SYMI – PANORMITIS BY CATAMARAN

We booked this trip through Faliraki Tours. Staying in Faliraki we left our hotel about 8.15 a.m. caught the boat in Rhodes about 9.a.m.and we arrived back at the hotel about 7.p.m. True it is quite a long day but if you researched the trip beforehand this should not come as a surprise. The crossing was very enjoyable both ways, the weather was good and the sea trip took about 1.hr each way. On the outgoing journey we stopped at the main town-Symi- where there was plenty of time for lunch etc and to generally relax. There are the usual tourist shops - some specialising in natural sponges . Walking around the streets of Symi you feel almost like you are going back in time. We then moved on to Panormitis about an hour-just time to look round the monastery.. On a day trip there is little chance to do any wider exploring but if you like a boat trip to a lovely island with quite unique looking properties, Symi is worth the trip.

We booked our tour with Faliraki Tours, and it was well organised , very enjoyable and very good value for money. We sat on the upper deck of the ship, which affords splendid views, either in the sun or under cover in the heat of the day. Panormitis Monastery somehow manages to be peaceful despite the crowds of people, and Gialos in Symi is exceedingly pretty, with many harbour-side tavernas and cafes for lunch and ice cream. In both places we were free to wander where we wanted to, at our own speed. We were glad that we had booked an excursion that included the monastery A must-do excursion during a visit to Rhodes. Special thanks to Vicky, in the booking office, who was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient.

This was a wonderful trip and the boat was great. You can sit on the top deck and catch the sun, or open/covered second deck and finally air conditioned inside bar. It's a smooth sailing trip and my favorite place was Symi. We stayed there for five hours. Walked around this magical place with beautiful traditional colored houses, shops and restaurants. The water here is as clear as crystal, so my daughter and I went for a swim, after a delicious Greek lunch and just enjoyed the rest of our time there. A visit to panormitis monastery is a Must !!! We found this trip from Vicky in Faliraki Tours and it was a lot cheaper than any hotel excursion and it's Greek which means your money goes to the Greek economy rather than travel agencies abroad. Go for it, it's worth it.

Ein Ausflug steht und fällt mit dem Reiseleiter: Gabriel war sehr authentisch und man fühlte sich vom ersten Augenblick als Teil seiner "Familie". Tolle Führung, Insider Tipps fürs Essen, kurzweilige und interessante Beiträge. Nicht zu viel und nicht zu knapp. Ausreichend Zeit für Essen und Besichtigung. Klare empfehlung !!!