Exploring Santorini’s Volcano & Hot Springs: A Day Trip

Santorini has always been a dream destination of mine, and the week I spent there did not disappoint! I spent the week taking thousands of pictures of the island’s iconic blue domes and white houses, soaking up the sun on Santorini’s many beaches, and zooming around on ATVs. For an island, there was a surprising amount of fun and diverse things to do-you check out my to 10 unforgettable Santorini experiences here.

If you are planning a visit, then I would highly recommend taking a day trip to the volcano and hot springs. After all, it’s not every day you get to hop on a boat, wander around a volcano, jump in ocean hot springs, and watch a stunning sun set in Oia. (Though I desperately wish this did happen every day!) Keep reading to discover if you’ll want to add this adventure to your Santorini bucket list!

About The Tour

There are many tour companies operation on Santorini, and many of them offer similar (if not identical tours). I ended up booking this day trip through Kamari Tours. The tour cost €38 per person, a price I felt was very fair.

The boat fit around 50-70 people and was pretty full on the day I went. If you are looking for a more personalized experience, this tour is not for you as the group sizes are pretty large an you may feel a little “herded” around from stop to stop. However, the tour is by far the most economic and simple way to see the island’s sights.

The Boat

Included in the price of the tour is a bus ride from Santorini’s major cities to the port where the boat takes off. Once everyone boards, you’ll set sail! Refreshments are available on board, although I do recommend bringing snacks as options are limited.

If you are prone to motion sickness, you will want to prepare for the day accordingly, as the water can get choppy in wind.

The Volcano

The first stop of the day takes you to the epicenter of the Santorini caldera, the volcano itself. You’ll have an hour or so of free time to wander around the volcano. I was astounded by how otherworldly the volcano’s terrain appeared. It felt as if I had somehow taken a boat to Mars!

The entire surface of the volcano is covered in volcanic rock and ash, and you’ll have the opportunity to view several craters and learn about the island’s history. We even saw steam coming from thermal areas! From the volcano, you’ll also get a pretty great view of the iconic crescent-shaped mainland.

After wandering around this alien landscape, you’ll head back to the boat and set sail for the next destination, Santorini’s hot springs.

Ocean Hot Springs

For those who wish to hit the hot springs, you’ll have to jump off the boat and swim about 50 feet to get there! The water is initially cold, but gets warmer as you get closer to the springs (and the water gets greener!). Be sure to wear a dark swimsuit to avoid orange sulfur staining, and also stay away from silver jewelry, as it will change color.

This part of the day was my favorite, as it was so fun braving the initially cool water, only to gradually head into a thermal (and quite warm) green lagoon. Many visitors even use the orange sulfur to write their names on the black rocks lining the lagoon-don’t forget to add yours!

For a few moments my boyfriend and I had the lagoon all to ourselves (we might have been the last ones on the boat;)) and they were simply unforgettable.

Lunch on Therasia

After getting covered in salt and sulfur at the hot springs, you’ll head to nearby Therasia, a smaller and lesser known island in the Santorini caldera-seriously, the population is only around 300! The spot was pleasant, and we enjoyed a seafood lunch overlooking the water, although I must admit there was little else to do here, and I was ready to return to Santorini when our time here ended.

Oia Sunset

The tour ends at the base of Oia just in time to scout a perfect spot to watch the sunset. You can opt to take the famous donkeys up the steps or walk. Personally, I recommend walking as the donkeys are not treated well, and most locals do not encourage taking the donkeys.

You will have about 1.5 hours to walk around Oia, so you will want to build in another opportunity to return and further explore. I recommend watching the sunset from the Byzantine castle ruins, which your guide can direct you to.

After the sun dips below the horizon, you’ll meet up with the group and head back to your respective bus.

Overall Thoughts

I really enjoyed this tour, and was happy that I explored Santorini’s unique features beyond the mainland. While I felt that some of the tour’s stops could have been shortened, the overall experience was unforgettable and I would highly recommend taking this day trip if you have the time.

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Have you taken this Santorini day trip or would you consider adding it to your itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!

For more on Greece and Santorni, try reading these posts:

• Top 10 Unforgettable Experiences To Have In Santorini
• The Ultimate Budget Guide To Santorini
• How I Spent 1 Month In Greece (Almost) For Free!
• Top 10 Things To Do In Athens

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