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Suggested Page Improvements to Kalymnos


Nick Weicht
Oct 8, 2019
Description Suggestion
[Updated 2015]
Kalymnos may be one of the greatest sport climbing areas in the world. With over 3400 routes in the 2019 guide being mostly accessible with a short hike and/or scooter and great amenities you'll wonder why you've ever climbed anywhere else. Many of the routes feature tufas and are steep, but there is also an array of pockets, thin vertical climbing and LOTS of moderates on the lower angle grey limestone. There is something for everybody with grades from 5a to 9a (5.7 to 5.14d). Many of the popular areas/routes have a steel lowering biner for quick and easy cleaning. With some exceptions, the bolting is generally close together and safe, with particular attention paid to the first three to avoid deck potential. The atmosphere is quite different here than other locales, the climbers tend to be a little older and tend to travel as couples as opposed to a place like Thailand.
For all the information you need to get to Kalymnos and have a great time, see the [[ClimbKalymnos.com FAQ.]]http://climbkalymnos.com/kalymnos-info/

Grades: Kalymnos had a reputation for 'vacation grades' for the most part although the recent guides did a nearly wholesale downgrade. Because of this, many of the grades painted on the rock will be higher than that of the guide. You'll note a substantial increase in difficulty on humid days or when the rock seeps a little, so be weary of your desire to downgrade any further, you may have just had good weather.

moredaysoff
Oct 14, 2020
Getting There Suggestion

[Updated Nov 2012]

During the summer months up to about Nov 1st, Europeans have the option to fly diretly to Kos island from many major cities. After Nov. 1 many of these flights are discontinued until spring and they will have to route through Athens for a higher cost.


Folks making a longer journey in will likely find it most convenient to fly to Athens then grab one of the many flights to Kos on Olympic or Aegean.


Once in Kos go to the town of Mastahari and grab the ferry to the Kalymnos port town of Pothia. Take the bus 2 euro from there to Massouri. It is 18 Euro  for a cab (2020).


There is usually one late ferry to accommodate the last flight into Kos from Athens. If for whatever reason you miss it, there are plenty of hotels to grab in Mastahari walking distance from the ferry.


Creative options:

Take ferries between islands all the way from Athens. This will be more expensive and take a long time but you may enjoy several of the islands on the way in. Santorini or Crete would be well worth a stay.


You can also fly to Istanbul for some tourism then fly to Bodrum Turkey and take the ferry over to Kos (Kalymnos is much closer to Turkey than to mainland Greece).


Ryan Air flies from many European cities directly to Kos (before Nov 1st)


Traveling after Nov 1st?

Many of the island-island ferries and flights start to disappear but connections to Athens are still frequent. Tourism is basically over for all the islands except Kalymnos...


Aris Theodoropoulos
Apr 16, 2022
Guidebook Suggestion

[Updated 2019]

The Kalymnos Rock Climbing Guidebook by Aris Theodoropoulos]]http://climbkalymnos.com/guidebook/ is THE book to have for Kalymnos beta. The 2019 update includes over 3,400 routes and the Android or iOS app (see below).


The [[Kalymnos Rock Climbing Topo app]]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thesend.kalymnos&hl=en is a great app with loads of beta and route information. All proceeds from the sale of the app go to the Glaros Bolt Fund to fund replacement and new hardware for Kalymnos routes.


Charles Yang
May 16, 2022
Is it possible to combine the 4 subsectors of Sea Breeze into one area?

Charles Yang
Nov 15, 2022
Food Beta Suggestion

Updated November 2022

RESTAURAUNTS:

There's lot of options in Massouri, including vegan and vegetarian options. Most restaurants are closed during the winter and start re-opening in late March/April.

If you are finished climbing in the afternoon before 5pm, many places are closed. Places that are open include Sofranos, Fatolitis, Ambiance, Kouzina, On the Road, and il Posto.

WATER:
Do not drink the tap water. Fill up your water bottles for free at the various TEMAK stations. They are white rectangles with a red roof. There's on in the middle of Massouri and another one at the north end of town before the switchbacks back towards Pothia. 

GROCERIES:
There are various mini markets scattered throughout Massouri. There is a big supermarket in Panormos (heading back to Pothia on the right side) called AB.

There's a lot of bakeries in Pothia for fresh bread and pastries. 





Ben May
Jul 19, 2024
Wag-Bag use is very highly encouraged. If you've never been, you'll be disappointed greatly by all the poor jobs by past poopers below every wall. The soil is very hard and rocky so most people do not bury their waste hardly at all. Encourage your friends to bring wag-bags.
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