Pearls of Greece: Athens, Olympia, Zakynthos, Corfu & Meteora (Self-Launched)
8 days · Greece
Choose Balkans charges £1,870
No-markup version: ~£880 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Choose Balkans' 8-day semi-private "Pearls of Greece" loop — same route and highlights (Corinth Canal, Ancient Olympia, Zakynthos' Shipwreck Beach, Patras, Parga, Corfu Town, Meteora and Delphi) done independently using Greece's excellent intercity KTEL buses, ferries and a couple of cheap domestic flights or long bus legs. You'll stay in hostels, guesthouses and budget hotels, join small self-bookable walking tours where a guide genuinely adds value, and keep total costs to roughly a third of the packaged price. Note: bookings are estimates based on typical shoulder-season backpacker rates; late-summer prices on the islands rise significantly.
Day-by-day
Athens → Ancient Olympia via the Corinth Canal
Olympia
Start early at Athens' Kifissos KTEL terminal. Take the KTEL Korinthos bus to the Corinth Canal (about 1h15, ~£7) and walk the pedestrian bridge over the 80m-deep cut for the classic photo — the canal is a quick 30-minute stop, then hop the local bus or a shared taxi onward to Kiato/Patras. From Patras, the KTEL bus down to Ancient Olympia takes about 1h30 (~£9). Check into a guesthouse in the modern village (Anesi or similar, ~£28 dorm/private budget), then use your combined Olympia ticket (€12, valid two days) to walk the archaeological site: the stadium tunnel, Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera and the workshop of Pheidias. Self-guide with the free Hellenic Ministry audio app, or book a 90-minute licensed guide on GetYourGuide (~£22). Evening: pick up a gyros and sit on the village square.
🚌KTEL intercity bus Athens → Corinth Canal → Patras → Olympia, ~£16 total
🛏Budget guesthouse in Olympia village, private twin/double (~£28-35/night)
- →Walk across the Corinth Canal bridge
- →Ancient Olympia archaeological site (combined ticket €12)
- →Temple of Zeus & Temple of Hera
- →Optional GetYourGuide licensed guide (~£22)
Olympia → Zakynthos Island
Zakynthos Town
Bus back to Patras or Kyllini (KTEL bus Olympia–Kyllini direct, ~1h15, ~£6), then take the Levante Ferries car ferry from Kyllini to Zakynthos Town (~1h15, ~£9 per person on foot; check the daily 2-3 sailings and book a foot-passenger ticket at the port or online). Arrive mid-afternoon and check into a hostel or family guesthouse in Zakynthos Town or Laganas (~£22-30 for a dorm or basic double). Spend the afternoon wandering the Solomos Square waterfront and the Venetian Bochali hill viewpoint, or rent a scooter/ATV for the coming days (~£20/day including insurance). Dinner of local ladotyri and sardines in a taverna (~£10).
🚌KTEL bus Olympia → Kyllini (~£6) + Levante Ferries Kyllini → Zakynthos (~£9)
🛏Hostel or family guesthouse, Zakynthos Town/Laganas (~£22-30)
- →Kyllini–Zakynthos ferry crossing
- →Bochali hill viewpoint & Solomos Square
- →Optional scooter rental for island days (~£20/day)
Zakynthos: Shipwreck Beach & the North Coast
Zakynthos Island
Full day on the island. Take the morning KTEL/local bus to Volimes or Anafonitria (~£4) and hike or taxi the short distance to the Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) viewpoint — the dramatic clifftop view is free, whereas the boat trips to the beach itself are frequently suspended due to landslide risk. Alternatively, book a small-group north-coast boat trip via GetYourGuide or a local operator in Zakynthos Town (~£28-35) that passes the Blue Caves and Navagio from the water. Afternoon: swim at Porto Limnionas or Xigia sulphur beach, and keep an eye out for loggerhead sea turtles around Laganas Bay (a responsible turtle-spotting boat tour is ~£22). Evening back in town.
🚌Local bus to Volimes (~£4) + optional boat trip
🛏Hostel or family guesthouse, Zakynthos Town/Laganas (~£22-30)
- →Navagio Shipwreck Beach viewpoint (free)
- →Blue Caves boat trip via GetYourGuide (~£30)
- →Porto Limnionas / Xigia beach swim
- →Optional turtle-spotting boat (~£22)
Zakynthos → Patras
Patras
Morning ferry back from Zakynthos Town to Kyllini (~£9), then the KTEL bus north to Patras (~1h, ~£7). Drop your bag at a central budget hotel or hostel near Psila Alonia (~£28-35). Spend the afternoon on the free sights: the Roman Odeon (open-air, free to view), the hilltop Patras Castle (free entry, great sunset), and the sweeping view of the Rio-Antirrio bridge from the seafront promenade. In the evening join the locals on the promenade for a freddo espresso, then eat at a taverna in the old Upper Town (~£12). Patras' famous carnival runs Jan–Feb if you time it right.
🚌Ferry Zakynthos → Kyllini (~£9) + KTEL bus to Patras (~£7)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel central Patras (~£28-35)
- →Roman Odeon of Patras (free)
- →Patras Castle (free)
- →Rio-Antirrio Bridge viewpoint
- →Seafront promenade evening stroll
Patras → Preveza → Parga → Igoumenitsa → Corfu
Corfu Town
A travel-heavy day, so leave early. KTEL bus Patras → Preveza (~2h45, ~£14); stretch your legs around Preveza's pretty harbour and old town for an hour. Continue with the local bus to Parga (~1h, ~£5) — the Venetian castle and the narrow lanes lined with artisan shops are worth two hours, and there's a small beach for a quick dip. Take the afternoon bus to Igoumenitsa (~1h, ~£5) and board the ferry to Corfu Town (KTEL/Green Buses or Kerkyra Lines, ~1h15, ~£9). Check into a guesthouse or hostel in Corfu's old town (~£30-38 in shoulder season). Eat dinner in the cobbled Campiello district.
🚌KTEL Patras→Preveza (~£14) + local buses Preveza→Parga→Igoumenitsa (~£10) + ferry Igoumenitsa→Corfu (~£9)
🛏Old town guesthouse/hostel, Corfu Town (~£30-38)
- →Preveza harbour & old town
- →Parga Venetian castle & lanes
- →Ferry crossing to Corfu
- →Campiello district dinner
Corfu Town & the Island
Corfu Town
Morning: join a self-bookable 2-hour small-group walking tour of the UNESCO-listed old town via GetYourGuide (~£18) — it covers the Liston, the Campiello alleys, the Jewish Quarter and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George. Alternatively pick up the free audio walking route from the tourist office. Afternoon: hop the No. 2 city bus to Kanoni and Mon Repos, or take the cheap local bus to Glyfada or Paleokastritsa for a swim (~£3 each way). Evening: explore the old fortress (€6) for sunset views, then browse the artisan shops in the Evraiki quarter.
🚌Local Corfu buses (~£6 total)
🛏Old town guesthouse/hostel, Corfu Town (~£30-38)
- →GetYourGuide Corfu old town walking tour (~£18)
- →Palace of St. Michael and St. George (exterior/free entry to gardens)
- →Old Fortress (€6)
- →Optional Paleokastritsa beach bus trip
Corfu → Igoumenitsa → Meteora
Kalabaka
Early ferry back to Igoumenitsa (~£9), then KTEL bus to Ioannina (~1h30, ~£8) and change for Kalabaka (~2h, ~£10); total travel around 6 hours. Check into a guesthouse in Kalabaka or Kastraki with a rock view (~£25-32). Late afternoon: hike or take a local taxi up to the Great Meteoron or Varlaam monastery (monastery entry €3 each, modest dress required — shoulders and knees covered). Sunset from the rocks above Kastraki is the highlight, and it's free. Dinner in Kalabaka (~£11).
🚌Ferry Corfu→Igoumenitsa (~£9) + KTEL bus Igoumenitsa→Ioannina→Kalabaka (~£18)
🛏Guesthouse in Kalabaka/Kastraki (~£25-32)
- →Meteora monasteries visit (entry €3 each)
- →Sunset viewpoint above Kastraki
- →Optional guided Meteora hike via GetYourGuide (~£22)
Kalabaka → Delphi → Athens
Athens
Take the 07:30-ish KTEL bus from Kalabaka to Trikala/Amfissa or, if the direct seasonal service isn't running, go via Lamia and change for Delphi (~4-5h, ~£18 total). Spend three hours at the Delphi archaeological site and museum (combined ticket €12): the Temple of Apollo, the Castalian Fountain, the Treasury of the Athenians, the theatre, the stadium, and the bronze Charioteer and Sphinx of the Naxians in the museum. Optional guided tour booked ahead on GetYourGuide (~£28). Late afternoon KTEL bus Delphi → Athens (~2h45, ~£16), arriving at Liosion terminal by early evening — perfectly timed for a metro hop into the centre.
🚌KTEL bus Kalabaka→Delphi (~£18) + KTEL Delphi→Athens (~£16)
🛏Own arrangements in Athens (or budget hostel ~£25 if staying on)
- →Delphi archaeological site & museum (€12)
- →Temple of Apollo, Castalian Fountain, Treasury of the Athenians, theatre & stadium
- →Optional GetYourGuide Delphi guide (~£28)
Self-launched vs. Choose Balkans
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Choose Balkans | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£880 | £1,870 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £990 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Choose Balkans-style trips? Check them out here.~£880
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 Pearls of Greece: Athens, Olympia, Zakynthos, Corfu & Meteora (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £880 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 Choose Balkans?+
Yes — Choose Balkans charges around £1,870 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £880 — a saving of roughly £990 (53%) per person.
How long is the Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, beaches, 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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