Climbing in Kalymnos

Kalymnos is where sport climbing goes on holiday. This small Greek island in the Dodecanese has, over a couple of decades, become the most concentrated bolted-crag network in Europe — thousands of routes on grey and orange limestone, much of it draped with the tufas and stalactites climbers dream about, and nearly all of it a ten-minute walk from the road.

The formula is close to perfect: climb in the morning, swim in the Aegean in the afternoon, eat well in a harbour taverna in the evening, and repeat. Grades span the full range from beginner-friendly to world-class, so it suits a first sport-climbing trip and an expert's project week equally, and the vast Grande Grotta cave is a genuine bucket-list venue.

Spring and autumn are the seasons — high summer is too hot on the exposed walls. Guiding and gear rental are easy to arrange on the island. Few places on earth make hard climbing feel this much like a beach holiday.

Enormous supply of easy and mid-grade routes, guides and schools on the island, and a beginner can be led up real rock on day one.

Fly to Kos, ferry to Kalymnos, and base in Masouri near the crags. Book a school or guide if you're new — beginners get led up real rock on day one.