5 Greek Islands Odyssey: Self-Launched Island-Hopping Adventure

Land at Athens airport and take Metro Line 3 (€9, ~40 mins) or the X95 airport bus (€5.50) into the city, or head straight for Piraeus port. Book a morning or midday fast ferry to Mykonos with Blue Star Ferries or Seajets — roughly 2h40–5h depending on the service, about £45–£60. Arrive into Mykonos Town, check in at a Cycladic guesthouse in the backstreets of Chora or by Megali Ammos beach, and spend the evening wandering Little Venice and the windmills at sunset. Note: inter-island ferries sell out in July–August, so book all legs 4–6 weeks ahead on Ferryhopper.

🚌Athens Metro/bus to Piraeus + high-speed ferry to Mykonos (~£50)

🛏Budget guesthouse or family-run hotel in Mykonos Town or Megali Ammos (£30–50/night)

• →Piraeus to Mykonos ferry
• →Mykonos Town (Chora) wander
• →Little Venice and the windmills at sunset

Do Mykonos on a budget — skip the €80 beach clubs and use the local KTEL buses (€1.80–2.50) to reach Elia, Agios Sostis or Fokos beaches instead. The real highlight is Delos: the archaeological island is a 30-minute boat ride from the old port (return ~£20 + €12 site entry), and you can walk the ruins independently without a guide — signage is good. Alternatively take the short boat to Agios Sostis for a quiet swim. Evening: gyros and souvlaki in the backstreets off Matoyanni Street for £8–10 rather than a harbour-front taverna.

🚌Local KTEL buses and short boat trips (£5–8)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Mykonos Town (£30–50/night)

• →Boat to Delos archaeological site
• →Swim at Elia or Agios Sostis beach
• →Backstreet gyros crawl

Short hop: the Mykonos–Paros fast ferry takes 40–50 minutes (~£20–25). Alternative route via Naxos if schedules suit. Check into a guesthouse in Parikia's old town, five minutes from the ferry dock. Spend the afternoon exploring the whitewashed lanes, the Frankish Kastro quarter and the Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani (free entry, one of Greece's oldest churches). Sunset drink at a low-key waterfront bar at Parikia port, then dinner at a taverna in the lanes — moussaka and local wine for £12–15.

🚌Mykonos–Paros fast ferry (~£22)

🛏Guesthouse in Parikia old town, Paros (£25–40/night)

• →Ferry crossing to Paros
• →Parikia Kastro and old town wander
• →Panagia Ekatontapiliani church
• →Parikia waterfront sunset

Recreate the operator's included Paros tour independently. Hire a scooter (€20–25/day) or use the KTEL buses to reach Lefkes village (beautiful marble amphitheatre of white lanes), then continue to Piso Livadi for a swim and a cheap lunch by the water. Take the morning or afternoon bus/tourist boat from Pounda over to Antiparos (€1–2 ferry, 7 mins) for the cave and the chilled-out main town — the operator charges for this as a 'round trip ferry' whereas it's pocket change on the local ferry. Loop back via Alyki and Drios beaches if you have a scooter. Return to Naousa for a fishing-village dinner — livelier and better value than Parikia.

🚌Scooter hire or KTEL buses + Pounda–Antiparos ferry (~£15)

🛏Guesthouse in Parikia or Naousa, Paros (£25–40/night)

• →Lefkes village
• →Piso Livadi swim and lunch
• →Antiparos cave and town
• →Naousa harbour dinner

Paros–Naxos is only 30–45 minutes by ferry (€10–15) — you can even take a slow Blue Star with a deck seat for less. Arrive at Naxos Town and check in near the port or on Agios Georgios beach. Naxos has the best beaches of the whole chain: bus #1 and #2 run from town to Agios Prokopios and Plaka for €2, or to Mikri Vigla for kitesurfing. Afternoon: climb to the Venetian Kastro and the Portara gate for sunset — both free.

🚌Paros–Naxos ferry (~£12) + local buses (£4)

🛏Budget hotel near Naxos Town or Agios Georgios beach (£25–40/night)

• →Ferry to Naxos
• →Agios Prokopios and Plaka beaches
• →Venetian Kastro
• →Portara sunset

The operator's Naxos island tour covers Demeter's Temple, Damalas, Chalki, Apiranthos and Apollonas — all doable yourself. Cheapest option: the KTEL bus to Chalki (€2) and walk between Chalki, Moni and the Vallindras citron distillery (€2 entry, includes a tasting). Better option for full coverage: rent a small car for the day (~€35–45, split between two it's cheap) and do the loop: Demeter's Temple (€4 entry) → Damalas pottery workshop → Chalki citron distillery → Panagia Drossiani → Apiranthos (great tavernas, lunch £10) → down to Apollonas for a swim at the Kouros statue. Fuel is around €12 for the loop.

🚌Rental car split two ways (~£25pp including fuel)

🛏Budget hotel near Naxos Town (£25–40/night)

• →Demeter's Temple
• →Chalki citron distillery tasting
• →Damalas pottery workshop
• →Apiranthos village lunch
• →Apollonas beach and Kouros statue

Naxos to Santorini by fast ferry is 1h–1h20 (~£30–35). Stay in Karterados or Fira rather than Oia — a dorm bed or simple studio in Karterados is £30–45 versus £150+ in Oia. Local buses connect Fira to Oia (€1.80) and to the beaches. Book a spot on the Fira–Oia caldera walk for late afternoon: the 10km clifftop path takes 3–4 hours and is free — catch the bus back from Oia after sunset rather than paying for a caldera-view table.

🚌Naxos–Santorini fast ferry (~£32) + local buses (£4)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Karterados or Fira, Santorini (£35–50/night)

• →Ferry to Santorini
• →Fira to Oia caldera hike
• →Oia sunset

Recreate the operator's included Santorini day tour with a shared GetYourGuide or Klook half-day minibus tour (roughly £55–70pp), covering the Prophet Elias monastery viewpoint, the Akrotiri excavation (site entry €12, book ahead in summer) and a canava wine tasting with three Santorini wines — a self-booked shared version is far cheaper than a private car. Free afternoon: swim at Red Beach or Perissa (bus €1.80), or take the €25 boat trip out to the volcanic hot springs. Evening: fava, tomato fritters and white aubergine at a Karterados or Megalochori taverna, £12–15.

🚌Shared minibus tour + local buses (~£15)

🛏Guesthouse in Karterados or Fira (£35–50/night)

• →Prophet Elias monastery viewpoint
• →Akrotiri archaeological site
• →Canava wine tasting
• →Red Beach or Perissa swim

Santorini–Milos is 2h–2h30 by SeaJets fast ferry (~£40–45); some days route via Ios. Arrive at Adamas port and check into a guesthouse in Adamas or Pollonia. Milos is the quietest and most affordable island of the five. Afternoon: bus to Sarakiniko's lunar white-rock moonscape (free, €1.80 bus) for a swim and photos, then back to Plaka for the sunset from the Kastro and a cheap dinner in Tripiti or Adamas.

🚌Santorini–Milos fast ferry (~£42) + local buses (£4)

🛏Guesthouse in Adamas or Pollonia, Milos (£30–45/night)

• →Ferry to Milos
• →Sarakiniko moonscape swim
• →Plaka and Kastro sunset

The operator's headline activity — a full-day sail to Kleftiko — is easy to book yourself. Shared small-group sailing day trips from Adamas run £60–85pp on GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with local operators (Thalassitra, Nautilos), including lunch, drinks, snorkelling gear and stops at Kleftiko, Tsigrado and Sarakiniko sea caves. Book 2–3 weeks ahead in high season. If you'd rather save money, the local round-Milos boat (€30–40) also reaches Kleftiko without the meal. Back in Adamas by early evening for a final dinner.

🚌Walk/boat from Adamas port

🛏Guesthouse in Adamas, Milos (£30–45/night)

• →Shared day sail from Adamas
• →Kleftiko sea caves
• →Tsigrado and Sarakiniko stops
• →Snorkelling

Fastest option is the 40-minute Olympic Air or Sky Express flight from Milos to Athens (~£45–70 if booked 6+ weeks out). Cheaper but longer: the Blue Star or SeaJets ferry back to Piraeus (5–7 hours, ~£40). Either way, allow a buffer before any onward international flight. If you have time in Athens, drop bags and see the Acropolis Museum (€10) or the free Anafiotika neighbourhood before heading to the airport.

🚌Milos–Athens flight (~£55) or ferry (~£40)

🛏None — onward travel

• →Return to Athens
• →Optional Acropolis Museum or Anafiotika