Kastellorizo from Kaş: Greece’s Most Remote Island via Turkey

This 4-day Kastellorizo itinerary covers getting there from Kaş, Turkey by ferry. Best time: June-September for swimming. Highlights: Blue Cave boat trip, loggerhead turtles in the harbour, Lycian tomb walk, Agios Georgios island beach day. No car needed—the island is entirely walkable.

Note: This trip took place in July 2016. While the island remains as beautiful as ever, specific prices and services may have changed. The Kaş-Kastellorizo ferry continues to operate—check current schedules before travelling.

Kastellorizo had been on my list for years. Greece’s easternmost island—so remote, so out of the way—had always seemed unreachable. Then came a holiday in Dalyan, Turkey, and suddenly the impossible became possible with a 163km taxi journey to Kaş (back in the day when everything in Turkey was cheap!) and a short ferry hop across to Kastellorizo. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Four days later, I understood why this tiny island captures hearts. Rainbow-coloured neoclassical houses reflected in the harbour. Loggerhead turtles swimming past the waterfront tavernas. A Blue Cave that rivals Capri’s. The only Lycian tomb in Greece carved into the clifftop. And a pace of life that makes you forget anywhere else exists.

What Makes This Trip Special

The Most Remote Greek Island—Via Turkey
Kastellorizo sits just 2km from the Turkish coast but 125km from Rhodes. Reaching it from Greece requires long ferry journeys or flights via Rhodes. From Turkey? A 20-minute boat ride from Kaş. Sometimes the back door is the best entrance.
The Blue Cave
One of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular sea caves. Sunlight refracts through the underwater entrance, turning the water an almost unbelievable shade of blue. You can swim inside. You should.
Loggerhead Turtles in the Harbour
The real stars of Kastellorizo. Watch from the waterfront tavernas as caretta caretta turtles glide through the crystal-clear harbour waters. No aquarium, no boat trip—just dinner companions who happen to have shells.
The Only Lycian Tomb in Greece
A 4th-century BC rock-cut tomb carved into the cliff—testimony to Kastellorizo’s ancient links with the Lycian coast visible across the water. A short walk from the harbour delivers history and dramatic views.
Agios Georgios Island
The only sandy beach in the archipelago, a 5-minute water taxi ride from the harbour. A small chapel, a simple taverna, crystalline swimming—the perfect lazy day.

The Trip at a Glance

Route: Dalyan (Turkey) → Kaş (Turkey) → Kastellorizo (Greece) → Kaş → Dalyan
Getting There: Taxi from Dalyan to Kaş (160km, approximately 2 hours). Ferry from Kaş to Kastellorizo (approximately 20 minutes, multiple daily departures in season). Visa/passport paperwork handled at tourist office near Kaş port.
Where to Stay – My Personal Recommendation: Megisti Hotel – Waterfront location, direct sea access for swimming, the only hotel on the island at the time (pensions and apartments also available). We decided to treat ourselves—no regrets.
Getting Around: Walking. Water taxis for Agios Georgios island and the Blue Cave boat trip. The harbour is the heart of everything.
Return Journey: We took the bus from Kaş back to Dalyan for the return—more economical than the taxi.
Best Time: June-September for swimming and guaranteed ferry service. Shoulder season offers fewer crowds but check schedules.
Who It’s For: Travellers seeking authentic Greek island life, those happy to combine Turkey and Greece in one trip, anyone wanting to escape the crowds, photography enthusiasts, turtle lovers

With my travel consultant’s hat on, the easiest way to access Kastellorizo is a domestic flight from Rhodes or Athens or ferry from Rhodes.

Don’t Miss:
• The Loggerhead Turtles – The absolute stars of the show. Caretta caretta turtles swim through the harbour in clear view from the waterfront tavernas. Watch for them from any harbourside table, especially at dusk. Magical.
• Boat Trip to the Blue Cave – Book with a water taxi captain at the harbour. The boat enters through a tiny opening—you’ll need to duck—into a vast cavern where sunlight refracts through the underwater entrance, turning the water an otherworldly shade of blue. You can jump in and swim. Do it. Water is cold, but the experience is unforgettable.
• Walk to the Lycian Tomb and Kastro – A 15-20 minute walk from the harbour takes you to Greece’s only Lycian tomb—a 4th-century BC rock-cut burial chamber carved into the cliff face 30 metres above the sea. Continue upward to the Kastro (castle) for panoramic views across the harbour and over to Turkey. Wear sturdy shoes—the final approach involves steep stone steps.
• A Day on Agios Georgios Island – A 5-minute water taxi ride delivers you to the only sandy beach in the Kastellorizo archipelago. A small whitewashed chapel, crystal-clear shallow water, sunbeds, and a simple taverna. Perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and doing absolutely nothing. Pre-book your return time with the boat captain.

The Reality Check: Kastellorizo is remote—that’s the point. Everything costs a bit more due to transport logistics. The island is tiny; if you need constant activity, you’ll run out of options quickly. But if you want authentic, slow-paced Greek island life, this is it.

Weather Note: Blue Cave access is weather-dependent. Rough seas make entry impossible—the opening is too narrow and low.

→ Kastellorizo Photo Gallery – July 2016

Is This Trip Right for You?

This trip is perfect if you:

• Want to experience Greece’s most remote inhabited island
• Seek authentic island life over beach resort tourism
• Love swimming, walking, and slow-paced exploration
• Appreciate dramatic natural sites like the Blue Cave
• Want to see wild loggerhead turtles in their natural habitat

Think twice if you:

• Need lots of activities and entertainment
• Prefer sandy beaches (Agios Georgios is the only one)
• Are uncomfortable with small boats and tight cave entrances
• Want guaranteed ferry connections regardless of weather
• Need extensive restaurant and nightlife options
• Prefer to avoid passport/visa procedures

Final Thoughts

Kastellorizo had been on my list for years. So out of the way, so seemingly unreachable, I’d never managed to make it before. Then came Dalyan, and Kaş, and suddenly the impossible became a 20-minute ferry ride. Four days proved just right. Time enough to swim in the Blue Cave, watch turtles glide through the harbour at dusk, climb to the Lycian tomb, spend a lazy day on Agios Georgios, and simply exist in a place where existence is enough.

The rainbow-coloured houses. The crystal-clear harbour. The sense of being somewhere genuinely remote, genuinely unspoiled, genuinely Greek in the best possible way. Kastellorizo delivers.

Sometimes the most out-of-the-way places are worth the detour. Sometimes the back door—via Turkey, in this case—is the best entrance.

I’m glad I finally made it.

You can see the gallery of photos from this trip by following the ‘next’ button below