Iconic Aegean: Athens, Mykonos, Ephesus, Rhodes & Santorini — Self-Launched
8 days · Greece & Turkey (Aegean)
Globus charges £2,650
No-markup version: ~£1,005 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's "Iconic Aegean with 4-Night Cruise": 8 days looping from Athens through the Aegean's greatest hits — the Acropolis, Mykonos, ancient Ephesus in Turkey, Rhodes and Lindos, and a sunset ferry hop to Santorini. Instead of a guided cruise-and-coach package, you book your own hostel/budget hotel beds, use Greek island ferries and fast catamarans (plus a short Turkish ferry from Samos or Kusadasi), and join cheap local guided day tours for the big archaeological sites. Same islands, same ruins, same sunsets — roughly a third of the price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Athens — Plaka & Monastiraki
Athens, Greece
Fly into Athens (Athens Eleftherios Venizelos, ATH). Take Metro Line 3 from the airport to Monastiraki or Syntagma (~€9/£8, 40 mins) — far cheaper than a taxi (~€40). Check into a Plaka or Monastiraki hostel or budget hotel. Spend the afternoon wandering the cobbled lanes of Plaka beneath the Acropolis, watch the sunset from Areopagus Hill (free), and eat your first gyros and loukoumades in Monastiraki. Pick up a 5-day Athens transport pass or just buy single tickets as you go.
🚌Metro Line 3 airport → city centre ~€9 (£8)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Plaka/Monastiraki (£22–30pp)
- →Plaka old town wander
- →Areopagus Hill sunset
- →Monastiraki street food
Athens Highlights & the Acropolis
Athens, Greece
Book a combined Acropolis + Acropolis Museum ticket direct (~€30, timed entry via hhticket.gr) and get there for 08:00 opening to beat the heat and cruise crowds. Then follow the free-ish walking loop of the ancient centre: Syntagma Square and the changing of the guard, the Temple of Zeus (included in the €30 multi-site ticket), and the Panathenaic Stadium (€10 to enter, or free to admire). Alternatively, join a pay-what-you-like walking tour (GetYourGuide, ~£3–5 booking fee) that covers exactly these sights with a local guide. Evening: rooftop bar overlooking the lit Acropolis.
🚌Walking + metro singles (~€4/£3.50)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Plaka/Monastiraki (£22–30pp)
- →Acropolis & Parthenon (€30 multi-site ticket)
- →Acropolis Museum
- →Temple of Zeus
- →Panathenaic Stadium
- →Syntagma Square & changing of the guard
Ferry to Mykonos — Windmills & Little Venice
Mykonos, Greece
Early fast ferry from Piraeus (Rafina in shoulder season) to Mykonos with Blue Star Ferries or Seajets, roughly 2h45–4h, booked in advance on Ferryhopper (~€45–70/£40–60 one way). Check into a hostel or family guesthouse in Mykonos Town (stay in town, not the pricey beach clubs). Afternoon: walk the windmills at Kato Myloi, get lost in the whitewashed lanes, and find Little Venice for sunset drinks on the rocks (buy a €5 takeaway beer rather than the €18 cocktail bar). Optional: cheap local bus to Ornos or Agios Stefanos beach for a swim.
🚌Piraeus → Mykonos ferry ~€55 (£47)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Mykonos Town/Chora (£28–35pp)
- →Mykonos windmills
- →Little Venice sunset
- →Swim at Ornos beach
- →Chora wandering
Ephesus day trip from Kusadasi — Ancient Ruins
Kusadasi & Selcuk, Turkey
Take the morning ferry from Mykonos to Kusadasi with a fast catamaran (seasonal, ~2h, book on Ferryhopper/Direct Ferries ~€35–50/£30–45) — check the Turkish e-visa before travel (most EU/UK passports can get it online for ~£20; also possible on arrival). From Kusadasi port, hop the local dolmus or bus to Selcuk (~€2), then walk or take a short taxi to Ephesus. Entry is ~€40 (or buy the combined ticket). Book a 2-hour local guided tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£20–25) or just rent an audio guide (~£6) — either covers the Library of Celsus, Terrace Houses, and the Great Theatre. Add in the Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis (a single lonely column, but iconic) in Selcuk village. Overnight in Selcuk or Kusadasi — much cheaper than staying aboard a cruise ship.
🚌Mykonos → Kusadasi ferry ~€42 (£36); dolmus/bus to Selcuk ~€2
🛏Guesthouse in Selcuk or Kusadasi (£18–25pp)
- →Ephesus archaeological site (~€40 entry)
- →Library of Celsus
- →Great Theatre
- →Basilica of St. John
- →Temple of Artemis
- →Local guided tour or audio guide
Ferry to Rhodes — Lindos & the Old Town
Rhodes, Greece
Morning ferry/bus combo back to the Greek islands: take the Kusadasi–Samos ferry or a direct seasonal catamaran to Rhodes (if running), otherwise route via Samos and a Blue Star ferry to Rhodes — realistically this is a long travel day, so book the fastest available connection on Ferryhopper (~€45–65/£40–55). Alternatively, ferry to Kos and then a second ferry to Rhodes. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Rhodes Old Town — staying inside the medieval walls is the experience. Late afternoon: walk the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Master (€10) and the harbour where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood.
🚌Aegean island-hopping ferry day ~€55 (£47)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Rhodes Old Town (£22–30pp)
- →Rhodes Old Town (UNESCO)
- →Street of the Knights
- →Palace of the Grand Master (€10)
- →Mandraki Harbour
Lindos Acropolis & Ferry to Santorini
Lindos & Santorini, Greece
Early local bus from Rhodes town to Lindos (~€7, 1h15). Climb to the Acropolis of Lindos (€12 entry) for the temple of Athena Lindia and the best view on the island, then swim at St Paul's Bay below. Back to Rhodes town, catch the afternoon/evening fast ferry or overnight ferry to Santorini (seasonal; often routed via Kos or with a Blue Star overnight — book ahead on Ferryhopper, ~€50–80/£43–68). Arrive Santorini late evening, settle into a hostel in Fira (not the caldera-edge cave suites — those are for the cruise crowd's budget, not yours).
🚌Local bus Rhodes→Lindos ~€7; Rhodes → Santorini ferry ~€60 (£52)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Fira, Santorini (£25–35pp)
- →Acropolis of Lindos (€12)
- →St Paul's Bay swim
- →Lindos village
- →Fira evening stroll
Santorini Caldera Walk & Oia Sunset
Santorini, Greece
Hike the Fira–Oia caldera trail (free, 10km, 3–4 hours) with views over the volcano and the Aegean — start early to avoid the midday heat. Alternatively, take the local bus to Oia (€2) and explore the blue domes and castle ruins. Lunch in Oia or back in Fira at a taverna away from the caldera rim (souvlaki and a Greek salad for ~€12). Optional boat trip to Nea Kameni volcano and the hot springs (~€25 via GetYourGuide). Stay for the famous Oia sunset, then bus back to Fira. Book your Athens ferry for the morning.
🚌Local buses Fira–Oia ~€2 each way
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Fira, Santorini (£25–35pp)
- →Fira–Oia caldera hike
- →Oia blue domes & castle
- →Optional volcano/hot springs boat (~€25)
- →Oia sunset
Ferry back to Athens & Departure
Santorini → Athens, Greece
Morning fast ferry or Blue Star from Santorini (Athinios port) back to Piraeus, ~5–7 hours, booked in advance (~€50–65/£43–55). From Piraeus take the metro to the airport for your flight home. If you have a late flight, stash bags at Monastiraki and grab a final souvlaki and a frappé in Plaka. Total travel day — allow buffer time between ferry and flight (at least 4 hours).
🚌Santorini → Piraeus ferry ~€58 (£50); metro to airport €9 (£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final Plaka wander
- →Souvlaki & frappé lunch
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,005 | £2,650 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,645 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,005
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 Iconic Aegean: Athens, Mykonos, Ephesus, Rhodes & Santorini — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,005 per person for 8 days in Greece & Turkey (Aegean). 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £2,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,005 — a saving of roughly £1,645 (62%) per person.
How long is the Greece & Turkey (Aegean) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Greece & Turkey (Aegean).
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 culture, beaches, adventure trip through Greece & Turkey (Aegean), 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.
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