World-Class Climbing on Kalymnos
Kalymnos is a beautiful Greek island. Its fantastic limestone cliffs make it a paradise for sport climbing at all grades. Just add sun, sea, secluded beaches, friendly people, delicious food and great climbing conditions in the spring and autumn, and you understand why it’s a world-class climbing destination. It is also a great place to chill out after climbing. Beach bars, snorkelling, kayaking, great food, fishing, diving, scooter tours, yoga: Kalymnos offers it all. This island has made a big impression on those that go and return year after year.
Focus of the Kalymnos Climbing Holiday
Kalymnos has become one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. The variety of climbing is endless. For beginners, intermediate as well as experienced climbers there are slabs, technical walls, and steep caves with tufas. The different climbing areas on the island are close to one another and easy to get to. And they often offer breath-taking views over the Mediterranean sea and the island of Telendos. Finally, a mild climate and the warm hospitality of local inhabitants, have made Kalymnos a favourite amongst rock climbers.
The Kalymnos climbing holiday will be geared towards your individual abilities and aspirations. Depending on where you are in your climbing career, our climbing guides can focus their attention on your lead climbing skills, which might involve rope awareness, clipping practice and teaching you how to thread anchors. Or they will aim to improve your movement skills and give you tips on how to climb more efficiently so you can climb harder routes than you have ever climbed before. Some climbers take the opportunity to improve their mental approach to climbing. For instance to learn to deal with fear of falling. Either way, your instructors will aim to give you the best possible climbing experience. Suggested minimum grade: We recommend that climbers joining the Sport Climbing Holiday on Kalymnos can toprope F5+ on an indoor wall before coming on this trip. We do not have a maximum grade: all grades F5+ and up are welcome.
Kalymnos Climbing Holiday Sample Itinerary
Saturday: arrival on Kos, ferry to Kalymnos. Meet and greet dinner.
Sunday: single pitch sport climbing with certified guide
Monday: single pitch sport climbing, instruction and coaching tips
Tuesday: single pitch sport climbing, instruction and coaching tips
Wednesday: rest day
Thursday: single pitch sport climbing, instruction and coaching
Friday: single pitch sport climbing, instruction and coaching
Saturday: departure
We don’t have a set list of crags, though some of our favourite climbing areas on Kalymnos are: Afternoon, Arginonta Valley, Lambda (on the island of Telendos), Palionisos, Summertime, Odyssee and Grande Grotte.
Kalymnos Weather & Climate
Greece is known for its very hot summers. In the winter there are not many flights to Kos. Spring and autumn are therefore the best times of year to go climbing on Kalymnos. We organise climbing trips to Kalymnos in May and October, when it is not too hot, the sea is warm and the days are long.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be in Hotel Oasis (subject to availability) located in Massouri/Myrties, which is where the climbers on the island prefer to stay because of its restaurants, bars, climbing shops, minimarkets and beaches. The price of the holiday is based on sharing a room. Should you prefer the privacy of a single room, a supplement of £150 is payable (subject to availability).
Your accommodation in Massouri/Myrties is within walking distance to some of Kalymnos' most popular crags, like ‘Grande Grotte’, ‘Afternoon’, ‘Panorama’ and ‘Poets', and the water taxi port to take the ferry to the island of Telendos is just down the road. On the days that we will go climbing at further away crags, such as Summertime, Palionisos or Arginonta we will go by car.
For those wanting to explore Kalymnos on the rest day, transport is readily available. You can either go by bus, by taxi or rent a car or scooter.
Kalymnos Climbing Holiday Includes
- 7 nights accommodation (based on sharing a room 1:2)
- 5 days guided single pitch climbing with qualified instructor
- Transport to/from crags
- Use of ropes, quickdraws etc. You only need to bring your shoes, harness and helmet.
- Maximum instructor-client ratio is 1:8
Quick Facts
- Fly to Kos, Greece (KGS)
- Ideal for those climbing grade F5+ up to F7B+ (5.9 - 5.12c)
- Inland and sea cliff climbing
- Limestone slabs, vertical walls and steep overhangs
How to Book this Climbing Holiday
To book this Climbing Holiday on Kalymnos, click on May or October in the Calendar below and see our available dates. For more detailed information, please contact us and we will send you our Kalymnos Brochure.
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For this sport climbing holiday on Kalymnos we recommend that you have your own:
Harness
Helmet
Climbing Shoes
Dick's Climbing is a dedicated climbing shop that offers a large range of climbing equipment.