Walking on the Greek Islands
Walking on the Greek Islands
Walking on the Greek Islands
8 Days Starting and ending in Athens
Visiting: Greece
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TEJ
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The Greek islands have much more to offer than most would think: archaeological treasures, history, culture, dramatic landscapes overlooking an azure coloured sea, and, of course, delicious food. Our week starts on the beautiful island of Naxos, before heading to Santorini and Paros. Exploring the irresistible island of Santorini on foot will certainly be the highlight of our week. Hopping from one wonderful island to the other, we enjoy a relaxed week of gentle walks through picturesque villages, lush valleys, and sandy beaches.
Highlights
Itinerary
The group flight usually arrives into Athens in the early evening and will be
met and transferred to the start hotel in Rafina. Land Only clients should
aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon. In the evening our guide will hold
a short meeting to discuss the plan for the following day, to give advice on
the local area and to answer any questions.
Accommodation: Avra Hotel or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 2
In the early morning, we catch the ferry to Naxos. The ferry will leave the
port at 7.25am and takes about 5.5 hours. On board the ferry there is a
selection of restaurants and cafes which will serve food and drinks
throughout the journey. After checking in at our hotel, we will take a walk
to explore the main town, Hora, a Venetian Castello town. The market area is
a delight to wander through, with its craft shops, chapels and quaint
restaurants. On the islet of Palatia stands the impressive Portara, ancient
marble gateway, the entrance to the remains of the temple of Apollo.
Walk: Distance 2km Ascent 50m Descent 50m Time: 3 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 3
Today we trek the lush valley of Tragea, famous for its ancient olive and
citrus groves. It is a great opportunity to discover the most authentic part
of Naxos, where picturesque villages and churches punctuate our walk. Â We
will wander along the ancient path in the middle of the Naxian marble
quarries until we reach Kouros, the gigantic statue from the 5th century B.C.
which was damaged during transportation and then abandoned ever since, lying
under trees in the Melanes Valley.
Walk: Distance 8km Ascent 200m Descent 200m Time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 4
Today there is a free morning to explore Naxos. In the early afternoon, we
take the ferry to Santorini (approximately 2.5 hrs). Santorini (locally known
as Thira) is one of the most famous islands in the world. Known mainly for
its beautiful beaches, it is a remnant of a volcanic cone whose top was blown
off. A huge eruption (estimated 1650 BC) gave it its crescent shape and many
speculate that it was the location of the legendary lost Atlantis. This
beautiful island has a lot to offer to walkers, including magnificent views
of the Mediterranean. In the late afternoon, we will have a walk around the
town of Fira to enjoy the stunning views of the caldera.
Walk: Distance 2 km Ascent 100m Descent 100m Time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Sunrise or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 5
The Six mile "Cliff Trail" is a spectacular walk 400 m high above the
Volcanic Caldera, a photographer's delight and not too challenging. Views out
over the Aegean as far as the eye can see are virtually ever present as we
wind gently up and down to the pretty village of Oia, home to many artists,
galleries, boutiques and cafes. There is time to explore, relax and soak up
the culture before we transfer back to Fira.
Walk: Distance 10km Ascent 300m Descent 300m Max Time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Sunrise or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 6
This morning have free time in Santorini. Optional extras include a visit by
bus to the buried city of Acrotiri, time at the famous black beaches of
Kamari and/or a visit to the prehistoric museum of Thero in town. Leaving
Santorini in the afternoon, we board the ferry to Paros, the journey is
approximately 3 hours.
Accommodation: Hotel Pandrossos or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 7
In the morning we visit the cathedral of Paros, built in the 4th century
A.D., a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and a relic of early
Christianity. We take a bus to reach the heart of the island and the
village of Lefkes, where we join the Old Byzantine path that runs all the way
to the east coast of Paros. The route is believed to be about 1000 years old
and used to traverse the entire island. Today’s route will pass through
beautiful Cycladic villages as well as mediaeval villages. In the afternoon
we take a bus back to Parikia.
Walk: Distance 7km Ascent 100m Descent 350m Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Pandrossos or similar
*Standard Hotel*
Day 8
We take the ferry back to Pireus (approx.5hrs) and transfer to Athens airport
where the trip ends. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the
airport for the return flight to London.
Please note: the ferry port can change depending on the season and you might
return to Rafina.Â
What's Included
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners.
* All breakfasts
* All accommodation (see below)
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
* Arrival & departure transfers
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Travel Insurance
Food
All breakfasts included.
Simple buffet style Greek breakfast consists of bread/toast, butter, jam,
fresh juice, milk, local yoghurt, eggs and honey, and coffee/tea. For lunch
and dinner, we will generally go to different local tavernas and restaurants
(at times picnic lunches using locally sourced food will be suggested for
lunch instead), where we can sample some typical Greek meze dishes, olives,
fresh fish, vegetables and much more.
Accommodation
We spend seven nights in three-star hotels on this walking trip. On the islands, we use family-run hotels, ensuring our visit benefits the local communities. We also have one night in a standard hotel in Rafina. Below are the accommodations we typically use.
Rafina: Avra Hotel (night 1)
Right by the port, Avra Hotel is ideally placed for our early morning ferry on Day 2. It also means we can enjoy sea views from the hotel and we're within a short walk of the whitewashed Agios Nikolas Chapel. There’s also a modern restaurant (with floor-to-ceiling windows over the port), which serves a Cretan-Mediterranean menu.
Santorini: Hotel Golden Star (nights 2-3)
Our two nights in Santorini are spent at the 24-room Golden Star, which sits just outside the main town of Thira. There’s a pool area with sun loungers (a great place to watch the sunrise) and plenty of seating spaces to gather as a group.
Naxos: Hotel Aeolis (nights 4-7)
Just a three-minute walk from the main town square and a five-minute walk from the sandy Agios Georgios Beach, Hotel Aeolis is in the right place for our adventures. When you’re not out exploring the island, relax at the hotel pool or grab a sun lounger.
Worth knowing
The hotel bathrooms can sometimes be a little small and old fashioned.
The swimming pools are open seasonally (May to October).
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Arrival & departure transfers
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
16
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.