Highlights of the Greek Islands — Self-Launched
8 days · Greek Islands (Athens, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini)
G Adventures charges £1,730
No-markup version: ~£690 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched island hop across the Cyclades, from Athens to Santorini via Tinos, Mykonos and Naxos. You'll book your own ferries, pick up budget guesthouses and hostels, and self-arrange the same key experiences — the Tinos island loop, the Mykonos day trip, the Temple of Apollo at Naxos, and the Fira-to-Oia caldera walk — for a fraction of the tour price. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP based on budget/backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Athens
Athens
Land in Athens and make your own way to a budget hotel or hostel in the Plaka/Monastiraki area, well placed for the metro and the Acropolis. Spend the late afternoon wandering the old town, grab a souvlaki dinner for around £5-7, and get an early night before the ferry. If you want the operator's optional food tour equivalent, self-book a small-group Athens street food walk via GetYourGuide for roughly £40-55.
🚌Airport to city centre by Metro Line 3 (~£8) or X95 bus (~£5)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Plaka/Monastiraki (~£25-35 per night)
- →Explore Plaka and Monastiraki old town
- →Optional self-booked Athens street food tour
Ferry to Tinos
Tinos
Catch a morning or midday ferry from Piraeus (or Rafina) to Tinos. Book on Blue Star Ferries or SeaJets — the slower Blue Star takes about 4 hours and is far cheaper than the fast catamarans. Once you arrive, drop your bags and spend the day on foot: explore Chora's marble lanes, the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, and the working harbour. In the afternoon walk out to the beaches north of town or up the hillsides for views over the Aegean.
🚌Blue Star Ferries Piraeus–Tinos, ~4 hrs, roughly £25-35 one way in economy
🛏Family guesthouse or hostel in Tinos Chora (~£30-40 per night)
- →Walk Chora's marble-paved old town
- →Visit the Church of Panagia Evangelistria
- →Hike coastal paths for sea views
Day trip to Mykonos
Mykonos
Take a morning ferry from Tinos to Mykonos (about 30-45 minutes with SeaJets). Spend the day at your own pace: photograph the famous windmills at Kato Mili, walk the labyrinth of Little Venice, and stake out a spot at a beach like Ornos or Platis Gialos. Prices are high here — bring your own food and drinks to keep costs down, or budget for one cocktail overlooking the water. Catch an evening ferry back to Tinos.
🚌Return ferry Tinos–Mykonos with SeaJets or Golden Star, ~£25-35 return
🛏Family guesthouse or hostel in Tinos Chora (~£30-40 per night)
- →Kato Mili windmills
- →Little Venice waterfront
- →Swim at Ornos or Platis Gialos beach
Tinos island loop and villages
Tinos
Replicate the operator's six-hour guided island tour on your own. Tinos has a limited bus network, so the practical options are hiring a scooter (from around £20/day plus fuel) or joining a shared minibus day tour booked through GetYourGuide or your guesthouse. Either way, hit Dio Choria, the dramatic granite boulders and sculptors' workshops of Volax, the marble village of Pirgos, and a swim stop on the coast. Pick up picnic supplies in Chora to keep lunch cheap.
🚌Scooter hire (~£20/day + fuel) or shared island minibus tour (~£40)
🛏Family guesthouse or hostel in Tinos Chora (~£30-40 per night)
- →Dio Choria village
- →Volax boulder village
- →Pirgos marble village
- →Coastal swim stop
Ferry to Naxos and old town orientation
Naxos
Ferry from Tinos to Naxos, roughly 1 hour. On arrival, walk yourself through the highlights the group would get a guided orientation for: the Portara gate and Temple of Apollo on the islet of Palatia at sunset, the Venetian Kastro quarter, and the old market streets. Later, wander out to the Temple of Dimitra or the Church of Drosiani if you have time, and finish with dinner at a taverna in the old town.
🚌Ferry Tinos–Naxos, ~1 hr, £12-20
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Naxos Chora (~£35-45 per night)
- →Portara and Temple of Apollo at sunset
- →Venetian Kastro old town
- →Optional Temple of Dimitra and Church of Drosiani
Free day in Naxos — Mount Zas or the beaches
Naxos
Pick your own adventure. The Mount Zas hike is the standout — 7 km round trip with roughly 300 m of ascent, past the Cave of Zas where Zeus was said to be raised, with huge views over the Cyclades from the top. Take the bus to Filoti and hike from there. Alternatively, visit the Venetian castle and archaeological museum in Chora, explore the hill villages like Chalki and Apiranthos, or just relax on Agios Prokopios or Plaka beach.
🚌Local KTEL buses around Naxos (~£5-10 for the day)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Naxos Chora (~£35-45 per night)
- →Hike Mount Zas (~7 km round trip)
- →Venetian castle and archaeological museum
- →Village hopping in Chalki and Apiranthos
- →Beach day at Agios Prokopios or Plaka
Ferry to Santorini and the caldera walk
Santorini
Take the ferry from Naxos to Santorini (1.5-2 hours). Stay in Fira or Karterados rather than Oia to keep accommodation affordable. In the afternoon do the caldera walk yourself — just under 11 km along the rim from Fira to Oia, with the volcano views and whitewashed villages along the way. Either walk the whole thing and take a local bus back, or walk Fira to Imerovigli and turn around. End the day with a final group-style dinner in Fira or a sunset drink in Oia.
🚌Ferry Naxos–Santorini, ~2 hrs, £15-28; local bus Oia–Fira ~£2
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Fira/Karterados (~£40-50 per night)
- →Fira to Oia caldera rim walk (~11 km)
- →Sunset in Oia or Imerovigli
Depart Santorini
Santorini
Depart at any time. If your flight is later in the day, a morning swim at Perissa or Kamari black-sand beach is an easy way to round off the trip. Local buses connect Fira to the airport and both beaches.
🚌Local bus Fira–airport (~£2) or taxi (~£25-30)
🛏Not included (check-out day)
- →Optional morning beach swim at Perissa or Kamari
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£690 | £1,730 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,040 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-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 Highlights of the Greek Islands — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £690 per person for 8 days in Greek Islands (Athens, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini). 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 £1,730 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 £1,040 (60%) per person.
How long is the Greek Islands (Athens, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Greek Islands (Athens, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini).
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 Greek Islands (Athens, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini), 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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