Day 8: Take a ferry to Santorini, then enjoy free time to discover the island’s volcanic black-sand beaches, cliff-lined shores, and stunning whitewashed architecture. Hotel: Hotel El Greco (3 nights). Once you arrive in the town of Fira on Santorini you will be taken to your hotel to get settled in and then will have the afternoon/evening to explore. The Hotel El Greco is a beautiful, modern hotel with multiple pools, bars, and restaurants and is within walking distance of the town of Fira. I could not have asked for nicer accomodations while staying in Santoroni.
Day 9: Today, take in the local sights on a guided tour of Santorini.
- Visit the prehistoric settlements that were unearthed during the archaeological excavations at Akrotiri
- Ride to the top of Mount Profitis Ilias for panoramic views of the whole island
- Stop in the small, picturesque village of Pyrgos. Here you have free time to explore the town and grab lunch.
After the morning of sightseeing, the afternoon is free to to enjoy, however the optional tour offered is a sunset Caldera Cruise and dinner aboard an 80 foot catamaran with Sunset Oia Cruises. If there anything I can recommend, it is this catamaran cruise. You will board an elegant, fully equipped catamaran and sail in comfort through Santorini’s awe-inspiring caldera on this scenic excursion. You’ll cruise around the volcanic island of Nea Kameni for views of the picture-perfect cliffside village of Oia. Spend the afternoon on the open waters as you snorkel in the ocean, sunbathe on the deck of the catamaran, and swim in a natural hot spring that was once the crater of a volcano. You’ll enjoy unlimited wine, water, and soft drinks as well as a buffet-style dinner of home-cooked Greek specialties on board the boat as you take in the sunset and the scenery.
Day 10: Today you have a free day to enojy Santorini. Based on the location of the Hotel El Greco you are within walking distance of the amazing town Fira. Fira is packed with cute shops full of clothing and souvenirs, restaurants situated on the side of the caldera, cave houses, and endless views of the caldera. There is also a set of cable cars, 235 steps, or the traditional Santorini donkeys that will take you down from the top of the caldera to the old port, a very scenic village. Along the way down you can view some of the caldera cave houses up close with their unique shaped fronts and wood carved doors.
For dinner, and views of the famous Santorini sunsets, take a trip into Oia for the evening. Here you can enjoy some of the most amazing sunsets you have ever seen. Disclaimer: you and everyone else will be jockeying for position at the Oia Castle to see the sunset. My recommendation: get a table at one of the restaurants away from the castle (I recommend King Neptune's) where you can get an amazing meal and still witness the beautiful sunset.
Day 11: Catch a ferry to the largest of the Greek Isles, Crete.
#santorini#oia #oiacastle #caldera #calderacruise #sunsetcruise #fira #hotelelgreco
Thank you :)