Are you staying on beautiful Santorini now or soon? Then a boat trip to the volcanic island Nea Kameni is a really fun excursion! What can you expect from this boat trip? I take you along in my personal experience.
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With the sailing boat to Nea Kameni: a volcanic island to discover
You depart from the port of Athinios. The journey there is already special. You go zigzagging down the mountain by bus. Then you board the sailing boat. Small tip: be a real tourist here and stand at the front right away to pick a good spot. The boats are often very crowded in summer. So it can be a fight for a spot in the shade.
While you sit on the boat and enjoy the view of the clear blue water, you will soon see the volcanic island Nea Kameni appear. This island was formed by multiple volcanic eruptions and is a unique place to visit. As soon as you set foot on land, you can take a walk to the crater of the volcano. Only downside: you have to pay €5 first. This is used to maintain the island for tourists.
On the way you encounter black lava formations and maybe you even see some steam escaping from the ground. You walk together with your guide – and dozens of other tourists – to the most active part of the island. Spoiler alert: this is no more than a bit of steam coming out of the ground. Don’t expect volcanoes like in Naples, Iceland or what you know from TV.
Make sure to wear closed shoes for your walk. You sometimes walk on paths filled with gravel. With flip-flops you are in for an unpleasant walk. The walk is not strenuous, but it is certainly not as flat as in the Netherlands.
Once at the crater, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding islands and the impressive caldera of Santorini. Take the time to take photos and absorb the beauty of this unique landscape. Don’t forget to bring some water and sunscreen, because it can get quite hot in the full sun.
Hot springs of Palea Kameni
After your visit to Nea Kameni, it’s time to swim in the hot springs of Palea Kameni. Jump off the boat and swim to this natural spa, where you will feel the warm water on your skin. The sea is up to 35 degrees Celsius in some places here! This is due to the volcanic activity that heats the water. Whether it’s really nice when it’s also 30 degrees outside? You can decide that for yourself. But it is certainly special to experience.
The hot springs are not only special, but they also have healing properties. The water contains a lot of minerals and helps relieve muscle and joint pain, skin conditions and even stress. But well, you can wonder if those few minutes that you swim there really do much. Enjoy above all a unique experience of swimming in the warm water with the beautiful landscape of the caldera and the islands in the background.
We chose to take the boat a bit later in the day. This way we had a beautiful sunset on our boat trip back to Santorini.
Book your boat trip on time
If you are going to Santorini in high season, it is advisable to book your boat trip to Nea Kameni and the hot springs a few days in advance. There is a lot of demand for this excursion and you don’t want to miss out of course. Do keep in mind that they really load the boat full of tourists, so it can be a bit crowded. But don’t let that stop you, because this experience is definitely worth it!
In all excursions you are picked up and dropped off at your hotel by bus. Read carefully if they also come to your hotel.
Is Nea Kameni also on your excursion list?
A boat trip from Santorini to the volcanic island Nea Kameni and the hot springs of Palea Kameni is a unique and unforgettable experience. You will enjoy beautiful views, a walk on an active volcano and the special hot spring in the sea. So what are you waiting for? Book your boat trip and experience a fantastic day on the water!
