36°59'55.1"N
26°58'52.1"E

KALYMNOS

Kalymnos

Kalymnos is a world-class climbing destination, known for its limestone cliffs and endless routes.
The island offers a diverse mix of overhangs, slabs, and impressive tufa formations, catering to climbers of all levels, from beginners to experts. Its mild Mediterranean climate allows for year-round climbing, with spectacular vistas of the deep blue Aegean Sea.

Best Months

May - Jun & Sep - Oct

Grades

4c - 9b

Climbing

Sport & Multi-Pitch

Deep Water Solo

Yes

Rock Type

Top Quality Limestone

Book your next trip or contact us

WHY WITH US

  • Work leading company in sailing&climbing guided tours, since 2013
  • VST well proven organization
  • Deep knowledge of the area
  • Established relations with locals
  • Certified and trained Skippers
  • U.I.A.G.M. certified mountain guides
  • Friendly but professional attitude
  • International and multicultural team

THE SAILING EXPERIENCE

Life aboard the boat is an essential part of the adventure—immersive, social, and full of unforgettable moments. Think of it as your floating basecamp, where you rest, recharge, and prepare for the next day’s climbing and sailing adventures.

Cozy & Comfortable Cabins

Guests stay in shared cabins featuring double-sized or bunk beds, designed for two people per cabin. While space is compact, it’s all about the experience—fall asleep to the sound of the sea and wake up ready for adventure.

A Shared Adventure

Just like in the mountains, teamwork is key! After a day of climbing, some will help stow the gear, others will cook, and a few will take on dishwashing duties—creating a dynamic, communal atmosphere.

Meals & Cooking Together

Food is fuel for adventure! Everyone takes turns preparing and cooking meals, making dining a social and rewarding part of the journey. Bring your favorite recipes and enjoy sharing meals under the open sky.

Sustainable Living at Sea

Like any true basecamp, resources are limited. Water and electricity need to be used mindfully, fostering a simple and eco-conscious way of living, fully connected to nature.

Recharge for the Next Challenge

The boat is more than just a means of travel—it’s a place to relax, share stories, and restore your energy before the next climb or sail. Whether it’s stretching on deck, enjoying a sunset swim, or simply lying under the stars, life onboard is all about balance.

WARNING: Unforgettable Friendships Ahead!

Life on a boat is fun, spontaneous, and incredibly rewarding. Be prepared to laugh, share stories, and create lifelong friendships with like-minded adventurers.

An ordinary day in Kalymnos

The day begins with the rooster crowing from the shore and the rhythmic sound of a local fisherman smashing an octopus on the rocks—a true wake-up call from the heart of Greece. After a rich breakfast on deck, we set sail toward the next climbing spot.

Navigating upwind between small islands, we reach a spectacular inlet where we drop anchor and secure the boat to the shore with stern lines. The setting is unreal—crystal-clear waters, dramatic cliffs, and the untouched beauty of Kalymnos. We dive in for a swim, enjoy a relaxing lunch on board, and then disembark for the climb.

The approach is wild, filled with the scent of thyme and sage, with goats roaming freely among the rocks. As the crag comes into view, the sight is mind-blowing—the rock formations look almost surreal. “Is this even real? Can I really climb this?” The answer is yes. And from this moment on, the day flows to the perfect rhythm: climb, swim, sail, and repeat—all while making sure not to miss the daily aperitif at sunset, a moment of pure magic in Kalymnos.

With the boat as our floating basecamp, we sail effortlessly from one legendary crag to another, reaching places that would otherwise require long, demanding approaches.

On the way back from the crag, heading toward our friend’s taverna, expect to see goats crossing the roads, old ladies selling thyme honey and olive oil, and tiny monasteries perched on the hillsides. Once we arrive, a delicious meal of homemade Greek specialties awaits us—a true taste of the local culture and the perfect way to end the day.

A day immersed in nature, adventure, and tradition, Kalymnos is a place where time slows down, and every moment feels like a step back into authentic Greece.

Climbing style & rock type

Kalymnos is world-renowned for having some of the best limestone on the planet, offering an unparalleled climbing experience.

  • Climbing Style – A truly three-dimensional experience, thanks to the island’s wild rock formations that require creative movement.
  • Rock FeaturesTufas are everywhere, creating pumpy, endurance-based climbs, while grey technical slabs provide more delicate and precise challenges.
  • Physical & Endurance-Based – The climbing here is generally physical, demanding both strength and stamina—but it’s also some of the most fun and rewarding you’ll ever experience!

 

Kalymnos is a must-visit destination for climbers looking for variety, world-class rock, and an unbeatable climbing community.

Level & skills

A good level of physical fitness is important for actively participating in daily activities such as rock climbing and hiking.

Our selected climbing crags offer a wide range of grades, ensuring that participants of all skill levels can enjoy and challenge themselves at their own pace. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber, there will always be suitable routes to match your ability and goals.

A professional mountain guide will be present throughout the trip to ensure safety, provide instruction, and support skill development. Less experienced climbers will receive expert guidance on technique, rope maneuvers, and outdoor climbing skills, while more experienced participants will have the freedom to climb independently under the guide’s supervision. This allows everyone to enjoy a safe, rewarding, and tailored climbing experience.

One week to sail around the island and to climb on many renowned crags while experiencing the true, wild and uncontaminated Greece. Wake-up and dive from the boat! Than sip a hot coffee under the morning sun while preparing the back-pack for the day…than climb, swim, sail and repeat, making sure not to loose the daily aperitif by the amazing Kalymnos’ sunset.
The island became famous after the “The North Face Kalymnos climbing festival” and since than, climbers from all over the world have come here to climb on its perfect limestone. The rock is truly superb and no wander why they often refer to Kalymnos as “the climbing paradise”. Small and huge cliffs, fine smooth slabs, the most perfect overhanging tufas in the world, featured walls for beginners… it’s all there!
Before becoming so famous for rock climbing, the island had another record: Kalymnos was in fact the main sponge trade center of the mediterranean. The well known Kalimnian divers travelled the world to pursuit their fortune harvesting sponges, while the ones remaining on the island were making their living out of goat-farming and fishing. But it probably was in the 1940s, under the Italian occupancy, that someone first though about rock climbing. In fact rumors say that ”some crazy Italian soldiers” were spending their time climbing up and down the cliffs!
Years later, in 1996, the Italian Andrea di Bari arrived on the island for his summer holidays. Impressed by the excellent quality of the rock and the huge potential of the island, he returned in May 1997 with some climbing friends to put up some routes. Since then a large number of willing climbers and bolters have created the actual climber paradise, establishing more than 4.000 climbing routes on the islands of Kalymnos and Telendos.
Naturally and culturally wise, we are in one of the most beautiful and well preserved archipelagos in the Mediterranean sea. Here it is still possible to find the authentic Greece: goats crossing the roads, hunters with dogs and rifles driving on scooter, fishermen smacking octopus on the rocks, old ladies selling thyme honey and olive oil at the side of the road, real tavernas where to have delicious greek specialties at a reasonable price, tiny monasteries all over the island and much more…
The course aims to touch some of the most beautiful and iconic spots on the island. By boat we will also reach Telendos Island where we’ll get to climb on the crags of Eros, Pescatore and Irox. We will than sail and climb in the famous crags of Grande Grotta, Arhi, The Ghost Kitchen, Secret Garden…and the long approach to Sikati Cave will be avoided by dropping the anchor right at Sikati beach. Last, we will end the cruise by climbing the deep water solo lines in Vathy as well as some crazy routes starting at sea level and where the belayer will have to do it job floating on the dingy!

Plan your Private Tour with VST

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Adriano Trombetta

Co-Founder & Guide

We miss you Adri!

Co-founder and soul of VST, Adriano was a highly skilled alpine guide and visionary climber. His expertise and passion for exploration helped lay the foundation of VST.
He tragically passed away in 2017 with Antonio Lovato during a mountain expedition, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire every adventure at VST.

Certifications:

Theo Chambert

Skipper

Language:
English, German,French, Italian, Spanish

By chance Theo ended up on board and soon he joined the VST family. Passionate climber he is devoting his life to seek the spirit of the VST: having acquired the skipper license and training to become a climbing instructor.

His soul however is still in his home land, the countryside of Provence, making him a spirit deeply connected with nature.

Patrick Raspo

Mountain Guide

Language: English

Once addicted sport climber, now he finds his soul in travels, possibly with a ratio climbing-party of 30%-70%. Back at home he is not only known to be a great mountain guide, but also by being the head of the mountain rescue on the Italian side of the Mont Blane and Matterhorn.

Certifications:

Lorenzo Pernigotti

Founder, Skipper & Mountain Guide

Language:
English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian

A life dedicated to enjoying the mountains by doing all the possible mountain sports. In 2013, his vision opened up, discovering a new, immense and beautiful playground on the shores of the Med.

Ski instructor in the winter, he became a certified Mountain Guide in 2024, and he continues working full time for the VST while skippering the tours in the summer.

Don’t mess with him with the food, the parties, and all the beautiful things… As in life, there isn’t only climbing and sailing!

Certifications:

Luigi Berlendis

Skipper

Language:
English, German,French, Italian, Spanish

From Brescia, when he is not skippering for the VST he is sailing across the oceans and exploring the most remote archipelagos on heart, but always with that stylish look and his sly smile.

Alberto Trombetta

Mountain Guide since 2008

Language:
English, German,French, Italian, Spanish

Alberto is the chief guide at the VST, mountain guide since 2008. Since the beginning he has been on board with the VST and his kind personality, combined with his great expertise, are the things that make our guests love him.

 

From the point of Cerro Torre to the wall of El Capitan, from the desert of Saudi Arabia to the picks of Mt. Blanc, he has climbed in more than 25 countries and summited some of the most famous peaks in the world.

Certifications:

Mark Puleio

Mountain Guide since 2008

Language: English

From Vermont (USA), he probably discovered his real Sicilian blood only when he started to sail around. the Mediterranean sea with the VST. his guiding curriculum is impressive, the mountain guide badge hides a moder hippie with tons of love ready to be shared with everything and everyone around him.

Certifications: