Greek Island Hopping: Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini & Mykonos (Self-Launched)
10 days · Greece (Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos)
Travel Zone charges £2,520
No-markup version: ~£1,072 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Travel Zone's 10-day four-island Greek hop, done independently by ferry and local bus. You'll still see Zakynthos' Shipwreck viewpoint and Blue Caves, Milos' moonscape Sarakiniko, Santorini's volcano and Oia sunset, and Mykonos' Little Venice and Delos — but you book your own guesthouses and public ferries instead of paying for a guided group. Costs assume shoulder-season (May/June or September) travel, ferries booked a few weeks ahead and dorms/budget doubles in family-run guesthouses. Peak July–August will push accommodation up by roughly 50–100%.
Day-by-day
Athens → Zakynthos
Athens / Zakynthos
Fly into Athens, then either take the 1-hour domestic flight to Zakynthos (Ryanair/Aegean, ~£40–70 if booked early) or the cheaper but slower KTEL bus from Athens to Kyllini (~3.5 hrs, ~£18) plus the ferry to Zakynthos town (~1.25 hrs, ~£8). Check into a guesthouse or budget hotel in Zakynthos Town or Laganas, then wander the town's Solomos Square and have dinner at a taverna near the port.
🚌Domestic flight Athens–Zakynthos (~£50) or KTEL bus to Kyllini (~£18) + ferry (~£8)
🛏Budget guesthouse / 2-star hotel, Zakynthos Town or Laganas (~£25–35/night)
- →Solomos Square & Zakynthos Town waterfront stroll
- →Dinner at a harbourfront taverna
Shipwreck, Blue Caves & Xigia Sea Spa
Zakynthos (north coast)
Join a public boat trip (bookable direct at Agios Nikolaos harbour or via GetYourGuide, ~£30–40) to the Blue Caves and Shipwreck (Navagio) Bay — you won't land on the beach (it's closed) but the boat circles for photos. On the way back, the local bus to Volimes passes the Shipwreck panoramic viewpoint above the cliff and stops near Xigia beach, where sulphur-rich spring water flows into the sea — an easy, free 'spa'. Sunset at MR Rock (Mizithres) is a short taxi or bus hop from Agios Nikolaos.
🚌Local KTEL bus to Agios Nikolaos (~£3) + boat trip + shared taxi back (~£5)
🛏Budget guesthouse, Zakynthos Town or Laganas (~£25–35/night)
- →Blue Caves & Shipwreck Bay boat trip from Agios Nikolaos (~£35)
- →Shipwreck panoramic viewpoint at Volimes
- →Swim at Xigia sulphur springs beach
- →Sunset at Mizithres / MR Rock
Zakynthos → Athens
Athens
Morning ferry back to Kyllini and KTEL bus to Athens (or fly if you booked a cheap one-way). Settle into a hostel or budget hotel in Monastiraki/Plaka, then spend the evening on the Acropolis-view rooftop bars or eat gyros and loukoumades in Monastiraki square. Optional sunset walk up Philopappos Hill — free and the best Acropolis view in town.
🚌Ferry Zakynthos–Kyllini (~£8) + KTEL bus Kyllini–Athens (~£18)
🛏Hostel dorm in Monastiraki/Plaka (~£25/night)
- →Monastiraki & Plaka evening wander
- →Philopappos Hill sunset (free)
Athens → Milos
Milos
Morning fast ferry from Piraeus to Milos (SeaJets, ~3 hrs, ~£45–65). Base yourself in Adamas or Pollonia in a family guesthouse. Afternoon: swim at Papikinou beach near Adamas and eat a fresh-fish dinner on the Adamas waterfront.
🚌Fast ferry Piraeus–Milos (~£55)
🛏Family-run guesthouse, Adamas or Pollonia (~£30–40/night)
- →Ferry to Milos
- →Papikinou beach swim
- →Adamas harbour dinner
Sarakiniko, Klima & the north coast
Milos
Rent a scooter or small car for the day (~£25–35, no guide needed) and loop the island: Sarakiniko's white moonscape rocks in the morning (go early to beat the crowds), the syrmata fishermen's houses at Klima, the abandoned sulphur mines at Thiorichia, and Firopotamos for a swim. Fanara Cave is a boat-only stop — join a half-day sail from Adamas (~£40) if you want it.
🚌Scooter or small car rental (~£30/day incl. fuel)
🛏Family-run guesthouse, Adamas or Pollonia (~£30–40/night)
- →Sarakiniko Bay
- →Klima village syrmata
- →Thiorichia sulphur mines
- →Firopotamos beach swim
Milos → Santorini
Santorini
Midday fast ferry from Milos to Santorini (~3 hrs, ~£55–75; book on SeaJets or Blue Star a few weeks ahead as July–August sells out). Check into a guesthouse in Kamari or Perissa on the east coast for better value than the caldera side. Evening wander around Fira and catch a first sunset from the caldera path.
🚌Fast ferry Milos–Santorini (~£65) + local bus to Kamari (~£2)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Kamari or Perissa (~£40–55/night)
- →Ferry to Santorini
- →Fira caldera walk
- →First caldera sunset
Volcano, hot springs & Oia sunset
Santorini
Book a standard volcano boat trip from Fira's old port direct with a local operator or via GetYourGuide (~£25–35, includes dinner and wine on many boats). You'll hike Nea Kameni's crater (€5 entry, paid on the island), swim off Palea Kameni's hot springs, and stop at Thirasia. Boats return around sunset — either stay on board for the Oia-side sunset or take the local bus to Oia afterwards for the classic view.
🚌Local bus to Fira (~£2) + boat trip transport included
🛏Budget guesthouse in Kamari or Perissa (~£40–55/night)
- →Nea Kameni volcano walk (€5 entry)
- →Palea Kameni hot springs swim
- →Thirasia stop
- →Oia sunset
Santorini → Mykonos
Mykonos
Fast ferry from Santorini to Mykonos (~2.5–3 hrs, ~£60–80). Stay in Mykonos Town, Ornos or Platis Gialos rather than the pricey south-coast resorts. Afternoon: explore the windmills of Kato Mili and the whitewashed lanes, then a late drink in Little Venice.
🚌Fast ferry Santorini–Mykonos (~£70)
🛏Guesthouse in Mykonos Town or Ornos (~£45–60/night)
- →Ferry to Mykonos
- →Windmills of Kato Mili
- →Little Venice evening drink
Delos island & Mykonos beaches
Mykonos
Morning boat to the UNESCO island of Delos from Mykonos' old port (~£20 return, plus €12 site entry) — a genuinely self-guided archaeological island, no tour needed. Back by early afternoon, then bus to a beach: Elia or Fokos for quieter sand, or Paradise/Super Paradise for the scene. Dinner on Matoyanni Street and a last evening in town.
🚌Local buses to/from beaches (~£3) + Delos ferry
🛏Guesthouse in Mykonos Town or Ornos (~£45–60/night)
- →Delos archaeological island (ferry ~£20 + €12 entry)
- →Elia or Fokos beach afternoon
- →Matoyanni Street dinner
Mykonos → Athens
Athens / departure
Fast ferry back to Piraeus (~3 hrs, ~£45–65) or a cheap 45-minute flight to Athens if you're connecting same-day. Allow 3 hours between ferry arrival and any onward flight. If you have time before departure, a last frappé in Plaka.
🚌Fast ferry Mykonos–Piraeus (~£55) or flight (~£60–90)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Return ferry/flight to Athens
Self-launched vs. Travel Zone
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,072 | £2,520 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,448 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Zone-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,072
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Greek Island Hopping: Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini & Mykonos (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,072 per person for 10 days in Greece (Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos). 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 Travel Zone?+
Yes — Travel Zone charges around £2,520 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,072 — a saving of roughly £1,448 (57%) per person.
How long is the Greece (Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Greece (Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos).
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, culture trip through Greece (Zakynthos, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos), 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.