Explore Fira on a guided stroll to walk the caldera rim in Fira, pausing at terraces where whitewashed houses and blue domes tumble towards the sea. The path is paved and easygoing, ideal for taking in the amphitheatre of cliffs and the cobalt sweep of the Aegean.

Learn how a colossal eruption shaped the volcanic caldera and the living culture that thrives on its rim. Frame photographs, listen for chapel bells, and pause for photos and reflection as evening light softens the lava rock and boats trace silver lines below.

Join a guided hike from Fira to Oia along cliffside paths high above the sea, crossing stretches of pumice and lava with constant Aegean panoramas. The route undulates beside volcanic caldera cliffs, offering sweeping viewpoints and time to breathe the thyme-scented air.

Break for a simple clifftop picnic of fresh orange juice and walnut-and-honey cake at a canteen overlooking the islands. Arrive in Oia to wander lanes of Cycladic houses and artists’ studios, where blue shutters and volcanic stone create a timeless island tableau.

Walk ancient paths through olive and citrus groves in Naxos’ Tragea Valley, passing whitewashed chapels and quiet hamlets perfumed with wild herbs. Stone lanes lead through pastoral landscapes where goat bells and breeze-stirred leaves set a gentle tempo.

Follow the story of the island’s famed Naxian marble quarries to a shaded glade where a reclining Archaic kouros lies unfinished among the pines. The route reveals traditional Cycladic villages shaped by centuries of stonecutting, olive tending and the rhythms of rural island life.

Walk the 1,000-year-old Byzantine path from Lefkes village towards the east, following flagstones between terraces, chapels and wind-shaped hills. This historic route crosses gentle rises, linking postcard Cycladic hamlets amid olive groves and dry-stone walls.

Later, explore the medieval Kastro of Parikia and step inside Panagia Ekatontapyliani, a fourth-century basilica central to Aegean Christianity. Hear how pilgrimage, marble trade and maritime power braided Paros’ story as Byzantine stonework, icons and sea breezes frame the old harbour.

Stroll the Venetian Kastro of Hora, threading through alleys of chapels, craft shops and family-run cafés. With your leader, sample Naxian cheeses and warm bakery bread from a century-old wood-fired oven, tasting the island’s pastoral heritage in every bite.

Visit a family-run pottery workshop to watch clay take shape, then cross the causeway to stand beneath the Portara, the marble gateway of the Temple of Apollo. Sea breezes, sunset light and harbour views complete this portrait of Naxos’ culture and coastline.

Visit the Bronze Age city of Akrotiri with a licensed guide, following elevated walkways above streets, houses and storerooms preserved for millennia. Hear how trade and craftsmanship flourished on Santorini before nature intervened.

See rooms encased in volcanic ash, sophisticated drainage and ceramics that reveal a cosmopolitan Aegean port. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour with your leader during your time on Santorini.

Explore the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira, where wall-paintings, Cycladic figurines and pottery from Akrotiri and nearby sites illuminate life before the great eruption. Exhibits reveal artistry, beliefs and trade links across the Aegean.

From elegant vessels to fresco fragments, each piece adds context to the island’s Bronze Age story. This is an optional experience at additional cost, arrangeable on tour with your leader while in Santorini.

Unwind on Kamari’s black-sand beach, a volcanic shoreline backed by Mesa Vouno and lined with cafés and tavernas. Swim in clear water, stroll the promenade, or simply recline on a sunbed as the Aegean sparkles.

Smooth pebbles, pumice cliffs and surf create a striking coastal setting for relaxation between hikes. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable locally on tour with your leader.

Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers in the Aegean port of Rafina for a relaxed orientation and convivial start. Settle into a harbourside taverna to share a Greek taverna dinner of meze, grilled catch of the day and island salads, with the scent of oregano and sea air setting the tone for your island week.

Hear practical tips for island walking, ferry etiquette and village customs as the lights of fishing boats shimmer across the bay. Raise a glass with toasts with local wines or tsipouro, and feel the week’s rhythm begin as conversation flows and plans take shape.

Simple buffet-style Greek breakfast consists of bread/toast, butter, jam, fresh juice, milk, local yoghurt, eggs and honey, and coffee/tea. In Santorini, it is a basket breakfast in the room. For lunch and dinner, we normally go to different tavernas and restaurants (at times, picnics of locally sourced food will be suggested for lunch instead), where we can sample some typical Greek meze dishes, olives, fresh fish, vegetables and much more.