Private Excavations of Akrotiri

Private Akrotiri Excavations
Excursion Highlights:
  • Experience the wonder of ancient and modern Santorini with this private tour exploring the preserved Minoan settlement of Akrotiri.
  • Revel in the rich history with an expert guide, viewing artifacts from the Bronze Age and marveling at Akrotiri's advanced ancient civilization.
  • Delight in tour flexibility, spending free time to explore the charming modern village of Akrotiri at your own pace.
  • Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the town and Caldera from atop a former Venetian castle during your exploration.
From $100.00/person to $1,978.00/person (Select "Individuals" below) Price varies based on number of individuals in your group
Ages 4 and under are free.
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
Sorry, this excursion is not available for purchase.
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Private
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Active, Scenic, Walking
Shore Excursion Duration 3 Hours 45 Minutes
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Pier.
Food/Beverage Provided None
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes. Sunscreen and sunglasses are also recommended.
Restrictions There is a moderate amount of walking on this tour (more than 1 mile) and you may need to climb up steps and/or negotiate uneven terrain. This tour is not wheelchair accessible but folding wheelchairs can be stored on the bus.

Explore a Minoan settlement and Akrotiri's modern sites on this private cultural tour in Santorini. Your tour includes an expert guide and private vehicle ride to Fira and transportation to Akrotiri, where you'll get 1.5 hours to see the many remnants of an ancient Akrotiri, including furniture, frescoes and other artifacts from the Minoan Bronze Age. Have free time to spend the way you want exploring the modern village of Akrotiri, making this tour perfect for history buffs who want a little flexibility to plan a part of their itinerary.

Begin your private, half-day tour by tendering ashore from your ship to Fira. From here, your local guide will take you to a cable car which will take you to your private vehicle. Take a quick, scenic and panoramic 20-minute ride to your first leg of the tour: ancient Akrotiri, a famous archeology site with recent excavations that date to the late 1960s. Before the middle second million B.C., scholars believe Ancient Akrotiri was a former Minoan settlement that thrived during the Minoan Bronze Age. But this ancient Cycladic archeological site became covered with a blanket of lava when a huge eruption from a volcano took place.

While the Minoan settlement met a tragic end, the ash and lava worked to preserve the site well. Today, you can see the remnants of this catastrophic event and wonder at the marvels of volcanic soil's ability to keep frescoes, furniture, pottery and other artifacts in such pristine shape as you explore the excavaction site. The early excavations also uncovered three-story buildings and an advanced drainage system, which is an indication of the Minoan settlement's thriving culture at the time.

Continue to see Akrotiri's modern village where you will be provided some free time to explore the city sites for approximately one hour. This quiet village is home to whitewashed buildings and a former Venetian castle that sits on a hilltop. From the top of the hill you can catch panoramic views of the town and the Caldera. Stroll through its quiet streets, admire the architecture and enjoy the laid back atmosphere as you find handcrafted items to take home from your trip. Meet with your guide as arranged and travel back to Santorini's capital of Fira, where your guide will share instructions on how to catch a cable car back to your port before ending your excursion.

Whether you're looking for a chance to explore Ancient Akrotiri or a quiet stroll through the modern village, this tour gives you the best of both worlds by giving you a "past-meets-present" view of Akrotiri. Experience all that this Southern Santorini village and prehistoric excavation site has to offer and book this exciting private guided tour today!