Current Kalymnos Beta

Hello MP,

Heading to kalymnos next week and wanted to hear any current beta or things to avoid from the recent past. Thanks in advance 

What do you want to know?

Garth Sundem wrote:

1. Rent a Vespa. It's the best way to get around the island and it's like $10/day from Mike's Bikes in Masouri. Mike comes off a bit gruff and is gonna want you to have a $29 international drivers license (online form). But he's a good guy. Vespa-ing with two people and packs is super easy.

Thanks for the beta Garth. Question: were you able to rent a Vespa with just an international drivers license? Or did you require some motorcycle endorsement, as outlined in this other MP thread. Thanks!

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/117828814/kalymnos-scooter-rental-no-motorcyle-license

Dave R wrote:

Thanks for the beta Garth. Question: were you able to rent a Vespa with just an international drivers license? Or did you require some motorcycle endorsement, as outlined in this other MP thread. Thanks!

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/117828814/kalymnos-scooter-rental-no-motorcyle-license

I rented a scooter there (on Kalymnos, not from Mike's Bikes) with just my regular California drivers license. There's a ton of places that rent them, so if one requires documentation that you don't have you can probably just go next door.

Short Fall Sean wrote:

I rented a scooter there (on Kalymnos, not from Mike's Bikes) with just my regular California drivers license. There's a ton of places that rent them, so if one requires documentation that you don't have you can probably just go next door.

Totally agree! We went a bit before the busy season and so there wasn't much open -- word is everything is open now and you can rent a scooter from about a billion places with only your regular driver's license required.

I was there like 5 years ago, so not very up to date Beta. But on days off, DO visit around the island. There are interesting ruines, in Chorio if I remember correctly. Quite frankly just Vespa-ing (or cycling, don't remember where, but we managed to rent bikes) around the island was a lot of fun for a day. There's scuba diving in Mirties (possibly elsewhere too), again not bad for a day off.

Thanks Garth and Franck. Appreciate it.

Dave R wrote:

Thanks Garth and Franck. Appreciate it.

It's worth pointing out that not holding the required documentation voids your insurance cover just like everywhere else.

Regarding scooter rental, you are required to have a motorcycle endorsement.  Not every rental agency will push this issue but if you're a maniac, get in an accident, don't obey the rules, and get pulled over by the cops it's like a XXX euro fine to BOTH you and the agency that rented the unit.  And some sort of strikes out for them.  

Still option to let a car (easier when it's not packed) or rent a quad which doesn't require a motorcycle license.

^^^. All that, you're probably just fine. 

If I were to go by myself in early July (obviously not ideal, but it's when I'm going to be in the area), would it be easy to meet partners? Is there some sort of central place where you can meet other climbers or post a note?

hifno wrote:

If I were to go by myself in early July (obviously not ideal, but it's when I'm going to be in the area), would it be easy to meet partners? Is there some sort of central place where you can meet other climbers or post a note?

Hi Erik. For after your recent text, this could be only you. Now that I've doxxed you on Mountain Project, I will also say that a chill, strong, competent climber like you would have exactly zero problemo finding folks to climb with on Kalymnos. Any party of three out there? You'd be very psyched for this fourth.

For what it’s worth; was just at Kalymnos, I was unable to rent a scooter without a motorcycle endorsement.  There were 4 of us so we rented a car (25 euros a day).  Driving was adventurous to say the least.

Doug Munoz wrote:

For what it’s worth; was just at Kalymnos, I was unable to rent a scooter without a motorcycle endorsement.  There were 4 of us so we rented a car (25 euros a day).  Driving was adventurous to say the least.

Yeah that's a decent point. If you've never driven outside US/Can/Europe, greeks might seem a bit more chaotic. Not as much as some places in Asia/Africa, but still, rules of the roads are not as strickly observed.

The other thing is that roads and parkings tend to be much narrower than NA. I'd much rather have a scooter in Kalymnos than a car, if given the choice.

Hi there,

We are planning to head to Kalymnos in the fall, and I was wondering if anyone had any beta on the climbing grades vs. the US?  I read that Kalymnos used to be considered soft grades in the past, but now recently things are more in line with the rest of Europe...just want to know if they're comparable to Colorado or Red Rock, or if I need to prepare myself for harder grades.

Thank you!

Ashley

Ashley Jo wrote:

We are planning to head to Kalymnos in the fall, and I was wondering if anyone had any beta on the climbing grades vs. the US?  I read that Kalymnos used to be considered soft grades in the past, but now recently things are more in line with the rest of Europe...just want to know if they're comparable to Colorado or Red Rock, or if I need to prepare myself for harder grades.

Thank you!

Ashley

I'd say Red Rocks soft, in my limited time there and grade, or even softer. I was there for 2 weeks last fall (and will go again this Oct) and climbed tons of 5c-6b+ routes, with a few 6c, 6c+. Was getting on about 8 routes/day, which is a lot for me, and cruising most stuff. This would be certainly more routes and a slightly higher average grade than my usual in Spain/France/Italy. I wasn't pushing grades (climbing with someone I met online that was interested more in the 5a-6a range) and only hung/fell on 2-3 routes. In CO, I'd rarely climb the equivalent of 8, 5.10-5.11c in a day out, onsighting most at that level and feeling fairly casual. Maybe at Shelf? Even at Shelf I'm happy if I onsight 2 or 4 routes in a weekend at the 5.11a-c range and climb 4-6 10s.

I can't speak for the harder grades, but I'd suspect the same until you get near F8s?

Joe

BTW-I plan on being there 6-20 Oct and looking for partner(s).