Athens to Santorini: Greek Island Hopping

Kalimera — welcome to Greece. There is little time to explore Athens before the ferry leaves for the islands, so arriving a day or two early is worthwhile if your schedule allows. The changing of the guard at Syntagma Square, the National Gardens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the original Olympic Stadium and the Acropolis are all within walking distance of the old town.

After this evening's welcome meeting, step out for gyros and a glass of ouzo with your travel companions.

This morning you take the metro down to the port of Piraeus and board the ferry south into the Cyclades. The crossing to Syros takes about four hours; the Aegean runs from pale aquamarine to deep blue as the islands come into view.

In the heart of the archipelago, Syros is one of the Aegean's most underrated islands — whitewashed houses, terraced fields, sandy coves and the elegant port of Ermoupolis with its neoclassical mansions and 19th-century tenement blocks. Your leader takes you for an included lunch at a traditional taverna before a walk through town. Stop at a family-run loukoumi workshop to see how Greek Delight and chalvadopita are made, then settle at a waterfront cafe as the setting sun turns the housefronts pink.

Morning walk through the fortress-like hill town of Ano Syros, narrow alleyways stacked above the harbour, handmade-souvenir shops and traditional Rembetiko music drifting from family-run tavernas. The rest of the day is free — abandoned windmills on stone-paved tracks, the small archaeological sites around the island, the quieter coves outside Ermoupolis, or simply a beach afternoon on the southern side.

In the evening, taxis take the group to a remote village in the rugged north of the island for an included dinner — local specialities and the sun going down over the Aegean.

A two-hour ferry delivers you to Mykonos, the chic Cycladic island named after Apollo's grandson. Your leader walks you through the maze-like old town — squat white houses set against the cerulean sea, chic galleries, flower-lined paths past age-old churches and tiny restaurants tucked down to sandy coves.

After checking into the hotel, the afternoon is yours: swim, snooze on the beach, or walk out along the water to the row of stone windmills above the harbour. Sunset brings Europe's party crowd out; a backstreet taverna keeps things simpler.

This morning a half-day boat trip takes you out to the nearby island of Delos — once the political and religious centre of the Aegean, sacred as the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. The Terrace of the Lions, the Sacred Precinct, the mansions decorated with frescoes and mosaics: the island is essentially one open-air museum, with more still being uncovered.

Back on Mykonos in the afternoon, a beach, the 19th-century House of Lena, the Aegean Maritime Museum or a taverna in the village of Ano Mera are all options. Sunset is best watched from Little Venice, where colourful balconies hang over the sea.

A ferry ride of about two and a half hours brings you to Santorini — the iconic image of the Greek islands, whitewashed, blue-domed buildings clinging to the cliff face with the sparkling Aegean below. On the way in, the ferry passes between the two halves of the submerged caldera.

From your base in the village of Karterados, walk into the island's capital Thira (also called Fira) for restaurants and shops, or explore the hilltop ruins of Ancient Thira and the Minoan Bronze Age site of Akrotiri. The island's volcanic beaches — Red Beach, Perissa, Perivolos, Agios Georgios — are an easy bus ride away. The local food is unusually good: Santorini's vines grow in basket shapes low against the volcanic soil, and the cherry tomatoes, fava and white eggplant that grow the same way are the basis of the cuisine.

About 3,500 years ago the centre of Santorini sank in a volcanic eruption, forming one of the most significant geological formations on the planet — the awe-inspiring caldera. Today you walk along the crater rim from Thira town to Oia, passing little white villages, steep cliff faces and endlessly blue water below.

If the full hike is not for you, the bus runs the same route and you can meet the rest of the group in Oia. A half-day boat trip to the volcano and hot springs in the centre of the lagoon, or a tasting at one of the island's wineries, are alternatives. End the day among locals at a cafe on the cliff as the sun drops into the sea.

Your Greek Islands adventure ends this morning in Santorini. There are no activities planned and you are able to leave the accommodation at any time. If you would like to extend your stay, we are happy to book additional accommodation, subject to availability.