Santorini, Mykonos, Paros & Naxos: 11-Day Self-Launched Greek Island Hop
11 days · Greek Islands (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini)
Private Tours Greece charges £2,740
No-markup version: ~£935 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Private Tours Greece's 11-day Athens–Mykonos–Paros–Naxos–Santorini loop, done independently with ferries, public buses and locally booked boat trips. You'll cover the same islands and headline experiences — Mykonos windmills and Little Venice, Paros's marble villages and orange pie, Naxos's Kitron distillery and mountain hamlets, and a caldera sunset from Oia — staying in hostels, guesthouses and family-run budget hotels instead of 3-4* tour hotels. Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-range rates in GBP; late June–August is significantly pricier, so shoulder season (May, late Sept–early Oct) gives the best value.
Day-by-day
Arrive Athens — Plaka & Acropolis views
Athens
Fly into Athens (ATH) and take metro Line 3 from the airport directly to Monastiraki or Syntagma (~€9/£8, 40 min) instead of a private transfer. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Plaka/Monastiraki. Spend the late afternoon wandering Plaka's lanes and watching the Acropolis light up from Areopagus Hill (free). Book your onward ferry tickets today at a travel agency or on Ferryhopper.
🚌Airport metro Line 3, ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Plaka/Monastiraki (~£25-35)
- →Metro to city centre
- →Plaka & Monastiraki wander
- →Areopagus Hill sunset (free)
- →Buy ferry tickets on Ferryhopper
Athens → Mykonos: windmills & Little Venice
Mykonos
Take an early morning high-speed ferry from Rafina or Piraeus to Mykonos (~3-4.5 hrs, £40-60 depending on operator; book ahead in summer). From the new port, take the local KTEL bus or Sea Bus into Mykonos Town (£2) rather than a private transfer. In the afternoon, walk the windmills above Chora, explore the whitewashed lanes, then settle into Little Venice for sunset. For the farm lunch and wine tasting element of the original tour, book a small-group Mykonos countryside food-and-wine experience on GetYourGuide or Viator (~£55-70).
🚌High-speed ferry Piraeus/Rafina → Mykonos ~£45; port bus £2
🛏Hostel or family guesthouse in Mykonos Town/Platis Gialos (~£30-45; summer can be much higher)
- →Ferry to Mykonos
- →Mykonos Windmills (free)
- →Little Venice sunset
- →Optional: small-group wine & food tasting ~£60
Delos ruins & Rhenia beach day
Mykonos / Delos / Rhenia
Do the UNESCO archaeological site of Delos independently-or, easier, book a shared boat cruise covering Delos plus a swim stop at Rhenia with lunch aboard (~£70-95 via GetYourGuide/Klook). Cheaper option: public boat from Mykonos old port to Delos (~£20 return plus £10 site entry) and a picnic, then an afternoon swim at a south-coast beach like Platis Gialos or Paradise (bus £2).
🚌Local bus to port/beaches ~£4; ferry or cruise ticket
🛏Same Mykonos hostel/guesthouse
- →Delos archaeological site (€12 entry)
- →Rhenia swim & snorkel stop
- →Beach afternoon at Platis Gialos or Paradise
Ferry to Paros — Parikia old town
Paros
Hop the morning ferry Mykonos → Paros (~45 min-1.5 hrs, £25-40). Walk or take the local bus from Paros port into Parikia (£2) — no private transfer needed. Afternoon exploring Parikia's Frankish Kastro, the Panagia Ekatontapyliani church (one of Greece's oldest, free/£3) and the bougainvillea alleys. Evening at a seaside taverna in Parikia.
🚌Ferry Mykonos → Paros ~£30
🛏Guesthouse or budget studio in Parikia/Naousa (~£30-40)
- →Ferry crossing
- →Panagia Ekatontapyliani
- →Parikia old town lanes
- →Sunset at Parikia waterfront
Paros villages: Lefkes, Naousa & orange pie
Paros
Recreate the private village tour with the KTEL local bus network: bus to Lefkes (~£2), hike part of the Byzantine Road (the old marble-paved path, 3.5 km, free) toward Prodromos, and order Greek coffee and homemade orange pie at a village kafeneio (~£5) — the exact experience from the tour, minus the driver. In the afternoon, bus to Naousa (£2) for whitewashed alleys and the Venetian castle ruins at the harbour mouth, then continue to Piso Livadi or Logaras fishing villages for a seafood lunch.
🚌Local KTEL buses all day ~£6
🛏Same Paros guesthouse
- →Lefkes village & Byzantine Road walk
- →Agia Triada church
- →Orange pie & Greek coffee tasting
- →Naousa Venetian castle
- →Piso Livadi / Logaras fishing villages
Paros → Naxos: port town & beach swim
Naxos
Short ferry Paros → Naxos (~40 min-1 hr, £15-25). The port drops you right in Naxos Town — walk to your accommodation or take the local bus (£2). Afternoon swim at Agios Georgios beach (5 min from town) or bus to Plaka (£2). Evening wander the old town's Portara gate at sunset (free) and the Venetian Kastro.
🚌Ferry Paros → Naxos ~£20; local bus £2
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Naxos Town/Agios Georgios (~£25-35)
- →Ferry crossing
- →Agios Georgios or Plaka beach swim
- →Portara sunset
- →Naxos old town & Kastro
Naxos mountain villages, olive press & Kitron
Naxos (Apeiranthos, Chalki)
Take the public KTEL bus up the Tragea plateau (£2-3 each way) rather than a private tour. Stop at Chalki's family-run Kitron distillery (Vallindras, free tastings/£3 tour) and an olive press in the village, then continue to Apeiranthos — the marble-paved mountain village with incredible views — for lunch at a village taverna (£10). Return bus to Naxos Town in the late afternoon. Buses are infrequent, so check the timetable at the bus station the day before.
🚌Public KTEL bus to Chalki/Apeiranthos ~£6 return
🛏Same Naxos guesthouse
- →Vallindras Kitron distillery tasting
- →Family olive press visit
- →Apeiranthos marble village
- →Panoramic mountain viewpoints
Naxos → Santorini: Fira & caldera rim walk
Santorini
Ferry Naxos → Santorini (~1-1.5 hrs, £30-45; the high-speed catamarans are faster but pricier — the slower Blue Star ferry is the budget pick at ~£25). From Athinios port, take the local KTEL bus up to Fira (£2) or share a taxi. Afternoon: walk the caldera rim path from Fira toward Firostefani and Imerovigli (free, 1-2 hrs), then dinner at a cheaper taverna away from the caldera edge in Fira.
🚌Ferry Naxos → Santorini ~£30; port bus £2
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Fira/Karterados (~£35-50; book early — Santorini is expensive)
- →Ferry crossing
- →Fira–Imerovigli caldera walk
- →Fira old town lanes
- →Sunset drinks in Fira
Santorini caldera sunset cruise & Red Beach
Santorini
Book a shared semi-private caldera catamaran cruise via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£90-120 including BBQ lunch, hot springs swim, Red and White Beach stops and sunset) — this is the exact product the tour includes, bookable as an individual. Budget alternative: the public boat to Nea Kameni volcano (~£18) plus bus to Red Beach (£2) and the Akrotiri lighthouse for sunset (free). Either way, end with the Oia sunset — take the local bus (£2, crowded at sunset) or the Fira–Oia cliff path on foot.
🚌Local buses ~£5; optional cruise transfer included
🛏Same Santorini guesthouse
- →Shared caldera catamaran cruise with BBQ (~£100)
- →Hot springs swim
- →Red Beach & White Beach
- →Akrotiri lighthouse viewpoint
- →Oia sunset
Santorini → Athens (Piraeus) — evening in Athens
Athens
Take the morning local bus from Fira to Athinios port (£2) and catch the ferry or, better value, a Blue Star ferry back to Piraeus (~5-8 hrs, £45-60; a flight with Ryanair/Volotea/Aegean can sometimes be £40-70 and saves hours — worth checking). From Piraeus, metro Line 1/3 into central Athens (~£2). Evening: cheap souvlaki dinner in Monastiraki and a final wander through the flea market streets.
🚌Bus to port £2; ferry Santorini → Piraeus ~£50 (or flight ~£50)
🛏Athens hostel/budget hotel, Plaka/Monastiraki (~£25-35)
- →Ferry or flight back to Athens
- →Monastiraki flea market
- →Souvlaki dinner
- →Rooftop Acropolis view
Athens departure
Athens
Metro Line 3 back to Athens airport (~£8, 40 min) — allow 3 hrs before an international flight. If you have a late flight, squeeze in the Acropolis Museum (£10) or a free walking tour of central Athens before heading out.
🚌Metro to airport ~£8
🛏—
- →Airport metro
- →Optional Acropolis Museum £10
Self-launched vs. Private Tours Greece
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Private Tours Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£935 | £2,740 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,805 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Private Tours Greece-style trips? Check them out here.~£935
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 Santorini, Mykonos, Paros & Naxos: 11-Day Self-Launched Greek Island Hop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £935 per person for 11 days in Greek Islands (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini). 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 Private Tours Greece?+
Yes — Private Tours Greece charges around £2,740 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £935 — a saving of roughly £1,805 (66%) per person.
How long is the Greek Islands (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini) trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Greek Islands (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini).
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, slow-travel, culture trip through Greek Islands (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini), 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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