Sailing Greece: Athens to Mykonos — Self-Launched Island Hopper
8 days · Greek Islands (Athens to Mykonos)
G Adventures charges £1,450
No-markup version: ~£985 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 8-day Athens-to-Mykonos sailing trip through the Cyclades. Instead of a guided crewed yacht, you'll island-hop the Western and Central Cyclades by public ferry — Athens (Piraeus) to Syros, across to Kythnos and Kea, down to Hydra and Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, then onward to Mykonos. You get the same islands, the same swimming spots and the same whitewashed harbours, plus optional day-sail trips you can book locally, at a fraction of the guided price. Ideal for solo travellers comfortable booking ferries and hostels independently. Costs are approximate backpacker-level estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Athens — Acropolis & Plaka by night
Athens
Land at Athens and take the metro (Line 3, ~£8) or the X95 bus (~£5) into the centre. Check into a hostel in Plaka, Monastiraki or Koukaki. Spend the afternoon exploring on foot: the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum (combined ticket ~£28 if you buy direct or via GetYourGuide), then wander the Plaka lanes and Monastiraki flea market. In the evening grab souvlaki and a drink on the roof bars with a view of the lit-up Parthenon — this replaces the operator's 'welcome meeting' with a self-organised orientation walk.
🚌Metro Line 3 from airport to Syntagma (~£8)
🛏Hostel dorm in Plaka/Monastiraki (~£22)
- →Acropolis & Parthenon entry (£15-£28)
- →Acropolis Museum (~£10)
- →Monastiraki flea market
- →Evening walk in Plaka
Ferry Athens (Piraeus) to Syros
Syros
Take metro Line 1 to Piraeus port and catch the fast ferry or conventional ferry to Syros (Ermoupoli) — around 3.5–4.5 hrs, book ahead on Ferryhopper or direct with Blue Star Ferries (~£35-£45). Syros is the Cyclades' administrative capital and far less crowded than Mykonos. Check into a guesthouse in Ano Syros or Ermoupoli. Spend the late afternoon in Miaouli Square and the Vaporia quarter, then watch the sunset from Ano Syros with its Catholic cathedral and views over the harbour.
🚌Metro to Piraeus (~£2) + ferry Piraeus–Syros (~£40)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Ermoupoli (~£28)
- →Miaouli Square
- →Vaporia seaside quarter
- →Ano Syros sunset walk
- →Ermoupoli town beach
Syros island day — markets, beaches & Ano Syros
Syros
Wander the morning market around Ermoupoli (the Syros Island Markets experience the guided tour highlights) — fresh produce, olives, cheeses and pastries. Hire a scooter (~£20/day) or use the local KTEL bus (~£2) to reach Galissas or Kini beach for a swim. Hike up to Ano Syros in the afternoon for the panoramic views and the small artisan workshops. Optional: join a half-day sailing or snorkelling trip from Ermoupoli harbour via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£45) to get the on-water feel of the original trip without the full charter.
🚌KTEL local bus (~£4 return) or scooter hire (~£20)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Ermoupoli (~£28)
- →Ermoupoli market (free)
- →Galissas/Kini beach day
- →Ano Syros village walk
- →Optional local sail/snorkel trip (~£45)
Syros to Kythnos — hot springs & wild bays
Kythnos
Take the morning ferry from Syros to Kythnos (Merichas or Loutra), roughly 1.5–2 hrs (~£15-£20). Kythnos is a low-key island with the famous Loutra hot springs (Loutra village, free bathing spots) — the thermal bathing highlight flagged in the guided itinerary. Base yourself in Merichas or Chora. In the afternoon walk or catch a bus/taxi to Kolona beach, a sandbar linking two coves. Eat at a family taverna in Chora.
🚌Ferry Syros–Kythnos (~£18) + local bus/taxi (~£8)
🛏Guesthouse in Merichas or Chora (~£30)
- →Loutra hot springs
- →Kolona double beach
- →Chora village tavernas
- →Merichas harbour walk
Kythnos to Kea — the Stone Lion & Ioulida
Kea (Tzia)
Ferry from Kythnos to Kea (Korissia port), around 1.5–2 hrs (~£15-£20, check Ferryhopper for connections — some routes require a change at Lavrio/Syros). From Korissia take the local bus (~£2) up to Ioulida (Chora), the island's car-free hilltop capital with its arched alleys. Hike the ~45-min trail from Ioulida to the Stone Lion of Kea, a 6th-century BC carved lion — an easy, well-marked walk the guided tour includes. Swim at Otzias or Pisses beach if time allows.
🚌Ferry Kythnos–Kea (~£18) + local bus (~£4)
🛏Guesthouse in Korissia or Ioulida (~£30)
- →Stone Lion of Kea hike (free)
- →Ioulida Chora walk
- →Otzias or Pisses beach
- →Korissia harbour restaurants
Kea to the Saronic Gulf — Aegina or Hydra
Aegina / Hydra
Ferry back toward Athens (Kea–Lavrio ~£12, then from Lavrio or Piraeus onward). Recommended: pick one of the Saronic highlights from the original itinerary. Aegina is cheap and easy (Piraeus–Aegina ~£10, 1 hr) with its fish market, Kolona archaeological site and pistachio groves. Hydra, car-free and picturesque, is pricier and reached from Piraeus (~£30 return, 2 hrs). Either works for a final island night before Mykonos. Book ferries on Ferryhopper the day before where possible.
🚌Ferry Kea–Lavrio (~£12) + onward ferry (~£20)
🛏Guesthouse on Aegina or Hydra (~£30)
- →Aegina fish market & Kolona site
- →Or Hydra harbour & coastal walks
- →Swim stop
- →Seafront dinner
Onward to Mykonos
Mykonos
Travel back via Piraeus and catch the fast ferry or catamaran to Mykonos (~£45-£60, roughly 3-5 hrs depending on route/vessel — book ahead in high season). On arrival, take a local bus or taxi to Mykonos Town (Chora). Wander the whitewashed lanes to the famous Windmills of Kato Mili for sunset, then explore Little Venice's waterside bars. This replaces the operator's 'Mykonos Island Excursion' with a self-guided walk — no ticket needed.
🚌Ferry to Mykonos (~£50) + local bus/taxi (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel near Mykonos Town (~£45 in season)
- →Mykonos Windmills at sunset
- →Little Venice waterfront
- →Chora alley walk
- →Optional sunset sailing from Mykonos (~£60)
Mykonos — free morning & departure
Mykonos
Spend the morning swimming at one of the south-coast beaches (Platis Gialos, Paradise — reachable by local bus ~£2). To get home, fly Mykonos to Athens (Aegean/Ryanair, book early — from ~£40) or take the ferry back to Piraeus (~£50-£60, 5 hrs). Note: the original tour also ends here and does not include the return leg to Athens, so you'd be booking this independently either way. If you have time, extend a night in Mykonos.
🚌Local bus to beach (~£2) + domestic flight Mykonos–Athens (~£40) or ferry (~£55)
🛏—
- →Platis Gialos / Paradise beach
- →Optional beach club
- →Domestic flight or ferry to Athens
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£985 | £1,450 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £465 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£985
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 Greece: Athens to Mykonos — Self-Launched Island Hopper cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £985 per person for 8 days in Greek Islands (Athens to Mykonos). 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 £1,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £985 — a saving of roughly £465 (32%) per person.
How long is the Greek Islands (Athens to Mykonos) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Greek Islands (Athens to Mykonos).
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, culture, backpacker trip through Greek Islands (Athens to Mykonos), 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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