Rhodes: Full Day East Coast Bay to Bay Boat Trip with Lunch

Anthony Quinn Bay, Tsambika, Afandou, and Kallithea are four very different stops, and this full-day cruise lets you sample each one without arranging taxis or beach transfers. The best part is the variety: emerald water and cliffs at Anthony Quinn Bay, a long sandy beach at Tsambika, a cave stop at Afandou, and a calm final swim at Kallithea.

I like the two-hour stop at Tsambika, which gives you time to swim, reach the beach, and eat without rushing. I also like the simple transport plan, with pickup options from several resort areas and return drop-offs near many hotels.

The tradeoff is scale. This is a shared boat carrying up to 280 people across three decks, so it will not feel like a quiet private sail. Non-swimmers, wheelchair users, and pregnant women should choose another outing.

Key points to know before you book

• Four different swimming stops: Anthony Quinn Bay, Tsambika Bay, Afandou Caves, and Kallithea Bay each offer a different setting.
• Tsambika gets the most time: You have about two hours for swimming, beach time, and the buffet lunch.
• A large excursion boat: The vessel has three decks, toilets, and a snack bar, but it can carry up to 280 people.
• Lunch is included: Expect Greek salad, tzatziki, moussaka, pasta, potatoes, beans, meatballs or beef, and chicken. Drinks cost extra.
• Hotel pickup can save time: Transfers are available from Ialyssos, Ixia, Rhodes Town, Kallithea, and Faliraki.
• Bring the basics: Pack swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Life jackets and pool noodles are available for small children.

Four famous bays in one long day

This trip is built around one useful idea: see much of the east coast from the water, then stop for swims at the places that are difficult to link together by public transport. You spend roughly eight to nine hours out, with the boat leaving Rhodes at about 9:00 in the morning and returning around 5:00 in the afternoon.

The day begins with a bus transfer if you select pickup. Pickup usually takes place between 7:30 and 8:15 AM, but your exact time depends on your accommodation. If you make your own way to the port, meet a Manos Going staff member at Mandraki Port, on Elefterias Avenue, in front of the fountain outside the Church of the Annunciation.

Look for the red Manos Going sign. Bring your booking confirmation, since staff exchange it for boarding cards and a map with tour information. This small port procedure matters because the activity does not begin when your hotel pickup begins. Give yourself enough time to reach the meeting point.

At around 9:00 AM, the boat leaves Mandraki. From the water, you get broad views of Rhodes Town, including the medieval center and the coast beyond it. This first hour is less about swimming and more about settling in, finding a seat, and enjoying the view.

Choosing your place on a 280-passenger boat

The boat has three decks, a toilet, and a snack bar. With room for up to 280 people, it is closer to a floating day-trip platform than a small sailing boat. That is useful if you want stability, facilities, and an easy way to move between bays, but it limits the quiet, personal feel some people expect from a boat tour.

You can sit, sunbathe, or watch the coast pass by between stops. A snack bar sells drinks and snacks, which is important because beverages are not included with lunch. Bring sunscreen and reapply it. You will spend a long time exposed to the sun, especially if you use the upper deck.

The large boat also makes this a practical choice for people who want a straightforward group outing. Families can use the provided pool noodles and life jackets for small children. Still, the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, and the short swimming stops mean you should be comfortable getting in and out of the water from the boat or beach area.

Anthony Quinn Bay: 30 minutes in emerald water

The first swimming stop is Anthony Quinn Bay, one of the most recognizable coves on Rhodes. It is known for clear emerald water, a sheltered rocky shore, and steep cliffs rising around the bay. From the boat, the rocks give the stop a more enclosed feel than the broad beach at Tsambika.

You have about 30 minutes here. That is enough for a quick swim and a look at the water, but not enough for a slow beach afternoon. The bay is associated with fish, sea urchins, and coral formations, so the water offers more to notice than an ordinary open beach.

If you like short, scenic swimming stops, this is a strong opening. If you need a long, relaxed swim, keep your expectations in check. The boat has several more stops to reach, so the schedule keeps moving.

Wear secure swimwear and bring footwear that you can manage around rocky areas. The information provided does not promise snorkeling equipment, so bring your own gear only if you want it and have space for it. The main attraction here is the setting and the clear water, not a long organized water-sports session.

Tsambika Bay: the main beach stop

After about 30 minutes of travel, the boat reaches Tsambika Bay. This is the centerpiece of the day, with roughly two hours available for swimming and beach time. Tsambika is known for its fine golden sand and an approximately 800-meter beach, giving you a sharp contrast with the rocky cove at Anthony Quinn Bay.

You can swim from the boat or make your way toward the beach for sand, sun, and a wider stretch of water. Two hours gives you room to choose your pace. You can spend most of it in the water, stay on the beach, or split the time between both.

This longer stop is especially useful for families and anyone who dislikes being rushed ashore. It is also the best chance to get a proper swim during the day. The other stops last about 20 to 30 minutes, so Tsambika is where you can settle into the outing instead of simply checking off another bay.

Lunch is served aboard the boat during this stop. The buffet includes tzatziki, Greek salad, oven-baked potatoes, moussaka, pasta with red sauce, beans, beef steaks, chicken, vegetables, and meatballs. The menu gives you a solid Greek-style meal rather than a small snack, which helps justify the full-day schedule.

Drinks are not included. You can buy them at the onboard snack bar, so keep some money available. If you have dietary needs, the supplied details do not specify special menus, so ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the buffet will meet your needs.

Afandou Caves: a short rocky-water stop

The next stop is Afandou Beach, where the coast becomes rocky again. The main feature is a cave that you can explore directly from the water. You get about 30 minutes here, making it a compact stop focused on seeing the cave and taking another swim.

Afandou works well as a change of pace after Tsambika. You have had a long beach stop and a meal, then return to the water for something more enclosed and unusual. The cave is reached from the water, so you need to be confident swimming and following the boat’s timing.

This is not the place to linger for a full afternoon. Treat it as a short coastal visit with a swim, rather than a full cave excursion. The boat must continue to Kallithea, and the day’s four-stop plan leaves little room for delays.

Kallithea Bay: a calm final swim

The last swimming stop is sheltered Kallithea Bay. You have about 20 minutes here, the shortest swim of the day. It is a final chance to get into the Mediterranean or remain aboard and relax before the return trip.

Kallithea is a sensible final stop because its sheltered waters offer a gentler finish after several swims and a full meal. You can use the time for one last swim or simply sunbathe on the boat. If your energy has faded by late afternoon, staying aboard is perfectly reasonable.

The short stop also shows the basic rhythm of this trip. You are not spending a whole day at one beach. You are collecting a series of coastal settings, each with a different look and purpose, then returning to Rhodes by boat.

What the $68 price really includes

At $68 per person, the price is reasonable if you value transport, four coastal stops, and lunch in one package. You are paying for a full day on the water, the boat ride from Mandraki, access to the scheduled swimming stops, a buffet meal, and transport from several resort areas when selected.

The value is strongest for visitors without a car or those who do not want to plan separate beach transfers. Reaching Anthony Quinn Bay, Tsambika, Afandou, and Kallithea independently would require arranging several journeys and timing them around swims and lunch.

The price is less compelling if you want a small boat, a quiet cruise, or long uninterrupted time at one beach. A vessel with capacity for 280 people naturally creates a more social, organized atmosphere. You should book it for convenience and variety, not for private-boat intimacy.

Lunch helps make the cost easier to accept. You still need to budget for drinks and snacks, since those are sold separately. The included meal is substantial enough to keep you going through the afternoon, especially after repeated swims.

Transfers, timing, and the return to Rhodes

Pickup is available from Ialyssos, Ixia, Rhodes Town, Kallithea, and Faliraki. The exact pickup place and time are sent by the operator, with the usual pickup window between 7:30 and 8:15 AM. Be ready at least five minutes early, and check your spam folder for messages from Manos Going.

If you are not using pickup, go to Mandraki Port for the meeting process. At the end of the day, the boat returns to Rhodes at about 5:00 PM. Bus transfer arrangements then return people to designated drop-off points, including hotels and central places around Rhodes Town and the resort coast.

The long day means you should not schedule another major activity that evening. The boat trip itself includes about one hour of travel at the start, then several shorter crossings of around 30 minutes. These passages give you time to rest, dry off, and watch the coast.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful when your plans depend on weather or changing holiday arrangements, although the supplied details do not state how the operator handles poor weather on the day.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would choose this outing if you want a simple way to see several famous bays in one day. It suits people who enjoy swimming, sun, and a set schedule, especially if you are staying in one of the listed pickup areas.

Families may appreciate the pool noodles, children’s life jackets, onboard toilet, and included meal. The long Tsambika stop also gives parents more breathing room than a schedule made entirely of quick swims.

It is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want a broad look at Rhodes’ east coast before deciding where to spend more time later. The stops show different types of coast, from rocky coves to a long sandy beach and a water-access cave.

I would hesitate if you do not swim, use a wheelchair, are pregnant, or dislike busy group excursions. The activity is not designed for those needs. I would also choose another option if your ideal day means a small boat, personal guiding, and plenty of silence.

Private groups are available, but the standard boat is a large shared vessel. If privacy matters, confirm exactly what the private option includes before paying.

Should you book the Rhodes bay cruise?

Book it if you want four well-known east coast stops, a Greek buffet lunch, and transport handled in one day for $68. The strongest parts are the clear contrast between the bays, the generous two-hour pause at Tsambika, and the ease of hotel pickup.

Skip it if you want a quiet sailing trip or a long stay at one beach. The schedule is active, the boat can carry 280 people, and most swimming stops are brief. For a confident swimmer who values variety and convenience, this is a practical full-day choice.

FAQ

How long does the Rhodes boat trip last?

The activity lasts about eight to nine hours. The boat leaves Rhodes at approximately 9:00 AM and returns at about 5:00 PM.

Where does the boat trip start?

The main meeting point is Mandraki Port on Elefterias Avenue, in front of the fountain outside the Church of the Annunciation. Look for a red Manos Going sign.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Transportation is available from Ialyssos, Ixia, Rhodes Town, Kallithea, and Faliraki. The exact pickup time and place depend on your accommodation.

Which bays does the boat visit?

The stops are Anthony Quinn Bay, Tsambika Bay, Afandou Beach and its cave, and Kallithea Bay.

How much time do you get at each swimming stop?

You get about 30 minutes at Anthony Quinn Bay, two hours at Tsambika, 30 minutes at Afandou, and 20 minutes at Kallithea.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included, with items such as tzatziki, Greek salad, potatoes, moussaka, pasta, beans, beef, chicken, vegetables, and meatballs. Drinks and snacks are not included.

Are drinks available on the boat?

Yes. Drinks and snacks can be purchased at the onboard snack bar.

Is the activity suitable for non-swimmers or wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, wheelchair users, or pregnant women. Pool noodles and life jackets are available for small children.