Self-Launched Greek Islands: Santorini to Athens by Ferry & Island Hopping
15 days · Greece
G Adventures charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£1,040 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day independent recreation of G Adventures' 15-day Santorini-to-Athens sailing trip, swapping a crewed private yacht for Greek island ferries, hostels and guesthouses. You'll still cover the caldera at Santorini, the southern Cyclades (Folegandros, Sifnos, Ios, Paros, Naxos), Mykonos' windmills and Little Venice, and the quieter northern Cyclades (Syros, Kythnos, Kea) before finishing in Athens. Instead of a skipper you self-book a half-day sail or catamaran cruise where you want the water experience, plus hiking, snorkelling, archaeological sites and taverna culture. Costs are rough per-person budget traveller estimates in GBP; ferry prices and island accommodation swing widely with season (July-August roughly doubles the accommodation figures).
Day-by-day
Arrive Santorini – Fira & caldera sunset
Santorini
Fly or ferry into Santorini (ferries from Athens/Piraeus take 5-8 hrs, from ~£35 on Blue Star; flights from £40-90 if booked early). Bus from the airport to Fira costs about €2. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Fira or Karterados (dorms from ~£22, private rooms from ~£45). Walk the caldera rim path toward Imerovigli for sunset, then eat at a taverna in Fira (gyros ~£3, sit-down meal ~£12-15). Book your onward ferry ticket tonight.
🚌Airport bus to Fira ~€2; walking and local buses
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Fira/Karterados (dorm ~£22, private ~£45)
- →Caldera rim walk Fira to Imerovigli
- →Sunset viewpoint
- →Taverna dinner in Fira
Santorini – Oia, Amoudi & optional caldera sail
Santorini
Local bus from Fira to Oia (~€2, 25 min). Wander the whitewashed lanes, walk down the 280-odd steps to Amoudi Bay for a swim and a fresh seafood lunch, and stay for the famous Oia sunset. If you want the on-the-water experience that the yacht trip provides, book a half-day caldera catamaran or sailing cruise with hot springs stop and lunch (GetYourGuide, from about £70-90 per person). Otherwise, a cheaper alternative is the public boat to the volcano islet and hot springs (~£20).
🚌Local bus Fira–Oia ~€2 each way
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Fira/Karterados
- →Oia village walk
- →Amoudi Bay swim and seafood lunch
- →Optional half-day caldera catamaran cruise (GetYourGuide ~£80)
- →Oia sunset
Ferry to Folegandros
Folegandros
Take the morning ferry from Santorini Athinios port to Folegandros (roughly 1 hr, €10-20 depending on operator; check SeaJets and Blue Star schedules). Folegandros is small, steep and gloriously quiet – exactly the kind of hidden gem a skipper would pick. Check into a guesthouse in Chora (from ~£35-50 for a double, dorms rare here). Afternoon walk to the Church of Panagia on the cliff above Chora for sunset (30-40 min uphill).
🚌Ferry Santorini–Folegandros ~€15
🛏Guesthouse in Folegandros Chora (~£40 double)
- →Ferry crossing
- →Chora village exploration
- →Sunset walk to Panagia church
Folegandros beaches & coastal path
Folegandros
Walk the signed path from Chora down to Katergo beach (about 40 min, bring water and shoes – it's rocky) or take the small boat from Karavostasis to Katergo and Livadaki. Swim, snorkel with your own mask (a cheap set costs ~£15 if you don't own one) and eat at a taverna in Ano Meria. Evening back in Chora for a drink in the plateia.
🚌Walking; optional small boat ~€10
🛏Guesthouse in Folegandros Chora
- →Hike to Katergo beach
- →Snorkelling and swimming
- →Ano Meria taverna lunch
Ferry to Sifnos via Milos connection
Sifnos
Ferry hop east – often via Milos or Serifos, 2-4 hrs total, €20-30. Sifnos is known for pottery, hiking trails and excellent food (it's the island of Nikos Tselementes, Greece's most famous chef). Base yourself in Apollonia or Kamares. Afternoon: walk the old town of Kastro and swim off the rocks below.
🚌Ferry ~€25
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Apollonia/Kamares (~£30-45)
- →Island ferry hop
- →Kastro old town walk
- →Swim at Kamares beach
Sifnos trail day – Chrisopigi & Faros
Sifnos
Do the waymarked Sifnos Trails walk from Faros to Chrisopigi monastery (about 1 hr, beautiful) and continue along the coast. Lunch at a family taverna in Faros – try local chickpea stew (revithada) and mastelo cheese. Optional pottery workshop visit in Kamares (some studios welcome drop-ins for ~€15-25).
🚌Local buses ~€2-4
🛏Guesthouse in Apollonia/Kamares
- →Sifnos Trails coastal hike
- →Chrisopigi monastery
- →Pottery studio visit
Ferry to Paros – Naoussa & Parikia
Paros
Morning ferry Sifnos to Paros (2-3 hrs, ~€20-25). Paros is the Cyclades hub, so it's a good base. Stay in Parikia or Naoussa (hostels from ~£20 dorm, guesthouses ~£40). Explore Parikia's Panagia Ekatontapyliani church (one of Greece's oldest, free/€2) and wander Naoussa's fishing harbour in the evening.
🚌Ferry ~€22; local bus €2
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Parikia/Naoussa (~£25-45)
- →Ferry to Paros
- →Ekatontapyliani church
- →Naoussa harbour evening
Paros – Antiparos day trip & beaches
Paros
Short ferry from Pounta to Antiparos (about 7 min, €1-2), then explore Antiparos town and the Cave of Antiparos (€7 entry, 411 steps down). Back on Paros, swim at Kolymbithres' weird granite rock formations or Golden Beach on the south coast. Rent a scooter if you're licensed (~£18-25/day; bring an International Driving Permit).
🚌Ferry to Antiparos ~€2; buses €2-3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Parikia/Naoussa
- →Antiparos ferry day trip
- →Antiparos Cave
- →Kolymbithres beach
Ferry to Naxos – Chora & Portara
Naxos
Quick hop north to Naxos (30-45 min, €6-10). Naxos has the best beaches in the Cyclades and a proper working town. Afternoon: walk the Portara gate at the harbour entrance for sunset and get lost in the old town's kastro lanes. Try Naxian cheese and kitron liqueur at a bar in Chora.
🚌Ferry ~€8
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Naxos Chora (~£22-45)
- →Ferry to Naxos
- →Portara sunset
- →Old town kastro walk
- →Kitron liqueur tasting
Naxos – Mount Zas hike & inland villages
Naxos
Bus to Filoti (~€3), then hike Mount Zas (1,004 m, the Cyclades' highest peak, 3-4 hrs round trip) – on clear days you can pick out Paros, Ios and Delos. Stop at Apiranthos' marble-paved village on the way back for lunch. If you'd rather do the wildlife/conservation element of the original tour, ask locally at Naxos environmental or farm projects, or spend the afternoon at Agios Prokopios beach instead.
🚌Local buses ~€3-5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Naxos Chora
- →Mount Zas summit hike
- →Apiranthos village
- →Agios Prokopios beach option
Ferry to Mykonos – windmills & Little Venice
Mykonos
Morning ferry Naxos to Mykonos (40-60 min, €15-25). Mykonos is expensive – book a hostel dorm in advance (from ~£35-45 in high season, or stay in Mykonos Town's edges). Afternoon: the famous Kato Myloi windmills and Little Venice's waterfront, then a cocktail on a veranda over the sea (~£12-15). Free sunset on the Paraportiani church side.
🚌Ferry ~€20
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Mykonos Town (~£40)
- →Ferry to Mykonos
- →Windmills walk
- →Little Venice sunset drink
Mykonos – Delos island day trip
Mykonos
Take the morning boat from Mykonos old port to Delos, a UNESCO-listed uninhabited sacred island (return boat ~€22 plus €12 site entry). Wander the ruins of the ancient sanctuary of Apollo, the theatre and the Terrace of the Lions – 2-3 hrs there. Back in the afternoon, swim at Ornos or Elia beach. Optional: a 1-day scuba or snorkel trip from Mykonos (~£60-80) if you'd rather be in the water.
🚌Delos boat ~€22
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Mykonos Town
- →Delos archaeological site day trip
- →Beach swim
- →Optional snorkel excursion
Ferry to Syros – Ermoupoli
Syros
Ferry Mykonos to Syros (about 45 min-1 hr, €10-15). Syros is completely different – Ermoupoli is a grand neoclassical city built by shipbuilders, not a tourist beach town. Walk up to Ano Syros' Catholic hill village, visit the Apollon Theatre, and browse the market and small silver/jewellery shops the original itinerary mentions. Much cheaper accommodation than Mykonos (from ~£30).
🚌Ferry ~€12
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Ermoupoli (~£35)
- →Ferry to Syros
- →Ermoupoli neoclassical old town
- →Ano Syros hill village
- →Market and silver shops
Ferry to Kythnos or Kea – quiet northern Cyclades
Kea
Take the ferry (via Lavrio on the mainland, or direct from Syros in season) to Kea (Tzia) – 1-2 hrs, €10-20. Kea's stone lion (the Lion of Kea, carved in antiquity) is a 20-minute walk from Ioulida village, and the island makes excellent local cheese and honey. Alternatively pick Kythnos for its hot springs at Loutra and Kolona's double beach. Stay in a guesthouse (~£35-45).
🚌Ferry ~€15; local buses
🛏Guesthouse on Kea or Kythnos (~£40)
- →Ferry to Kea/Kythnos
- →Lion of Kea
- →Ioulida village walk
- →Local cheese and honey tasting
Ferry to Lavrio & Athens – Acropolis & farewell
Athens
Morning ferry from Kea to Lavrio port (about 1 hr, €10-15), then the local KTEL bus to Athens (about 1.5-2 hrs, €5-8) – or take a ferry straight into Piraeus if timings suit. Drop bags at a hostel in Plaka/Monastiraki (dorms from ~£20, private ~£40). Afternoon options: the Acropolis (€20, book a timed slot online) or simply the free Areopagus viewpoint, plus the food market at Varvakeios and a gyros or souvlaki dinner. Cheaper than the marina berth at ZEA, but the same ending.
🚌Ferry ~€12; KTEL bus to Athens ~€7
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Plaka/Monastiraki (~£20-40)
- →Ferry to Lavrio and bus to Athens
- →Acropolis or Areopagus viewpoint
- →Varvakeios market
- →Souvlaki dinner in Plaka
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,040 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,860 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,040
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 Greek Islands: Santorini to Athens by Ferry & Island Hopping cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,040 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 £1,040 — a saving of roughly £1,860 (64%) 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 beaches, adventure, 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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