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Rhodes has a ton of activities for visitors, from castles to archaeological sites, great food or just lounging on the beach. But when I saw this kayak activity on GetYourGuide, I knew I had to try it.
It stayed top of mind for the first few months after I moved to Rhodes, and I was eager to try it.
So when the weather warmed up a bit and I was able to, I jumped on the opportunity to spend 5 hours exploring the caves and shoreline of the east coast of the island.
Even though I had high expectations going in, I must say that I came out even more excited.
It really is one of the best ways to get to know the area, and highly recommended if you’re visiting Rhodes this summer and want to add some more hands-on activities. If you are staying on the island for a few days, or a few weeks, your itinerary will be better for including it.
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR RHODES
- 🚌 Airport transfer: Rhodes to City Centre — easiest option from Rhodes Airport to City for $39 (private taxi). I’ve used Welcome Picks in Rhodes in a pinch and they always delivery. Plus you get rewards when you book with them often!
⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI. Alonissos)
- 📱Grab an eSIM to stay connected from Simbye with 10% off with code BACHELOR10. Only $18 for 30 days and 20GB!!
- 🎟️ Tour: Rhodes: Sea Kayaking Tour – The Pirates Route $106
This article is part of my things to do in Rhodes series, where I explore and share activities and ideas. I moved to Rhodes a few months ago and have been exploring both the off-season and summer side of the island ever since. You can find more guides to Rhodes, here.
The location
I went with Trekking Hellas – the Pirates Route out of Falliraki area and specifically Kallithea beach. They also offer custom sunrise and sunset option as well as multiple other locations in Rhodes, but this is definitely one of their most popular routes, and I can see why.
You can book this tour on their website or through GetYourGuide and Viator – whatever is best for you.
This part of Rhodes is one of the busiest hubs during the summer season, and if you’ve been to Faliraki you know it is characterized by big resorts that appeal to party goers and families alike. The route we followed is also quite vast. It spans from Faliraki to Anthony quinn Bay, Ladiko beach, the caves around the coastline and reaches all the way to Traganou Beach…. one of the best beaches on the island.
Unless you are on a kayak, you don’t get to see this part of the coastline.
Well.. you can do a boat tour, but being this close to the water and being able to paddle into caves adds another level of fun.
How to prepare
I would definitely bring:
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- Swimwear
- Shoes you can slip in and out of
Everything else is pretty much handled for you.
Gear
All gear is provided, as well as backpacks if you don’t bring your own, a dry bag for your belongings and of course everything you need for the kayak itself.
I would personally recommend shoes that are easy to take on and off.
You’ll also want shoes that you can slip in and out of easily but I just did the tour on my Birkenstock sandals and it was fine.
How fit do you need to be?
I would self-describe myself as fit aspiring, meaning I do activities because I want to get fitter — not because I magically wake up at 6am and run half marathons for fun.
I’m also still recovering from completely destroying my knee and having MCL, meniscus and ACL surgery around eight months ago, so I definitely wouldn’t classify myself as particularly fit right now.
All that to say, you don’t have to be very fit to enjoy this activity – it will just make you a bit more sore the next day though.
Is it challenging?
I will say that the route allows you to actually be part of the activity rather than doing one of those short “paddle around the beach for ten minutes” experiences.
There were moments where I felt like I had to step up and keep going.
Yet at the same time, because the guides were so good, I also knew that if I got tired there would be support if I ended up in a tougher spot.
I think that balance is what made it fun.
I felt challenged enough to feel proud of myself afterwards, but not challenged enough to question all my life decisions.
The scenery
We actually started the day with cloudy skies which was probably for the best because it became really hot later.
I would say sunscreen is very much mandatory here, even if you think “I don’t usually burn” (which apparently is something I continue telling myself every summer).
I still ended up with a bit of redness on my knees and arms where the sun reflected the most from the water.
The scenery itself is honestly what makes this route.
The water changes colour constantly and there are little caves and rock formations all over the place.
Some areas felt surprisingly hidden considering how busy this coastline becomes during summer.
You get a completely different perspective than simply looking at the coast from a beach chair.
What about food?
Food is always a must during these long tours – and I was really happy with what we were given.
Light, vegetarian based and Greek, our lunch had salad, dolmades, cheese, juice and bread. We also got fruit afterwards! If you tend to get super hungry, you can bring another snack, but I was perfectly fine in terms of energy levels.
Overall verdict
My overall verdict is very high and I would rank this activity as one of the most rewarding in terms of effort, scenery and overall vibes. You get to see caves and a part of the coastline you wouldn’t see normally, swim in a beautiful beach after working for it (!) and enjoy lunch and the company of the people around you.
The best part is that you don’t have to be a kayak expert, or even particularly fit to join.
Have more questions about Rhodes?
I’ve written quite a few guides on Rhodes you might find handy as you research things to do on the island.
- 50+ Amazing Things to Do in Rhodes (Updated 2026)
- Is Filerimos Hill and Ialysos Worth Visiting in Rhodes?
- Is Butterfly Valley in Rhodes Worth Visiting?
- The Grand Master Palace in Rhodes: Is it Worth it?
- 3 Days in Rhodes: Steal This Itinerary (2026 and Prices
- Profitis Ilias Hike in Rhodes: How to Book and Route Info
- Is St Paul’s Bay in Lindos Worth Visiting?
- Is Tsambika Monastery Worth Visiting?
- How to Plan Your Visit to Acropolis of Lindos (2026 Guide)
- Lindos: 7 Things to Do + Real Costs (2026 Guide)
Ready to book your trip to Rhodes?
📲 Best eSIM for Greece: The easiest way to stay connected in Greece is with an eSIM you install before departure. I’ve tested several options. Use my code BACHELOR10 for 10% the plan from Simbye. They are really well priced.
⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI.
❤️ Best Tours in Rhodes
These are some of the tours I’ve done and love.
- (💥 DON’T MISS THIS) Tasting Rhodes: Cooking Class, Wine & Village Experience $112
- Rhodes: Sunset Guided Hike Profitis Ilias $59
- Rhodes: Sea Kayaking Tour – The Pirates Route $106
To visit Butterfly Valley you can also book a Half Day Bus Tour that takes you to the Filerimos Hill.
