South Rhodes is made for a 4×4 safari. A Land Rover-style Jeep takes you beyond ordinary roads to the Italian Arch Bridge, Gadoura Dam, Artamitis Monastery, Koufou Forest, and Monolithos Castle. You see a broad slice of the island in one day, with stops for views, culture, and a long village lunch.

I like the small-vehicle setup, since a Jeep can reach places a bus cannot. I also like that lunch and hotel transport are included, so the $159.70 price covers more than a simple scenic drive. The main caution is the rough-road format, plus a small inconsistency in the meal description: one part names Kritinia, while the detailed route names Monolithos.

Key points to know

• South Rhodes by 4×4: Reach forest tracks, mountain viewpoints, and rural roads that regular cars and buses miss.
• Gadoura Dam views: A useful early stop for wide photo views and a sense of the island’s dry, open interior.
• Artamitis and Koufou Forest: Combine a quiet religious site with the wooded route known as Jacob’s Canyon.
• Monolithos Castle: Expect one of the day’s most dramatic viewpoints, with a castle stop above the coast.
• Village lunch included: Traditional food is part of the price, though you should confirm the exact village before departure.
• Practical format: Pickup begins around 8:30 a.m., the outing lasts about eight hours, and drinks are not included.

Why a 4×4 is the right way to see South Rhodes

Rhodes is easy to picture as beaches, hotels, and the medieval center. South Rhodes offers a different day out. The route heads into quieter country, where the point is not only to reach a monument but to connect several parts of the island in one sweep.

A regular rental car could cover some of the same roads, but this excursion is built around access to rougher tracks and high viewpoints. You can sit back while a local escort-driver handles the route, rather than spending your day reading signs, checking directions, and deciding if a narrow road is sensible.

The vehicles are described as specially equipped 4×4 Jeeps, with seven or nine seats. The tour is also presented as a small-group experience, with up to six people per Jeep, while the total activity limit is listed as eight participants. Since those figures do not match perfectly, I would confirm the exact vehicle arrangement when booking.

That detail matters. The smaller the group in your vehicle, the more personal the ride usually feels, and the easier it is to ask about the places you pass. The included escort-driver is described as multilingual, and the experience is offered in English.

The Italian Arch Bridge and Gadoura Dam

The first portion of the route introduces the rural side of Rhodes. Passing the historic Italian Arch Bridge gives you an early reminder that the island’s roads and infrastructure reflect more than one period of its past. It is a short stop in the overall day, but it adds context before the route turns toward open country.

Gadoura Dam is a strong photo stop. The wide view gives you a better feel for the scale of southern Rhodes than you get from a town street or beach resort. You can expect time to look out across the surrounding area and take photographs rather than a long formal visit.

I like this kind of stop because it breaks up the drive without asking you to spend an hour at every sight. The safari covers a lot of ground, so the day works best if you enjoy several short discoveries instead of one major attraction with a slow, detailed visit.

Bring a phone or camera with enough storage. The route is designed around viewpoints, and the changing mix of road, forest, mountain, and sea should give you plenty of chances to stop and look.

A quiet pause at Artamitis Monastery

The Monastery of Artamitis brings a calmer note to the route. After the open views around the dam, you move into a more reflective setting. The stop gives the day a cultural and religious element rather than making it only a scenic drive.

The information provided does not set out a formal guided visit, opening hours, or a detailed explanation of the monastery. Plan to treat it as a peaceful stop with time to see the setting and listen to your escort-driver, not as a full museum tour.

That distinction helps set expectations. If you want long indoor visits and detailed architectural commentary, this is not that type of excursion. If you like seeing smaller local sites between larger landmarks, the monastery adds welcome variety.

Wear sensible shoes. The day includes several outdoor stops, and comfortable footwear will serve you better than beach sandals.

Through Koufou Forest, also called Jacob’s Canyon

The route continues into Koufou Forest, identified here as Jacob’s Canyon. This is one of the parts that makes the 4×4 format useful. The point is the journey through wooded country and the changing views toward the Aegean Sea, not simply getting from one town to another.

You may find the ride more uneven here than on the main roads. That is part of the appeal, but it can also be the least comfortable section for anyone who dislikes bumpy transport. The tour information does not describe the track condition in detail, so keep your expectations practical: this is an outdoor vehicle excursion, not a smooth sightseeing coach ride.

The sea views are an important payoff. Rhodes can feel quite built up around the main resort areas, while this route gives you a look at the island from higher and quieter ground. You will want a light layer for the open sections, since the temperature and wind can feel different from the coast.

The forest stop also gives the day some breathing room. You are not racing from one ticketed attraction to the next. Instead, you are moving through the countryside with photo pauses and local commentary along the way.

Monolithos Castle and the best views of the day

Monolithos Castle is likely the visual high point. The dramatic setting gives you the kind of broad coastal view that explains why hilltop fortifications were placed where they were. Even without a long visit, the castle stop adds a strong sense of place to the route.

The tour description does not state how much time you get at the castle or whether admission is charged. It does say the experience itself has no separate admission ticket listed. Ask the operator if you want exact details about access or walking time.

You should also expect some walking around the castle area. The description calls for a visit rather than a drive-by photograph, but it does not promise a fully accessible path. Comfortable shoes and a willingness to walk over uneven ground are sensible.

This stop works especially well for anyone who wants more than beach scenery. You get an old fortress, mountain surroundings, and views toward the sea in one place. It is also a good point to slow down after the forest drive and take in the scale of the island.

Traditional lunch in a Rhodes village

Lunch is included, which makes a real difference to the value of an eight-hour trip. You do not need to find a restaurant during the busiest part of the day, and the meal is intended to feature traditional food in a village setting.

There is one detail I would clarify before paying. The highlights describe lunch with wine in Kritinia village, while the route description says the adventure ends with a traditional lunch in Monolithos village. Those are not the same place. The supplied information also says drinks are not included, so wine may not be covered even though it is mentioned in the highlight summary.

Ask two direct questions: Which village serves lunch, and are wine or other drinks included? That simple check removes the only notable uncertainty in the day’s plan.

The meal is valuable for another reason. A village restaurant gives you a pause from the vehicle and a chance to experience local food as part of the trip, rather than treating lunch as an afterthought at a roadside stop. The tour information describes the restaurant setting as warm and welcoming, and the meal is a central part of the excursion’s appeal.

If you have dietary needs, ask before departure. No special menu information is provided, so you should not assume that alternatives are available.

What the $159.70 price covers

At $159.70 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Rhodes. It can still be good value if you want a full day without arranging a rental car, navigating rural roads, paying for lunch separately, or organizing a route through several distant stops.

The price includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels in South Rhodes
• A special 4×4 Jeep
• A multilingual escort-driver for each vehicle
• Traditional lunch
• Liability insurance
• Local taxes

That bundle matters. A self-drive day may look cheaper at first, but fuel, food, insurance choices, and the effort of finding the right roads all add to the cost. You also lose the benefit of a driver who already knows the route.

The value is weaker if you only want a quick castle visit or a simple transfer. This is an eight-hour outing, and much of the experience comes from the roads between the main stops. You are paying for access, transport, scenery, and a planned day, not only for entry to a single attraction.

The price does not include drinks. Keep that in mind at lunch and bring some water for the road.

Who will enjoy this safari most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want to see the less developed side of Rhodes and prefer an active day to a beach break. It suits couples, families with older children, and small groups who like viewpoints, village food, and a little road adventure.

One direct account describes a 13-year-old enjoying the full day, which suggests the format can work well for families with children old enough to manage an eight-hour excursion. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and infants are not allowed.

You should think twice if you need a smooth ride, lots of free time, or a highly detailed archaeological tour. The 4×4 route is built around movement and variety. You will see many places, but most stops are likely to be shorter than on a single-site tour.

The overall rating is 4.5 from four reviews, with one especially strong account praising the scenery, the driver’s experience and local insight, and the welcoming restaurant. That matches the core strengths of the itinerary: views, access, and a good meal. The sample is small, so I would treat the rating as encouraging rather than decisive.

Timing, pickup, and what to bring

The start time is around 8:30 a.m., and the full experience lasts approximately eight hours. Pickup is offered from selected hotels in South Rhodes, so your hotel must fall within the service area. Confirm the pickup point and timing rather than assuming every Rhodes hotel is covered.

The tour is offered in English, with multilingual group escort-drivers listed for the vehicles. That should work well if you want explanations during the drive, though the exact languages available may depend on the day.

For a more comfortable day, I would bring:

• Closed, comfortable shoes
• Water, since drinks are not included
• Sun protection
• A phone or camera for the dam, forest, castle, and sea views
• A light extra layer for exposed viewpoints
• Any personal medication you may need during an eight-hour outing

Booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Is the South Rhodes 4×4 Safari worth booking?

Book it if you want one efficient day of rural scenery, mountain views, local culture, and off-road access. The included lunch, hotel transport, and driver make the price easier to justify, especially if you do not want to rent a car.

I would choose this over a standard island drive when your priority is seeing places beyond the usual resort circuit. Before booking, confirm the exact lunch village, whether wine is included, the number of people in your Jeep, and the pickup area. With those details settled, this is a strong choice for an adventurous Rhodes day that covers far more ground than a typical sightseeing transfer.

FAQ

Where does the Land Rover Safari take place?

The experience takes place in Rhodes, Greece, along a South Rhodes route that includes the Italian Arch Bridge, Gadoura Dam, the Monastery of Artamitis, Koufou Forest, Monolithos Castle, and a traditional village lunch.

How long does the safari last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

What time does pickup begin?

The listed start time is 8:30 a.m. Pickup is offered from selected hotels in South Rhodes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Traditional food is included. The supplied details refer to lunch in Kritinia in one place and Monolithos in another, so confirm the exact village before departure.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are listed as not included.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children may participate when accompanied by an adult. Infants are not allowed.

How far in advance can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.