Greece Family Journey: Athens to the Islands — Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Greece
G Adventures charges £3,446
No-markup version: ~£1,055 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched family odyssey through Greece's ancient wonders and island gems — exploring the Acropolis and its museums in Athens, sailing the sunken caldera of Santorini, hiking volcanic Nea Kameni, and hunting the myths of the Olympian Gods amid the Minoan ruins of Crete. By swapping guided group touring for local ferries, budget hotels and self-booked activities, families can experience the same magic for a fraction of the National Geographic Expeditions price tag.
Day-by-day
Welcome to Athens
Athens
Arrive in Athens and check into a family-friendly hotel in the lively Plaka or Syntagma neighbourhood. Take a settling-in wander around the Acropolis foothills and enjoy an easy welcome dinner at a local taverna, soaking up the evening atmosphere of the Greek capital.
🚌Metro/walk from Athens airport (X95 bus ~£6pp or private arrival transfer)
🛏Central Athens family hotel/guesthouse (Plaka or Syntagma area), approx £85/night
- →Arrival and check-in
- →Welcome stroll through Plaka
Acropolis Museum & the Ancient Agora
Athens
Visit the Acropolis Museum with its famous LEGO replica of the Athenian citadel and wander through the Parthenon gallery. Walk to the Ancient Agora and climb to the Parthenon itself, standing beneath its towering Doric columns. As dusk falls, enjoy a shared dinner of meze platters at a family-run neighbourhood taverna.
🚌Walking and local metro
🛏Central Athens family hotel/guesthouse
- →Acropolis Museum entry (~£12 adult, free under 18)
- →Ancient Agora & Acropolis archaeological site (~£20 combined ticket)
- →Evening taverna dinner
Ferry to Santorini & the Caldera
Athens to Santorini (Fira)
Take the morning high-speed ferry across the Aegean to the volcanic cliffs of Santorini. After checking in, visit the family-friendly Lost Atlantis 9D Museum with its multi-sensory island legends, then lunch in Fira on Greek salad and moussaka before a scenic walk along the caldera-edge promenade with its whitewashed cliffside homes.
🚌Blue Star Ferries or Seajets high-speed ferry Athens→Santorini (~£40-60pp)
🛏Family hotel in Fira or Kamari, approx £90/night
- →Aegean ferry crossing
- →Lost Atlantis 9D Experience Museum
- →Caldera-edge promenade walk
Akrotiri Ruins & Wine Stomping
Santorini (Akrotiri & Fira)
Explore the Bronze Age city of Akrotiri, a Minoan settlement preserved under volcanic ash, wandering its excavated streets and fresco-laden houses. Visit a family-run winery for a grape-stomping session in traditional stone tubs, then enjoy a free afternoon exploring Fira's cobbled lanes. Kids can craft their own time capsule of trip mementos back at the hotel.
🚌Local bus from Fira to Akrotiri (~£2pp)
🛏Family hotel in Fira or Kamari
- →Akrotiri archaeological site (~£12 adult, free child)
- →Family winery grape-stomping visit
- →Free afternoon in Fira
Sailing the Sunken Caldera
Santorini
Board a catamaran cruise across the flooded caldera, gliding past the towering red and white sea cliffs with a swim stop off the beaches. Disembark at Nea Kameni for a guided hike across black lava rock to trace the ridges of the active volcanic craters, then soak in the hot springs of Palea Kameni before returning to port.
🚌Catamaran caldera cruise from port (~£90pp incl. hike and swim stops)
🛏Family hotel in Fira or Kamari
- →Catamaran caldera sailing cruise
- →Guided Nea Kameni volcano hike
- →Palea Kameni hot springs swim
Ferry to Crete & the Olympian Gods Hunt
Santorini to Heraklion, Crete
Take the morning ferry onward to Crete, arriving into Heraklion. Settle into family digs before heading into the old town for a fun team challenge — track down clues and solve riddles hidden across the Venetian streets and harbour whilst discovering the myths of the twelve Olympian Gods. Enjoy a relaxing family dinner beneath the Koules fortress.
🚌High-speed ferry Santorini→Crete (~£45-60pp) plus local travel
🛏Family hotel/guesthouse near Heraklion old town, approx £85/night
- →Aegean ferry crossing to Crete
- →Self-led Olympian Gods scavenger hunt around Heraklion old town
- →Family dinner by the harbour
Lost in the Palace of the Minoans
Crete (Knossos & Heraklion)
Journey out to the legendary Palace of Knossos, mythical home of the Minotaur and heart of Minoan civilisation, exploring its colourful restored chambers with a local guide. Return to Heraklion and continue family time in the Archaeological Museum home to the famous Phaistos Disc and frescoes. Cook a relaxed Minoan-themed family dinner in a nearby park or taverna setting.
🚌Local bus from Heraklion to Knossos (~£2pp)
🛏Family hotel/guesthouse near Heraklion old town
- →Palace of Knossos guided visit (~£15 adult, free child)
- →Heraklion Archaeological Museum (~£6pp)
- →Family Minoan cooking/dinner evening
Departure from Crete
Heraklion, Crete
Enjoy a final Greek breakfast and a last browse through Heraklion's market for treats before transferring to the airport for your onward flight home, carrying memories of ancient myths, volcanic hikes and sun-kissed island days.
🚌Airport transfer from Heraklion (~£25) or local bus
🛏Departure day — no overnight
- →Final breakfast & market browse
- →Airport departure transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,055 | £3,446 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,391 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,055
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Greece Family Journey: Athens to the Islands — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,055 per person for 8 days in 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 £3,446 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,055 — a saving of roughly £2,391 (69%) per person.
How long is the Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through 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 family, culture, history trip through 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.