The rich history of the islands dates 5 millennia and has been forged by the cultural diversity and naval power of the islands. The cosmopolitan character of both islands with busy night life is another good reason to spend few days there. Astypalea is a special island, with a rich coastline, cliffs with hills sinking into the sea and a strange, wild natural environment. There is a big number of small bays, especially on the south side, offering ideal anchorage in an area with stronger winds compared to the rest of Dodecanese islands.
The small islands and islets around the bigger ones also have a lot in common: low human intervention, crystal waters, isolated and plenty of bays offering a lot of safe shelters for sailing yahts. Loipsoi, Leros, Simi, Tilos and others have vivid historic sights since ancient years. In all islands, visitors can find ruins of ancient civilization as well as Vyzantine and Enetic castles, monasteries, etc. Among Dodecanese islands are Kastelorizo, the most eastern piece of land of Greek territory and Patmos, famous in Christian Religion as the place where the Revelation of Saint John was written. Their rocky landscape, safe and picturesque bays, and the ideal towns near the main port of each island, all create a magic sailing destination.