Self-Launched Cyclades Island Hop: Mykonos to Santorini and Back
10 days · Cyclades Islands, Greece
G Adventures charges £1,940
No-markup version: ~£1,135 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 10-day Cyclades sailing trip — same islands (Mykonos, Syros, Paros, Folegandros, Ios, Naxos, Santorini), but using Greece's fast ferry network and hostel/guesthouse stays instead of a chartered yacht. You'll get the cave-house sunsets, the caldera hikes, the windmills, the beaches and the nightlife for roughly a third of the group tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP; book Blue Star Ferries and SeaJets tickets in advance in July–August.
Day-by-day
Arrive Mykonos — Chora, windmills and Little Venice
Mykonos
Fly into Mykonos (JTR/MYK) or arrive by ferry into the New Port. The local bus (KTEL, ~€2) or the SeaBus from the port drops you in Mykonos Town. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Chora — July/August is pricey, so book a shared dorm or a room in nearby Ano Mera if you're on a tight budget. Spend the afternoon wandering the whitewashed lanes, then walk the ridge to the five Kato Mili windmills for sunset and follow the waterfront round to Little Venice for an overpriced-but-worth-it cocktail.
🚌Airport/port bus to Chora, ~£2; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm or family guesthouse in Mykonos Town, ~£35/night
- →Kato Mili windmills at sunset
- →Little Venice waterfront
- →Old Port and Paraportiani church
Ferry to Syros — Ermoupoli's Venetian quarter
Syros
Early fast ferry from Mykonos to Syros (~45 min, €20–25 on SeaJets/Blue Star). Syros is the Cyclades' administrative capital and far cheaper and less crowded than Mykonos. Base yourself in Ermoupoli, the neoclassical harbour town. Climb through the Vaporia district to Ano Syros, the old Catholic hilltop village, for views over the bay, and eat at a taverna in the main plateia — Syros has the best food value in the Cyclades.
🚌High-speed ferry Mykonos–Syros, ~£22
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Ermoupoli, ~£30/night
- →Ano Syros hilltop village walk
- →Ermoupoli Apollo Theatre and Miaouli Square
- →Vaporia quarter
Syros beaches and Galissas bay
Syros
Take the local bus to Galissas or Kini on the west coast (~€2, 20 min) for a swimming day on sandy, family-friendly beaches. Optional: join a half-day sailing or kayak trip from Kini bay, or hike the coastal path between Galissas and Armeos. Back in Ermoupoli, pick up bakery spanakopita and fresh fruit for the next day's ferry.
🚌Local KTEL buses, ~£4 total
🛏Guesthouse in Ermoupoli, ~£30/night
- →Galissas and Kini beaches
- →Optional Kini Bay kayak or day sail (~£35 via GetYourGuide)
- →Coastal path hike
Ferry to Paros — Naoussa and Parikia
Paros
Morning ferry Syros–Paros (~1h15, €20–30). Base in Parikia near the port or take a bus 15 minutes north to Naoussa, a fishing village turned chic harbour town. Afternoon: wander the maze of Parikia's old town and the 4th-century Panagia Ekatontapyliani church, then sunset drinks on the Venetian kastro walls of Naoussa.
🚌Fast ferry Syros–Paros, ~£25; local bus to Naoussa, ~£2
🛏Hostel or budget studio in Parikia/Naoussa, ~£32/night
- →Panagia Ekatontapyliani
- →Naoussa harbour and Venetian castle ruins
Paros: Kolymbithres, Antiparos and a wine stop
Paros
Rent a scooter (~€25/day) or take the bus to Kolymbithres beach — bizarre granite rock formations and shallow turquoise water — then a five-minute ferry (€1.50) across to Antiparos for the cave and quiet beaches. On the way back, stop at Moraitis or Paros Winery for a tasting (€15–20). Independent travellers: keep the receipt, the G Adventures version includes a winery visit.
🚌Scooter hire ~£22 or buses ~£6; Antiparos ferry ~£1.50
🛏Hostel or budget studio in Parikia, ~£32/night
- →Kolymbithres beach
- →Antiparos cave
- →Paros winery tasting (~£15)
Ferry to Folegandros — Hora and the Panagia climb
Folegandros
Ferry Paros–Folegandros (~1h30–2h on SeaJets, €30). This is the wildest island on the route — car-free Hora with three squares, and the whitewashed Panagia church perched on a cliff 200m above town. Book accommodation in Hora's guesthouses (limited beds, book early). Optional evening: walk the cliff path to the Panagia, then a taverna dinner of matsata (local pasta).
🚌High-speed ferry Paros–Folegandros, ~£28
🛏Guesthouse in Hora, ~£35/night
- →Hora village squares
- →Cliff walk to Panagia church
- →Chrysospilia cave viewpoint
Folegandros to Ios — Magganari and Mylopotas
Ios
Morning ferry to Ios (~1h, €15–20). Ios is the backpacker island — cheap dorms, loud nights in Chora, and excellent beaches. Check into a hostel, then take the bus or a shared water taxi to Magganari Beach on the south coast (the beach from the original itinerary) or stay closer on Mylopotas. Sunset at the windmill above Chora is the local ritual.
🚌Ferry Folegandros–Ios ~£18; beach bus ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in Chora, ~£25/night
- →Magganari Beach
- →Chora windmill sunset
- →Optional boat trip to Homer's Tomb area (~£25)
Ios to Naxos — Chora, Portara and mountain villages
Naxos
Short morning ferry to Naxos (~50 min, €15). Naxos is the biggest and most agricultural Cycladic island — great value food and huge beaches. Walk the causeway to the Portara, the giant 6th-century BC temple gate on its islet, explore the old town's kastro, then take a bus up to Halki village for kitron liqueur tasting and hiking towards Apiranthos.
🚌Ferry Ios–Naxos ~£15; village buses ~£5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Naxos Town, ~£30/night
- →Portara temple gate
- →Halki old town and kitron distillery
- →Apiranthos mountain village walk
Naxos to Santorini — caldera sunset in Oia or Fira
Santorini
Ferry Naxos–Santorini (~1h, €25–35) and check into a hostel in Fira or Perissa (Oia is prohibitively expensive — stay in Fira and walk the caldera rim path to Oia, 3 hours, or take the local bus). Sunset from the rim path or from Skaros Rock. Optional: a caldera catamaran cruise (~£70 via GetYourGuide) or a Santo Wines vineyard tasting (~£20) instead of the G Adventures vineyard option.
🚌Fast ferry Naxos–Santorini ~£30; local buses ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Fira/Perissa, ~£40/night
- →Fira–Oia caldera rim hike (free)
- →Skaros Rock sunset
- →Optional Santo Wines tasting (~£20)
Santorini back to Mykonos — departure
Mykonos
Take the fast ferry Santorini–Mykonos (~2h, €50–65) to catch your outward flight — book a flight after 14:00 to allow for delays. If time allows, spend the last morning on Red Beach or the Ancient Akrotiri excavation site near Fira before the ferry.
🚌Fast ferry Santorini–Mykonos, ~£55
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Akrotiri archaeological site (~£12)
- →Red Beach
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,135 | £1,940 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £805 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,135
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Cyclades Island Hop: Mykonos to Santorini and Back cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,135 per person for 10 days in Cyclades Islands, Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,940 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,135 — a saving of roughly £805 (41%) per person.
How long is the Cyclades Islands, Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Cyclades Islands, Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, budget trip through Cyclades Islands, Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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