Authentic Greek Islands — Self-Launched Island Hopper (Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini)
15 days · Greek Islands
Wingbuddy charges £1,620
No-markup version: ~£1,330 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Wingbuddy's 15-day "Authentic Greek Islands" freedom package: Athens → Paros → Naxos → Santorini → Athens, using public ferries, budget guesthouses and self-booked day trips instead of the operator's transfers and hotel block. The commercial version already runs unguided, so you can replicate almost everything — you just book your own ferry tickets, rooms and airport transfer. Costs are approximate and based on shoulder-season (April–May/October) backpacker rates; July–August accommodation roughly doubles.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Athens
Athens
Land at Athens Airport and take the X95 express bus (€5.50, ~50 min) or Metro Line 3 (€9) to Syntagma/Monastiraki, rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Plaka/Monastiraki. Evening walk around the illuminated Acropolis foothills and a cheap souvlaki dinner.
🚌Airport X95 express bus or Metro Line 3 — €5.50–9
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Monastiraki/Plaka (~£22)
- →Self-guided wander around Plaka and Monastiraki
- →Acropolis viewpoint from Areopagus Hill (free)
Athens to Paros
Paros
Morning metro to Piraeus and take a Blue Star or SeaJets ferry to Paros (2h50 fast ferry ~€70, or 4h conventional ferry ~€45). Book on Ferryhopper or Direct Ferries a few days ahead. On arrival, walk or take the local bus to Parikia and settle in. Evening stroll through Parikia's whitewashed lanes and the 6th-century Panagia Ekatontapiliani church.
🚌Piraeus–Paros ferry, €45–70
🛏Guesthouse/budget studio in Parikia (~£32)
- →Panagia Ekatontapiliani church
- →Parikia old town and port sunset
Paros — Naoussa and beaches
Paros
Take the local KTEL bus to Naoussa (€1.80) and explore the fishing village and Venetian castle ruins. Continue to Kolymbithres beach for the granite rock formations, then back via bus. Rent a scooter (€20–25/day) if you want more freedom.
🚌Local buses around Paros, €1.80–3 per ride
🛏Guesthouse/budget studio in Parikia (~£32)
- →Naoussa village and Venetian castle
- →Kolymbithres beach
- →Optional scooter rental
Paros — Antiparos day trip
Antiparos
Short ferry from Pounta (bus from Parikia + 7-minute ferry, ~€10 total return) to sleepy Antiparos. Walk to the beach, hire a kayak, or book the Cave of Antiparos tour with a local guide via GetYourGuide (~£20). Lunch at a taverna on the main street.
🚌Bus + short ferry to Antiparos, ~€10 return
🛏Guesthouse/budget studio in Parikia (~£32)
- →Antiparos Cave
- →Kayaking or beach time
- →Optional boat trip to Despotiko islet
Paros — Lefkes and inland trails
Paros
Bus to Lefkes (€1.80) and walk the old Byzantine road trail down to Prodromos (about 1 hour, free). Good hiking and mountain views; lunch in Lefkes. Return to Parikia for sunset at the windmill viewpoint.
🚌Local bus to Lefkes, €1.80 each way
🛏Guesthouse/budget studio in Parikia (~£32)
- →Byzantine Road hike Lefkes–Prodromos
- →Lefkes village
- →Parikia sunset
Paros to Naxos
Naxos
Short ferry hop to Naxos (25–50 min, €12–20). Check into a guesthouse in Naxos Chora, then explore the old town and the Portara gate at sunset. Note: Naxos is the cheapest of the three islands for food and stays.
🚌Paros–Naxos ferry, €12–20
🛏Guesthouse in Naxos Chora (~£28)
- →Portara (Temple of Apollo gate)
- →Naxos old town lanes
Naxos — Venetian citadel and Chora
Naxos
Self-guided climb through the Kastro (Venetian citadel) to the Archaeological Museum (€4) and the Catholic cathedral. Afternoon on Agios Georgios beach, walkable from town. Eat at the family tavernas around Plateia Protodikiou — cheaper and better than the port strip.
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse in Naxos Chora (~£28)
- →Kastro/Venetian Citadel
- →Archaeological Museum
- →Agios Georgios beach
Naxos — Mount Zas hike
Filoti / Mount Zas
Bus to Filoti (€3) then hike Mount Zas, the Cyclades' highest peak (~1,000 m, 3–4 hours return) — free, but bring water and proper shoes. Alternative: bus to Halki village and the Kitron distillery. Book a guided hike via GetYourGuide if you'd rather have a leader (~£35).
🚌Local bus to Filoti, €3 each way
🛏Guesthouse in Naxos Chora (~£28)
- →Mount Zas summit hike
- →Halki village and Kitron distillery (optional)
Naxos — west coast beaches
Agios Prokopios / Plaka
Local bus to Agios Prokopios and Plaka beaches (€1.80–2.50). Long sandy stretches, cheap sunbed-and-drink deals outside peak season. Optional half-day catamaran or sailing trip from Naxos harbour (~£55 via GetYourGuide) — a common add-on on this itinerary.
🚌Local buses, €2 each way
🛏Guesthouse in Naxos Chora (~£28)
- →Agios Prokopios and Plaka beaches
- →Optional catamaran cruise
Naxos to Santorini
Santorini
Morning ferry Naxos–Santorini (1h15–2h, €25–40). Arrive at Athinios port; local bus to Fira is €2.30 (don't take a taxi — €30+). Settle into a guesthouse in Fira or Karterados, then walk the caldera rim path for sunset.
🚌Naxos–Santorini ferry €25–40; port bus €2.30
🛏Guesthouse in Fira/Karterados (~£42, more in summer)
- →Fira caldera rim walk
- →Sunset over the caldera
Santorini — Fira to Oia hike
Santorini
Do the classic 10 km caldera cliff hike from Fira to Oia (3–4 hours, free, start early to beat heat and crowds). Bus back from Oia to Fira (€2.30). Oia sunset is spectacular but brutally crowded — the Fira-side sunset and Imerovigli are quieter alternatives.
🚌Local bus Oia–Fira, €2.30
🛏Guesthouse in Fira/Karterados (~£42)
- →Fira–Oia caldera hike
- →Oia village
- →Imerovigli viewpoint
Santorini — volcano and hot springs boat
Santorini
Half-day boat trip to Nea Kameni volcano and the Palea Kameni hot springs, bookable at the old port or via GetYourGuide (~£30–40). Afternoon back in Fira; wine tasting at a Santo Wines or Venetsanos-style winery if budget allows (~£20).
🚌Local bus + boat
🛏Guesthouse in Fira/Karterados (~£42)
- →Nea Kameni volcano boat trip
- →Hot springs swim
- →Optional Santo Wines tasting
Santorini — Akrotiri, Red Beach and Pyrgos
Santorini
Bus to Akrotiri (€2.30) to see the Minoan Bronze Age excavation site (€12) and walk to Red Beach. On the way back, stop in Pyrgos or Megalochori for a quieter, cheaper village lunch. Bring your own snacks — Santorini restaurant prices are the highest of the trip.
🚌Local buses, €2.30 each way
🛏Guesthouse in Fira/Karterados (~£42)
- →Akrotiri archaeological site
- →Red Beach
- →Pyrgos village
Santorini to Athens
Athens
Ferry back to Piraeus (5–8 hours, €40–60) or fly Santorini–Athens with Ryanair/Aegean if the timetable suits (~£40–70 booked ahead). Check into an Athens hostel, then wander Plaka and Monastiraki, and finish with a rooftop drink facing the Acropolis.
🚌Santorini–Piraeus ferry €40–60, or short-haul flight
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Monastiraki (~£22)
- →Plaka and Monastiraki neighbourhoods
- →Rooftop bar with Acropolis view
Departure from Athens
Athens
Optionally squeeze in a self-booked Acropolis ticket (€20 timed entry, book online) or the Acropolis Museum (€15) before heading to the airport by X95 bus or Metro Line 3.
🚌Metro Line 3 or X95 bus to airport, €5.50–9
🛏—
- →Optional Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
- →Souvenir shopping in Plaka
Self-launched vs. Wingbuddy
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Wingbuddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,330 | £1,620 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £290 per person (18%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Wingbuddy-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,330
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 Authentic Greek Islands — Self-Launched Island Hopper (Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,330 per person for 15 days in Greek Islands. 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 Wingbuddy?+
Yes — Wingbuddy charges around £1,620 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,330 — a saving of roughly £290 (18%) per person.
How long is the Greek Islands trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Greek Islands.
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 beaches, culture, budget trip through Greek Islands, 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.