Walking on the Greek Islands

8 Days Starting in Rafina and ending in Athens

Visiting: Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Paros

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

TEJ

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

4 - 16

Physical rating:

Easy & Moderate

Age range:

16-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $2325 (USD)

NB: Prices correct on 22-Feb-2025 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

When you think of the Greek islands, it’s the Cyclades that spring to mind, with their white-washed houses and blue-domed churches set against the cobalt Aegean Sea. They’re beauty is striking, but even more so with our expert local tour leader guiding you along their most scenic trails. So, join us on this small-group hiking adventure on Santorini, Naxos and Paros and enjoy a relaxed week of hiking through picturesque villages, lush valleys and sandy beaches. Better yet, it starts and ends in Athens, giving you the opportunity to add extra days onto the itinerary and explore the birthplace of democracy.

Highlights

  • Join a local tour leader to discover the most beautiful trails on the Cyclades

  • Gaze over the Aegean Sea on Santorini’s Cliff Trail hike

  • Trek through ancient olive and citrus groves in Naxos’s Tragea Valley

  • Hike a 1,000-year-old Byzantine path on Paros

  • Uncover the distinct cultures of three Greek islands with our expert tour leader

  • Take the opportunity to indulge in the local delicacies

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Start Rafina

Location: Athens

Accommodation Name: Dorian Inn or Avra Hotel (or similar)

Our adventure begins in Rafina, a port town around 25 minutes’ drive from Athens, the history-soaked capital of Greece.The excitement builds with a welcoming briefing at 8pm, in which the tour leader provides important information about the week ahead.Rest well tonight, tomorrow we wake early to catch a ferry.If you’d like to explore the many ancient wonders of Athens, we highly recommend adding extra days to the beginning or end of the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Day 2 : Ferry To Santorini; Explore Fira Town

Location: Santorini

Accommodation Name: Hotel Golden Star (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take the ferry (approximately eight hours) to Santorini in the morning. There’s a selection of restaurants and cafes on board, serving throughout the journey.Santorini (known locally as Thira) is a remnant of a volcanic cone whose top was blown off and many speculate it was the location of the legendary lost Atlantis. This beautiful island has a lot to offer to hikers, including excellent beaches and magnificent views of the Aegean Sea.Walk around the town of Fira in the late afternoon, taking a flat paved path to enjoy stunning views of the caldera.Accommodation: Hotel Golden Star (or similar)

Day 3 : Hike The Caldera From Fira To Oia

Location: Santorini

Accommodation Name: Hotel Golden Star (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The 6mi (10km) Cliff Trail is a spectacular walk, 1,310ft (400m) high above the volcanic caldera, a photographer’s delight and not too challenging. Half the path is pathed, while the other is a mix of volcanic soil, pumice and lava.Views of the Aegean are virtually ever present as we wind gently up and down to the pretty village of Oia, home to artists, galleries, boutiques and cafes. There’s time to explore, relax and soak up the culture before a transfer back to Fira.Accommodation: Hotel Golden Star (or similar)

Day 4 : Free Time In Santorini; Afternoon Ferry To Naxos

Location: Santorini

Accommodation Name: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy free time in Santorini this morning. Optional excursions include a visit by bus to the buried city of Acrotiri, time at the black beaches of Kamari and/or a visit to the prehistoric museum of Thero in town. Leaving Santorini in the afternoon, we board the approximately two-hour ferry to Naxos.Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Day 5 : Hike Through The Lush Tragea Valley

Noah Schneider
Athanasios Athanasiadis
ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ΓΑΡΟΦΑΛΑΚΗΣ

Location: Naxos

Accommodation Name: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer (one hour) to hike in the lush valley of Tragea, best known for 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.Wander along the ancient stoney path in the middle of the Naxian marble quarries until we reach Kouros, a gigantic statue from the fifth century BCE, which was damaged during transportation and then abandoned ever since, lying under trees in the Melanes Valley. Our transfer back is approximately one hour.Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Day 6 : Ferry To Paros; Hike The Byzantine Path From Lefkes; Return To Naxos

Location: Paros

Accommodation Name: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take a one-hour ferry to Paros in the morning, then a 20-minute bus to the heart of the island and Lefkes village, where we join an Old Byzantine path that runs all the way to the east coast of Paros. The route, which is on paved path and over small hills, is believed to be about 1,000 years old and used to traverse the entire island.Today’s trail passes through beautiful Cycladic and medieval villages. Then we explore the town, the castle and Byzantine Cathedral of Ekatontapyliani before our ferry back to Naxos in the evening.Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Day 7 : Explore Hora Town; Visit The Temple Of Apollo

Location: Naxos

Accommodation Name: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take a walk to explore the main town, Hora, a Venetian Castello town. The market area is a delight to wander through, with craft shops, chapels and quaint restaurants. On the islet of Palatia stands the impressive Portara, an ancient marble gateway and the entrance to the remains of the Temple of Apollo.Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis (or similar)

Day 8 : Ferry Transfer To Piraeus; End Athens

Location: Athens

Meals Included: Breakfast

Catch the ferry back to Piraeus or Rafina (approximately six hours) and transfer to Athens airport where the trip ends.Please note: the ferry port can change depending on the season.

What's Included

  • All breakfasts

  • All accommodation (see below)

  • All transport and listed activities

  • Tour leader throughout

  • Free group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

  • Travel Insurance

  • Single accommodation (available on request)

  • Visas or vaccinations

  • Tourist tax (paid locally)

Food

All breakfasts included. In Santorini, it is a basket breakfast in the room. 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 normally go to different tavernas and restaurants (at times, picnics of 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 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).

Videos

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    There are no specific health risks.

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    16

  • 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.

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    International flights are not included with this tour.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Arrival & departure transfers

  • 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.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Greek islands

Excellent choice of islands. Very friendly group and leader

Walking on three Greek Islands

The holiday includes one night in Athens, one night on Paros, two on Santorini and three nights on Naxos. The walks are relaxed and although rugged in places the description of leisurely is appropriate. The ferry trips between the Islands could be a down side of the trip, the first one seemed quite long. However, the group learnt the best area for sitting, up at the top of the ferry, under cover but with plenty of air and the best views and the trips became enjoyable as we were well prepared and appreciated time to chat with the group. The trip was extremely well organised and we had many wonderful experiences packed into one week.

Excellent way to sample the islands

This was my first Exodus holiday and was a marvelous experience. I found the balance between organized walks, free time and traveling to be perfect. The group was friendly and diverse so I enjoyed the whole week. Our guide - Cécile- was good. She really knows the islands and how to beat the crowds. I especially enjoyed using local busses and ferries and staying in small individual hotels.

Walking the Greek Islands

I loved this trip! I have taken hiking/walking trips with other travel companies, but this was by far the best one yet. It was so well organized - everything went smoothly. The trip leader was well versed in the history of each island - and his enthusiasm for the country was contagious. We got to see parts of the islands that most tourists would never see. If you love the outdoors and love to hike, this trip is for you.

Walking the Greek Islands in JuneS

A very enjoyable week visiting Naxos, Santorini and Paros with a great group of people. Leisurely walking amongst stunning scenery, refreshment stops at pretty villages and excellent meals at local tavernas. Accommodation was generally better than I expected and as always with Exodus the whole week was well organised

WALKING ON THE GREEK ISLANDS

After the cold UK weather an ideal break at this time of year, warm and mostly sunny, a mix of pleasant walks, fine food, a touch of sightseeing and not too crowded this early in the season.

Greek Wander

This was a trip comprised of 15 Canadian women all of whom I knew. Hiking was what appealed to me the most. Second was supplementing the knowledge I'd gained from sailing in the Cyclades (2013) as well as hiking in Corfu last May. Moving beds every three days on average and catching ferries on five occasions. although spelled out in the tour's monograph, didn't seem so onerous until one actually lived it.

Greek Islands.

This is an ideal trip to get a flavour of three Greek Islands, Paros, Santorini & Naxos. Also it is a good way of experiencing the culinary delights of the islands. I would question the classification of the trip, which is Leisurely. While there is plenty of time to relax on the ferry crossings betwen each island, all the walks while, relative short have ascents and decents on rough country paths. The path on Naxos is graded Difficult on the local trail board. However our mixed aged group (50 to 70+) coped with only a few minor difficulties.

WALKING ON THE GREEK ISLANDS

Wonderful hoilday, great group and the right balance between sightseeing, walking and time for ourselves. Note, however, that you do not see Athens on this trip - you need to add this on yourself at the beginning or end of the holiday.

WALKING ON THE GREEK ISLANDS

A really enjoyable week, The walks are easy/intermediate. Food was good. Hotels were satisfactory & the people were great company.

Read all 47 reviews

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Book with Confidence

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.