Just a little hello from two of your happy campers to say thank you again for a truly wonderful walking tour and for sending us the lovely group photo as a memento of unforgettable times shared in such a stunning part of the world. I am sure the tour you led following ours, was equally amazing for your group and we have no intentions of letting the dust settle on our hiking shoes for any longer than necessary, before we embark on another wonderful and hopefully challenging, walking adventure. Keep up the great work!!
Imagine this…dry stone walls and olive groves with their wonderfully gnarled tree trunks; the heady scent of aromatic herbs along walking trails; delightful little villages with white-washed houses and narrow streets just wide enough for a donkey to pass; picturesque fishing harbours with their colourful fat-bellied boats and weather-beaten fishermen mending their nets in the sun; brilliant shades of blue everywhere – church domes, shutters and doors, wooden chairs, crystal-clear sea and cloudless sky; toes popping out of the water as you float in the amazingly buoyant Aegean Sea; the Greek people – dramatic, mercurial, sociable and hospitable, and the food – wonderful Greek salads, thick creamy yoghurt, crusty bread and delicious dips, tasty kebabs, all enjoyed outdoors at a shady taverna or a waterfront café…
It’s all waiting for you on your magical Greek Islands walking tour!
This trip is a relaxed walking holiday, though all walks are include, we can arrange optional transfers for non-walkers to meet us at a beachside taverna after our walk. We also include a unique food tour in Athens which is sure to be a highlight of your time here and a great introduction, not only to Greek food, but also local culture.
We will be walking at a leisurely pace for 2 – 4 hours on donkey trails and through picturesque villages and olive groves. Sometimes we end down to the coast where we will have lunch and maybe a swim at the end of our walks. This is a great way to see the the Greek Islands from a more local perspective. Meeting the locals, discovering hidden gems and learning about the Greek way of life is a highlight. This tour is for you if you are reasonably active and enjoy walking on country trails, learning about new cultures and sampling delicious food.
Our wonderful Greek Islands walking tour takes you to hidden villages, cultural gems and through varied and beautiful scenery that changes around every turn of the path.
TRIP SUMMARY
Duration: 16 days starting and ending in Athens
Trip focus: Island stays with leisurely day walks
Accommodation: 15 nights comfortable hotels on a twin share basis
Transport: Plane, van, taxi and ferry
Group Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 12 + tour leader
Local payment: €300 per person, included in price above
Single supplement: €616
Combine this trip with our Amalfi Coast Walking and Cuisine tour OR our Crete Explorer
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- SET tour leader throughout plus local food and walking guides
- 15 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- Walking food tour of Athens old town
- All Greek Islands walking tours as specified in the itinerary
- All transport as per itinerary
- Ferry Paros – Naxos – Santorini
- Domestic flights Athens – Samos – Paros, Santorini – Athens
- Cooking class in Naxos
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
- International airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Meals not included above
- Drinks
- Optional excursions: Full day excursion from Samos to Turkey
Local payments:
This is part of the overall trip price, which is paid to the tour leader on day one of the tour. It helps our tour leader pay for local expenses that have to be paid in cash. Especially in the current economic climate, if there are any problems in withdrawing enough funds in Greece, this ensures the smooth running of the trip.
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL DAY ATHENS
Arrive at your leisure in Athens, where you’ll meet your tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome drink later in the evening. We’ll introduce you to the wonderful Greek food at one of our favourite restaurants overlooking the Acropolis.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 2 – ATHENS
Enjoy an insightful food tour of Athens this morning, wandering off the tourist route to sample many local delicacies and visit the central markets. The tour ends around 12:45pm. Afternoon at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Snack Lunch
DAY 3 – FLIGHT TO SAMOS
Airport transfer this morning to join your flight to the island of Samos where you will stay at a friendly family-run 3 star hotel near the waterfront in Pythagorio. Enjoy an afternoon walk around this picturesque town.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 4 – DAY EXCURSION TO TURKEY & EPHESUS
Dependent on the ferry schedule, we will offer a full day excursion to Turkey where you can visit the impressive archaeological site of Ephesus – extensive remains of ancient civilisation – and haggle in the bazaar at Kusadasi.
** Important note: If the sailing is cancelled and we are not able to go to Ephesus, we will replace it with a hiking day.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 5 – SAMOS
This morning we will take a walk this morning up to a little monastery with a great view across the town of Pythagorio and the Straits of Mykale to Turkey. Later we’ll head down to the beach where you might have a swim or wander back into town for a free afternoon to enjoy the shopping in Pythagorio.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAYS 6 & 7 – SAMOS
These next couple of days we’ll head along the northern coast to the picturesque mountain villages. Walking on ancient paths, the only access from the coast to the village before the road was built. Our walks will vary from coastal to mountains, valleys and hidden canyons. All depending on weather and group ability. We’ll also have time to relax over a cold drink at a little local taverna or waterfront restaurant before heading back to Pythagorio.
Meals Included: 2 Breakfasts
DAYS 8 TO 10 – PAROS
On day 8 we take a flight from Samos, via Athens to Paros and transfer to our friendly family-run hotel. Our local guide will take you on a journey through the nature, history and tradition of the island, exploring our ‘monopatia’, age-old but now largely forgotten footpaths. Our walks vary in duration and difficulty; from countryside walks to coastal hiking adventures, where we blend natural & man-made scenic beauty, cultural & historical sights.
Meals included: 3 Breakfasts and 1 Dinner
DAY 11 – FERRY TO NAXOS
Board a ferry for the trip to Naxos and transfer to our beachfront hotel which is just a 10-minute walk from the main town and port. Explore the picturesque old town of Naxos with its maze of little streets and tiny shops with your guide this morning.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAYS 12 & 13 – NAXOS
Enjoy a great walk with our local guide through little villages in the centre of this fertile island. We’ll have lunch at a lovely little Taverna, before returning to our hotel in the late afternoon. Another walk will be the ancient pathways and river walk which will show you a totally different part of Naxos. On one of the days, enjoy a cooking class at a local family tavern and learn to cook some of the wonderful Greek delicacies that you’ve been sampling so far on the trip.
Meals included: 2 Breakfasts and 1 Lunch
DAY 14 – FERRY TO SANTORINI
Today we board the ferry to Santorini – surely one of the world’s most spectacular islands. The view from our cliff top hotel is breathtaking! Enjoy amazing views on our walk along the cliff-top path to the main town of Fira this afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 15 – SANTORINI
Today’s walk along the rim of the crater to the picturesque little town of Oia is a photographer’s delight. Though be aware that this is a hot, 3 – 4 hour walk with no shade so you may prefer to take the local bus to explore this charming small town, it’s well worth a visit. Or spend your last day visiting the ancient ruins of Akrotiri or simply relaxing by the hotel pool and enjoy the amazing caldera view. You’ll have lots of memories to share at our farewell dinner this evening.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner
DAY 16 – DEPARTURE DAY SANTORINI TO ATHENS AIRPORT
Morning flight to Athens where your tour ends at Athens International Airport around midday.
Meals Included: Breakfast
TESTIMONIALS
HIGHLIGHTS
DATES
| Start Date | End Date | Availability | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th May 2020 | 22nd May 2020 | AVAILABLE | €3,698 |
| 10th Sep 2020 | 25th Sep 2020 | AVAILABLE | €3,698 |
| 6th May 2021 | 21st May 2021 | AVAILABLE | €3,698 |
| 9th Sep 2021 | 24th Sep 2021 | AVAILABLE | €3,698 |
