The Cyclades are the jewels of the Greek Islands - stoic Greek Orthodox priests, philosophy and the Olympics makes way for togas, ouzo and dancing wildly on the beach. Be it decent or decadent our guides will show you the Greek Islands like no other.
Travel Options
Fixed Itinerary: A Busabout guide will escort each tour group around the Greek Islands, staying two nights on each island. If you have not advised us otherwise (at least two weeks prior to departure), we will assume that this is what you wish to do and will book your ferry tickets accordingly.
Flexible Tour: If you would like to stay longer on any or all of the islands, you can nominate your travel dates through the MyBusabout section of our website, up to two weeks before your departure from Athens. We have departures every two days starting in June and you can pre-select the dates you wish to travel, joining up with different Busabout groups along the way.
Note: Two weeks before you are due to depart Athens, all ferry tickets will be booked and ticketed. No further date changes will be possible.
Trip Details
Departs: Athens - Port of Piraeus. Gate E6 Passenger waiting area 6:30am.
Accommodation: Busabout recommended camping villages and hostels. Book through MyBusabout.
Included: All transportation from Athens to islands and back. Services of your fantastic Busabout guide who will take you on orientation walks on all islands & nightly pub crawls. All transfers to and from Mybusabout recommended accommodation.
Trip Duration: From 9 Days
Departures: May 18th 08 - September 25th 08
Day 1 - Sample Itinerary
Depart Athens for Mykonos
After an early start from Athens and your first ferry ride you will arrive on the beautiful Island of Mykonos. Mykonos is a stunning island with fantastic landscapes and picturesque white-painted villages, narrow alleys and hundreds of little family churches and chapels. It's the most cosmopolitan of the Greek Islands with a vibrant and sophisticated nightlife and is a favorite amongst the jet setters. Mykonos town with its famous landmark windmills is considered one of the most beautiful of all islands towns, but most visitors to Mykonos spend their days at Paradise or Super Paradise Beach. After check-in you have the afternoon free to checkout the town, hit the beach, or relax and grab some lunch.
One your first evening in Mykonos you will have a night out in Mykonos Town. Your guide will take you on a free walk/orientation of the town, where you’ll see the Windmills, Little Venice, Petros the Pelican and lots more. You'll have dinner at a lovely Greek restaurant in the town centre. Then, if you’re keen to experience Mykonos’ nightlife, your guide will take you out to some of the local bars and clubs.
Day 2 - Sample Itinerary
Mykonos
On day two you will have a choice of many optional activities with our without your Busabout Guide. You can take up the optional Delos Tour. Or if you don’t want to stray too far from home, Why not get a “true” Mykonos beach experience at Paradise Beach. If you want to do some shopping & grab a bite to eat, catch the bus back into the old town of Mykonos.
Day 3 - Sample Itinerary
Mykonos to Paros
Paros is a quiet, laid-back island with many fine swimming beaches. The port town of Parikia is awash with travellers and it's well worth stepping back from the waterfront to visit the old town and its 13th-century Venetian kastro. Your first night in Paros your guide will take you to a local restaurant. Then you'll continue the evening with drinks and dancing along the beautiful waterfront in Parikia town.
Day 4 - Sample Itinerary
Paros
Today you'll have the option to take a full day boat cruise around Paros and Antiparos, visiting many of the islands beaches along the way with your chance to swim, sunbathe or even try some fishing. A BBQ lunch and all drinks are included (wine and ouzo). If you choose not to take the boat tour then you can jump on a ferry to Antiparos Island and see the big cave, visit one of the many beautiful beaches the island has to offer, or try your hand at SCUBA. In the evening try the local restaurants at Parikia Harbour.
Day 5 - Sample Itinerary
Paros to Santorini
Santorini is regarded as the most spectacular of all the Greek islands, its majestic cliffs rising more or less vertically out of the sea. The whitewashed villages are situated on the cliffs and offer breathtaking views over the submerged volcano, believed by many to have caused the disappearance of Atlantis. Postcard images of whitewashed churches against a blue sea and sky, volcanic black-sand beaches, ancient ruins, great wines and some of the world's most fantastic sunsets will make any visit to Santorini a unique and unforgettable experience. After checking in to your hotel your guide will take you on a orientation walk of Fira town. After this you will have the option of a sunset dinner in Fira town on the Caldera. After dinner, some less hectic bar hopping, in this relaxed setting.
Day 6 - Sample Itinerary
Santorini
You'll have the option of taking a spectacular 3 hour volcano and hot springs excursion. Recover from the Volcano walk with some time on the beach. Catch a bus to Akrotiri to see the famous Red and White beaches. Or catch a bus to Kamari to relax at its famous black beach. If beaches aren't your thing then head to Firi Town and be dazzled by the amazing jewelry. Browse the bustling streets and take postcard photos in this stunning town. Maybe it's time to buy that special gift for someone special,or find a memento of your travels. That night you'll have a sunset picnic at Oia. Oia is famed for it's spectacular panoramas.
Day 7 - Sample Itinerary
Santorini to Ios
With hundreds of bars in a small three-block radius and truckloads of beer imported daily, Ios is party central. This predominantly mountainous island also offers pristine beaches and the coastline is adorned with small, attractive coves. Spending their days on the beach and drinking all night, young travelers flock to Ios … and they sure know how to party. Once you've settled into your rooms after a short ferry trip from Santorini to Ios you can enjoy an afternoon by the pool. Then in the evening, you’ll have dinner by the pool before taking a local bus into Ios town for some bar hopping.
Day 8 - Sample Itinerary
Ios
Busabout stay at the Far Out Resort with its great bars and swimming pools - you could spend the whole summer here. Soothe your head by Mylopotas Beach and engage in one or more watersports with Meltemi. They provide a huge range including learning to windsurf, trying the flying banana, and knee boarding, seabiscuits and canoeing. Explore the dead quite of Ios Village by day. Take a small hike in the hills around the area where you'll discover small coves for swimming. You can also catch a bus to Manganari beach, or catch a ferry to the more remote beaches of Ios. For dinner try a BBQ, watch a film at the campsite or try a meal in town. It’s the last night of the tour so you may want to return to Ios town for more bars and club-hopping in the evening.
Day 9 - Sample Itinerary
Ios to Athens
Today you will head back to Athens. The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city. During Perikles' Golden Age, ancient Greek civilization was represented in an ideal way on the hill and some of the architectural masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground. Spreading around the Acropolis is the old quarter of the town, known as the Plaka, picturesque with its famed flea market, small tavernas, craft shops and narrow winding alleys. The centre of modern Athens, most notably the chic area of Kolonaki, has many designer boutiques, smart restaurants and international-class hotels. The city has a thriving nightlife, with most bars and clubs staying open until at least 0300.
Special Note: Your arrival time back into Athens is not finalised until two weeks before your departure. You will get back into Athens anywhere from 3pm on the last day or early the following morning. Please be advised ferries can be delayed due to weather conditions and therefore it is advised that you do not organise to leave Athens until the day after your tour finishes.