Take in extraordinary views and soak up local culture as you hike among whitewashed villages and rugged coasts of three spectacular Greek Isles: Naxos, Santorini, and Crete.
Activity Level: This is a Moderate Active Journey. Travelers should be reasonably fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours at a time, occasionally over steep and uneven terrain. Travelers can expect 3 to 7 miles of hiking or walking on most days with some elevation gains. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day. Read more about Active Journeys activity levels here.
This Active Journey is limited to a maximum of 16 travelers per departure.
The Greek Isles: An Active Journey to Naxos, Santorini, and Crete
10 days from $5,299
Take in extraordinary views and soak up local culture as you hike among whitewashed villages and rugged coasts of three spectacular Greek Isles: Naxos, Santorini, and Crete.
Activity Level: This is a Moderate Active Journey. Travelers should be reasonably fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours at a time, occasionally over steep and uneven terrain. Travelers can expect 3 to 7 miles of hiking or walking on most days with some elevation gains. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day. Read more about Active Journeys activity levels here.
This Active Journey is limited to a maximum of 16 travelers per departure.
Overview
Turn off the beaten path and gain a more intimate perspective of the popular Greek Isles on a hiking adventure on three unique islands: Naxos, Santorini, and Crete. After an evening in the heart of Athens admiring Acropolis views, ride the ferry to Naxos to explore its charming old town and hike through history among the villages of the interior. On Santorini, trek along the caldera’s edge through whitewashed villages and paddle a sea kayak to famous beaches on the southern coast. Cap off the adventure on Crete, where you’ll embark on a lively food tour of Heraklion, hike the coast of Spinalonga, and encounter myth-infused sites and ancient culinary traditions on a jeep safari.
Highlights:
- Naxos: Learn about local legends as you explore the lovely town of Chora and its castle, and hike the Seven Villages loop trail in the island’s interior, discovering ancient Greek sculptures and scenes of rural life along the way.
- Santorini: Paddle a sea kayak along the southern coast, seeing the famous Red and White Beaches from a unique perspective and taking in the sunset from the water. Hike along the edge of the caldera from Fira to Oia and explore the Akrotiri archaeological site.
- Crete: Hike past the Elouta salt pans to the Spinalonga Peninsula, enjoying panoramic views of Crete’s coast. Then embark on an 4x4 adventure in the island’s interior, venturing to ancient sites and traditional villages. Enjoy free time to visit the sites of Heraklion on your own.
- Cuisine and Culture: Set out on a food tour of Heraklion with a local guide, sampling local specialties, and discover age-old traditions in the heart of Crete, with visits to an ancient wine press, an olive oil producer, and a pottery workshop.
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
Itinerary
Day 1-2 - Athens, Greece
Fly overnight to Athens and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Gather for a short orientation walk in the vibrant Plaka neighborhood, admiring the city’s iconic sites. This evening, get to know your trip leader and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner at a restaurant with views of the Acropolis. (D)
Walking: 1-2 miles over paved city streets
Day 3 - Athens to Naxos
Take an early ferry to Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades. Arrive in time for lunch at a local restaurant and then set out on a walking tour of the old town, or Chora, with your guide. Filled with architectural gems, the old town reveals layers of history, from the myth-infused sites of the ancient Greeks to the Venetian conquest in the 13th century. Ascend cobbled streets to Kastro, the town’s castle district, once home to the island’s nobility. Learn about local legends and customs as you meander its narrow lanes, and end your walk at the Portara, a massive marble doorway that is all that remains of a sixth-century Temple of Apollo. The site offers a stunning vista of the town and the Aegean Sea beyond. (B, L)
Walking: 1-2 miles over paved and uneven cobblestoned streets
Day 4 - Naxos
Venture into the beautiful interior of Naxos for a hike along the Seven Villages loop trail. Beginning in the village of Kourounochori, head into verdant hills and valleys on paths that weave through the remote villages, passing olive groves and timeless scenes of rural life. Along the trail, stop to admire marble kouros statues that date back to the ancient Greeks, and visit the enchanting ruins of a 17th-century Jesuit monastery. Return to Chora after lunch and enjoy a free afternoon to take a walk to the beach or relax at a waterfront café. (B, L)
Hiking: 7 miles (5-6 hours with stops) on stone and dirt paths, village lanes, and small roads with mild elevation gain.
Day 5 - Santorini
Board a morning ferry to Santorini and transfer to your hotel on arrival. Explore the island on foot, taking in the dramatic vistas of the cliffs topped with whitewashed villages curving along the edge of an immense volcanic caldera. Later, head to Akrotiri beach for a sunset sea-kayaking excursion. Paddle along the island's southern coast toward the famed Red, Kambia, and White beaches while admiring the sunset over the sea. Stop for a picnic of local fruits and snacks along the way. Alternatively, stay on land and hike from Red Beach to the Akrotiri Lighthouse, following a path along the southernmost tip of the island and arriving in time to catch the sunset. (B, L)
Walking: Brief orientation walking tour
Afternoon Option 1: Hiking: 4 miles (3 hours) on paved or dirt roads with mild elevation gain
Afternoon Option 2: Sea Kayaking: 3 hours
Day 6 - Santorini
Set out on a half-day hike from Fira to Oia, following the cliff on a trail shaped by the caldera itself. Your route affords spectacular views every step of the way, winding through the picturesque villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli, perched high above the sea. Arrive in Oia and take a guided walk before lunch on your own. Later, head to the Akrotiri Archaeological Site to tour its Minoan ruins, which date back to 5,000 BC, with a local expert. Gather tonight for dinner with the group. (B, D)
Hiking: 6-7 miles (4 hours) on paved and dirt roads and village lanes, with a gradual ascent
Day 7 - Santorini to Crete
The morning is yours to explore Santorini at your leisure. After lunch on your own, transfer to the port to catch a ferry to the island of Crete. Arrive in Heraklion by late afternoon and check in to your hotel. In the evening, set off on a culinary walk with a local guide, sampling local specialties at traditional shops and food producers. Taste local made cheeses and honey, learn about the diverse uses and varieties of herbs on the island, and stop in at a bakery to sample pastries such as kalitsounia and ladokouloura. End the tour at a restaurant on the harbor, savoring Cretan seafood dishes accompanied by raki, a traditional Cretan welcome drink. (B, D)
Walking: 2 hours on paved or cobblestoned city streets
Day 8 - Crete
After breakfast, travel to the town of Elounda on the eastern coast. Today’s trail brings you past the Elounda salt pans and along a narrow causeway that separates the Spinalonga Peninsula from the mainland of Crete. Hike along the peninsula’s rugged coast, taking in panoramic views of Crete, before turning inland to explore the hilly interior. Head back to Heraklion with lunch enroute at a local restaurant. During a free afternoon in Heraklion, consider visiting the impressive Heraklion Archeological Museum or the Bronze Age Palace of Knossos. (B, L)
Hiking: 4-5 miles (2.5 hours) on mostly flat dirt and gravel trails
Day 9 - Crete
Embark on a full-day, back-country excursion, exploring Crete by 4x4 jeep and by foot. Immerse yourself in the island’s rich history and culture, exploring traditions and everyday life from the era of the ancient Minoans to today. Your journey begins at sacred Mount Juktas, known in Greek mythology as the resting place of Zeus. Visit the Church of Christ Savior, poised on a rocky outcrop, and take in 360-degree views from the mountaintop. Continue by jeep along country roads and sample its renowned olive oils and wines. Visit one of Europe’s oldest wine presses at the ancient site of Vathypetro and witness how local olive oil has been produced here since 3,500 BC. Learn about Cretan cuisine—and the fresh ingredients that go into it—over a delicious three-course lunch. Then step into a pottery workshop to watch artisans plying their ancient craft. Tonight, toast your Greek Isles adventure at a farewell dinner. (B, L, D)
Hiking: 1-2 miles of short hikes during 6-hour jeep safari
Day 10 - Crete
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport in time for your flight home. (B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)