Sailing the Greek Cyclades: Athens to Santorini (Self-Launched)
15 days · Greece
G Adventures charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£1,590 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY island-hopping version of G Adventures' 15-day Athens-to-Santorini sailing trip through the Saronic and Cycladic islands. Instead of joining a shared yacht with a paid skipper, you build the same route using Greece's excellent ferry network — high-speed catamarans and slow Blue Star ferries — plus a self-booked day-sail or boat trip for the caldera and a couple of swim stops. You get the same whitewashed villages, the same warm Aegean swims and the same island time, while staying in hostels, guesthouses and family-run studios and eating in tavernas. Exact islands are swappable depending on ferry timetables and winds — treat this as a flexible framework.
Day-by-day
Arrive Athens & welcome evening in Plaka
Athens
Fly into Athens Eleftherios Venizelos and take the X95 express bus (€5.50, ~60 min) or metro Line 3 to the city centre. Check into a hostel in Monastiraki or Plaka. Wander the old streets below the Acropolis in the evening, grab a gyros and a beer, and enjoy a rooftop view of the lit-up Parthenon for free from Areopagus Hill. Buy your onward ferry tickets tonight or on the Ferryhopper app.
🚌X95 airport bus €5.50 / metro €9
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Monastiraki/Plaka (~£22)
- →X95 bus airport transfer to Athens
- →Evening walk in Plaka and Monastiraki
- →Sunset from Areopagus Hill
Athens old town & ferry port logistics
Athens
Spend the morning at the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum if you want the headline sight (book the €20 timed ticket online in advance via the official Hellenic Heritage site or GetYourGuide) or skip it for a free walking tour of the old town. Afternoon: metro or hop the A1/T1 to Piraeus (€1.40) to familiarise yourself with the ferry terminal and pick up any printed tickets. Early dinner in Psyrri.
🚌Metro to Piraeus €1.40
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Monastiraki/Plaka (~£22)
- →Acropolis & Acropolis Museum (optional)
- →Free walking tour of Plaka
- →Recon Piraeus ferry terminals
Ferry to Aegina — the Saronic warm-up
Aegina
Catch a morning ferry from Piraeus to Aegina (fast boat ~40 min, €11-14; conventional ferry ~1h15, €9-10) — the Saronic island equivalent of the operator's Aegina stop. Rent a scooter or e-bike (€15-20/day) or take the local bus to Agia Marina beach, visit the Temple of Aphaia and the pistachio groves. Overnight in Aegina Town, where a waterfront studio or guesthouse room is cheap and cheerful.
🚌Ferry ~£11, local scooter/bus ~£15
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Aegina Town (~£30)
- →Piraeus to Aegina ferry
- →Temple of Aphaia
- →Agia Marina beach
- →Pistachio tasting in Aegina Town
Hydra day trip — car-free island
Hydra
Ferry from Aegina to Hydra (via Poros or Piraeus, ~1h30-2h, €15-20) or take the faster route via Piraeus. Hydra is entirely car-free — donkeys and water taxis only. Walk the cliff path toward Kamini and Vlychos for swimming coves, climb to the monastery at Profitis Ilias for views, and enjoy the harbour cafés. Stay overnight in a Hydra guesthouse (book ahead — beds are limited) or return to Aegina/continue to Piraeus if budgets are tight.
🚌Inter-island ferry ~£17
🛏Simple Hydra guesthouse or pension (~£35)
- →Ferry to Hydra
- →Coastal walk to Kamini and Vlychos swim spots
- →Profitis Ilias monastery hike
Onward to the Cyclades — Kea or Kythnos
Kythnos
Ferry from Hydra back through Piraeus (or direct where timetables allow) and out to Kea (Tzia) or Kythnos — the 'Northern Cyclades' gateways in the original itinerary. These islands are almost entirely local-Greek summer territory: quiet beaches, thermal springs at Loutra on Kythnos, and cheap tavernas. Arrive late afternoon, swim at Kolona beach on Kythnos or Koundouros on Kea, and eat grilled octopus by the water.
🚌Ferries ~£25
🛏Budget studio in Kythnos or Kea (~£30)
- →Ferry hopping via Piraeus
- →Kolona beach swim (Kythnos)
- →Loutra thermal springs
Slow island day — Kythnos/Kea villages
Kythnos
Hire a scooter or take infrequent local buses to reach the hilltop village of Chora and remote beaches. This is the sort of day the sailing trip spends at anchor: swimming, reading, a long lunch with a half-litre of local white. Walk the old path between villages if you want a bit of hiking — the Kea to Ioulida walking trail is about 4 km.
🚌Scooter hire ~£18
🛏Budget studio in Kythnos or Kea (~£30)
- →Scooter rental to Chora village
- →Beach time and taverna lunch
- →Optional walking trail
Syros — Baroque Ermoupoli
Syros
Ferry to Syros, the administrative capital of the Cyclades and one of the most distinctive islands in Greece — Orthodox and Catholic churches side by side and a marble-paved main square in Ermoupoli. Stay in a guesthouse in Ano Syros or Ermoupoli. Explore the Vaporia quarter, climb to the Ano Syros hilltop for sunset, and see an outdoor film or live rebetiko at one of the town's small venues if the timing works.
🚌Ferry ~£12
🛏Guesthouse in Ermoupoli (~£32)
- →Ferry to Syros
- →Ermoupoli and Vaporia walk
- →Sunset in Ano Syros
Syros beaches then sail to Mykonos
Mykonos
Morning at Galissas or Kini beach by local bus (€2), then afternoon ferry to Mykonos (~45 min, €12-20). Mykonos is expensive — book a hostel dorm or a room in Mykonos Town's edges well in advance. Evening walk to the windmills and Little Venice for the classic sunset, then dinner slightly inland where prices drop.
🚌Local bus €2, ferry ~£16
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room outside Mykonos Town (~£40)
- →Galissas beach
- →Ferry to Mykonos
- →Windmills and Little Venice at sunset
Mykonos free day & optional day-sail
Mykonos
If you want to replicate the sailing element of the tour, book a shared day-sail or catamaran trip to Delos and Rhenia from Mykonos (roughly £70-100 pp via GetYourGuide or direct with a local operator) — you get real sailing, swim stops and the uninhabited island of Rhenia. Alternatively take the public boat to Delos archaeological site (€23 return incl. site entry) or spend the day at Elia or Paraga beach.
🚌Local buses / boat ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room outside Mykonos Town (~£40)
- →Optional shared catamaran day-sail to Delos & Rhenia
- →Or public boat to Delos archaeological site
- →Beach afternoon at Elia
Paros — Naoussa and Kolymbithres
Paros
High-speed ferry Mykonos to Paros (~40 min, €20-25). Paros is the perfect mid-budget Cycladic base: proper beaches, a lively but affordable main town (Parikia), and the beautiful fishing village of Naoussa. Take the local bus to Kolymbithres' weird granite-sculpted beach, and in the evening wander Naoussa's harbour with its little Venetian fort.
🚌Ferry ~£22, local bus £2
🛏Studio or guesthouse in Parikia/Naoussa (~£32)
- →Ferry to Paros
- →Kolymbithres beach
- →Naoussa harbour evening
Antiparos & Paros countryside
Antiparos
Short ferry from Pounta (€1.20, 7 min) to Antiparos — the tiny island named in the original itinerary. Visit the Cave of Antiparos, swim at Soros beach, and rent a bike to loop the island (€10-15/day). Back on Paros, explore Lefkes village and the Byzantine path walking trail (about 3.5 km of old marble-paved path) if you have energy left.
🚌Ferries and bike hire ~£18
🛏Studio or guesthouse in Parikia/Naoussa (~£32)
- →Ferry to Antiparos
- →Cave of Antiparos
- →Soros beach
- →Lefkes Byzantine path walk
Naxos — mountains, kitesurfing and cheese
Naxos
Ferry Paros to Naxos (25-40 min, €8-15). Naxos is the greenest and most agricultural Cycladic island, so it's the foodie stop: graviera cheese, kitron liqueur, and village tavernas. Wander the old town and Portara gate, then take a local bus to Agios Prokopios or Plaka beach. Optional day tour to the Temple of Demeter and the Tragaia villages by ATV or bus (as in the operator's optional Naxos adventure).
🚌Ferry ~£12, buses £4
🛏Guesthouse or studio near Naxos Town/Agios Georgios (~£30)
- →Ferry to Naxos
- →Portara and old town
- →Agios Prokopios beach
- →Optional Temple of Demeter and Tragaia villages
Naxos hiking & mountain villages
Naxos
Hike the old mule paths between Halki, Filoti and Apiranthos in the Tragaia region — around 8-12 km depending on how much you link up, with village tavernas and a kitron distillery along the way. Local buses connect the villages (€2-3 each), or rent a car for the day if you're in a group (€35-45 split). Back in Naxos Town for a long dinner.
🚌Local buses or shared car hire ~£15
🛏Guesthouse or studio near Naxos Town (~£30)
- →Tragaia village hiking
- →Kitron distillery visit
- →Village taverna lunch
Ios and on to Santorini
Santorini
Ferry Naxos to Ios (30-45 min, €10) for a few hours at Mylopotas or Manganari beach and a swim, then continue Ios to Santorini (€15-20) in the late afternoon. Alternatively, take the fast ferry direct to Santorini and use the day to visit Akrotiri archaeological site and Red Beach. Stay in Fira or Karterados rather than Oia for better value; catch the caldera sunset from Fira's path or Skaros Rock.
🚌Ferries ~£25
🛏Budget guesthouse in Karterados or Fira (~£40)
- →Ferry stop at Ios and beach swim
- →Ferry to Santorini
- →Caldera sunset from Fira/Skaros Rock
Thirassia caldera boat trip & farewell
Thirassia / Santorini
Book a shared caldera boat trip (around £30-50 pp, catamaran or traditional boat via GetYourGuide or direct at the old port) that includes the hot springs swim, Thirassia island itself, and a stop at the whitewashed villages of Manolas — the smaller, quieter neighbour of Oia. Swim in the caldera, climb to the hilltop village for the sunset, then return for a farewell dinner in Fira. If departing, Santorini airport is 20 min from Fira by local bus (€1.80).
🚌Boat trip ~£40, local bus £2
🛏Budget guesthouse in Karterados or Fira (~£40) or onward travel
- →Shared caldera and Thirassia boat trip
- →Caldera swim and hot springs
- →Manolas village sunset
- →Farewell dinner in Fira
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,590 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,310 per person (45%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,590
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 Sailing the Greek Cyclades: Athens to Santorini (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,590 per person for 15 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 £2,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,590 — a saving of roughly £1,310 (45%) per person.
How long is the Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 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 island-hopping, beaches, culture 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?
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