Mykonos & Santorini Self-Launched Island Hop (Athens Start/Finish)
5 days · Greek Islands: Mykonos & Santorini
Travel Zone charges £1,935
No-markup version: ~£560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 5-day island-hop covering the same highlights as Travel Zone's premium Mykonos & Santorini group tour — but booked independently. Start at Athens/Piraeus, catch the fast ferry to Mykonos, day-trip to the Delos archaeological site, sail onward to Santorini, then join a small-group caldera and Akrotiri tour before returning to Piraeus. You swap 4* resort hotels for well-located budget guesthouses and studios, and fixed guided excursions for self-bookable alternatives on GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with operators. Costs are realistic backpacker/mid-range estimates and vary with season (July-August roughly doubles accommodation prices).
Day-by-day
Athens / Piraeus to Mykonos
Athens → Piraeus → Mykonos
Make your own way from Athens Airport (metro Line 3 to Syntagma, then Line 1 to Piraeus, ~£8) or straight to Piraeus port. Take the fast ferry to Mykonos (SeaJets or Golden Star, ~4-5 hrs) — book in advance on Ferryhopper or Direct Ferries as summer sailings sell out. Settle into a guesthouse or studio in Mykonos Town (Hora) or around Fabrika, then walk the whitewashed lanes and grab a gyros dinner near the old port.
🚌Metro to Piraeus (~£8) + fast ferry to Mykonos (~£45-60, book ahead on Ferryhopper)
🛏Budget double/twin room or studio in Mykonos Town (e.g. Fabrika or Hora area guesthouse), ~£45-70/night in shoulder season
- →Explore Mykonos Town (Hora) lanes
- →Sunset drink at the Old Port or Fabrika square
Mykonos & Delos Archaeological Day Trip
Mykonos & Delos Island
Catch the morning local boat to Delos from Mykonos Old Port (return ticket ~£18-22; entry to the archaeological site ~£10). The ticket-only sailing lets you roam the ruins independently, or add a licensed English guide on arrival — GetYourGuide and Klook both list a Delos guided option including ferry and entrance. Back in Mykonos, wander Matoyianni Street, then walk to Little Venice (Alefkandra) for sunset.
🚌Local Delos shuttle boat from Mykonos Old Port (return ~£18-22)
🛏Same Mykonos guesthouse/studio, ~£45-70/night
- →Self-guided Delos archaeological site (entrance ~£10)
- →Optional Delos guided tour via GetYourGuide/Klook
- →Matoyianni Street shopping
- →Little Venice sunset walk
Mykonos to Santorini
Mykonos → Santorini (via ferry)
Morning free in Mykonos for backstreets and a last swim, then take the afternoon fast ferry to Santorini (~2-3 hrs) or the slower Blue Star ferry if you prefer the view. From Athinios Port, take the public bus or shared shuttle up to Fira, then a local bus onward to your base. Check into a budget room or cave-style studio in Fira, Karterados or Perissa (Perissa is cheapest and quieter, with the black-sand beach on the doorstep).
🚌Fast ferry Mykonos → Santorini (~£40-55) + local bus from Athinios Port to Fira/Perissa (~£2-3)
🛏Budget studio or guesthouse in Fira, Karterados or Perissa, ~£50-75/night shoulder season
- →Morning swim in Mykonos
- →Evening walk along the Fira caldera rim
Santorini Island Tour: Akrotiri, Prophet Elias & Wine
Santorini (Akrotiri, Pyrgos, Oia)
Join a self-bookable small-group Santorini tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (from ~£35-55) covering the same stops as the original itinerary: the Monastery of Prophet Elias viewpoint, the Akrotiri archaeological site (entrance ~£10) and a traditional canava wine tasting with 3 local wines. Most tours also include free swimming time and a meze-style lunch of fava, cherry tomatoes, white aubergines and round zucchinis — around £15-20. Finish with a visit to Oia's narrow streets and its famous sunset.
🚌Included in small-group tour pickup, or local buses between Fira and Oia (~£2 each way)
🛏Same Santorini studio/guesthouse, ~£50-75/night
- →Prophet Elias Monastery viewpoint
- →Akrotiri archaeological site (entrance ~£10)
- →Canava winery tasting (3 wines)
- →Oia sunset walk
Santorini to Piraeus / Athens
Santorini → Piraeus → Athens
Morning for the black-sand beaches at Perissa or Kamari, then take the bus down to Athinios Port for the ferry back to Piraeus (~5-8 hrs; overnight Blue Star sailing is a good money-saver if you want to sleep on the crossing). From Piraeus, hop the metro to Athens Airport or stay an extra night in Athens before flying home.
🚌Local bus to Athinios Port (~£2-3) + ferry Santorini → Piraeus (~£45-60) + metro to Athens Airport (~£8)
🛏None included — optional extra night in Athens budget hotel/hostel, ~£40-60
- →Perissa or Kamari black-sand beach
- →Optional Athens stopover on arrival at Piraeus
Self-launched vs. Travel Zone
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£560 | £1,935 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,375 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Zone-style trips? Check them out here.~£560
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 Mykonos & Santorini Self-Launched Island Hop (Athens Start/Finish) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £560 per person for 5 days in Greek Islands: Mykonos & 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 Travel Zone?+
Yes — Travel Zone charges around £1,935 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £560 — a saving of roughly £1,375 (71%) per person.
How long is the Greek Islands: Mykonos & Santorini trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Greek Islands: Mykonos & 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, culture, backpacker trip through Greek Islands: Mykonos & 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?
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