Full Day Boat Tour to Caldera Islands & Sunset in Oia by bus
Description
Your journey begins with pickup from Athinios Port for a full-day adventure in Santorini’s iconic caldera. The first stop is the volcano, where you’ll have 1.5 hours to hike its rugged trails and explore its unique landscape. A 5€ entrance fee is required to access the volcano. Your tour escort will guide you along the paths, sharing fascinating stories about its history and eruptions. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water for this moderate hike, which rewards you with stunning views. Next, sail to the hot springs at Palea Kameni. The boat anchors 30-50 meters from the springs, requiring a swim to reach the warm, sulfur-rich waters. This activity is recommended for strong swimmers. Continue to Thirassia to explore its villages, admire views, or enjoy a meal at a taverna. After returning to Athinios Port, a bus takes you to Oia for 2 hours to explore its picturesque streets and watch Santorini’s famous sunset. Afterward, the bus returns you to your starting point.
Tour Options
Itinerary
As your boat nears the volcanic island, its rugged cliffs and stark beauty set the stage for your adventure. Step ashore and begin a guided hike along volcanic trails as your tour escort shares the island’s fascinating geological history and stories of its eruptions. A 5€ entrance fee is required to access the volcano. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a sun hat, and carry water to stay hydrated during the hike. At the summit, enjoy sweeping views of the caldera and the Aegean Sea, surrounded by the raw power of nature. Steam vents and volcanic rock formations create a truly mesmerizing, otherworldly landscape. After taking in the views and captivating stories, return to the boat with unforgettable memories. Always follow your tour escort’s guidance for a safe and enjoyable experience.
The next stop is the island of Palea Kameni, home to the renowned hot springs nestled on its west side. Here, you’ll have 30 minutes to experience the rejuvenating thermal waters, celebrated for their rich volcanic minerals and therapeutic properties. The boat will anchor approximately 30-40 meters from the springs, and you’ll need to swim this distance to reach the warm, orange-hued waters. Surrounded by stunning volcanic landscapes, this is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in nature’s healing embrace. Please note, this activity is best suited for comfortable swimmers, as the swim requires confidence and stamina. For those who venture into the waters, it’s a moment of pure relaxation and connection with Santorini’s unique volcanic energy. Afterward, return to the boat, refreshed and recharged, to continue your unforgettable journey.
The final stop of your journey is the picturesque island of Thirassia, a quiet gem in the caldera untouched by time. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore traditional Greek villages, stroll through charming narrow streets, and admire breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea. For those seeking relaxation, unwind by the waterfront or enjoy a refreshing swim. Food lovers can indulge in a delicious meal at one of the local tavernas, savoring authentic Santorini flavors. Whether you choose to explore, dine, or simply relax, Thirassia offers a perfect glimpse of the tranquil island life before heading back to your starting port.
After arriving at the port, a comfortable bus will take you to the stunning village of Oia, perched on the cliffs of Santorini’s caldera. Known for its whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, and iconic sunsets, Oia offers a truly magical experience. Spend approximately two hours exploring its picturesque alleys, browsing unique shops, and capturing breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea. As the day winds down, find a perfect spot to watch the world-famous sunset that paints the village and sky in golden hues. After this unforgettable experience, the bus will return you to your starting location.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We have specific pickup points available. If you are unsure of the nearest one, please provide us with the name of your current or future accommodation upon reservation. We will select the closest pickup point for you and inform you of the exact location and pickup time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(19)
Was the most amazing day out from beginning to end. Staff were fantastic & so knowledgeable. We would highly recommend.
Excellent excursion to the Caldera and volcano islands. We swam in the hot springs and had lunch at a small restaurant in one of the Islands. Couldn't finish the visit to Oia but Georgia the tour guide, was kind enough to organize our ride back to Fira. The boat experience was great and Georgia made everything super interesting. I would totally recommend this excursion. Best experience in Santorini ever.
We left in July 2021. There were 4 of us, it was very easy to meet at a place for the bus to pick us up, arriving at the port you had to pick up your reservation and manage to find your guide depending on the language chosen at the time. of the reservation but everyone clearly indicated to us where we should go. You have to pay for your entry to the volcano but it's worth it, a short walk to get to the top but the view is incredible! Times are given to return to the boat and move on to the next location. Palea Kameni is super beautiful, the water is a magnificent blue. You have to jump off the boat and swim to get to the hot springs, incredible experience! Arriving at the village of thirassia, we sat at the restaurant, many boats arrive for meal time, the terraces are full but the service is done rather quickly, I still advise you to eat first before visiting . After that we toured Santorini, the guide was great, these explanations in 3 different languages were complete, very good day
Excellent tour to the Volcano, the volcano chimneys in the open sea with a dip included, dinner on board watching the Oia sunset from the boat. The crew is very cool, there is a bar on board that offers some delicious drinks and some snacks. The climb to the volcano is only for the brave, I gave up halfway, my daughter reached the top. The dive into the sea is unmissable. Dinner is a typical Greek meal very well served, you can repeat it, they give you wine and water. And the sunset is a unique experience. We went on the Aphrodite Boat
I loved the boat trip with stops, a beautiful 360° view at the top of the sleeping volcano. Then swimming in the hot springs looked great too, you just had to swim a few meters to them. On the last island you could rest and eat something in various places and if you wanted to visit the town you could also take a long walk up and back with another beautiful view as a reward. The only downside to this boat trip is at the end. Upon arrival at the port, buses will be waiting to take you to Oia for the sunset or back to your boarding point. But that was not arranged well at all because I had a ticket including sunset but ultimately did not see it because I was placed on the wrong bus even though I indicated this. So folks make sure you have a printed ticket in English which seems to help. I only had cell phone. Otherwise a great boat trip, but busy on the boat.
Nice walk to see the volcano. Bathing is not on the agenda. In hot water it is paddling pool with 200 people. On the Île du Midi, access to water is perilous between sea urchins and sharp rocks.
We did this tour via another company (Santo star travel) and paid for half day. We paid extra for them to pick us up from the hotel but at soon as we paid, they told us that the meeting point it is 20 min walk (5 min by bus) form our hotel, so make sure yo clarify before paying. Once you get in the bus to the port, it's a chaos to find which boat you are supposed to be, we never were in any list. Gabriel the tour guide was very nice, probably the only good thing from the tour. The hiking to the volcano it's nice but you have just about the right time to get to the top, 2 real minutes for pictures and come back. When they tell you that you can go to the hot springs, they don't tell you as per the guide that it is actually quite dangerous and only for strong confidence swimmers, you could see a few people that even tho they were all wearing bikini, after hearing this, they did not get into the waters. Also, if you planned to use the ladder, that takes 5/10 min away from the 30 you have in there. The stop in Thirasia was too short to go up to the town and too long to stay on the bay which has a few bars and nothing else... I think everyone would have appreciated a stop to swim instead. The boat had a little bar with drinks and snacks and the toilets were clean. Once got again to the port, more of the same.... Nobody knew which bus we were meant to be.
The stop at the caldera and time on the boat was nice. Too big of a group and it took a very long time to board after each stop. Also we did the full day tour and after the boat ride we didn’t know where to go to get our transfer. The tour guide just asked for our ticket and walked away before I could dig it out. Very disorganized.
The excursion is interesting Too bad the pick-up bus was late and the driver unkind
P E S S I M O! From start to finish! I had booked the pick up and sunset tour in Oia, in Italian...cost 50€!) but: 1) pick up cancelled at 8.55am (pick up time itself); 2) stop at Oia cancelled, communicated only at boarding; 3) contemplate only Spanish and English. Obviously to reach the boarding point it was necessary to take the cable car (12 € return), fortunately the languages are not a problem, but still we returned at 16:30 against a return forecast that was BEYOND SUNSET. I'd say at least 3 hours. And of course the refund is only 20€. No telling when. Don't know why.. all the discomfort is only worth 8€??? Obviously in line with all this... also the Service both in the offices and on board almost non-existent! AVOID!!!!! **** P E S S I M O! From start to finish! I had booked the pick up and sunset tour in Oia, in Italian ... cost € 50... But: 1) pick up canceled at 8.55 (time of the pick up itself); 2) stop in Oia canceled, communicated only upon boarding; 3) contemplate only Spanish and English. Obviously, to reach the boarding point it was necessary to take the cable car (€ 12 return), luckily the languages are not a problem, but in any case we returned at 16:30 against a return forecast that was BEYOND SUNSET. I would say at least 3 hours. And obviously the expected refound is only €20. It is not known when. No one knows why .. all the inconvenience is only worth € 8 ??? Obviously in line with all this ... even the service both in the offices and on board is almost non-existent! AVOID!!!!!
