With medieval structures, Ottoman towns, and weathered ruins spread out across the entire island, Santorini proudly displays its extensive past. On this 4.5 hours Santorini traditional villages & Akrotiri tour, learn about the island’s history and present culture without having to deal with the hassle of organizing your transportation. Before marveling at the unique natural phenomenon of Red beach, explore the towns of Pyrgos, Megalochori, and Emporio, as well as the Akrotiri excavations.
This tour includes pick up & drop off from most hotels in Santorini, or the closest accessible point, as well as the top of the cable car for cruise ship visitors.
Most travelers can participate. However, this tour involves some walking—there are some places that can only be reached on foot—as well as some hills and inclines. Participants should have at least moderate physical fitness level; however, we always find the best alternative solutions to accommodate each traveler’s needs.
The tour can be cancelled up to 24 hours before the activity starts. If you cancel after this time or do not show up, you will not be refunded.
Begin your private tour in Santorini with a pickup from your hotel or the closest accessible place, and then spend the day visiting the most famous island in the world with an expert local driver/guide
Begin your cultural experience with the village of Pyrgos. This town, perched atop a hill, is home to a Venetian castle from the 16th century. Roam around this beautiful region that the natives constructed to fortify the area with narrow alleys and circular roadways. Vineyards, blue-domed churches, tiny cave homes with lovely balconies, and pebbled walks surround the settlement.
Continue to Megalochori, one of the island’s most charming and gorgeous towns, where the traditional Cycladic buildings are carved out of volcanic rock. The landscape features blue-domed churches, underground caves, and white-washed tower bells. Explore this non-touristy community’s winding streets, sip Greek coffee in the pebble-stone square, and engage with the way of life and culture of the residents.
Next, discover Emporio, the gateway to a different time and the island’s commercial hub during the middle ages. To protect themselves against pirates, the villagers of this town used to build their homes next to one another in narrow, picturesque alleyways during the Middle Ages. As you go around the paths of the well-kept castle built in the middle of the 15th century, you’ll feel pleasant emotions.
Discover the secrets and wonders of this long-lost ancient city by exploring the Akrotiri Archaeological Site and traveling back in time. This 4,000-year-old Bronze age community, which dates back to the Bronze Age, flourished for millennia. It was eventually buried under volcanic ash, which paradoxically worked to keep them from being destroyed. Wander around the old walls to catch a view of the 3-story buildings, well-preserved paintings, intricate drainage system, and other features of a Minoan town.
Lastly, travel for a few minutes toward Red beach. Take in the serene beauty and magnificent views of this unique natural phenomenon.
Your private tour of Santorini will come to a close with a drop-off at the location where we picked you up after an amazing experience.
First of all, the booking was very smooth. I asked a lot of questions over email, but they responded very quickly with patience! Very accommodative in terms of where to pick up and drop off, and also the starting time! Argyris was our guide, he’s friendly and knowledgeable! We learnt a lot about santorini and greece during the tour! The van was also comfortable and spacious! Amazing tour, we had a great time!
We had a fantastic tour with Theo! He was extremely knowledgeable about Santorini and its history, and he was able to share numerous details about each of the small towns we visited. He easily adjusted our itinerary to include the red beach and added special touches, such as giving each of us a piece of baklava, to make the tour more memorable. Theo was very friendly and approachable.
We had a wonderful time in Santorini. We’d been before, so we decided to visit the three villages and Akrotiri with a group of six this time. It was incredible! The villages seemed off the beaten path and well worth a visit. We learned so much about the villages and the island’s culture. My husband was astounded when we visited Akrotiri. I frequently have to drag him to these historical sites, but he said it was a must-see! It was surreal to walk on the floor that people walked on in 1600 BC.
We also visited the red beach and ate lunch on the beautiful black beach. The food was great and we had such a relaxing time, with the warm sun in the background. Perfect trip!
Argyris was fantastic. He was a great tour guide because he was fun, knowledgeable, friendly, kind, and polite. He showed us the best routes to take and took us to the most scenic spots. I’d recommend him a thousand times over. I wish we could re-board the cruise ship with him. I was grateful for his advice. He also took us to an incredible restaurant that we had requested. Thank you very much for a wonderful afternoon!
Excellent tailored private tour of Santorini! Our driver, Argiris, was very informed and friendly. My family and I were very pleased with the trip. The Red Beach and Megalochori were two of our favorite places to explore. The highest possible recommendation.
