In the imagination of every climber Kalymnos is a perfect synthesis of sea cliffs, scooter rides and sun. For years it has been the "reference" destination for those who want to spend the winter or spring months in a relaxing place, struggling with continuity routes on superb limestone walls and good holds.
With the passing of the years Kalymnos has reached a sort of stability compared to the "boom" period when a new guidebook needed to be updated with new sectors every six months. This has led to a variety of lines, both in difficulty level and style, which few areas in the world can boast. The great classic is represented by the routes of medium difficulty on tufas formations and big holes, but there also are a lot of slabs with crimps and the small pockets typical of limestone.
In Kalymnos it is easy to find cliffs with unforgettable sea views
The rock: seas of limestone
As we already said in the introduction, in Kalymnos we can find limestone cliffs as far as the eye can see: the fame of its "tufa climbing style" often precedes a more realistic idea of a climbing destination with a wide variety of climbing styles. There are of course many vertical walls as well, that is to say beautiful slabs with fine holds created by the erosion of the wind and obviously a lot of crimps, mini edges and sidepulls typical of this rock.
When to climb in Kalymnos
The ideal season to visit Kalymnos is spring, although it is one of those climbing destinations that has good reasons to be visited all year round. Accessible throughout the year because of the mild winter climate or thanks to chilly winds in summer, Kalymnos remains one of those destinations that deserves to be visited as soon as the days start to get longer! In addition to the better grip, during spring months the sea and the days spent in the outdoors are much more pleasant, allowing families to spend here a real relaxing holiday.
Unforgettable sunsets on the rock: climbing in Kalymnos is also this!
And now let’s discover five easy cliffs to climb in Kalymnos!
Kasteli
It is one of the most historical crags in Kalymnos; it has enchanting sea views, and it can be a little bit crowded in the afternoon, when you can best appreciate the sunset on the horizon. It is a cliff suitable for beginner level climbers (up to 6a) with vertical slabs, good holds and excellent grips. It often represents the perfet sector to be visited as an "approach" crag to get accostumed to the style of the island or, in any case, a "must-visit" area for anyone who wants to spend a climbing day in a relaxed climate.
Grande Grotta
It probably represents the most iconic cliff of the island with its impressive overhanging routes, always highly photogenic. If the central sector of the Cave offers routes of sustained difficulty, its external walls allow anyone to enjoy climbing around here. The exceptional rock, the variety of difficulties and styles has led the Great Cave to be one of the most known and frequented cliffs of Kalymnos. The routes are technical and require strength endurance but they can also be very physical in the more overhanging walls. In short, there is something for everyone!
Arginonta Canyon
It has been recently bolted and it really offers many intermediate level routes, with a lot of unmissable lines between 6a and 6b; for this reason it already enjoys an excellent reputation and it is increasingly frequented by climbers which are exploring the island. Being in a canyon, it is one of the shadest cliffs we can find, thus becoming the perfect choice on hot days. Unlike the sectors on the beach, Arginonta is surrounded by trees and overlooks the valley below, making the climbing experience on the island even more varied. The routes are mostly vertical with generous holds or crimps and a technical style; by the way we can also find some slightly overhanging routes with beautfiul tufas, leading to a more physical and sustained climbing style.
The unmistakable colours of the rock and sea of Kalymnos
Telendos
Telendos is "an island in the island", hosting about ten sectors: they are worth to be seen, also because they are less crowded than the most known cliffs of Kalymnos. It can only be reached by boat and it offers a different - yet very panoramic - point of view on the island of Kalymnos; here the environment is incredible, surrounded by silence thanks to the absence of cars, and certainly wilder than the "main" island. Telendos has also been developed during various "stages" of exploration: now more and more areas make climbing on this island an unforgettable experience. Here too, the rock is very well worked without being too abrasive; the cliffs vary from overhnging caves to more vertical walls full of good holds.
Palionisios Bay
An enchanting cliff located in a scenic bay where nothing is missing for a true "holiday" dimension. It is located on the north east coast of the island: it can be reached with half an hour by scooter. This very quiet crag is surrounded by silence and it offers various routes from the fourth grade to 7b, all recently bolted. In the surroundings of the bay, in addition to a crystal clear sea that invites us to go swimming after a day on the rock, there are a couple of taverns not to be missed.
Caves and cliffs, but also easy areas: we advise you where to climb in Kalymnos!