Sailing the Cyclades: Mykonos to Santorini (Self-Launched)
8 days · Cyclades, Greece
G Adventures charges £950
No-markup version: ~£565 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched island-hopping version of G Adventures' Mykonos–Santorini sailing trip, done with the Greek ferry network instead of a crewed yacht. You'll cover the same Cyclades highlights — Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Antiparos, Ios and the Santorini caldera — using fast ferries and local excursion boats, sleeping in hostels and family-run guesthouses, and joining small-group boat and snorkel trips bookable via GetYourGuide or directly at the harbour. Costs assume shoulder season (late May–June or September) and solo traveller in a shared dorm or twin-share room. All figures are approximate.
Day-by-day
Arrive Mykonos & explore Hora
Mykonos
Fly or ferry into Mykonos (fast ferry from Athens/Piraeus ~£45-65, or fly to JMK). Check into a hostel in or just outside Hora, then wander the whitewashed lanes, windmills and Little Venice on foot. Catch sunset from the Kato Mili windmills, then eat at an inexpensive taverna away from the waterfront (souvlaki or gyros ~£8). Book tomorrow's ferry to Naxos at Ferryhopper.com this evening.
🚌Local bus or airport transfer to Hora; ferries booked via Ferryhopper
🛏Hostel in Mykonos Hora or Paraga (dorm/twin-share)
- →Self-guided walk of Mykonos Hora and Little Venice
- →Windmill sunset viewpoint
- →Evening taverna dinner
Mykonos to Naxos — island intro and sunset at the Portara
Naxos
Morning fast ferry from Mykonos to Naxos (~1 hour, ~£25-35). Drop bags at your guesthouse near Hora, then explore the old town's kastro and take the short walk to the Portara (Temple of Apollo gate) for sunset. Optionally join a half-day guided Naxos highlights tour bookable on GetYourGuide (~£40-55) covering the Temple of Demeter and the island's interior.
🚌Fast ferry Mykonos–Naxos (~£25-35)
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Naxos Hora
- →Naxos old town and kastro walk
- →Portara sunset
- →Optional GetYourGuide Naxos highlights tour
Naxos: Mount Zeus hike and microbrewery
Naxos
Self-launch the operator's 'Naxos adventure day': local bus to Filoti (~£3), then hike up Mount Zeus (Zas) — around 3-4 hours return, free, and arguably better than any paid tour. Stop at a village taverna for lunch, visit a small microbrewery or the Kitron liqueur distillery near Chalki, and bus back to Hora in the evening. Alternatively, book a guided version through GetYourGuide if you'd rather not navigate buses (~£60-80 including meal).
🚌Local KTEL buses to Filoti/Chalki (~£5 total)
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Naxos Hora
- →Mount Zeus (Zas) hike
- →Chalki village and Kitron distillery
- →Optional microbrewery visit
Paros & Antiparos — caves and beaches
Paros / Antiparos
Morning ferry Naxos–Paros (~45 min, ~£15-20). Check into a guesthouse in Parikia, then take the local bus to Pounta and the 5-minute ferry to Antiparos (~£2). Explore the Antiparos Cave independently (entry ~£6), and swim at a nearby beach. Return to Paros for dinner in Parikia's old town. Small-group boat trips around Antiparos and Despotiko are bookable locally or via GetYourGuide (~£45-65).
🚌Ferry Naxos–Paros (~£15-20); local bus and short ferry to Antiparos
🛏Guesthouse in Parikia, Paros
- →Antiparos Cave
- →Antiparos beaches
- →Parikia old town evening
Paros to Ios — Manganari beach and Homer's tomb
Ios
Morning ferry Paros–Ios (~1 hour, ~£18-25). Base yourself at Ios Hora or the quieter Mylopotas. Take the local bus or a shared taxi to Manganari beach for the afternoon, and in the late afternoon walk up to Homer's Tomb on the hill above Plakotos for big sunset views — both free. Optionally join a small-boat trip to hidden coves around the island (~£35-50).
🚌Ferry Paros–Ios (~£18-25); local buses
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Ios Hora / Mylopotas
- →Manganari beach
- →Homer's Tomb walk
- →Optional small-boat cove trip
Ios to Santorini — caldera villages and Oia sunset
Santorini
Short fast ferry Ios–Santorini (~45 min, ~£20-28). Check into a hostel in Fira or Karterados, then walk the cliff path toward Imerovigli. In the evening take the local bus to Oia for the famous sunset — busy and free, or book a caldera catamaran cruise via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£90-130) as the paid alternative to the operator's yacht sunset.
🚌Ferry Ios–Santorini (~£20-28); local buses to Oia
🛏Hostel in Fira or Karterados, Santorini
- →Fira–Imerovigli caldera walk
- →Oia sunset
- →Optional catamaran caldera cruise
Thirassia day trip — caldera snorkelling and hilltop village
Thirassia
Trade the yacht for the local boat: catch the morning ferry or excursion boat from Ammoudi/Riva to Thirassia (~£8-15 return). Snorkel off the clear rocky coves, walk up to the hilltop village of Manolas for lunch and caldera views, and swim at Korfos. This is the same island the G Adventures yacht anchors at — you just arrive by public boat. Return to Santorini for a final dinner in Fira.
🚌Local boat/ferry to Thirassia (~£8-15 return); local bus
🛏Hostel in Fira or Karterados, Santorini
- →Thirassia snorkelling
- →Manolas hilltop village walk
- →Korfos swim
Santorini departure
Santorini
Breakfast, then a final morning swim or the short bus ride to Kamari/Perissa black-sand beach if your flight is late. Local bus or transfer to Santorini airport (JTR) or the Athinios ferry port for onward travel to Athens or other islands.
🚌Local bus or shared transfer to airport/port (~£3-15)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional black-sand beach stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£565 | £950 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £385 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£565
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sailing the Cyclades: Mykonos to Santorini (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £565 per person for 8 days in Cyclades, Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £565 — a saving of roughly £385 (41%) per person.
How long is the Cyclades, Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Cyclades, Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a backpacker, beaches, adventure trip through Cyclades, Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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