Greek Cruise and Island Walking

Greece - Trip code GCW Walking and Trekking
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304Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
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Carbon Footprint
You deserve to know everything about your holiday, from what is included, what to expect and every kilogram of CO2 emitted on average per person along the way.

We've partnered with ecollective to measure the carbon footprint of this tour based on an average group size. Find out more about how we calculate this and why we think it's important here.

 

Join Captain Thanos onboard his traditional caique to enjoy a week of cruising and walking through the Greek islands. Discover hillside villages, fragrant olive groves and ancient sites on foot, before unwinding on the deck of our boat (or diving from deck into the inviting azure waters). In the evenings, watch the sun set from harbourside tavernas, sipping local wines and enjoying hearty Greek cooking.

Why we love this trip
  • Relax on deck - Make yourself at home aboard MV Isidoros II, where you can dive into the Aegean for a swim or snorkel or enjoy a sea breeze on deck.
  • Explore Panagia - Walk in the hills above this beautiful fjord, taking in the natural beauty of the quaint fishing village.
  • Discover ancient sites - Step back in time on walks to sites like the Dragon Houses and Castelli Hill's Acropolis.

  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 7

    Lunch: 6

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Boat Crew

    Driver(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    Boat

    Ferry

    Taxi

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    Accommodation

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    Walking grade:

    Leisurely and Moderate

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 14
    Explore average 11

Itinerary

Trip information

Climate and country information

Greece

Climate

Greece has such a vast geographical difference between the mainland and the islands, and travel is possible at all times of year but the climate can vary depending on when you go. Generally speaking in Greece, during late spring or early autumn, in the months of April-May or September-October, temperatures tend to be warm and pleasant, usually hovering around 25 degrees. Rainfall is low, but can be erratic during these months. Cooler evenings take the heat off the day. If you have booked a walking holiday, wild flowers bloom during the spring, adding colour to the hiking trails. If staying in an island such as Corfu, the winter months tend to be quite rainy, meaning the island becomes exceptionally green over the rest of the year. However, it also means there may be some rain in May and late September-October. On the whole, Greek Summers are hot and dry, with plenty of sunshine and little rain. Temperatures can head north of 35 degrees in July and August. On the islands, restaurants and bars may be busy with cruise ship passengers. While this period definitely gives you a ‘summer holiday’ feeling, those wishing to explore Greece’s ancient sites may find the heat challenging. When travelling in winter, from late November to early March, the villages will be very quiet. Temperatures in Athens at this time are around 10-15 degrees, while the nights will be colder. Hotels in northern Greece in particular are well adapted to deal with cold winters, having proper heating and warm fires to retreat to after a day of exploring. This makes it a good destination for travel between November-March.

Time difference to GMT

+2

Plugs

2 Pin Round

Religion

Orthodox

Language

Greek

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


Athens: On day one depending on your flight arrival time you might have the opportunity to go into the city centre before the joining time of the trip. A metro ticket from the airport is approximately €18.00 per person return and luggage storage is available at the airport for €5.00 per locker.

Evia Island:
Styra village visit on day four (by taxi) is €10.00 per person.
Eretria Archaeological Museum entrance on day four is €2.00 per person and you'll have around two hours here.
Castello Rosso on day seven (by taxi) is €20.00 per person.

Bar prices on board the caique are very reasonable and are approximately: mineral water €0.50, soft drinks (fizzy or juice) €1.50, €1.50 large glass of wine (red, white or rose - all locally produced) or ouzo mixed with water, €2.00 can of beer (Mythos or Fixx - local Evia beer) and €3.00 spirits such as whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, brandy, metaxa (rose flavoured local spirit) and mixer. There is also a large water container which is filled with fresh drinking water that can be used to re-fill bottles free of charge.

All optional excursions must be paid for in cash in Euro.

Clothing

Bring light and comfortable clothing that can be layered according to the temperature. The summer months are the hottest, though the islands are freshened by cooling winds. Early and late in the season there may be an occasional shower and you will need a warmer sweater/fleece and long trousers for the odd chilly breeze whilst walking, in the evenings and when travelling between the ports.Tops made from wicking materials which keep you drier and walking trousers are preferable to trousers of heavier material such as jeans.

-Breathable wind and waterproof jacket
-T-shirts
-Long sleeved tops
-Sunhat
-Long trousers
-Shorts (if you prefer to walk in them)
-Swimwear
-Midlayer Fleece/pullover
-Socks (liner and thicker pair)

Footwear

We recommend you bring walking boots with ankle support- leather or fabric are both fine. Make sure that your boots are worn-in and comfortable before the start of the trip. Footwear is not generally worn on board but bring walking sandals for local shore excursions. We suggest that on international flights you either carry your walking boots in your hand luggage or wear them - should your luggage be lost or delayed, your own boots are the one thing that will be irreplaceable.

Luggage

20kg

Luggage: On tour

Space is limited on board so only bring what you need. A soft bag is strongly recommended as it is more easily stored than a hard suitcase. A 20-30 litre day sack is recommended. You will need to carry what you need for the day which may include a jumper, camera, sun-cream and water.

Equipment

-Sunglasses
-Sun cream
-Small Torch (with spare batteries and bulb)
-Camera
-Walking poles (if you usually use them)
-Personal toiletries
-Personal first aid kit - On each walk a first aid kit is carried but you should have your own blister kit, supply of plasters, aspirin and other essentials.
-Small waterproof dry bag (for items such as your mobile phone)
-Reusable water bottle (minimum 1 litre) - Get 15% discount on a Water-to-Go bottle www.explore.co.uk/about-us/responsible-travel/water-to-go-discount-with-explore

Please note that if you intend to sleep out on deck on some nights, as many travellers choose to do in good weather you need to bring a sleeping bag with you (the sunbathing cushions are available to sleep on the boat but cabin bedding can't be taken on deck).

Tipping

Explore leader
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. You may however, want to recognise a leader that has done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amount. It is a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we would recommend EUR30 per person per week as a guideline.
Local crew
Although voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. Accordingly, you should allow approximately EUR20 per person of local currency for tipping.

In order to make things easier for you, the Explore Leader may organise a group's tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the trip.

Greece

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Dinner price
£15.00 - 26.00
Beer price
£4
Water price
£0.9
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Euro
Recommended Currency For Exchange
GBP Sterling or US Dollars, cash.
Where To Exchange
We recommend that you change any currency into Euros prior to arrival. Currency Exchange locations are generally only found in major cities and large airports
ATM Availability
Cash can be drawn from ATMs from all types of cards in most areas in Greece, including the islands.
Credit Card Acceptance
In major restaurants.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, Boat, Ferry, Taxi

Accommodation notes


Our home for the week is MS Isidoros II, a historic listed, family-owned wooden caique. One of just 80 of its kind left in the world, this vessel is a truly unique place to spend a holiday. The boat is exclusively chartered by Explore.

Although our boat does have sails it will primarily run on engine power. If the weather is good, the crew will get the sails out to show you and run on them for a short time during the week. The caique was designed to use its sails as a backup should the engine fail.

Over the years we've been operating this trip, we've had a number of customers return. The biggest reason for this is the warm welcome and excellent hospitality of the crew onboard the caique - they're there to make you feel completely at home.

Our boat has a large sundeck on the bow and space to sunbathe on the top deck, a cool and airy indoor galley and dining room, shady spots outside under a canopy, and a boat ladder for swimming. Sunbathing mats and snorkelling gear are provided. A safe for your personal valuables is available in the wheelhouse. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available on board at all times.

There are two double cabins on the main deck, along with four twin cabins and two single cabins on the lower deck. (We can not guarantee cabin preferences). Cabins on the lower deck have portholes and cabins on the upper deck have windows. All are wet room style en-suite. The cabins are small, and can get warm in summer as (there is no air-conditioning due to the historic listed nature of the vessel), but each is equipped with a large fan that is on 24-hours a day. All cabins have a power socket (European two-pin round plug), as does the galley. The plugs can be used when moored but not when cruising. In terms of bedding, pillows, a blanket for spring and autumn departures or a lightweight sheet in summer are provided as well as a bath and face towel, which are all changed mid-week.

On a traditional caique, guests need to be able to use a ladder when swimming off the boat, and a narrow gangway when boarding or leaving at the dock. The boat's historic design also means low ceilings and narrow hallways, so a bit of mobility and balance helps you move around safely and enjoy the experience.

Vegetarians can be catered for on board, but please do let us know of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

The plastic used on the boat is recycled by the crew and the water on the island is drinkable, so Thanos will ask for jugs of water to be provided during dinners in the tavernas.

Life jackets are stored under the sofas in the galley (there are 25 adult and 15 child life jackets on board). Lifeboats are located on the main deck (three boats that each hold 10 people).

There are two single cabins available per departure, once sold there are no more available. If the departure is not full and there are spare cabins you might find that other single travellers, booked on a twin share basis, may be allocated on default a single cabin without paying the additional supplement cost.

On the last night of our holiday, we'll stay in the Galaxy Hotel, a two-star, family run, traditional Greek hotel. It's been in the same family for 30 years, so you're sure to get a warm, familial welcome. The family also run a farm and many items from the breakfast buffet come direct from farm to table.

We've graded the Galaxy Hotel as simple due to the basic furnishing and décor of the rooms. All rooms have a balcony with sea views, air conditioning, en-suite facilities, a fridge, a TV, tea, and coffee making facilities as well as free Wi-Fi. It's located on the harbour front with great views out to sea.

Greece

Food and drink

Eating out in Greece
Depending on where you're staying in Greece the cost of eating out will vary. In the popular islands such as Santorini or Corfu, you can expect to pay more for an evening meal, than if you are staying in mainland Greece.
In the islands, we'd recommend allowing yourself a slightly higher budget for your evening meals, as taverns and restaurants in the more touristic islands will set you back between €18-€26. If you are on the mainland you will have more options as to eating out, so if you're wanting a cheaper bite to eat one evening, you might find some typical Greek street food for an average of around €5. Alternatively, a typical restaurant or tavern will set you back €15-€25 per person.

Can you drink the water? 
The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip.

 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. Our price guarantee does not apply to Polar Voyages. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information

Greece: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.

All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.


For customers visiting the EU, or transiting via EU countries, please be aware that the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out, with full operation from 10 April 2026. This means that when you travel into, or depart from, the Schengen area for short stays, you will need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration. On your first entry or exit into a Schengen country, you will be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk.

At some ports and international stations allow for extra time as there may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed before passengers leave the UK and transit through a EU country. Once initial registration has been completed future entering or exiting of an EU Schengen country should be simplified as only a single fingerprint scan or facial recognition scan will be required.

If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Ability to swim

An ability to swim is essential for your safe enjoyment of the water based activities on this trip. If you wish to participate in these activities then we insist that you are able to swim.

Greece

Vaccinations

Nothing compulsory but we recommend protection against tetanus and polio. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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Airport Transfers
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