Absolutely Greek: Self-Launched Athens, Saronic Islands & Classical Mainland Loop
8 days · Greece
Eskapas charges £1,540
No-markup version: ~£690 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, backpacker-priced version of Eskapas's 8-day "Absolutely Greek" coach tour: Athens' Acropolis and Plaka, a DIY Saronic Gulf island hop (Hydra, Poros, Aegina), then the classical mainland loop by public KTEL bus and train — Epidaurus, Nafplio, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi and the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora. Same sites, same route, no coach group, no set departures and roughly half the price. Book Acropolis and museum tickets direct on the official e-ticketing site, island ferries on Ferryhopper/Blue Star, and intercity buses on KTEL — all costs below are approximate per-person estimates in GBP for a solo traveller using hostels and guesthouses.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Athens — Plaka and Anafiotika at golden hour
Athens
Land at Athens Airport (ATH) and take Metro Line 3 straight into the centre (Monastiraki or Syntagma, ~€9/£8, 40 mins) — no private transfer needed. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in Plaka, Monastiraki or Psyrri (£15-22 dorm, £35-45 private). Spend the late afternoon wandering Plaka's lanes and the whitewashed Anafiotika quarter tucked under the Acropolis, then find a rooftop bar in Monastiraki for the Parthenon lit up after dark. Grab a gyros or souvlaki dinner for £5-7.
🚌Airport Metro Line 3 to Monastiraki/Syntagma, ~€9 (£8)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Plaka/Monastiraki (£15-22 dorm)
- →Metro transfer from Athens Airport
- →Self-guided Plaka and Anafiotika walk
- →Monastiraki rooftop sunset views
- →Gyros dinner in Psyrri
Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and the classical city circuit
Athens
Pre-book a timed Acropolis ticket on the official hhticket.gr site (~€20/£17 in summer; £10 off-season) for the 8am slot to beat both heat and crowds — €30 combo ticket also covers the Ancient Agora, Kerameikos and Temple of Olympian Zeus. Climb via the Propylaea to the Parthenon and Areopagus (Mars Hill), then spend two hours in the superb Acropolis Museum (€15/£13). In the afternoon do the free walking loop the coach tour drives past: Syntagma's Parliament and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (catch the hourly evzones change of guard), the National Academy and University, Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and a lap of the marble Panathenaic Stadium (optional €10 entry). Optional: a £20-25 GetYourGuide Acropolis guided entry if you want the history explained.
🚌All on foot; metro single ~€1.20
🛏Same hostel/guesthouse in Athens
- →Timed Acropolis entry (self-booked, ~£17)
- →Acropolis Museum (self-booked, ~£13)
- →Free city landmarks walk: Parliament, Academy, Hadrian's Arch, Olympian Zeus
- →Panathenaic Stadium (optional)
DIY Saronic Gulf island hop: Hydra, Poros, Aegina
Saronic Gulf / Aegina
Skip the crowded organised day-cruise and run the same three islands yourself on public ferries — you get far more time on Hydra. Early hydrofoil/ferry from Piraeus to Hydra (~1h40, €30-35/£27 one way); Hydra has no cars, so walk the harbour, climb to the Cannons and swim off Spilia rocks. Midday ferry Hydra to Poros (~30 mins, ~€10/£9) for a quick waterfront lunch and the clock tower viewpoint, then afternoon ferry Poros to Aegina (~1h, ~€10/£9). Overnight on Aegina in a guesthouse (£30-40) so you can see the Temple of Aphaia at ease — local bus from Aegina town (~€3) or a taxi. Return ferry to Piraeus next morning is included in Day 4 transport, or take the evening ferry back to Athens if you prefer one base.
🚌Public ferries Piraeus–Hydra–Poros–Aegina (~£50 total), Aegina local bus ~£3
🛏Guesthouse on Aegina (£30-40) or return to Athens hostel
- →Hydra harbour and Spilia swim (self-guided)
- →Poros clock tower and waterfront
- →Temple of Aphaia, Aegina
- →Ferry-hopping on public boats
Ferry back, then bus to Nafplio via Corinth Canal and Epidaurus
Nafplio
Morning ferry Aegina to Piraeus (~1h, ~€10/£9), then Metro to KTEL Kifissos bus station and the coach to Nafplio (~2h30, €15-18/£14). Break the journey at the Corinth Canal for the bungee-platform photo stop (bus stops at Isthmos; cross the bridge on foot). From Nafplio take the local KTEL bus or a shared taxi to the Theatre of Epidaurus (30 mins, ~€4) — one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in Greece, with the Asclepius sanctuary and museum alongside (€12/£10 entry). Base yourself in Nafplio's old town in a guesthouse or hostel (£25-35) and eat dinner on Syntagma Square.
🚌Aegina–Piraeus ferry ~£9, KTEL bus Piraeus–Nafplio £14, local bus to Epidaurus £4
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Nafplio old town (£25-35)
- →Corinth Canal photo stop
- →Theatre of Epidaurus and Asclepius site (~£10)
- →Nafplio old town evening
Mycenae and the Tomb of Agamemnon, then on to Olympia
Olympia
Morning local bus to Mycenae (40 mins, ~€4-5); walk the Lion Gate, the citadel and the beehive Tomb of Agamemnon (Treasury of Atreus) plus the site museum (€12/£10). Return to Nafplio for lunch, then take the afternoon KTEL bus west to Olympia via Tripoli/Pyrgos (~3h30, €20-25/£20). Note that public buses on this stretch are fewer than a coach tour's schedule — check ktelbus.com the day before. Check into a family guesthouse in Olympia village (£25-30) and eat simply at a taverna.
🚌Local bus to Mycenae ~£4, KTEL bus Nafplio–Olympia ~£20
🛏Family guesthouse in Olympia (£25-30)
- →Mycenae citadel and Lion Gate (~£10)
- →Tomb of Agamemnon
- →Mycenae museum
Ancient Olympia, then bus via the Rio-Antirrio bridge to Delphi
Delphi
Get to the Sanctuary of Olympia at opening (8am) to see the Ancient Stadium, Temple of Zeus and the workshop of Pheidias before the coach groups arrive — combined site-and-museum ticket €12/£10. Two hours is plenty. Then take the KTEL bus north over the spectacular Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge (photo stop from the window) via Patras to Delphi/Arachova (~4h, €22-25/£22). Buses are limited so book in the morning at the Olympia station. Overnight in Arachova or Delphi village in a guesthouse (£30-35); dinner in Arachova is a treat.
🚌KTEL Olympia–Patras–Delphi ~£22 (Rio-Antirrio bridge crossing)
🛏Guesthouse in Delphi or Arachova (£30-35)
- →Sanctuary of Olympia and Ancient Stadium (~£10)
- →Olympia archaeological museum
- →Rio-Antirrio bridge crossing
Delphi by morning, Meteora monasteries by evening
Kalambaka / Meteora
Be at the Delphi archaeological site for 8am opening (€12/£10, includes the museum): the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and the Charioteer of Delphi, with Mount Parnassus towering above. Then take the afternoon KTEL bus Delphi–Lamia–Trikala–Kalambaka (~4h30-5h, €25/£22) — the longest leg of the trip, so buy the ticket at the Delphi station early. Check into a guesthouse in Kalambaka (£25-30) beneath the rock formations, then walk up at sunset to a viewpoint over the monasteries.
🚌KTEL Delphi–Kalambaka via Lamia/Trikala ~£22
🛏Guesthouse in Kalambaka (£25-30)
- →Delphi archaeological site and museum (~£10)
- →Delphi museum's Charioteer
- →Meteora sunset viewpoint walk
Meteora monasteries at dawn, then bus back to Athens
Kalambaka / Athens
Take the early local bus up to the monasteries (€2-3 each way, or a shared taxi ~€10) and visit two or three of the active monasteries — Great Meteoron, Varlaam and Holy Trinity — before the tour buses hit at 10am. Modest dress required (shoulders and knees covered; monasteries themselves charge €3 each). Walk back down through Kastraki for the classic view of the rocks. Afternoon KTEL bus Kalambaka to Athens (~4h30, €25-30/£24) — or the scenic train to Athens if you booked ahead. Finish with a final night in an Athens hostel (£15-22) and a souvlaki in Monastiraki.
🚌Local bus to monasteries ~£5, KTEL Kalambaka–Athens ~£24
🛏Hostel in Athens (£15-22) if staying the night
- →Great Meteoron and Varlaam monasteries (€3 each)
- →Kastraki viewpoint walk
- →Optional Thermopylae stop en route by bus
Departure from Athens
Athens
Metro Line 3 back to Athens Airport (~€9/£8) for your flight home — budget around 1 hour door to gate. If you have a late flight, leave bags at the hostel and do a last coffee in Plaka or the National Archaeological Museum (€12/£10), which the coach tour skips entirely.
🚌Metro Line 3 to Athens Airport ~£8
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Optional National Archaeological Museum (~£10)
- →Last walk through Plaka
Self-launched vs. Eskapas
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Eskapas | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£690 | £1,540 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £850 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Eskapas-style trips? Check them out here.~£690
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 Absolutely Greek: Self-Launched Athens, Saronic Islands & Classical Mainland Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £690 per person for 8 days in 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 Eskapas?+
Yes — Eskapas charges around £1,540 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £690 — a saving of roughly £850 (55%) per person.
How long is the Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through 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 culture, budget, backpacker trip through 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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