Walking on the Greek Islands

Name: Walking on the Greek Islands
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.2 (61 reviews)

61 reviews

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Discover the most scenic trails on the Cyclades trio of Santorini, Naxos and Paros with a local tour leader

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.

Key Information

Trip Code: TEJ
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Greece
Carbon Footprint: 22kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts and one dinner
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Pace:

Approximately three to four hours walking per day

Terrain:

Low altitude; good paths

Day 2: 2 km / 1.2 miles
Day 3: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Day 5: 8 km / 5 miles
Day 6: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Day 7: 2 km / 1.2 miles

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

First Destination: Rafina
Next Destination: Athens

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Rafina
Next Destination: Athens

Our adventure begins in Rafina, a port town around 25 minutes’ drive from Athens, the history-soaked capital of Greece.

Around 6pm, say yassou (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner. 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.

Accommodation: Avra Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

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)

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)

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)

Meals included:Breakfast

Transfer (one hour) to hike in the lush Tragea Valley, 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)

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)

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)

Meals included:Breakfast

Catch the ferry back to Piraeus or Rafina (approximately six hours, please be aware that the ferry port can change depending on the season) and transfer to Athens International Airport where our adventure ends. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative about booking extra nights in the capital, giving you a chance to explore this history-soaked city at your own pace.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

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Accommodation

A selection of three-star hotels

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)

Walking on the Greek Islands

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)

Walking on the Greek Islands

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).

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Itinerary: The chosen routes showcase the best of the natural and historic sites on each island. Terrain includes footpaths and mountain terrain, which can be rocky and loose in places with some sloped ascents and descents (walking poles can be useful).

Walks: There are three day walks in our itinerary and two half days. Walking time is between two and five hours, including lunch breaks, and a reasonable level of fitness is required. All walks are optional.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today, we recommend being at the start hotel by 5pm as our welcome briefing will be held at 6pm in the evening.
Airport: Athens International Airport (AIA)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 25-minute drive from the airport. We provide one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times.

Make your own way
You can reach the start hotel relatively easily by public transport. Take the KTEL Attikis bus service from the airport to Rafina. The hotel is on the waterfront, 1,300ft (400m) from the bus station.

The hotel also runs a free shuttle bus; this must be pre-arranged directly with the hotel. If you prefer to travel in more comfort, speak to your sales representative to arrange a private arrival transfer.

Occasionally, we may need to change the start hotel for logistical reasons. For more information, please refer to the Final Joining Instructions (sent two weeks before departure) or speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for those booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales consultant if you wish to join.

If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

There are no required vaccinations. However, ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/insect-bite-avoidance#Ticks.

Greece

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Greece. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/greece
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/greece
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Greece.html

Simple buffet-style Greek breakfast consists of bread/toast, butter, jam, fresh juice, milk, local yoghurt, eggs and honey, and coffee/tea. In Santorini, it is a basket breakfast in the room. 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.

The Cyclades enjoy typical Mediterranean weather with mild winters and hot dry summers.

March and November: cooler daytime temperatures of 10C-15C (50F-59F) and nights of 5C-8C (41F-46F), a chance of some rain.
April, May and October: pleasant daytime temperatures 12C-22C (53F-71F) nights of 5C-13C (41F-55F), a chance of some rain.
June and September: daytime temperatures 20C-35C (68F-95F), nights of 15C-20C (59F-68F); very dry.
July and August: temperatures can get hot (normally around 35C/95F) but there is always a sea breeze.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Nadia Ghafoor

Added June 2024

Amazing Tour

I have never been to Greece or an Exodus trip before and feel trip was the best introduction to Greece. The walks & treks were easy apart from one challenging section when descending the Caldera in Santorini and was nice to explore on own your own or relax after taken...

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking the volcanic caldera from Fira to Oia. The views were amazing and peaceful. The trek was a bit tricky but was worth it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Group Leader Thanos was amazing. He was friendly, knowledgeable and informed us of interesting facts and the history of each island. He informed us of our activities everyday and told us what to expect.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I recommend good walking shoes as the walking down the caldera can be difficult and a bit slippery. I also recommend taking a book as the ferry journey is long. The ferries feels like you are on a cruise ship as there so many facilities onboard.

Emma Scott

Added May 2024

A wonderful introduction to Greece

Opportunity to visit three very different islands and experience Greek culture. Well planned and executed itinerary, enjoyable ferry transfers. Good quality hotels for a three star rating. Exceptional guide and varied walks. Plenty of spare time to relax inbetween activities.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walk from Thira to Oai, wonderful views and varied terrain.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thano was exceptional. His passion and knowledge was evident throughout the whole trip, nothing was too much trouble. Transfers to islands were seamless with ferry and local buses all falling into place. Evident than Thano was working hard on our behalf.

Suggestions

Very easy to add a couple of nights in Athens either before or after this trip.

Jan McInley

Added April 2024

Walking in Greek Islands

We had a fabulous week. Very well organised;great walks; and visits to interesting places. Thano was excellent

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the islands 46 years later - they have changed but not as much as I thought. Naxos was still recognisable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thano was excellent. Well prepared and SO knowledgeable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some of the walks are quite hilly so make a note of ascents and descents.

Suggestions

Might have taken a return flight from Naxos if it was mentioned. But the return journey was fine.

Kay Chaplin

Added September 2023

Great introduction to the Greek Islands!

This walking trip to the Greek Islands was a fantastic introduction to Greek food, culture, and the fun of island hopping!

Most Inspirational Moment

Each of the islands we visited had it's own character. The views over the caldera of Santorini were spectacular, but my favourite island was actually Paros, which was much less busy, and exactly what I imagined a greek island to be - complete with lots of seafood restaurants and blue domed churches. The walks were a great way to see the flora & fauna of the countryside, and to get to know my fellow travellers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos was a fantastic guide, really knowledgable about the history and culture of all the places we visited. His recommendations for places to eat and drink, and local specialties to try, made the food a high point of this trip for me! He also had good recommendations for places to visit outside of the main walking program.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you've every thought about using the ferries to hop between islands, this is a great introduction - I will definitely be going back for more!

Suggestions

Whether this is your first trip to the Greek islands, or you are a seasoned pro (our group covered both ends of the spectrum) you will find things of interest on this trip.

Janeen Olsen

Added November 2022

Nice walks. but a lot of down time

I really enjoyed the walks and the scenery they provided. Walking around the villages was also fun. Our guide Cecile was great. She explained a lot about Greek culture, plants, cuisine and history. The hotels we stayed at were were just ok for the most part. Nothing memorable but everything...

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk on Santorini was my favorite.

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was professional and provided a lot of informational content to the tour. She was also clear about where and when to meet to catch buses and ferries.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the itinerary carefully before deciding if you will enjoy a tour the visits 3 islands in such a short time. The ferry rides might be relaxing for some people, but I found them boring.

Reply from Exodus

We’re really grateful for Janeen’s review, and are so pleased to hear that she enjoyed the walks on this trip and that she was impressed with her tour leader, Cecile. We were, however, sorry to hear that she was disappointed with the structure of the tour and felt there was a little too much down time. This is a relaxed walking tour which offers our groups the chance to trek the most scenic routes of Naxos, Santorini, and Paros, as well as allowing them the time to explore each island at their own pace. We understand that the ratio of free time to activities is a delicate balance to strike on any trip, and we are confident that our trip notes provide an accurate reflection of what our customers can expect on this particular tour. Having reviewed each of the feedback forms we have received from Exodus clients in 2023, we can see that this tour scores an average of 4.5 out of 5 for its itinerary, and an average of 4.67 overall, which we feel is a really positive rating and indicates that our customers’ expectations are being met. We will, of course, continue to monitor the feedback we receive, and will not hesitate to make changes should more of our clients express views similar to Janeen’s. - Vivien Urban, Exodus Product Manager

Lesley Henry

Added June 2022

Bad value for money

This was my first trip with Exodus. The Greek Islands were beautiful but this trip is extremely bad value for money. The hotels, with the exception of the one on Santorini, were barely adequate - they were certainly not 3 star. In the last hotel I actually got bed bug...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ok

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Lesley for her review, though we are extremely sorry that she was disappointed with the accommodation provided on her trip to the Greek Islands last year. We understand that, unfortunately, the pandemic hit the Greek hospitality industry particularly hard and that hotels across the islands struggled to keep up the standards they maintained in 2020 and prior. That said, our local manager, Thanos, was confident that the hotels we carefully selected would be suitable for our clients, as they were all 3* properties or above, chosen for their location and service, though it is a matter of real regret that this was not Lesley’s impression. We can assure her that the hotels Exodus uses receive regular cleaning and visits from pest control experts. We are confident that, for the 2023 season and beyond, the hotels we use on this trip are comfortable, clean, run by local families, and often in stunning locations, with pools at each property. From the feedback we have received from our clients who have done Walking on the Greek Islands so far this year, we are delighted to say that all rated the accommodation on this trip as being ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. We take pride in our team of fantastic leaders in Greece, who are experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated to ensuring a high quality experience for our clients, so we are regretful to hear that Lesley was lukewarm about her tour leader, as this is not the feedback we are used to receiving. We are confident that, if Lesley returned to do this trip now, she would come back with a much more positive impression. Vivien Urban, Exodus Product Manager

Chitra Ganesan

Added April 2022

A good trip.

The trip to the Cycladic islands of Naxos, Paros & Santorini was lovely! We had a great group and our guide was the Lovely Cecile. Although it was very, very cold and windy, the plus point was that the islands were very quiet from the overload of usual tourists. The...

Most Inspirational Moment

The walk in Santorini. The wild flowers gallore in our walks in Naxos & Paros.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was lovely and very helpful. She even got me a book of wild flowers of Greece to refer to because I loved wild flowers. She was also a good laugh and we loved listening from her about her pet donkey!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check with Exodus about the accommodation in Paros.

Suggestions

Not particularly.

Ally Kendrick Clew

Added April 2022

Disappointing

I really looked forward to this trip but unfortunately the trip was spoilt by poor planning and one really horrible hotel. We travelled in March and unfortunately the weather was very cold when we arrived. No effort had been made to prepare the first hotel on Naxos and it was...

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the walks, particularly on Naxos, walking the ancient tracks between villages. The scenery was stunning

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was lovely, very funny, very knowledgeable and managed the shortcomings of this trip really well. She knows the islands inside out and is well received wherever we went. On one walk, the owner of a closed taverna opened up to offer us a coffee and toilet because of her friendship with Cecile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I’d avoid this trip until Exodus sort out the hotels. Exodus trips aren’t cheap and no one needs their holiday spoilt by cheap, filthy hotels

Reply from Exodus

We’re genuinely grateful to Ally for taking the time to review the experience she had on this trip in March of last year, though it’s a matter of huge regret that she did not have as positive an experience as she had hoped. We corresponded with Ally following her trip and explained that, unfortunately, temperatures during the first few days of her trip were much lower than is usual or anticipated for March in Greece, and we could only apologise that her hotel had not taken measures to ensure adequate heating. Regarding the Pandrossos Hotel, we would mention that this property has renovated its bedrooms and bathrooms since Ally’s group stayed there last year, and the hotel receives regular cleaning. From the feedback we have received from our clients who have done Walking on the Greek Islands so far in 2023, we are pleased to say that all rated the accommodation on this trip as being ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. However, we sincerely regret that Ally’s experience last year was not so positive. We’re glad to hear, however, that Ally found the walks and scenery to be a real highlight of her trip; as she alludes to, we run departures of Walking on the Greek Islands in March as it allows our clients to experience a different side of the islands, without the crowds. We are extremely confident that Ally’s experience of this trip does not reflect what our clients can expect should they book in 2023 and beyond, though we remain regretful for her disappointment. We were also saddened to note that Ally’s impression of Exodus was not a positive one; we would mention that having spoken to Ally, our team resolved her dissatisfaction following this trip. Vivien Urban, Exodus Product Manager

Karen Sanchez

Added October 2019

Perfect introduction to Greek islands

I had never been to Greece before and decided that this trip might be a good place to start. I wasn’t disappointed. It was well organised with walks of just the right distance and variety for me and in good company. All hotels were comfortable although plumbing a little variable!...

Most Inspirational Moment

Too hard to pick just one; exploring the labyrinth of little streets on Naxos and Paros breathtaking sunset on Santorini and hiking along the caldera there. We are very lucky with the weather which made the ferry trips enjoyable as well , beautiful views

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thanos Was an excellent guide nothing was too much trouble. He was extremely knowledgeable about all three islands pointing out interesting historical and geographical features along the way.

Susan Thrasher

Added July 2019

Fantastic Week

A really enjoyable, relaxing trip. Accommodation was excellent in all places, our guide Cecile was fantastic, Greek food is wonderful, and the walks were brilliant. Everything was well organized. I hadn't been to the Greek Islands before, and this tour was the perfect introduction to this beautiful corner of the...

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved it all. I wish we'd had more time on Paros, the least-touristy of the three islands. All the walks were great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Cecile was fabulous: Well organized, knowledgeable, and unflappable--and always there just for a chat if you're looking for company. 10/10.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring cash for meals and incidentals. Credits cards are accepted in many places, but when you are sharing meals in a group, it's inconvenient for everyone if you want to put your meal on a card.

Suggestions

Just book it. Great trip. I will travel with Exodus again.

Read all reviews

Walking on the Greek Islands

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the most scenic trails on the Cyclades trio of Santorini, Naxos and Paros with a local tour leader

Key Information

What's Included

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

A selection of three-star hotels

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Greece

Reviews

Amazing Tour

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

A wonderful introduction to Greece

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suggestions

Walking in Greek Islands

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Great introduction to the Greek Islands!

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Nice walks. but a lot of down time

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Reply from Exodus

Bad value for money

Thoughts on Group Leader

Reply from Exodus

A good trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Disappointing

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Reply from Exodus

Perfect introduction to Greek islands

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic Week

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

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