched Hiking Greece's Dodecanese Islands — Rhodes, Symi & Tilos
8 days · Greece
Exodus charges £2,870
No-markup version: ~£545 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Recreate Exodus' 8-day Dodecanese island-hopping hiking adventure entirely on your own. Base yourself in Rhodes town, then hop ferries to the photogenic harbour island of Symi and the unspoilt, eco-minded island of Tilos. Follow the same gentle coastal and inland trails — up the Kali Strata staircase to Chorio, past the Roukouniotis Monastery through pine forest to the sea, along Tilos' coast to the ghost village of Mikro Chorio, and up to the capital Megalo Chorio — while dipping into Greek food and wine yourselves. With budget hotels, public ferries and local buses replacing the guided minibus and group meals, expect to save well over half the Exodus price while keeping the same classic Greek-island experience.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rhodes & settle in
Rhodes Town
Fly or ferry into Rhodes and check into a budget hotel or guesthouse in the Old Town. Get your bearings with a stroll around the medieval old town walls and Mandraki harbour in the evening, then treat yourself to a relaxed taverna dinner in the old town's cobbled lanes.
🚌Airport bus or ~30 min taxi from Diagoras airport (RHO) (£6-15)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Rhodes Old Town (~£40)
- →Self-led evening walk around Rhodes Old Town walls
- →Taverna dinner in the old town
Rhodes old town swim & self-guided food-and-wine afternoon in Apollona
Rhodes
Morning free to swim at Elli Beach or wander the Palace of the Grand Master. In the afternoon, take a local bus up into the hills to the traditional village of Apollona. Visit the Apolloniatisses women's co-op for local delicacies like melekouni (honey-sesame-cinnamon bars), stop at a small local winery for a tasting, and round off with Greek coffee in a kafenio. Return by bus to Rhodes town.
🚌Local KTEL bus Rhodes→Apollona and back (£8)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Rhodes Old Town (~£40)
- →Swim at Elli Beach
- →Walk Rhodes Old Town & visit Palace of the Grand Master (£6)
- →Visit Apolloniatisses co-op & melekouni tasting
- →Self-arranged winery visit & wine tasting in Apollona
- →Greek coffee at a local kafenio
Fast ferry to Symi & hike the Kali Strata to Chorio
Symi
Take the morning fast catamaran from Rhodes to Symi, the 'Princess of the Dodecanese'. Drop bags at a guesthouse at Pedi Beach, then walk through Gialos town and hike up the unique Kali Strata staircase to the upper village of Chorio with its aristocratic mansions. Afternoon free to swim, explore Symi town or visit the naval museum.
🚌Fast catamaran or ferry Rhodes→Symi (£15-20)
🛏Guesthouse near Pedi Beach, Symi (~£40)
- →Hike the Kali Strata staircase up to Chorio (~3km)
- →Explore Symi town & Gialos harbour
- →Swim at Pedi Beach
Pine forest hike from the Roukouniotis Monastery to the sea
Symi
Take a local water taxi or short boat/bus from Pedi towards the 15th-century Roukouniotis Monastery, explore it, then hike a pine forest trail scented with aromatic herbs past small chapels down to sea level at Saint Emilianos Church overlooking the Turkish coast. Swim in the clear Aegean waters. In the afternoon, treat yourself to a barbecue and cruise on a traditional wooden kaiki boat, or simply find a spot in a harbourside taverna with grilled mezedes.
🚌Local boat/water taxi from Pedi (~£8)
🛏Guesthouse near Pedi Beach, Symi (~£40)
- →Visit Roukouniotis Monastery
- →Hike pine forest trail to the coast (~6km)
- →Swim at Saint Emilianos
- →Optional kaiki barbecue cruise (£25-35)
Ferry to Tilos & coastal hike to the ghost village of Mikro Chorio
Tilos
Take the short ferry from Symi to Tilos, dropping luggage at a guesthouse in Livadia. Hike the coastal trail from Livadia along the shoreline past lovely beaches (including a red-sand one) to tree-lined Lethra Beach, then ascend to the abandoned hilltop settlement of Mikro Chorio, its houses, alleys and courtyards now shared only with goats (in summer a bar operates here). Descend back to Livadia for a relaxed beach afternoon.
🚌Ferry Symi→Tilos (£12-18)
🛏Guesthouse/room in Livadia, Tilos (~£35)
- →Coastal hike from Livadia to Mikro Chorio ghost village (~7km)
- →Swim at red-sand & Lethra beaches
- →Explore Livadia seaside village
Hike to Megalo Chorio, capital of Tilos
Tilos
Start at the Agios Panteleimonas monastery, built by a sailor in 1531 above Megalo Chorio and surrounded by maple trees. Hike from the monastery's outskirts down to the small harbour of Agios Antonios with views across to the volcanic island of Nisyros, then ascend to Megalo Chorio, the island's capital, built beneath a medieval castle and overlooking the big beach of Eristos. Afternoon free to swim or explore the island's other trails.
🚌Local minibus/taxi or walk between villages (£5)
🛏Guesthouse in Livadia or Megalo Chorio, Tilos (~£35)
- →Visit Agios Panteleimonas monastery
- →Hike to Agios Antonios harbour & up to Megalo Chorio (~7km)
- →Swim at Eristos beach
- →Explore Tilos' medieval castle
Return ferry to Rhodes & farewell evening
Rhodes
Enjoy an easy morning on Tilos before taking the afternoon ferry back to Rhodes. Check back into Rhodes town and spend the final evening sharing stories over dinner in a lively taverna in the old town, planning your next adventure.
🚌Ferry Tilos→Rhodes (£15-20)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Rhodes Old Town (~£40)
- →Morning swim or last wander on Tilos
- →Farewell dinner in Rhodes old town taverna
Departure from Rhodes
Rhodes
After breakfast, make your way to Diagoras airport for your flight home, or extend your stay if you want more time exploring Rhodes or the nearby islands.
🚌Airport bus or taxi to Diagoras airport (£5-15)
🛏—
- →Final breakfast & departure
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£545 | £2,870 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,325 per person (81%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£545
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Hiking Greece's Dodecanese Islands — Rhodes, Symi & Tilos cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £545 per person for 8 days in Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,870 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £545 — a saving of roughly £2,325 (81%) per person.
How long is the Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, beaches, culture trip through Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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