This Santorini shore trip explores locations on the northern side of the island including the cliff hugging village of Oia, the famed Blue Dome Church, one of the island's white washed villages and the highest peak on the island. Short stops in the towns of Pyrgos and Imerovigli are included.
You will transfer from the ship by colorful local kaiki (tenders) to Fira old port where you will need to take cable cars (tickets not included) up the mountain side to meet your local guide along with the driver and private vehicle.
Your first stop is the northern most tip of the island to visit the village of Oia. This dramatic village, built on a steep crest of the caldera, has many of its dwellings nestled into niches hewn from the volcanic rock. The village was once the home of wealthy seafarers, a fact still evident in their two story mansions painted pastel colors. Your guide will walk with you among the narrow cobbled streets where you'll come across many tiny shops of local ceramic art, paintings and semi precious jewelry, including capers hand picked from the wild caper bushes that grow right out of the cliffs and stone walls across the island.
Next is a stop in Firostefani to see the famed Blue Dome church which is seen on so many postcards and brochures about Santorini. Many of the island's chapels were built with rounded, barrel vaulted roofs and small underground cisterns beneath the courtyard, a practical design meant to collect and store the island's rare rainfall, since Santorini has almost no natural fresh water source of its own.
Next you drive to the highest point, Prophet Ilias, on the island to enjoy the wonderful views from this vantage point as your guide explains the island's unique situation. From here you gain a full understanding of the unique volcanic shape. This is also the location of the Greek Christian Monastery which is perched on the mountain top, founded by monks who chose the summit in part for its isolation and its clear, unobstructed view in every direction across the Aegean.
Before the tour is complete you visit the whitewashed village of Pyrgos which is one of the most often photographed villages on the island.
Another stop is Imerovigli which has the remains of an ancient castle and stunning views of the caldera where you will see some homes which were built right into the volcanic rock.
Finally you are brought to the capital of Santorini, Fira. You may choose to remain in town at your leisure, or return immediately to the ship by taking the cable car to the pier far below the cliff's edge.
MEETING INSTRUCTIONS- All passengers arriving into Santorini will take tender boats from the ship to the Old Port. After arriving to the Old Port, walk approximately 50 feet to the cable car and purchase your tickets (12 Euro per person round trip). Take the cable car up the mountain. At the exit, you will meet your guide holding a sign with your group name written. To allow time for this process, we recommend starting your tour 90 minutes after ship's scheduled arrival.
Review Location- Santorini 
