Cyclades Naxos & Santorini walking trip (flying to Athens)

Arrival at Athens Airport and transfer to the port of Piraeus from where you leave by ferry, late afternoon, to Naxos. The ferry takes 5,5 hrs and you arrive in Naxos around midnight. In case your flight does not allow traveling to Naxos on the same day, you have to book an extra night in Athens and you travel to Naxos the next day in the early morning.

You take a taxi or public bus to Chalki, located in the center of the Tragea plain. Today you explore this fertile inner land with olive groves and rich vegetation. There are some olive trees that are over thousand years old! You walk on cobbled paths via the Venetian Fortress Ano Kastro onto an ancient marble quarry where you find a 10m height statue of an unfinished Kouros from the 6th century BC! The walk ends in the nearby village of Melanes, where you take a taxi or a public bus back to Naxos town.

Challenge: 3.5 / 4.5 / 7 hours, 10 - 14 - 19 km / 6 - 8,5 - 12 mi , 150 / 300 / 400 m ascent and descent

Today´s walk starts at Filoti, a small village that you reach by taxi or public bus. From this village, built at the foothills of Mt. Zas, you start your walk to the summit of this legendary mountain. You may witness the cave in which, according the legend, Zeus -the father of all the gods- was nursed by an eagle. After your descend, you can optionally continue the walk to Apiranthos. From Apiranthos you may walk back via the saddle of Mt. Fanari to Filoti; a beautiful walk with breathtaking views!

Challenge: 4.5 / 7 hours, 13 - 19 km / 8 - 12 mi, 500 / 900 m ascent and descent

You travel from Naxos to Santorini. The ferry usually departs around noon and arrives 3 hours later in Santorini. In the morning you may visit the Castle in Naxos (Chora) and also visit the museum. Or you can relax on the tempting sandy beach of Agios Georgios. The approach of Santorini by ferry is really unforgettable. You enter the submersed crater of this old volcano and will be impressed by the steep coloured cliffs and the whitewashed villages on top. It is said that the Minoan civilization disappeared suddenly at about the same time as the volcanic eruption, 3.600 years ago, or was this eruption the beggining for the legend of Atlantis?

A transfer will take you to Perissa from where you start climbing via an old path to a windy saddle. This part is one of the very few places that exists from before the devastating volcanic outburst. You walk up to Ancient Thira: the capital of the island in Ancient and Roman times. The location is really fantastic! Then you descend via an old path to the  quiet inner parts of the island. You walk through vineyards (Santorini produces top class wines!) and along picturesque villages. Through this landscape of volcanic ashes and along  the black beach you walk back to Akrotiri village. 

Challenge: 5.5 hours, 13 km / 8 mi, 580 m ascent, 550 m descent

You travel by public bus to Fira, the capital of Santorini. Here you can explore the narrow alleys of this whitewashed town, built on the top of the volcanic cliffs. It houses a couple of interesting museums, such as the museum of prehistoric Thira and the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon you make the renowned walk from Fira to Oia. Along the walk you will enjoy fabulous views of the lagoon and the spectacular cliffs, with its massive drops. Most of the walk is through a really nice wide mule-path. Sure you will make loads of photos during this walk along this scenic Santorini coastline. From Oia you have a transfer back to the hotel.

Challenge: 3 hours, 10 km / 6 mi, 300 m ascent, 400 m descent

A last free morning in Akrotiri at leisure and possibility to visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri: the Greek Pompejithat opened in spring 2012 after it had been closed for many years. 

Transfer to the port from where you travel comfortably per modern ferry to Piraeus. The journey last around 8hours. Upon arrival you will have an organized transfer per taxi to your centrally located hotel in Athens. 

Challenge: 1.5 hrs, 5.2 km / 3 mi, 135 m ascent, 120 m descent

Depending on your flight departure today, you may have time to visit the Acropolis and the fabulous Acropolis Museum before you go by metro or bus to the airport for your flight departure.