Santorini Grand Circle Tour
Specially designed for first time travelers, as seen on the Discovery Channel and featured in the Star Telegram.
Paying a special attention to our architecture, art and history, but also to our legends, traditions and food. The kind of mix we look for when we travel.
This tour is suitable for
- Travelers with limited time in the island.
- Cruise ship passengers who want to escape the crowds and take an independent private tour.
- People who are not interested for Santorini trekking or hiking.
- Guests who would like to see the non-tourist side of the island, but also visit the world famous attractions.
- Filmmakers who would like to visit the breathtaking locations, as seen in the postcards and movies.
Road Trip Itinerary
Our first stop for the day will be the village of Imerovigli. Built on the highest point of the Caldera Rim, approximately 300 m. above the sea level, offers amazing panoramic views of the island. Santorini, is a remote island, and thus it was frequently ravaged by pirates in the Middle Ages.
Imerovigli was the main island watchtower in the days when the pirates roamed the whole Mediterranean. A great place to take our first photos.
At this point, our guide will tell you about the Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that have taken place over thousands of years, making Santorini one of the most legendary geological sites in the world. In fact, after Vesuvio, our volcano is the most studied in the world!
Just a 15 minutes drive and we will stop to Oia (Ia) village. This fairytale village is considered a national treasure and is protected by the Greek Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works. It’s one of the foremost tourist attractions of Greece.
It is one of the few Cycladic villages where you can get a genuine feel of the traditional architectural style. This is the place to walk through that Greek postcard image of white-washed houses and blue church domes. Here, you will also have some free time (around 1,5 – 2 hours) to spend on your own. The famous Oia sunset, considered by many as one of the most beautiful and photographed in Europe, keeps travelers flocking down to the medieval castle, waiting for the moment when the sun slips down on the calm sea of the caldera.
After departing from the scenic Oia, we will drive back another route so you will be able to see more of the island. This route drives you through our vineyards and a unique, traditional, windmill village.
Our next stop but not last is Santos Winery, the largest winery of the island. It is a great place to taste our local wines (vinsanto, assyrtiko, nykteri, etc.) and buy some of our local products such us tomato products, caper, fava beans etc.
Or you can just sit back and relax and simply enjoy one of the best panoramic views from these outdoor terraces.
Want more? A few minutes drive and we will stop for a short walk at the traditional village of Megalochori. It is a peaceful village that has managed to maintain its traditional architecture. Here you will see and experience the way people lived many years ago.
When traveling with us, you will explore more, beyond just Santorini tourism! Our specialty is showing you secret places away from the crowds, so you can experience some unforgettable and truly stunning scenery in style with us.
Then we will take you to a journey to our volcanic beaches. Instead of the “ordinary” sandy beaches there are also black-pebbled beaches, as a result of the past volcanic eruption, and of course the world famous Red Beach, near the ancient village of Akrotiri, with its red – colored sand.
Our last stop will be the highest mountain of Santorini, profitis ilias. You will have the opportunity to see the whole island (caldera, airport, inland villages, nearby islands) from a 800 meters height. It is also a great place to take long distance pics. After that, we will take you back to your accommodation or Fira to take the cable car down to the port.
The duration of the tour above is approximately 5 hours including the top attractions of the island. Please have in mind the itinerary is just a suggestion. We are very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, shorten or extend it to suit your interests, schedule and price.
- Collection from the airport, sea port, your hotel, villa or private apartment by our English-speaking driver,
- Transfer Service with a omfortable, late model, airconditioned van.
- Driver that speaks English fluently who will also be your guide. If you want a language other than English please let us know during the booking procedure.
- Road tolls, gas and parking
- All tour related planning and advice, all taxes and VAT
Not included
- Tickets to attractions (if any), but can be purchased on the spot
- Gratuities (optional)
- Personal expenses