Island hopping in the Cyclades
Itinerary
- Itinerary:Athens - Naxos - Amorgos - Santorini
- Duration:11 days / 10 nights (flexible)
- Price:from £ 1,625.- per person (excluding flights)
Day 1 – Arrival in Athens
After a 3.5 hour flight you will arrive at Athens airport. A driver will be ready to take you to your hotel in the centre of the capital, with modern rooms and a swimming pool. The hotel is within walking distance of the metro, so you can reach Plaka, the old working-class neighbourhood at the foot of the Acropolis. Explore Monastiraki Square, where you will find traditional tavernas and rooftop bars, with a fabulous view over the Acropolis.
Day 2 – Discover Athens on a walking tour
Today you will take a two-hour walking tour through Athens with your local guide to discover some hidden spots and local haunts. See underground excavations, found when the metro was built, walk to Sintagmaplein, where you see the changing of the guard at the parliament building and discover the gems of the city away from the tourist throngs. Afterwards, you can explore the city further on your own or visit the Acropolis, which is best done later in the day when it’s a bit cooler.
Day 3 – Athens – Naxos
Travel time: approximately 3.5 hours including ferry
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the port of Piraeus, on the south side of Athens, where you will board the ferry. The ferry to Naxos takes about six hours. We’ll reserve seats for you inside, in the air conditioning, but you are of course free to walk around and stretch your legs, enjoy the sun and, above all, take beautiful pictures of the blue sea and the islands you see along the way. You might even spot some dolphins! Once you arrive at the port of Naxos, a transfer will be ready to take you to your hotel. A spot outside the hustle and bustle of Naxos town, you will stay in an apartment with your own kitchenette, on the west side of the island. There is a swimming pool and it is located near the beach.
Day 4 & 5 – Stand-up paddleboarding and exploring Naxos
Today you will try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding, or SUP, in a lagoon close to Naxos town. With an experienced instructor on hand to give you some guidance and tips, you will master balancing on the board and be gliding through the water in no time. This is a great activity for the whole family, but best suited to children over 5 years old. The rest of your time here is free for you to do as you please. Whether you build sand castles with the little ones or enjoy water activities with teenagers, Naxos is ideal for all ages.
The rest of your time is free to spend as you wish. Nearby Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna or Plaka have a total length of 7 kilometres so you can always find a quiet spot. These fine-grained sandy beaches slope gently into the sea and there are only a few waves, making them ideal for families with smaller children. In the south the beaches of Mikri Vigla and Kastraki are popular among kite surfers. There are plenty of choices depending on the age of your children and the activities they like.
Day 6 – Naxos – Amorgos
Travel time: approximately 2.5 hours including ferry
Today a transfer takes you to the port of Naxos, where you’ll board the ferry to little-known Amorgos. From April to October it is almost always sunny here and there is virtually no rain, which means water is even more precious here. Once you arrive at the port, a driver will be waiting to take you to your apartment. Your family-friendly accommodation, in the white and blue style typical of the Cyclades, is located directly on the quiet sandy beach of Aegiali and surrounded by a well-tended subtropical garden. The swimming pool is filled with seawater, perfect for a refreshing dip.
Day 7 & 8 – Discover Amorgos & snorkelling trip
Next you will head our with your family to discover the underwater world on a snorkelling trip. Under the watchful eye of your guide, you will take to the water on a zodiac boat. When you arrive at the best snorkelling spots, you’ll jump into the warm Mediterranean sea in search of octopuses, barracudas, eels, coral and plenty of colourful fish. With azure seas and cystal clear visability this is a great place for snorkelling, your guide will be able to assist and point out the diverse marine life found here.
You can spend the rest of the time here doing as you wish – from getting active with some hiking or playing on the beach, it’s up to you!
Day 9 – Amorgos – Santorini
For your final island on this Cyclades island hopping tour, you will take the ferry to the famous Santorini. Iconic blue and white buildings dazzle in the sunshine and volcanic sand glistens beneath your feet. Once on the island, a transfer will be waiting for you. Over the next few nights you will stay in a small-scale hotel with a swimming pool near a black lava beach. Due to difficult availability, our accommodations are spread across the island. So you may stay in cosy Kamari with a promenade full of shops and restaurants or in the quieter Vlychadis with tavernas and beaches around the corner. We recommend wearing water shoes on the beach because the sand gets very hot in the bright sun.
Day 10 – Volcanic island & hot springs tour
This morning enjoy your breakfast on the terrace of your hotel before heading out on a volcano and hot springs tour. You’ll head over to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni, where you’ll walk to the crater’s edge and see the sulfur fumes rising. Afterwards you’ll sail to Palea Kameni, the next island where you can relax in the natural hot springs and mud baths. Afterwards you can explore more of Santorini, wander through the maze of narrow streets in the town of Thira, sitting atop a 300 metre high crater or step back in time in Akrotiri (also known as the Pompeii of Greece) where you’ll feel like you are back in ancient times.
Day 11 – Departure from Santorini
It’s time to say goodbye to Greece today. You can sail back by ferry to Athens (about 6 hours on the fast ferry) and fly home from there or fly back from Santorini with a stopover in Athens. The flights from Athens are generally a lot cheaper but speak to your travel specialist about the options.
