Volcano Boat Trip

Experience Santorini from inside its great crater, on a boat tour

SANTORINI TOURS : Before you leave Santorini, keep in mind that no journey to this island can ever be complete without a leisurely Santorini volcano boat tour. There is no doubt that the views from Oia or Fira are magnificent but there is another way to marvel at Santorini’s unique scenery, sailing on a boat where you can admire the active volcano from up close, swim in the hot springs or make a romantic sunset cruise.

The views of Caldera rising up to 450 meters above sea level dotted by picturesque settlement of white Cycladic houses are majestic. Several well-appointed masted yachts leave a couple of times a day from Athinios or the Old Port for an unforgettable six-hour trip. The first stop is usually Nea Kammeni, which offers a chance to climb up to the active volcano crater which last growled as recently as 1956. Then the boat proceeds around the blackened northern side to Palea Kammeni, where you can jump overboard for a brief swim in the warm and shallow water.

A sumptuous buffet meal accompanies the next leg to Thirasia, where the boat languishes until sunset, when it’s time to sail to a point off Oia to see the legendary Santorini sunset. After that, it’s a leisurely sail back to port, with the winking lights of Oia, Imerovigli and Fira far above lighting the way over the dark water. What better way to experience Santorini than from inside its great crater?