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Let's be honest. No matter how rugged we fancy ourselves, we all have a soft spot for seaside taverna service, great wine and hillside hotels with sunset AND sunrise views. Don't get us wrong. We never want to miss out on world class sea kayaking, but sometimes we like to trade firing up Coleman and Whisperlite stoves for sampling fresh Greek cuisine at a beachfront taverna—not to mention watching a perfect Mediterranean sunset from the comfort of a hotel balcony. You'll do just this on our sea kayak adventure on Santorini, our favorite new Greek Isle destination! We'll circumnavigate both Santorini, which some believe to be the lost island of Atlantis, and its sister island Thirasia, on this eight day trip of a lifetime. There will be plenty of time each day to enjoy the world famous black sand beaches, hot springs, fabulous shopping and chic island towns. In town we'll find out why Santorini continues to be a favorite honeymoon destination, and slip into the serene, turquoise waters below on our daily paddles. Don't pass up this can't miss trip!
Itinerary:
On any given day during the Santorini high season 50,000 town-based tourists enjoy the island's world class wine, shopping, sunsets and sea vistas. We certainly savor those essential bits of the Santorini experience, but unlike others, we don't stop there. We make sure to escape the populated tourist scene to encounter the entire essence of the island. After getting our fill of the topside of the island, we'll hop into kayaks to experience the peace, serenity and breathtaking beauty of the sea below. We'll paddle all the way around Santorini gaining unique views, meeting seafaring locals and experiencing thrills that elude the tourists above. We'll also circumnavigate the neighboring island of Thirassia, a veritable “time capsule” of traditional Greek island culture. The Thirassia experience allows travelers to detach from the crowded tourist scene, and plug into authentic Greek culture. In addition to venturing off the beaten path, our trip distinguishes itself through our impassioned and knowledgeable guides. To guide this trip, high level kayak instructional skills alone do not suffice. All of our guides, in addition to their paddling skills, are very well versed in island history, the local community and, of course, know all the must visit sites. Whereas other visitors experience only the most publicized highpoints of Santorini, we make sure to encounter this unforgettable and totally unique island in its entirety.
Day 1: We arrive on Santorini by plane or ferry. Welcome drinks and our first fabulous sunset on the island from the village of Imerovigli inaugurate our first night on the island. Guests who arrive early in the day may choose to hike the scenic and historic footpath from the hotel to the famous towns of Oia and/or Fira. D
Day 2: After a delicious breakfast we will commence our circumnavigation of Santorini beginning at beautiful Caldera Beach on the southwest coast. First we paddle west toward the point of Faros, enjoying a breathtaking caldera view with the cliffs of Santorini on our left and the smaller islands of Thirassia and Nea Kameni on our right. We’ll see the colorful doors of traditional Greek boat houses carved right into the seaside cliff walls. We’ll curve back east along the coast to our cappuccino stop at Pigadia Beach. Our lunch stop is at the historic Akrotiri Beach. Our destination for the night is the town of Perivolos, where our friendly hosts await us in their beautiful oasis-like villas. After a swim and shower we will visit a fine Santorini winery, perched atop one of the many picturesque cliffs, for wine tasting and one of many caldera sunsets. Afterwards we'll head back to a seaside taverna for dinner. B, D
Day 3: Paddling north to the world-famous black volcanic sand beach of Kamares, where we'll enjoy a cappuccino stop before ascending by van to the ancient Roman-era site of Thira. We'll explore this fascinating and well-preserved ancient city. Tonight we stay in luxurious villas in the town of Vourvoulos and dine at one of the most authentic and delicious restaurants on the island. B, D
Day 4: We will begin to round the northern tip of Santorini and reach the photogenic and romantic town of Oia. Tonight you are on your own for dinner. In this famous cliff-dwelling town you will have the opportunity to have the quintessential Santorini experience: sunset viewing, jewelry and art shopping, fine food and drink. The white-washed houses and blue church domes we’ll see here have been captured in countless travel photos of Santorini. B
Day 5: After a hearty home-cooked breakfast, courtesy of your guides, we will journey by kayak around the northern tip of the island and into Santorini’s dramatic caldera. We’ll pass the harbor at Ammoudi Bay and make our morning cappuccino stop at the harbor of Oia. We’ll admire the intense contrasting colors of the banded cliffs that show the different layers of volcanic materials. The impossibly warm, luminescent sea against the caldera’s sheer cliffs creates an inviting stage for cliff jumping and swimming. We’ll paddle along the interior curve of the caldera to the Port of Thira for our lunch stop, which provides opportunities for quick shopping and people watching. After lunch we will cross the caldera to the island of Thirassia, a time-capsule of the Greek islands from decades ago. Tonight we stay at the only inn on the island, where our worldly and charming host, Jimmy, extends his heart and Greek hospitality. From here we can enjoy the glimmering lights of Oia and Thira on the “big” island, and enjoy unique traditional cuisine at a small taverna. B, D
Day 6: We’ll circumnavigate Thirassia and have a picnic lunch along the shore. Tonight our sunset hike takes us to the site of a historic monastery with one of the most spectacular views in the Greek Islands! B, D
Day 7: We’ll say good bye to Thirassia and make our final crossing back to Santorini. On the way, we’ll explore the «new» volcanic islands which have recently arisen in the caldera. The youngest of these, Nea Kameni, or “New Burned Island” is only 300 years old and is surrounded by hot springs. After a swim in the volcanic hot springs that empty directly into the sea, we’ll hike to the core of the volcanic crater and have a hearty picnic lunch overlooking the sea. At last, we’ll make our final crossing back to Santorini’s Caldera Beach and enjoy a well-deserved celebratory dinner and our last night in caldera-view rooms in Imerovigli. B, D
Day 8: Breakfast ends our stay on this beautiful and enchanting island. Final partings and transfers to flights or ferries round out our final day. B
We hope to see you on this spectacular adventure. Any further questions? Feel free to contact us!
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