Getting from Donoussa to Arki

If you are heading to Arki from Donoussa you are making your way from one of the Small Cyclades to one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese, between Patmos and Lipsi in the northern Dodecanese. It has no cars, no proper roads and an atmosphere of complete isolation.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Donoussa to Arki. Arki is connected to the wider network through Patmos and Lipsi, with local ferries calling a few times a week in summer. Getting there means taking the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus, which runs around 3 to 6 times a week and takes around 7 to 8 hours, and then flying to Leros, followed by the local ferry to Arki via Lipsi, which takes around 1 to 2 hours.

Getting there by air

Arki has no airport. The nearest airports are Leros and Kos. Donoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Taking the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus and flying from Athens to Leros, followed by the local ferry to Arki, gives a total journey time of around 12 to 14 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Leros, then take the local ferry across to Arki. Check the Donoussa to Piraeus departure days before planning as the service runs a limited number of times per week. Check the schedule carefully as connections to Arki run only a few times a week in summer. Come entirely self-sufficient as the island has almost no facilities and the isolation is the whole point of being there.