This sea tour of Santorini’s caldera is created especially for those who love the sea and sunsets. Firstly, the cruise starts in the Old Port of Fira (Thira) and lasts about nine hours, and its route includes a visit to all the key sights of the caldera. Secondly, the cruise ends in the evening in the port of Oia, so you have a great opportunity to watch the sunset in Santorini in the most beautiful and picturesque village!
You will see the following key sights on this trip:
Please pay attention the tour starts in one port of the island but ends in other port. Departure is planned on the boat from the Old Port of Fira (Thira), and end point is in the port of Oia village in the north-west of Santorini.
You can get to the Old Port of Fira in two ways: by cable car or going down the stairs with 587 steps. The descent by cable car takes only 3 minutes and costs 6 euros. The walking will take much longer but is absolutely free 🙂
A boat will be waiting for you at the port, and the first point on this sightseeing route is the volcano Nea Kameni, where you will arrive in 15-20 minutes. After arriving at Nea Kameni, the group often divides: some want to stay and rest on the ship or walk around, while others decide to walk around the volcano (it takes about an hour and a half).
The second key sight of the caldera is the island of Palea Kameni. There are hot springs nearby at depth, so the water in these places is always warm. We should also say about its color: it’s often a yellow-green shades, which are obtained due to the large amount of sulfur, iron and other dissolved substances from the depths of the earth. If you plan to swim here, be sure to choose dark-colored swimwear!
The island of Thirasia is the third destination on this boat trip. The island is only nine and a half square kilometers and it is home for about three hundred people – and there is no fresh water! The visit to Thirasia falls in the middle of the day and the stop is scheduled for about two hours: you can walk, swim and have lunch in one of the local taverns of your choise with a view of Santorini.
After that, the ship heads northeast and heads for the port of Oia. The sea part of the tour ends here – everyone goes ashore. You can stay in one of the local taverns in the port, but we advise you to go straight up to Oia and get ready for the sunset. The view points at the old fortress are great for this. Approximate time of sunset in Santorini this week is 20:13. After the sunset meeting, the tour bus will take you back to your hotel.
In 2024 the price of a boat trip along the caldera of Santorini, volcano Nea Kameni, hot spings of Palea Kameni and to the island of Thirasia is:
Prices may be lower in low season, on certain days with discounts, if you book early or for a large group.
Several itineraries are conducted on the same ships, for example, half-day tour to the volcano and to the island of Thirasia or shorter tour sea tour to the islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni.
Sometimes there are discounts on this trip and it is sold cheaper for our subscribers – follow us on Facebook!
In 2024 sea cruise wih meeting the sunset in Oia village is scheduled from 01/05 to 31/10. Available days – daily.
Please note that the tour schedule is subject to change. Changes are extremely rare and usually associated with weather conditions on the island or in the sea. For example, it can be a strong wind, thunderstorm, rain or other force majeure situations. We always try to inform in advance about all changes.
Program at the beginning of the season
ATTENTION: at the very beginning of the summer season (01.04 — 15.05) the program may be changed (rescheduling of dates, times or languages of accompanying). Please check the details you are interested in with the customer care managers before purchasing.
Please read Cancellation and Refund policy.
In case there are less than 24 hours left before the trip, please book only after agreeing with the manager on availability.
Before going to sea, it is necessary to issue some special documents (forms with information regarding route, crew and all passengers). To do this, we need the full name (as in the passport), gender, age and citizenship of all participants. If you already have this information, you can write it in the comments field when placing an order.
You will receive your tickets by email or WhatsApp – whichever is more convenient for you.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of the trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. Some cities of Santorini are famous for their narrow streets, which are not so easy to walk even on foot. So in some cases you will need to walk to the main road, some nearest square or parking place, where a car or a tour bus can pick you up. If your hotel has good road access, then the transfer will be able to pick you up directly from the hotel.
After placing an order, you will receive detailed information about the place and time of the meeting, as well as all the necessary documents. Please read them carefully beforehand.
Santorini has a lot of sun and almost no shade during the spring and summer. You will definitely need some sun protection: sunscreen, glasses, hat and so on. If there is a possibility of motion sickness in transport, then we recommend taking the appropriate pills. Take your swimming accessories and warm clothes with you for the evening (it is quite fresh in the evening in the open sea, even on hot days). Also we advise you to take a dark-colored swimsuit if you plan to swim in the hot springs. To walk along the volcano take comfortable shoes – flip-flops are not suitable for such a rocky area. You may want to buy something during your trip, so consider taking some cash with you for these extra expenses. You are required to have the original or copy/photo of your passport or ID card with you.
No, not so much. The walking tour to the volcano goes through rocky terrain, but participation is optional. Most of the time of this tour you will spend on the boat.
There are no limitations on participation in this trip.
The tour starts at 10:30, you can have breakfast in your hotel.
During the visit to the island of Thirasia you can have lunch if you wanted to. You can have inexpensive and delicious lunch here. Don’t be affraid to order traditional greek dishes – they are expertly cooked there!
Yes, during the day you will be accompanied by a guide who will take you around the volcano.
Yes, but not too much. It is still a boat trip to beautiful places with the most amazing view, not to mention plenty of fresh air and the opportunity to relax and enjoy the sound of the waves and the sun.
The main language of the tour is English.
The following is an approximate schedule. The exact time will be specified in the information provided with your order.
During the year the sunset occurs at different times, so the total length of the tour may vary from month to month.
| Tour schedule | |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | Departure from the Old Port of Fira |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Boat trip from the Old Port of Fira to the volcano |
| 10:50 - 12:20 | Volcano walking tour |
| 12:20 - 12:30 | Boat trip from the volcano to the hot springs of Palea Kameni |
| 12:30 - 13:00 | Swimming in the hot springs |
| 13:00 - 13:30 | Boat trip from the hot spings to the island of Thirasia |
| 13:30 - 15:40 | On the island of Thirasia |
| 15:40 - 17:00 | Arriving to the port in Oia, free time |
| 19:00 - 21:00 | Meeting of the sunset and returning to hotels. |
| 20:13 | Approximate sunset time in Santorini this week |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| Up to 40 minutes | On the boat between sightseeing spots |
| 1,5 hours | At the volcano |
| 30 minutes | At the hot springs |
| 2 hours | On the island of Thirasia |
| 2-3 hours | In Oia village |