Athens & the Greek Islands

A few years ago, my family and I had an amazing adventure in Greece. We travelled in October when the tourist season was literally over, but everything was still operating as usual. It was not your usual summer Greek beach holiday, and it was cool in Athens and a little windy on some of the islands, but the weather was perfect for hiking and exploring in Santorini…...and there were no crowds.

We flew directly to Athens and spent several days trekking all over the city visiting the historical sites. The Acropolis Museum is a must see and has very long opening hours (8am-8pm) which makes it very convenient to slot into a busy itinerary.

We then caught a ferry to Naxos, which was an amazing island. On most days we caught local buses to the inner island and hiked on the well-marked and spectacular trails, usually starting in one village and ending in another. One day we hired a car locally and explored the entire island, which is absolutely stunning. The produce and food are incredible, particularly the seafood and local specialties. The kids loved the Greek temple that was only reachable when it was low tide.

From Naxos, we caught another ferry (just a few hours) to Santorini – this is an island that does not disappoint. We stayed in a traditional cave house on the cliffside of Oia, and the views were exactly what you see on a postcard - utterly magnificent!

We spent our days hiking on the cliffs to the next towns and exploring the many laneways and small harbours in Oia. There is also the opportunity to take a boat or yacht to the caldera, hot springs and mud baths, as Santorini is actually located on the rim of an active volcano!!

Please contact me for further details and assistance in creating the perfect itinerary for you - the possibilities and combinations of islands and modes of transport are endless, and can be tailored to be as relaxing or as adventurous as you prefer. Athens is just a short 4.5 flight away from Dubai.