Take this full-day tour to Symi Island and Panormitis Bay from Rhodes, enjoy the gentle waves of the Aegean Sea, and learn about the ancient practice of sponge diving from your guide.
Start your day with a pick up from your Rhodes hotel, and then travel in an air-conditioned coach to Mandraki Harbor. Here, meet your tour guide, and then hop aboard your ferry boat to begin your day trip.
Relax on deck, and take in the stunning views, as you cruise through the neck of the harbor and onto the open, azure waters of the Aegean Sea.
Make your first stop at the idyllic island of Symi. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront promenade with your guide. Hear about the island’s sponge diving history, a practice that dates back to ancient Greece, with works by Aristotle, Plato and Homer all mentioning the use of sponges for bathing.
Then, enjoy free time to explore the island at your leisure. Wander through the cobbled streets, dropping in to charming shops to browse the local wares. Perhaps refuel with lunch at a traditional Greek taverna, or indulge in a traditional coffee and a sweet treat in an airy cafe.
After exploring Symi, meet up with your guide, and return to your ferry boat for a short cruise to Panormitis Bay. Maybe visit the Monastery of the Archangel Michael. This 18th-century Venetian-styled monastery boasts the world’s highest baroque bell tower, and is thought to have been built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo.
Head inside the main gate, and make your way into the church. Here, marvel at the elaborate chandeliers, and then admire the exhibits at the two museums — one that houses ecclesiastical art and the other that displays folk art and items relating to fishing and agriculture.
When the time comes, cruise back to Rhodes, where your tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel.
Sharing is caring!