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Island Hopping in Greece: Paros, Naxos, Santorini

Island Hopping in Greece: Paros, Naxos, Santorini
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Join a certified local guide and go island hopping in Greece from Paros, to Naxos, to Santorini. On the way, enjoy amazing hikes, sea kayaking, and cycling as you explore the wonderful nature and culture of the vibrant Cyclades.

9 Days

Apr - Jul, Sep, Oct

High

Intermediate


Highlights

  • Enjoy a unique island hopping adventure in the Cyclades Islands in Greece
  • Go hiking, sea kayaking and cycling in amazing settings.
  • Discover the local culture and delicacies of the villages on the way.
  • Spend time in a beautiful location with gorgeous views and stunning nature.

Description

The Cyclades Islands in Greece are truly mesmerizing, and on this 8-day tour, we will go island hopping from Paros to Naxos to Santorini in order to discover their most amazing spots!

We will start from Paros, where we will meet on the first day and go hiking on the second, which will take us to a beautiful beach for a nice, refreshing swim. Next up will be a day spent on a traditional boat which will take us to some of the best spots in Paros for cliff jumping, cave exploration, and swimming,  plus, we will eat delicious local Greek food.

After enjoying Paros for a few days, we will take the ferry to Naxos, the biggest and most fertile of the Cyclades, with amazing little villages and cultural landmarks.  We will have the chance to hike and bike through Naxos over the course of the next two days, and to experience the amazing history and culture of the island, as well as its gorgeous beaches. Tasting some Kitron in the local distillery is also part of the plan.

Last up on our list is Santorini, where we will go to lesser-known spots of this famous Cyclades gem. Hiking, sea kayaking, and snorkeling will allow us to discover Santorini’s glittering treasures both over and under the sea.

A good fitness level is important to join this tour, however, no special technical skills are required. You can find a detailed day-by-day itinerary below, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this tour.

Are you ready to go Island hopping in Greece? Then join us on this unforgettable tour that will take you from Paros to Naxos to Santorini!

Or, join us on an island-hopping adventure to the Dodecanese!

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Guiding fee
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Transport during the trip

Price details

  • INCLUDES:
  • English Speaking tour leader throughout the trip;
  • Accommodation sharing double rooms with breakfast;
  • All ferry tickets (air seats) as per program starting in Paros and ending in Santorini, ie: Paros to Naxos and Naxos to Santorini;
  • Activities:
  • Hike on the byzantine trail in Paros
  • Day cruise to Antiparos with lunch & drinks
  • Hike the Kouros Statues in Naxos
  • Bike ride in Naxos
  • Hike the Caldera Trail in Santorini
  • Sea Kayaking in Santorini with lunch
  • All necessary transfers for the operation of the itinerary, ie: Transfers from ports to hotels and hotels to all meeting points for the activities;
  • Meals full board starting with dinner on day 1 to dinner on day 8;
  • Hotel stay over tax.

Itinerary

Day 1: Paros Island

Our trip starts in Paros.

You can arrive in Paros either by plane or by ferry. Depending on the season, there are different boat itineraries from Athens available. The boat ride lasts from 3 hours – 5 hours. Short transfer to your hotel in the picturesque and typical seaside town of Naousa.

Overnight in Paros.

Day 2: Paros Bizantine Trail Hike

Our day starts with a short transfer and a stroll in the traditional village of Lefkes. From here we will start our hike in the byzantine trail enjoying the scents and aromas of herbs and plants and the views of olive trees and vineyards. The hike is easygoing and ends on a beautiful beach of Logaras where we can enjoy a swim.

Overnight in Paros.

Day 3: Paros Day Cruise on a Traditional Fishing Boat

A great day full of fun and swimming on a traditional boat awaits for us. Our captain will welcome us on his boat and depending on the weather we will either sail to the tiny islet of Antiparos or in the south coast of Paros. Our day will be full of swimming, cliff jumping, visiting caves and remote beaches accompanied by freshly made Greek food and cold drinks. A day to be remembered!

Overnight in Paros

Day 4: Paros to Naxos

After breakfast, a short transfer from the hotel to Paroikia and embark the ferry from to Naxos. Arrival in Naxos, the biggest and most fertile of the Cycladic islands. Transfer and settle to your hotel. Overnight in Naxos.

Day 5: Naxos Hiking and Cultural Tour

Today’s hike starts from the Kouros statues. These larger-than-life statues of young men, predestined to hold on to a temple roof, were abandoned incomplete by the ancient sculptors when they discovered faults in the marble. We then follow the path to the picturesque village of Ano Potamia. After a short refreshing stop at the village’s spring, we hike to Apano Kastro (Upper Castle), to enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Naxos town, port, and the surrounding villages. We continue onwards via Tsikalario little village to Halki, where we visit Valindras small distillery that produces Kitron (the local alcohol drink of Naxos).

Overnight in Naxos.

Day 6: Naxos Biking

We cycle on streets and paths without traffic through typical Naxian villages, while experiencing the rich vegetation this Cycladic Island has to offer. Small tracks lead us through farmland, to enjoy beautiful views over mountains and some of the best coastline in the Cyclades. Through little stony roads, we reach the beautiful beach of Mikri Vigla, with its stretch of finest white sand and blue sea. There we stop to swim or enjoy a small food bite or drink. We return along stretches of sandy beach to our base.

Overnight in Naxos.

Day 7: Naxos to Santorini + Caldera Trail Hike

After breakfast, we relax and enjoy swimming or strolling in the picturesque port of Naxos. Around mid-day, we take the boat to the fairest island of the Cyclades, Santorini. The breathtaking view, upon arrival with the boat, will give us an idea of this volcanic island’s spectacular beauty. We arrive in port and transfer to the hotel. After we settle down, we depart for a walk that takes us from the town of Fira to Oia along the spectacular caldera.

Overnight in Santorini.

Day 8: Sea Kayaking to Santorini

After breakfast, transfer to the starting point of today’s activity. We enjoy a morning of sea-kayaking, exploring the South Coast of the island. We enjoy views of the spectacular rock formations, crystal waters, and beautiful beaches in the south part of the island. En route, we stop for snorkeling. Overnight in Santorini.

Day 9: End of Tour

Our trip ends here and you can arrange your transport to nearby islands or return to Athens.

 

Equipment you will need to bring

Large rucksack or holdall to contain all your luggage; waterproof liner recommended Good waterproof top (Gore-Tex recommended or similar) with hood. Thick socks for walking Spare shoes for the evenings (optional Daypack (small rucksack, 20-40 liters) to carry picnic lunch, water bottle, cold/wet weather gear, camera, etc; straps should be strong, not too narrow and preferably padded. In wet weather, belongings should be packed in waterproof plastic bags inside the pack Warm clothes for the evening including spare trousers and top (fleece jackets/pullovers are warm yet light); plus optionally thermal underwear, for April and October Sweatshirts or T-shirts for walking, at least one with collar and long sleeves (against sunburn) Your own personal water bottle(at least 1 liter). As part of our environmental policy and actions, we are committed to eliminating the use of plastic water bottles.


FAQs

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration
Tinos Resort Tinos Greece
See rooms
Vincenzo Family Hotel Tinos Greece
See rooms
Lianos Village Hotel Tinos Greece
See rooms

About the guide

Guide profile image

Trekking

5.0

(6)

Tour Operator

Trekking Hellas is the largest and most renowned tour operator in Greece, in the outdoor holidays area. For over 33 years, we have been providing high quality services for individuals and groups, offering unique adventures in the most beautiful locations in the country, with highly qualified guides.

The variety of activities in offer is huge, from sea kayaking, hiking and rafting, to biking, via ferrata, rock climbing or gastronomy tours, among many others.

We operate 12 bases all over Greece, with different activities. The personnel in each base has the required qualifications to guide the specific activities we operate: eg. for hiking at low altitudes we work with experienced mountain guides with degrees from mountaineering associations and from our own training school; for sea kayaking we require the BCU certificate.

We contribute to the sustainable rural development by supporting local communities and offering work opportunities to their inhabitants, and the global effort to reduce over-tourism. We strongly embrace and implement a socially and environmentally responsible policy promoting the protection of nature and environmental awareness.

Our network makes it possible to offer and operate at the highest standards a variety of activities all over the country, in classic touristy destinations (Santorini, Athens, Crete, Rhodes, etc.) and less known regions of Greece (Tzoumerka, Karpenisi etc.).

Send us a request and come join us for a unique adventure in Greece!

Languages

Italian | German | French | English

Request more information

What people are saying about Trekking

Cecile

Très beau programme. Les logements étaient magnifiques et un très bel accueil. Dommage que le deuxième soir il y avait un seul restaurant ouvert dans le village et tellement de monde. On a fini par acheter un paquet de chips à l’épicerie. Il est dommage qu on ai pas été épaulé lors de mon accident au genou. On a du tout improviser toutes seules. Et cela nous a engendré des frais imprévues vu mon état. Dommage de ne pas avoir eu de soutien dans un pays qui nous était étranger.

A wonderful experience! We were two people and we hiked several parts of the Menalon trail (self- guided) with Trekking Hellas. The reservation process was smooth. The office staff were very helpful and polite. They responded quickly to all our requests and helped us tailor the hike to our great satisfaction (Thank you Theodore for the patience!). After finalizing the trip details and completing the full payment- we got a detailed description of the trip with all the necessary contacts, including a very useful gpx file of the trail. In the hike itself, everything went smoothly. On the first day we met a guide, who gave us a map of the trail, and advised us about the trail. The company was responsible enough to tell us in advance about part of the trail that was wrecked during the winter (they even pre-arranged a taxi that waited for us in the middle of the hike and transferred us to a nearby point). The villages we arrived at were beautiful (We especially like Dimitsana and Vytina. The hotels were lovely, and the staff were always friendly and helpful. One final tip: The hikes are great but they are not easy. We highly recommend that you read the trail specifications in advance and choose to walk only the parts that fit your needs. In some cases, the advised hikes may be too long. For example, day 3 of the suggested itinerary includes roughly 19.1 km (Dimitsana- Zygovitsi-Elati). Given that the trail is ascending and descending - this means a very long day. We only walked Zygovitsi-Elati (15km; enough for us), but we met a family who did walk the entire path and walked for 11 hours on that day. While it is doable, we recommend that you make your choices in advance -so that the you enjoy your vacation. We wish you a nice stay in Greece. According to our experience, with Trekking Hellas you are in good hands. This not the first time we booked tours with Trekking Hellas, and probably will not be the last. Highly recommended!

The Menalon trail is a very nice and versatile walking path of about 75km in center Greece. We decided to take the self guided trek offered by Trekking Hellas because it saved us the burden of searching for accommodations along the path, and also they take care of transferring our luggage from hotel to hotel, so we can carry minimum weight when walking. I must say our experience was great. We got prompt support before and during the vacation. All arrangements worked perfectly. Every hotel owner knew us and prepare a nice lunch box for the day walk, so we did not have to think about that as well. All hotels selected where highly rated ones. This not the first time we booked tours with Trekking Hellas, and probably will not be the last. Highly recommended!

Natasja

George offered great introduction and guidance. Very patience and increased the level of climbing according to the participants. Great experience!

Yvonne

Our first time with Explore-Share. An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Extremely good value, very well organised with attention to detail. We travel widely and this has by far been the best of experiences. Well done to all concerned. We are already looking at booking another trip!


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