Expert: Denny - 5/27/2007

Question
HI denny myself and a friend will be island hopping in september from the 3rd to 27th. we are arriving in athens and returning back from dalaman in turkey.  we are looking at visiting naxos, paros, ios, santorini, mykonos and kos. we plan to finish on kos as we wish to cross into turkey to bodrum. i was just wondering if you could suggest a rough itinery which will allow us to see all theses island and minimise ferry times, is it esy to cross island chains to get to kos, can you get to kos from santorini?

Answer
Yiasou Gemma, thanks for the question,

Sounds like a great trip .  You might want to save PAROS as your final stop in the Cycladic group as it is the best route to KOS and SAMOS. KOS: 3-per week (20-euro) SAMOS: 4-per week (20-euro) ea about 6-hr ferry ride.

PAROS is also a good location to get from and to Santorini (Thira). 3-hr, daily, 15 euro.  

I would think, depending on your age and party mentality that you should consider the following ... IOS is a serene place except up on the hill and farout camping ... Young ages,  Drinking and more goes on there.  Great for the UNinhibited.   

NAXOS is beautiful beaches (other side of the island away from the souvineer stand laden waterfront.
Great for camping, hiking, Kastraki beach, other water sports.  One arch remains of what once was a grand temple of Apollo.  Ofcourse there is nite-life but pales compared to Myk, Ios, Paros, Santorini ... At times the camp sites and beaches have better nitelife then the waterfront.

MYKONOS in September is terrific...the town, the Beaches.
Best beaches are on the Platyyalos side of the island. Paradise Beach area has a reknowned nitelife both at the campsite and at the 5-star club and goes from midnite until 10am.  The town is wonderful to walk around, window shop, photo ops, dining, people watching, and clubbing.  

Suggest that you should go PIRAEUS to IOS,(circa 25-euro) then SANTORINI (8-EURO)then NAXOS (13-euro), then MYKONOS(16-euro),  and finally PAROS, where you remain until KOS ferry leaves, you will be there probably 2-nites. (20-euro)...

Remember...75% of Greece and islands are the same ... Music, beverages (Ouzo, Retsina, Beer), food: (Souflaki, salads, calamari, olives), sunsets, partying, ambiance.
If you are straped for time don't be affraid to drop an island...but don't drop MYKONOS or SANTORINI...

Calh taxiedi
DENNY