Lindos looks different from the water. This six-hour cruise takes you away from the crowded lanes and whitewashed houses for a day of four swim stops, clear coastal views, and repeated glimpses of the Acropolis rising above town. The boat leaves from St Paul’s Bay, close to Pallas Beach Taverna, then follows Rhodes’ east coast.

I like the generous time in the water, especially the 50-minute stops at Navarone Bay and Stegna. I also like the practical extras: snorkeling equipment, noodle floats, food, and an onboard bar, with a fruit platter reported as a welcome touch. Skipper Georgios is named as the person at the helm and also as the person who looked after everyone onboard.

The main consideration is the long day and the weather-dependent route. You will spend much of the six hours on the boat, and drinks such as coffee, soda, bottled water, and alcohol cost extra. Thursday departures begin at 10am instead of 9am, so check your date carefully.

Key points at a glance

• Four separate swim stops: Navarone Bay, Stegna, Agathi Beach, and Haraki Beach give you several chances to get in the water.
• Sea views of Lindos Acropolis: Much of the cruise offers a fresh angle on Rhodes’ most famous hilltop sight.
• Useful water equipment included: Snorkels and noodle-style floats are provided, which saves you from packing or renting your own.
• A relaxed six-hour pace: The cruise allows time to swim, eat, sit in the sun, and enjoy the ride instead of rushing from one bay to the next.
• Small enough to feel manageable, but not private: The maximum group size is 75 people, so expect a shared boat rather than an intimate charter.
• Food is part of the appeal, drinks are extra: A meal deal is included in the experience, while the onboard bar sells beverages separately.

Setting out from St Paul’s Bay near Lindos

Your meeting point is Pallas Beach Taverna in Lindos. The boat departs from St Paul’s Bay at 9am on most days, with a 10am departure on Thursday. The cruise ends back at the same meeting point, which keeps the day simple if you are staying in Lindos.

The first part of the trip lasts about 25 minutes as you sail toward Tambakio and the first swim area. The exact route can change with the weather, so treat the listed order as a plan rather than a guarantee. That is sensible on an open-water cruise, but it also means you should avoid arranging a tight appointment immediately after the boat returns.

This is a full half-day on the sea, not a quick sightseeing ride. You have time to settle into the boat, take photographs, use the floats, and swim without checking the clock every few minutes. If you prefer a packed schedule of monuments and museums, this may feel slow. If your ideal Rhodes day includes salt water and sun, the pace makes sense.

Lindos is one of Rhodes’ most striking places from land, but the view from the sea gives you a different sense of scale. During much of the trip, you can look back toward the Acropolis of Lindos. Bring a phone or camera, but protect it carefully around the swim stops.

Tambakio and the first stretch of coast

Tambakio is the first named point on the route, reached after roughly 25 minutes. The schedule describes this part as the sail toward the first swim stop, so the main attraction here is the transition from Lindos harbor scenery to the open coast.

This early stretch is useful for getting comfortable onboard. You can see how busy the boat is, find a place to sit, and ask about the snorkeling gear and floats before the first proper water stop. If you want photographs of Lindos Acropolis from the sea, this is also a good time to watch the shoreline rather than immediately settling into lunch or conversation.

The route depends on conditions. That can mean a change in order or a different stop if the sea is not suitable. You should see flexibility as part of the outing, not as a promise that every bay will appear in exactly the listed sequence.

Fifty minutes at Navarone Bay

Navarone Bay receives about 50 minutes for swimming, followed by the cruise onward. The total scheduled section associated with this stop is about 1 hour and 35 minutes, including the sailing time.

A 50-minute water stop gives you enough time for more than a quick dip. You can swim, try the provided snorkeling equipment, use a noodle float, and still have time to dry off before departure. I like this kind of timing because it avoids the common boat-trip problem of reaching a beautiful cove just as everyone is told to climb back aboard.

You should still keep an eye on the crew’s instructions. The boat needs to leave on schedule to reach the later stops, and the final route can shift with weather. If you are not a confident swimmer, the floats may make the stop more comfortable, but the provided information does not specify lifeguard supervision or swimming depth. Use sensible care in the water.

Stegna and the Archangelos caves

The second 50-minute swim stop is around Stegna, also described as the Archangelos or Stegna caves area. The boat spends about 1 hour and 15 minutes on this part of the route before moving on.

The caves give this stop a bit more visual interest than a simple beach break. You can swim, look around the rocky coast, and use the snorkeling equipment provided onboard. The attraction here is not a guided archaeological visit. It is a coastal stop where the rock formations and water are the focus.

Stegna comes after Navarone, so you will already have had time to settle into the day. This is where the cruise begins to feel less like a transfer and more like a floating beach day. You can choose your own rhythm: swim actively, float quietly, or remain onboard and watch the coastline.

One practical point matters here: the tour is conducted in English. If you need detailed instructions about the boat or swimming arrangements, you can ask the guide directly. Georgios is identified as the skipper, and the trip description includes a guide as part of the service.

Agathi Beach and a shorter 45-minute break

Agathi Beach is the third swim stop, with about 45 minutes in the water. The section takes roughly 1 hour and 5 minutes in total, including the sailing.

This is slightly shorter than the stops at Navarone and Stegna, but 45 minutes is still enough for a proper swim. By this point, you may appreciate the shorter break. Four water stops can sound perfect when you are planning the day, but repeated swimming, sun, and boat movement can become tiring.

Agathi is a good place to decide how much energy you want to spend on the final stop. You do not need to treat every swim as an athletic session. The provided floats make it easy to take a slower approach, and you can enjoy the view from the deck if you have had enough water for the moment.

The cruise is not built around long visits ashore. The stop is described as a swim break rather than a beach excursion, so do not expect a long period to explore the beach or nearby sights. The value is in seeing several coastal areas from the boat and getting repeated chances to swim.

Haraki Beach before the return to Lindos

Haraki Beach is the fourth swim stop, with about 40 minutes before the boat begins the return toward St Paul’s Bay and Lindos. The full section lasts around 1 hour and 40 minutes.

This final stop is shorter than the first two. That makes sense in a six-hour route, since the boat must still cover the return distance. If you are hoping to swim at every stop, keep some energy for Haraki rather than spending the whole morning at Navarone.

The ride back is part of the experience, not dead time. You can rest, eat, take in the coastline, and watch for further views of the Acropolis. The schedule gives you a good deal of time on the water, so the return should not feel like a rushed dash back to shore.

Taken together, the route offers variety without requiring you to change boats or repack your things at every beach. You get several different coastal settings, but your bag stays with you onboard.

Food, drinks, and what is included

The experience includes a meal deal, and food is part of the reason the cruise can fill a whole day without requiring a separate lunch stop. A fruit platter is also noted as a pleasant extra, which is useful on a hot day when you want something light between swims.

The supplied equipment includes snorkeling gear and noodle-type floats. Those are valuable inclusions because they support both active and relaxed time in the water. You can inspect the coast with a mask and snorkel, or simply float without needing to bring bulky gear from home.

The onboard bar sells coffee, tea, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic drinks. These are not included in the price. You should budget for drinks if you want more than what comes with the meal deal, and alcohol is limited to people aged 18 and older. The listing also notes allergen restrictions, so raise any food concerns when booking or before eating.

A good boat lunch does not need to be elaborate. It needs to arrive at the right time, be easy to eat onboard, and keep you going through several swim stops. The available details do not give a complete menu, so do not book this expecting a particular dish. Think of the food as a useful part of a day at sea, with the fruit platter adding a simple, welcome touch.

How much value do you get for $84.11?

At $84.11 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach one beach in Rhodes. It is also not just a short cruise. You are paying for approximately six hours onboard, a guide, a skipper, four swim opportunities, snorkeling equipment, floats, views of Lindos from the water, and a meal deal.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat ride, beach time, lunch, and water equipment. It also improves if you want to see several parts of the east coast in one day without arranging transport between them. The price is less attractive if you mainly want a short view of the Acropolis or a single swim.

The maximum capacity is 75 people. That number matters. You should expect a shared group setting, with other people using the deck, equipment, swim areas, and onboard bar. The trip may feel lively rather than private, and you should not confuse this with a custom sailing charter.

The high 4.9 rating from 15 reviews and a 100 percent recommendation figure point to strong satisfaction, though the sample is small. The most specific praise focuses on the skipper, the choice of swim spots, the food and drinks, and the fruit platter. Georgios is singled out for managing the boat and looking after everyone onboard, which is useful information if personal service matters to you.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would choose this cruise if you want an easy sea day from Lindos with several chances to swim. It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who are happy sharing a boat and who value a ready-made route over planning every stop themselves.

It is also a good match for anyone who likes variety. You are not tied to one beach, and you do not have to choose between a coastal ride and swimming. The Acropolis views add a sightseeing element, while the caves and beaches give the day some variety.

You may want a different activity if you dislike boat motion, dislike shared tours, or want long periods ashore. Four swim stops can also feel repetitive if you are not keen on getting in the water. The weather requirement is another factor. If conditions are poor, the experience may be canceled or moved to another date.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the provided details do not include a hotel pickup service, so plan to reach Pallas Beach Taverna independently.

Booking, timing, and practical advice

You receive confirmation at booking, and the experience is offered in English with a mobile ticket. It is commonly booked about 18 days ahead, so I would not leave it until the last morning if your Rhodes schedule is fixed.

The cancellation policy is forgiving if you make changes at least 24 hours before the 9am start, or before the applicable 10am Thursday start. A later cancellation is not refunded. Poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund, and a failure to reach the minimum group size has the same basic options.

Arrive ready for a long day outdoors. Pack swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a secure way to carry your phone. Since drinks cost extra, bring a payment method for the bar. If you have an allergy, ask about restrictions before accepting the meal or fruit.

Remember that the departure time changes on Thursday. That one-hour difference can affect your breakfast plans, transport, and any later booking in Lindos.

Should you book the Lindos boat cruise?

Book it if you want a well-paced swim cruise that combines four coastal stops, food, snorkeling gear, floats, and sea views of the Lindos Acropolis. The strongest reasons to choose it are the generous water time and the skipper-led service associated with Georgios.

Skip it if you want privacy, a quiet sailing charter, or extensive time walking around beaches and villages. At $84.11, the price makes the most sense when you use the full package: swim at several stops, enjoy the meal, take photographs from the water, and stay onboard for the complete six-hour route.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts at Pallas Beach Taverna in Lindos, near St Paul’s Bay. It ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the boat depart?

The regular departure time is 9am. On Thursdays, departure is at 10am.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately six hours.

Which swim stops are included?

The route includes swim stops at Navarone Bay, Stegna or the Archangelos caves area, Agathi Beach, and Haraki Beach. The final order can change with the weather.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and noodle-style floats are included.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, soda, and bottled water are available for purchase at the onboard bar. Alcohol is for people aged 18 and older.