Kalymnos Climbing

More about Rock Climbing in Kalymnos

Offering visitors the unique chance to combine sport climbing with sun-kissed beaches and delicious local recipes, Kalymnos is widely recognized as one of top rock climbing destinations worldwide.

Though the first routes were traced as late as 1997 by Andrea Di Bari and his team, the island now offers more than 4,300 different routes characterized by top-quality limestone walls, vertical crags, overhangs and impressive stalactite holds. Most of them can be found along the western coast, in the vicinity of Myrties and Massouri, while other popular spots are located close to Panormos, Arginonta and Emporio. The nearby islet of Telendos offers yet more climbing fields with breathtaking vistas of the Aegean Sea.

Below are some of the top rock climbing routes and fields you will find in Kalymnos. It is good to bear in mind that, though you can rent everything you need at the island’s specialized rock climbings centers, it would still be a good idea to bring your own helmet along.

Most popular routes

• Los Revolucionarios

Located on the Odyssey sector, in the wider area of Kasteli, Los Revolucionarios is the best choice for the bold as it is the hardest route confirmed to this day!
Difficulty level: Professional

• Panorama

Rising near the Grande Grotta, this is, as its name indicates, not only a great spot for tufa climbing but also for majestic views of Telendos Island.
Difficulty level: Intermediate - Advanced - Professional

• Spartacus

Should the summer sun seem too daunting, just head for Spartacus, a large cave that does not get scorched by the sun till late in the day. It is a spectacular crag with over 50 long and hard routes, reaching a maximum altitude of 300 meters.
Difficulty level: Intermediate - Advanced

• Three Stripes

Close to Spartacus and the Grande Grotta, rock climbing enthusiasts will also find a now-classic multi-pitch route called the 3 Stripes. Though amenable to most people, it does require some experience in both multi-pitch climbing and abseiling.
Difficulty level: Beginner

• Ghost Kitchen

Ghost Kitchen is a popular crag in the area of Arginonta; it consists of 4 sectors with 30 different routes, ranging from pleasant slabs to magnificent tufas on a gently overhanging wall.
Difficulty level: Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced

• Kalymnos Poets

If you don’t feel like venturing too far away from Massouri village, set out for the excellent Kalymnos Poets crag, which boasts as many as 100 routes of varying difficulty levels.
Difficulty level: Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced

• Galasia Petra

For those who are up to the challenge, Galasia Petra offers some of the hardest multi-pitch routes on the entire island.
Difficulty level: Advanced

• Telendos Eros

Rising on the enchanting Telendos Islet, Eros is a vertical crag with excellent steep routes and good holds.
Difficulty level: Intermediate - Advanced