HIKE SANTORINI

Relax hard.  Play hard.   

On the car-free caldera, noise is minimal and the air is pure.  It’s easy to just sit by a pool or private Jacuzzi stare into the watery horizon’s infinity.    That’s what’s known as relaxing hard.

But chilling out on Greece’s most famous island doesn’t happen until after playing hard each day.  Walks and hikes in Santorini are the best way to become intimate with the island’s spectacular beauty.  The trails and paths are not too onerous.  Anyone in reasonably fit shape can complete the walks that last roughly 2-3 hours.

The hikes include a boat ride to the caldera and walking up the volcano.  Along the path you can see sulphur spewing out of the earth.  The boat continues to Therasia island facing opposite Oia.  Its population is less than 200, and the donkey paths to the village are like a mini-stair master.

The hike from Fira to Oia, east to west, passes several churches on dirt paths.  The trick is to time the two-three hour hike to end in time to gaze westward at the setting sun in in Oia.   That is the number one activity the crowds are doing each evening in Santorini.

A favorite hike for archaeology lovers is the walk on a stone road from sea level 344 meter high (1128 feet) to Ancient Thira.   It was inhabited as early as the 9^th century BC but was not excavated until 1895.   The city was founded by Doric colonists from Sparta on the Peloponnese mainland.   The return return leads to a church inside a cave and pumice stones on the path.

Trip Duration  4 nights, 5 days

Your Accommodations Santorini has an abundance of high end quality accommodations.  All the hotels we patronize on the caldera have an unobstructed sea view of the horizon.  All the hotels we patronize have either a swimming pool or private jacuzzi.   We tend to stay in Firostefani, the village adjacent to Fira, the capital.   Yet, there is also the possibility to upgrade accommodations to stay in Oia.   Ask us for options.

Arrival to and Departure from Santorini   The cost of the tour includes arrival to and departure from Santorini by air or sea.   If by air, it is to/from Athens.   If by sea, it is to/from an adjacent island.   It all depends on your itinerary.

Local Guide  Your Santorini guide knows the terrain intimately and can lead you through all the donkey trails and volcano paths.   You will never be left alone to figure it out yourself and the guide enlightens you with information about the region, history and plant life.   The guide also is skilled in assisting you choose the best fresh food during meals when you are together.

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO SANTORINI
Arrival to world class Santorini, surely the most seductive island on the planet. A 380 degree view of the Aegean awaits you on the tour’s first hike from Fira to Oia crossing the spine of the island on a dirt trail.  Arrive in Oia in time for its famous sunset and a welcome dinner at the best fish taverna in Ammoudi, Oia’s tiny port.

Day 2: COOKING CLASS
A delightful introduction to Santorini is through its cuisine via a traditional Cyclades cooking class that focuses on indigenous foods of the island. Even if cooking is not your thing, you will still assuredly enjoy hearing the history and origins of Santorini food by learning to make appetizers, an entree and dessert. The class includes wine tasting and a sumptuous lunch.   Early morning visit to the local archaeology museum with its famous blue monkey frescos.

Day 3: ANCIENT THIRA
Today’s hike ascends from sea level up to the ruins of Ancient Thira at 1200 feet. The walk continues further on a dirt path down to Perissa and along its long sea coast for lunch and optional swimming. Afternoon visit a winery that’s also a contemporary art gallery.

Day 4: CALDERA & THIRASIA
A boat ride to the center of the caldera where you can swim and scoop up soft warm mud to slather on your body standing in the sea. The boat goes to Thirasia island for a hike up donkey steps to its sparsely populated villages.

Day 5: DEPARTURES
Departures from Santorini airport to Athens airport

Cost

2400 euros per person based on double occupancy

900 euros single supplement

see daily exchange rates

Inclusions
♦ 4 nights in 4 star hotel with unimpeded views of the horizon, breakfast
♦ 2 dinners at sea side tavernas
♦ Guided hikes — Fira to Oia, Thirasia, Ancient Thira
♦ Traditional Cyclades cooking class with lunch and wines
♦ Half-day boat excursion to center of caldera
♦ Vehicle transfers to all activities
♦ Arrival to Santorini by sea or air
♦ Departure flight from Santorini to Athens
♦ Transfers to/from hotel
♦ Pre-tour trip packet with info about Greece, the regions you will visit, recommended places to eat, phone numbers and other useful information
♦ Taxes and VAT

Exclusions
♦ International airfare
♦ 2 dinners
♦ Lunches except cooking class on Day 2
♦ Travel insurance

An indicative hotel for the Santorini Hiking tour is Anteliz hotel in Santorini island.

We select the accommodations based on quality, comfort, cleanliness, hospitality, location and charm. Most of the hotels on this tour are family owned and operated.

Hotels are included in the tour cost based on double occupancy. A single room entails an additional cost. Standard double rooms are provided but upgrade options are available.

All hotels are dependent on availability. In the event of no occupancy, we patronize comparable accommodations in the same location.

This tour is also available for groups of more than eight persons. You can take the tour with the itinerary as listed or we can customize the tour’s destinations and activities to suit your party.

A group of eight participants travel in a company vehicle with staff driver who also acts as your guide. A group of 10-16 participants travel in either two company vehicles with staff driver/guides or one mini-coach. Groups larger than 16 participants travel in coaches or mini-coaches, led by a company tour leader who handles all logistics.

We offer innovative tours to large groups attending a congress, conference or corporate event.

See more information on the Groups page.

Contact us directly for price quotes and itineraries for your party’s special stay in Greece.