Santorini buses, tour
 

Hi, everyone. I leave N. America next Tuesday and will spend part of Oct 30, 31, and Nov 1 in Santorini. I want to stay in Oia on Oct 30, but go on the full day trip to Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni, Thirasia, and Oia on Oct 31. I think that trip departs from Fira. If I stay in Oia, though, I'm wondering how early I'll need to get up. I'll probably be jetlagged and don't want to spend the whole Oct 31 tired. Does anyone know what time that trip on Oct 31 departs and what time buses go from Oia to Fira? Thank you.

There is more than one company providing excursions out to the volcano, and one of them picks up in Oia, below the village on the wharf at Amoudi. Perhaps you can book that one. Just wait until you're there to see what's offered. Any travel agency can help you. Be prepared for there to be NO excursion if the sea is rough. Also, it's possible that there won't be any excursions offered if demand is low, and at the end of the season that might be the case.

I believe most of the boats have a 9:30-10:30 (approximate) departure for the full-day excursion.

Here's a link to the bus timetable: http://www.ktel-santorini.gr/

Double check this timetable when you're there as I see it's still the Summer mode, so it's possible that by the time you get there it will have been changed to the Winter Timetable, which would mean less-frequent service. Taxis are also available.

If your excursion departs from Athinios, that means you'll need to take a bus from Oia into Fira, then another bus to the ferry port, Athinios. This means you'll have to plan carefully, as the port bus is not as frequent as the village buses.

I'm not sure I understand. If you are staying in Oia, why are you taking a tour that departs from Fira?

As BLL mentioned, there is a tour of Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni, and Thirassia that departs from Oia -- we booked ours at a tour agency across from Katikies (at the end of the pedestrian walkway). A van takes you down to Ammoudi to catch the boat (and brings you back up to Oia when it's over).

I think the van left Oia around 9:30 or so. I would have hated to have to catch a bus from Oia to Fira, only to get on a boat that heads back to Oia to pick up people at Ammoudi. That makes no sense.

It makes sense if you didn't know there was a tour that leaves from Oia, or if the tour chosen does not stop in Oia to pick up more passengers. It depends on which one is chosen.

Where are you staying in Oia? Our host at the Golden Sunset Villas set us up with the trip that leaves from Amoudi, just below Oia. And yes, they pick you up in a van for the ride down and bring you back up. I think it was 27 euros. FYI - we really enjoyed the day. It wasn't completely sunny and hot, but exploring the volcano and taking in the view back to Santorini was so cool. We also took the donkey's up to the top of the rim at Thirasia, just for a hoot. The restaurant that's at the top has good food. We had stuffed eggplant and the fava beans - I wish I had some right now!

Bottom line - just ask at your hotel when you check in.

Those donkeys are horribly abused, mistreated and overworked. PLEASE DON'T RIDE THE DONKEYS!

Read this: http://www.express.co.uk/search/Santorini/

Brotherleelove, thank you for posting about the abuse of the donkeys.