Rhodes: Self Drive 4×4 safari – Pick ups South

Southern Rhodes is at its best when you leave the main resort roads behind. This self-drive safari puts you behind the wheel of a Suzuki Jimny and takes you through olive groves, riverbeds, mountain roads, forests, and small villages that a standard coach tour cannot reach.

I like the freedom of driving a small 4×4 yourself, and I like the day’s mix of rough tracks and ordinary roads. The stop for lunch in Monolithos village, with views across the hills and coast, adds a welcome local touch. The main caution is that the off-road section can change. Fallen branches closed part of the mountain route on one outing, leaving more asphalt driving than expected.

Key points to know before booking

• You drive the Suzuki Jimny: This is an active tour, not a ride-along safari. You may share the driving unless your booking reserves the car for four people.
• The route covers southern Rhodes: Expect Asklipion, Profilia, Ataviros, Akramitis, Monolithos, forest roads, and a secluded beach.
• The day mixes rough tracks with asphalt: It is designed as a scenic 4×4 outing, not a high-speed rally.
• Lunch is not included: You stop in Monolithos, but you pay separately for lunch and refreshments.
• Small groups keep it manageable: The maximum is 15 people, using Suzuki Jimny vehicles and Mercedes Vito 4×4 vehicles.
• Drivers need the right credentials: You must be at least 21 and have held your driving license for at least two years.

Why this Rhodes safari feels different

Many island tours show you Rhodes through a window. This one asks you to take part. You steer through southern villages and mountain country, feel the surface change beneath the tires, and decide how much of the driving you want to share.

That makes the day more engaging than a regular sightseeing trip, but it also means you need to be comfortable driving on uneven roads. The Suzuki Jimny is practical rather than luxurious. It is compact, suited to narrow tracks, and built for the job. Do not expect a polished private-car experience.

The tour runs for about eight hours and includes pickup and drop-off from specified locations. The exact pickup point is usually sent the day before, often through WhatsApp. The operator uses safari cars, so you do not first ride a large coach to a depot. You begin with the 4×4 part of the day.

A guide leads the group, explains the route, and sets the pace. Cecile received particular praise for keeping the driving safe while still making the day feel adventurous. The guide languages are English, Dutch, French, German, and Greek.

From the east coast to Asklipion

The route begins along Rhodes’s east coast. You pass the well-known areas of Lindos and Pefkos before continuing toward Kiotari. This opening section gives you a useful sense of the island’s resort belt, then gradually moves you into quieter country.

The first notable village is Asklipion, known for its castle. The stop connects the road journey with local culture instead of making the day only about dirt tracks and views. You then follow a river toward Profilia, where there is a break for refreshments.

This part of the tour is a good warm-up. You get ordinary roads, village scenery, and a first taste of the more rural south before the route climbs higher. If your main goal is constant off-road action, you may find the early driving too gentle. If you want a full-day view of the region, the gradual change works well.

Bring water even though there are refreshment stops. Drinks are not included, and eight hours in an open, active vehicle can leave you thirsty, particularly in sunny weather.

Mountain roads around Ataviros

The route then heads toward Ataviros, Rhodes’s highest mountain. The mountain section is where the experience feels most unlike a normal island excursion. You drive on narrower roads with broad views, passing through terrain marked by hills, rocky ground, herbs, and changing vegetation.

The views are a major part of the value. You are not simply checking off a viewpoint. The scenery changes as the vehicle moves, and the road itself becomes part of the experience. The group drives at a controlled pace, which matters on uneven ground and helps you enjoy the setting instead of concentrating only on the next bend.

Still, you should set your expectations correctly. This is not a rally, and it is not designed around speed. A family with children aged nine and eleven found the off-road section fun, but the point was safe, playful driving rather than dramatic stunts. That is good news if you want adventure without reckless behavior.

Route conditions can also affect the balance of the day. Branches made one mountain section impassable on a previous trip, so the group spent more time on asphalt and had no alternate off-road route. The operator could not control the obstruction, but this is worth knowing if rough tracks are your top reason for booking.

Profilia, vineyards, and the road to Monolithos

After Profilia, the route continues through the wine-producing part of the island. The drive toward Akramitis, Rhodes’s second-highest mountain, adds another layer to the day. You see agricultural areas, mountain slopes, and the quieter side of the island rather than only beaches and resort towns.

The destination for the midday stop is Monolithos village. Lunch is not included in the $87 price, so plan to pay for your own meal and drinks. The village stop is important because it breaks up the driving and gives you time to sit, eat, and take in the views.

I see this as one of the tour’s strongest choices. A full day in a 4×4 can become tiring if every stop is just a photo break. Lunch in a village gives the day a human pace and supports a more local style of sightseeing. It also gives you a chance to compare the mountain setting with the coast you saw earlier.

The trade-off is that the itinerary does not promise a long list of formal cultural stops. One person felt the guide offered too little explanation about the island, with most of the day spent driving and only a few main stops. If you want detailed history at every turn, ask questions as you go and make sure this driving-focused format suits you.

A shaded forest drive and west coast views

The afternoon route takes you through forest, often in the shade, with views toward the west coast and the small islands offshore. This is a pleasant contrast to the more exposed mountain roads earlier in the day.

You also get a different view of Monolithos from the surrounding country. The combination of forest, high viewpoints, and distant islands gives the afternoon a slower, scenic character. I like this part because it prevents the tour from becoming a simple point-to-point drive. The route keeps changing, and the scenery has room to breathe.

The forest section may also be where route conditions matter most. Branches or other obstacles can force changes, so the exact amount of off-road driving is not fixed. You should think of the tour as an exploration of southern Rhodes by 4×4, not a guaranteed number of hours on unpaved tracks.

The small group size helps here. With a maximum of 15 people, the guide can keep the vehicles together and explain changes without dealing with a large coachload. The actual vehicle mix can include Suzuki Jimny cars and Mercedes Vito 4×4 vehicles, so the driving setup may vary between participants.

The secluded beach stop

The final major pleasure is a swim at a secluded beach. Swimming is included, but towels are not, so pack one along with swimwear, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, water, and a camera.

This stop gives you a useful break after the bumpy sections. It is also one reason to choose this tour instead of a purely scenic mountain drive. You get time to cool off and enjoy the coast rather than viewing it only from above.

Keep your expectations modest. The beach is described as secluded, not as a perfect postcard beach with elaborate facilities. One outing ended at a beach that felt only moderately attractive. The appeal lies in the swim and the quiet setting, not necessarily in flawless sand or extensive services.

A towel and dry change of clothes are especially useful because the vehicle ride continues after the swim. Comfortable shoes matter too. This is not a flip-flop-only day, with riverbeds, uneven ground, and mountain roads on the schedule.

What the $87 price really covers

At $87 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Rhodes. The price includes hotel pickup and return from specified locations, a seat in one of the safari vehicles, petrol, a tour guide, third-party insurance, liability insurance, and the beach swim.

Lunch and refreshments are extra. That matters because the day lasts eight hours. Budget for food in Monolithos and drinks along the route rather than treating $87 as the full spend.

The value comes from access and participation. You are paying for a full day of transport, a guide, fuel, a small-group format, and a vehicle capable of reaching rougher roads. You also avoid sitting on a large bus for the whole excursion.

The value drops if you mainly want a detailed history tour or guaranteed off-road driving. One outing had limited commentary and more asphalt because of blocked tracks. On the other hand, several people found the day well planned, fun, and worth the price, especially because the views and roads revealed parts of Rhodes they could not easily reach alone.

I would compare this with the cost of arranging a rental 4×4, fuel, insurance, navigation, and meals yourself. The organized option gives you a guide and a planned route. The self-drive format gives you some independence without leaving you to find every road alone.

Who should book this day

This tour suits you if you enjoy driving, changing scenery, and a little dust and vibration. It works particularly well for couples, families with older children, and small groups who want more activity than a standard sightseeing bus.

The age rule is firm for drivers: you must be at least 21 and have held your license for two years. If you want to drive, bring the required license and expect that the operator may pair you with other participants unless you reserve the vehicle for four seats.

It is less suitable if you are pregnant or have back problems. The rough sections can be uncomfortable, and the vehicle is chosen for access rather than softness.

You also need to accept that the day is shaped by road conditions. The guide may adjust the route if branches or other obstacles block a mountain track. That flexibility is sensible, but it means no two departures are guaranteed to have exactly the same off-road balance.

The tour has a strong safety culture. Cecile was specifically praised for keeping speeds sensible, and the family feedback makes clear that the driving is adventurous without being a race. That is the right approach for a mixed group sharing vehicles.

Practical planning for the day

Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground and bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, water, and a camera. You will want clothing that can cope with dust, sun, and a swim stop.

Keep some money available for lunch and drinks. Neither is included. Since the lunch stop is in Monolithos, the midday break is part of the schedule, but you choose and pay for what you eat.

Pickup is included from specified locations, with additional meeting points available. Select the closest option to your hotel, then watch for the exact location sent the day before, usually by WhatsApp.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve now and pay later. The tour runs for eight hours, with starting times shown according to availability.

The rating is very strong at 4.8 from 18 ratings, and the praise centers on the fun of the drive, the varied scenery, the good organization, and friendly guides. The main criticism concerns limited commentary and a route change that reduced the off-road portion. Those points give you a fair picture: this is first a driving and scenery day, second a cultural tour.

Should you book the southern Rhodes 4×4 safari?

Book it if you want to drive rather than simply watch, and if mountain roads, small villages, forest, and a beach swim sound better than another day at the resort. The route offers a fine mix of eastern coast, inland country, high views, Monolithos lunch, and west coast scenery.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed off-road route, a detailed lecture on every historical site, or a soft and quiet ride. The strongest version of the experience is an active day with a friendly guide, safe driving, and varied scenery. At $87, it is a fair buy for that combination, provided you are comfortable paying separately for lunch and accepting that nature may alter the route.

FAQ

How long does the Rhodes 4×4 safari last?

The tour lasts eight hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off from specified locations.

What vehicles are used?

The operator uses Suzuki Jimny safari cars and Mercedes Vito 4×4 vehicles.

Do I drive the 4×4 myself?

Yes. This is a self-drive safari. If you do not reserve the car for four seats, you may share the driving with other participants.

What are the driver requirements?

Drivers must be at least 21 years old and must have held a driving license for at least two years.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and refreshments are not included. The route stops for lunch in Monolithos village.

What languages does the guide speak?

Guides are available in English, Dutch, French, German, and Greek.

Is swimming part of the tour?

Yes. The itinerary includes swimming at a secluded beach. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and water.