- Tour code
GRCADV01
- Start
Athens
- End
Santorini
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Relaxed
- Language
English
Greece is a place where you can spend the morning among ancient ruins and the afternoon in the sea, and this trip leans into both. It opens in Athens with a welcome dinner overlooking the Acropolis, a guided visit to the Acropolis and Plaka, and an afternoon food tour covering pies, souvlaki, ouzo and loukoumades.
From there, ferries take you out into the Aegean. Mykonos gives you an old-town walk among the windmills and Little Venice, followed by two unscheduled days to swim, explore or do very little at all. Santorini rounds things off with the village of Oia and a day on a catamaran around the caldera, with swim stops, hot springs and a farewell dinner on board.
It's a relaxed pace by design. The ferries, hotels and headline experiences are arranged ahead of time, and your Soca Islands Host is with the group throughout, so the islands feel like a holiday rather than a to-do list. Groups are kept to between 6 and 16 travelers.
Why This Journey
Island-hopping on your own means juggling ferry timetables, port transfers and hotel check-ins on three different islands. Here that's handled for you, and the time in between is left open: three nights each in Athens and Mykonos and two in Santorini give you room to settle in rather than rush.
It suits travelers who want Greece's history and its beaches in one trip, couples and friends looking for a sociable group with plenty of free time, and anyone visiting the Cyclades for the first time.
Where You'll Stay
Athens (3 nights): Electra Palace Athens, in Plaka below the Acropolis. Mykonos (3 nights): Semeli Hotel, in Mykonos Town. Santorini (2 nights): Aressana Spa Hotel & Suites, in the center of Fira. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Athens International Airport (ATH) and out of Santorini International Airport (JTR); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Private catamaran time on Santorini's caldera as the sun goes down
Whitewashed villages on Santorini and Mykonos
Ancient Athens and its street food
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and beach equipment hire on free days
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land in Athens and a transfer takes you straight to your hotel in Plaka, the old quarter below the Acropolis. Take the afternoon to rest or wander the nearby lanes.
That evening the group's Greek journey begins over a welcome dinner with the Acropolis in view, hosted by your Soca Islands Host, and a first taste of the local cooking.
A local guide leads the way up to the Acropolis and the Parthenon, explaining how the temples were built and what they meant to ancient Athenians. You then walk down through Plaka, the old neighborhood of neoclassical houses, small churches and twisting lanes.
Athens stays up late. If you're keen, try a rooftop bar, a cocktail spot or a bouzouki club after dark.
Take the morning slowly: coffee in a quiet square, a browse through the shops of Monastiraki, or a wander in whichever neighborhood appeals.
In the afternoon a guided food tour gives you a crash course in Greek eating, from flaky pies and souvlaki to ouzo and honey-soaked loukoumades.
Today you cross the Aegean by ferry to Mykonos. Once you've checked in, the group heads into the old town to find the famous windmills and the waterfront houses of Little Venice.
The rest of the day is yours to find your own favorite cafés and corners, and to watch the sun go down over the water.
No plans today. Find a beach, swim, lie in the sun or explore further along the coast. Mykonos makes it easy to choose your own pace, and your Soca Islands Host can suggest beaches to suit your mood.
Another open day. Go snorkeling, seek out quieter coves, or simply rest up before the final island.
In the evening, Mykonos Town's lanes fill with diners and the bars around Little Venice come to life.
The ferry carries you on to Santorini. Spend time in Oia, the clifftop village whose white houses and blue domes spill down toward the caldera.
Walk its lanes, stop for a drink and take in one of the most photographed views in Greece.
Today is spent aboard a catamaran, cruising around the caldera with stops to swim and snorkel in sheltered bays and time in the warm thermal springs.
As the sun goes down, the group sits down to a farewell dinner on deck.
Time to say goodbye to the group. Your departure transfer takes you to Santorini International Airport (JTR) for your flight onward, with your Soca Islands Host on hand to help with the arrangements.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Electra Palace Athens
A neoclassical hotel on Nikodimou Street in Plaka, the old quarter below the Acropolis. Syntagma Square, the Ancient Agora and the lanes of Plaka are a short walk away, which makes it an easy base for a guided morning on the Acropolis and evenings in the old town.
The rooftop has a pool and a restaurant looking straight across to the Parthenon, and Superior rooms, Junior Suites and Suites also face the Acropolis.
Hotel websiteSemeli Hotel
A hotel in the heart of Mykonos Town, within walking distance of the harbor, the windmills and the waterfront houses of Little Venice. Staying in town means the old lanes, bars and restaurants are on the doorstep, and the beaches are a short ride away.
As a five-star hotel in town rather than out on a beach, it suits a stay that mixes old-town evenings with open beach days.
Hotel websiteAressana Spa Hotel & Suites
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World in the center of Fira, Santorini's main town. The caldera-edge path, Fira's restaurants and the bus connections to Oia are all close by.
Built in traditional Cycladic style around a pool with shaded gazebos, it has a spa and a pool lounge, and the top-floor Sea View Suites have private hot tubs.
Hotel websiteRooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Athens Airport (ATH) and out of Santorini International Airport (JTR).
Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation: Electra Palace Athens in Athens (3 nights), Semeli Hotel in Mykonos (3 nights) and Aressana Spa Hotel & Suites in Santorini (2 nights).
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included: from Athens International Airport (ATH) on Day 1 and to Santorini International Airport (JTR) on Day 9. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners are included, among them the welcome dinner in Athens on Day 1 and the farewell dinner on the catamaran on Day 8. Other meals are at your own cost; the Athens food tour on Day 3 includes tastings.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Greece: Athens & the Islands trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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