Kos Island Highlights Bus Tour with Asklepion and Zia

Kos town: castle, ancient agora and the old plane tree

The tour begins in Kos town, where history from every era sits side by side. The harbour is guarded by the massive walls of the castle built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th and 15th centuries, partly with stones taken from ancient buildings. Just behind lies the ancient agora, a wide field of columns, temple foundations and mosaics from the Hellenistic and Roman city.

In Platanos Square stands the old plane tree, one of the oldest trees in Europe, its huge trunk supported by metal frames; local tradition links it to the island's ancient school of medicine. Beside it rises the elegant 18th-century Loggia Mosque with its minaret and fountain, a reminder of the Ottoman period. The guide explains how Kos grew from a classical city into a crossroads of cultures.

The Asklepion, the ancient healing sanctuary

About 4 km from town, on a green hillside, lies the Asklepion, the most famous site on the island. It was a sanctuary dedicated to Asklepios, the ancient god of medicine, and at the same time a place where patients were treated with rest, baths, diet and exercise. Built from the 4th century BC onwards, it spreads over three great terraces linked by monumental stairways.

Walk past the foundations of temples, the remains of baths and the standing columns of the Temple of Apollo, then climb to the top terrace for a wide view of Kos town, the sea and the Turkish coast. Plan around an hour here with the guide. The entrance fee is paid at the gate, and Asklepion opening hours change with the season, so we time the visit for you.

Zia, the mountain village of Kos

Zia clings to the slopes of Mount Dikeos, the highest peak of Kos at 846 m, surrounded by pine trees, springs and old stone houses. It is the most visited village on the island, loved for its narrow lanes lined with shops selling herbs, spices, local honey, handmade soaps and crafts, and for its terraces looking down over the north coast.

You have free time here to stroll, shop and have lunch at one of the village tavernas, which is not included in the tour. Many visitors wonder whether Zia is worth visiting by day as well as at sunset; the view across the sea to Kalymnos and Pserimos and the cool mountain air make it a highlight of any Kos island tour. Halal food is limited, but fish and vegetarian dishes are easy to find.

Aloe vera farm and local honey producer

In the afternoon the tour visits two local producers. At an aloe vera farm you walk among rows of the spiky green plants and learn how the gel is harvested and turned into natural creams, lotions and soothing products, especially welcome after a day in the Greek sun. The products are available to buy if you wish.

Next comes a honey producer, where you enter the world of the bees and learn how Greek honey is made, from the hives on the hillsides to the jars. Kos is known for its aromatic thyme honey, and a tasting is included, a sweet stop that children enjoy. It is a chance to take home a genuine taste of the island and to meet the families who keep this tradition alive.

Kefalos and the view over Kamari bay

The last stop is Kefalos, a traditional village perched on a hill at the southwestern end of Kos. Below it spreads the wide bay of Kamari, with the small islet of Kastri and its white chapel just off the beach, one of the most photographed views of the island. In ancient times Kefalos was the capital of Kos, and remains of early Christian basilicas stand by the shore below.

The guide gives you time to take in the panorama and capture the best photos of the day before the coach heads back to the meeting points. The best time for this tour is from April to June and in September and October, when the heat is mild; in July and August a hat and water are essential. Kos is easy to reach through Kos Airport.