A marvellous 6-day sailing trip that will allow you to discover unique beaches, to make snorkelling, diving, to trek along beautiful paths with stunning views to the Aegean and to the immaculate beauties of the two islands. Also to taste the famous Greek cuisine, to wander around the white alley-ways of the islands, to meet the ancient civilisations in Akrotiri Minoan site of Santorini, to visit famous wineries and taste local varieties of wines, to visit the volcano of Santorini and, of course, to laugh, relax, and enjoy the local life with an experienced English-speaking skipper.
DETAILED PROGRAM
DAY 1 | Arrival in Santorini
Arrival at the airport or at the port of Santorini[1].
Private taxi transfer to your small charming hotel inside the alleyways of the village Imerovigli[2].
Night walks in Fira.
Upon request, dinner at an exquisite restaurant.
Included in the day
Taxi
3* hotel with breakfast
Hotel in Santorine | Facilities
DAY 2 | Exploration of Santorini with a driver (private excursion)
You wake up in Santorini! Meeting with your English-speaking driver who will be with you during the day (8 hours).
Your driver will take you to the most important and interesting places of Santorini: Skaros, Oia, Akrotiri and Pyrgos, the medieval village, the black and white beach (and the optionally, the red beach), the famous cellar of Sigalas (or another depending on the availability and the season and under an extra cost), and, at the end of the day he will leave you at the hotel. There, you take your luggage and you go to the port by taxi to meet your skipper and embark on your boat.
Romantic night and relaxation on the boat.
Included in the day
A driver that will escort you for 7-8 hours for all the visits of the day (the visit to the cellar and entrance tickets to organized sites are not included)
Taxi transfer to the port at the end of the day
Sailing boat
Skipper
DAY 3 | Cruise to the volcano and the amazing coastline of Santorini
We set sail for the volcano and we explore the coasts of the island
(15.0 nm – 2.5 hours)
We continue from Thirasia to the island of Anafi. Arrival and first walks.
(17.0 nm – 2.5 hours)
Night on board, in the amazing bay and the port of Anafi.
Included in the day:
Sailing boat
Skipper
DAY 4 | Cruise around the coasts of Anafi
Exploration of the coast of Anafi.
Night on board, in the beautiful bay and the fishing port of Anafi. Possibility to ne left in the mainland of Anafi in order to explore it by foot or by public bus…
Return and overnight in the boat
Included in the day
Sailing boat
Skipper
DAY 5 | Return to Santorini – Free day to tailor it as you wish!
You sail back to Santorini[3]. The day is free for you spend it as you wish. We suggest diving / snorkeling in the caldera or a place you’ll choose with the help of the diving professionals.
Overnight in the port of Santorini.
Included in the day :
Sailing boat
Skipper
DAY 6 | End of the trip
Taxi transfer to the airport to catch your flight.
The price includes:
The price does not include:
Please keep in mind that sailing is subject to weather conditions. Therefore, a change of the cruise route on short notice should be considered probable.
Beneteau Oceanis 43 ft
Specifications
Year of build: 2008
Length: 13,32 m
Draft: 1.85 m
Engines: Yanmar 54 Hp
Fresh water: 360 liters
Diesel: 200 liters
Cabins: 4
Heads: 2
Cruise Speed: 7,5 kts
Standard equipment
Safety
First aid kit, life raft,
life jackets,
VHF, EPIRB,
children life jackets,
safety harnesses,
emergency tiller
Deck
Cockpit shower, cockpit table,
bimini, sprayhood,
dinghy with outboard,
Navigation equipment
Vhf, radio, depth sounder,
wind instruments,
GPS Plotter,
auto pilot, binoculars,
hand bearing compass
Amenities
AM/FM stereo, cockpit speakers,
snorkeling gear, fishing set,
inflatable canoe
Anafi is located east of Santorini. It is one of the most picturesque small islands of the Cycladic cluster, since it has achieved in maintaining its natural beauty and rich popular tradition intact.
This small island is a beautiful and hospitable shelter for those who seek authentic vacations: Golden sandy beaches, turquoise waters, whitewashed settlements, hospitable people and rich traditions. These are all elements that render this island unique for those who wish calm vacations and a simple way of life.
At an extent of hardly 40 square kilometres, Anafi has an extraordinarily large number of natural beauties and sights. The beautiful beaches of the south with golden sand, natural wildness of the steep rocks of the north, paths that are offered for walks, unexplored caves, medicinal sources, the particular architecture of Hora and many archaeological discoveries that are found scattered everywhere, compose the picture of a place that offers unique emotions.
The rocky steep mountain sides that during summer are covered by the Aegean sun, in winter are covered with an evergreen carpet of grass and in spring they get filled with wildflowers in all colorations, while thyme and sage scents fill the air.
Anafi has one and only village, the Hora, which is built on the ruins of a Venetian castle, with whitewashed houses with domes and with narrow cobbled streets, similar with those found in the neighborhood of Anafiotika, located under the Acropolis of Athens. Here, traditional Cycladic architecture unfolds in all its beauty: narrow cobbled streets, white low houses with freshly painted blue windows and domes on the roof (a local architectural trait that insulates the houses from the sun and the wind) and courtyards full of flowers, under the blinding Aegean light. Hora is 3 km away from the harbour of Agios Nikolaos. Between Agios Nikolaos and Hora, on the east, lies Kleisidi, a small settlement with few houses and guest houses.
Visitors can take local fishing boats or even their own sailboat and, if weather allows, circumnavigate the island, or visit the neighbouring islets of Ftena, Paheia (Anafopoulo) and Makria, which have all been declared as regions of particular natural beauty.
A fascinating history of an island that sprang out of the sea - an island cut in the middle, on the piece of the lost world of Atlantis, a unique archaeological wealth, an impressive traditional architecture and magic that no camera can capture, make Santorini an island-surprise, that reveals itself when the summer visitors have left, leaving it to breath the sea air.
The island was created eighty thousands years before the volcano exploded and created Strongili. The view that the traveller sees, when the ferry reaches the island, is breathtaking. When it enters the harbour and the visitor finds himself among Santorini and Thirasia, he is suddenly confronted with the grand beauty, that the steep rocks and the intense colour of the sky create.That comes in contrast with the particular earth colour of the volcanic rock that we rarely meet elsewhere. An abrupt red and black rock of 300 metres - the walls of the caldera- stands threatening there. While the boat approaches, high on the verge of the precipice,human presence starts being visible - small lodges and light blue church domes, an impressive picture!
In Hora - Fira- we reach from the harbour, going up (on foot or by donkey) the old path, carved in the rock and, alternatively, with cable car or with car from Athinio. The settlement of Fira, with whitewashed houses and the vaulted churches, constitutes a masterpiece of architectural perfection that in addition with the view to caldera creates unique impressions for the visitor. The picturesque Firostefani, and Imerovigli, settlements of genuine Cycladic architecture, built on the highest point of the caldera offer magical views to the caldera.
The Apano Meria, in northern Santorini, includes the settlements of Oia, Tholos, Perivolos and Foinikia. The entire settlement of Oia-hanging from the caldera above the sea, is built according to particular local architecture: Small houses, built one next to the other, in a chromatic harmony that enchants any visitor. Walking in streets of Oia, one believes that time has turned him back centuries, while in the “brow” of the caldera one feels ready to take off. Oia is famous in the whole world for its sunsets. In the western end of the settlement, each afternoon, sky, sea and sun come together, in order to paint the horizon with fairytale colours. Two hundred steps lead under the castle to the old harbour, Ammoudi with its picturesque fish taverns.
Vothonas, with its two vaulted churches, Mesaria, with the Argyrou Mansion, and Megalochori, are beautiful picturesque villages built among vineyards.
Small Thirasia is found at a breathing distance from Santorini but differs a lot from it. It is a serene small Cycladic island, where roughly 300 people live, mainly fishermen and farmers. In Thirasia time seems to have stopped in another period. Tourist boats which during summer make daily excursions from neighbouring Santorini constitute a small break in the quiet course of the island.
Thirasia, Santorini and Aspronisi, were parts of the same island, Strongili in the past. The separate islands resulted after the volcanic explosion of 1500 B.C. that created the marine space of the caldera, when the water covered the ground in the interior of the island. Thus, the original island, named Strongili in the Classic years, gave its place to five smaller, with larger that of Thira and with Thirasia second in size.
Today Thirasia is connected with Santorini by fishing boat. Because of its volcanic origin it has abrupt coasts and few beaches. Hora of Thirasia is Manolas, a typical Cycladic settlement hanging at the edge of the caldera, from where the view to Santorini is magical. Small houses and the characteristic “vaulted” residences - dug in compact volcanic material horizontal openings, which with the addition of a wall, shape a house, old windmills, narrow paved streets with traditional shops and the smell of freshly baked bread from the traditional bakery are certain characteristic pictures of Hora. Here, calmness of the traditional lifestyle is immediately seen. In Manolas you will find completely equipped lodgings with views to the caldera, cafes and restaurants with marvelous homemade food. The church of Agios Konstantinos from 1874 dominates in the settlement.
Cobbled steps lead from Hora to Korfos, the old harbour of the island, with its windmill, fishing boats and picturesque taverns, where you will enjoy fresh fish and amazing titbits in front of the sea. Mules will patiently take you to the harbour, while you observe the astonishing view to the volcano.
At the northern utmost of the island we find Riva, the harbour where ferries from Piraeus, Athinio of Santorini, and boats from Ammoudi of Oia, dock. Here you will find picturesque fish taverns and the splendid Black Beach with crystal waters. On a hill above the harbour, we find the chapel of Agia Irini, Santa Irini in Latin, which gave Thira the name Santorini in the years of Markos Sanoudos.
On the eastern side of the island you will see volumes of white lava, where among them, picturesque gorges are shaped. In such a gorge Agrilia is built and Potamos, a village with many vaulted houses and courtyards full of flowers.
The churches of Agios Dimitrios and Panagia Giatraina, dominate in Potamos.
Among the whitewashed houses and the colorful steps, in a beautiful Aegean setting, where blue sky meets dark barren volcanic ground, one can embrace the Aegean Sea in a calm and humble way.Size and morphology of the ground of Thirasia encourage walks, which is the best way for the visitor to get to know the island. Select one of the old paths that connect the settlements or passes from the plain.Small Thirasia is found at a breathing distance from Santorini but differs a lot from it. It is a serene small Cycladic island, where roughly 300 people live, mainly fishermen and farmers. In Thirasia time seems to have stopped in another period.Tourist boats which during summer make daily excursions from neighbouring Santorini constitute a small break in the quiet course of the island.
Thirasia, Santorini and Aspronisi, were parts of the same island, Strongili in the past. The separate islands resulted after the volcanic explosion of 1500 B.C. that created the marine space of the caldera, when the water covered the ground in the interior of the island. Thus the original island, named Strongili in the Classic years, gave its place to five smaller, with larger that of Thira and with Thirasia second in size.
Today Thirasia is connected with Santorini by fishing boat. Because of its volcanic origin it has abrupt coasts and few beaches. Hora of Thirasia is Manolas, a typical Cycladic settlement hanging at the edge of the caldera, from where the view to Santorini is magical. Small houses and the characteristic “vaulted” residences - dug in compact volcanic material horizontal openings, which with the addition of a wall, shape a house, old windmills, narrow paved streets with traditional shops and the smell of freshly baked bread from the traditional bakery are certain characteristic pictures of Hora. Here, calmness of the traditional lifestyle is immediately seen. In Manolas you will find completely equipped lodgings with views to the caldera, cafes and restaurants with marvelous homemade food. The church of Agios Konstantinos from 1874 dominates in the settlement.
Cobbled steps lead from Hora to Korfos, the old harbor of the island, with its windmill, fishing boats and picturesque taverns, where you will enjoy fresh fish and amazing titbits in front of the sea. Mules will patiently take you to the harbor, while you observe the astonishing view to the volcano.
At the northern utmost of the island we find Riva, the harbour where ferries from Piraeus, Athinio of Santorini, and boats from Ammoudi of Oia, dock. Here you will find picturesque fish taverns and the splendid Black Beach with crystal waters. On a hill above the harbor, we find the chapel of Agia Irini, Santa Irini in Latin, which gave Thira the name Santorini in the years of Markos Sanoudos.
On the eastern side of the island you will see volumes of white lava, where among them, picturesque gorges are shaped. In such a gorge Agrilia is built and Potamos, a village with many vaulted houses and courtyards full of flowers. The churches of Agios Dimitrios and Panagia Giatraina, dominate in Potamos.
Among the whitewashed houses and the colourful steps, in a beautiful Aegean setting, where blue sky meets dark barren volcanic ground, one can embrace the Aegean Sea in a calm and humble way.Size and morphology of the ground of Thirasia encourage walks, which is the best way for the visitor to get to know the island. Select one of the old paths that connect the settlements or passes from the plain.
[1] The arrival is organized by you, unless you ask to organize it for you, with a supplement)
[2] The hotel is chosen according to your budget. Note that charming hotels with a view to the Caldera are particularly expensive. There are also other options, that we highly suggest, in other parts of Santorini (in the hinterland), such as the beautiful medieval village of Pyrgos, where the hotel options are great and much cheaper.
[3] If you have at least another 2 days available for holidays, we may extend your trip and add a visit to the island of Folegandros.
