Santorini Volcano & Hot Springs Sunset Cruise: Swim in warm mineral waters

A wooden boat, an active volcano, warm mineral water, and the Aegean at dusk

You board a wooden sailing boat at Fira's Old Port and spend 75 minutes walking an active volcano crater with sulfur vents still smoking. Next, you swim in naturally heated mineral springs (30–35°C) and wade through mud baths in a sheltered bay. The boat then sails the caldera's perimeter as the sun sets, with local wine and soft music on deck, returning to Fira in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santorini volcano, hot springs, and sunset

• Depart from Old port of Fira
• Arrive at Nea Kameni volcano
• Walk among volcanic craters for 1h 15m
• Sail to Palaia Kameni hot springs
• Swim in hot springs and mud baths
• Sail around the caldera
• Enjoy sunset views with local wine

The experience

The boat leaves Fira's Old Port at 3:30pm. Ten minutes across the water and you're at Nea Kameni, the active volcano that rises from the caldera floor. You get an hour and fifteen minutes to walk among the craters (the ground still warm, sulfur in the air thick enough to taste), and see the smoke rising from vents where the island is still being made. It's not a guided walk. You move at your own pace through the volcanic rock formations, the only sound your footsteps and the occasional hiss from below.

The boat then sails to Palaia Kameni and drops anchor in the small bay of Agios Nikolaos. There's no beach here, just a ladder down the side of the boat into water that's already warm. You swim about thirty meters across the bay to reach the mud baths: the mineral-rich water stays between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius even in winter. The boat waits thirty minutes while you float and soak, then collects you back up the ladder.

What follows is the sail itself. The boat moves slowly around the caldera's edge, and from the water you see what you can't see from land: the whitewashed villages literally built on the cliff face, the sheer drop of the volcanic walls, the colors shifting as the sun moves lower. Soft music plays on deck. A glass of local wine appears. The sunset happens around you, not in front of you. You're inside it, on the water, watching the light change the color of the stone.

What’s included

• Wooden sailing boat transportation from Fira Old Port.
• 75 minutes of free time to explore Nea Kameni volcano and its active craters.
• 30 minutes in the hot springs of Palaia Kameni with access to mud baths.
• sailing around the caldera during sunset.
• a glass of local wine on board.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 5

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by ANY DESTINATION

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Santorini's volcanic landscape from the water and swim in naturally heated springs without arranging your own boat or timing the sunset yourself: the fixed 3:30pm departure and the boat's route around the caldera handle both.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I swim at the volcano?

No. At Nea Kameni you walk among the craters and volcanic formations for 75 minutes. Swimming happens at Palaia Kameni's hot springs, where you enter the water via a ladder from the boat.

How warm are the hot springs?

The water temperature ranges from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius year-round, heated naturally by the volcanic activity below.

Is there a beach at the hot springs?

No. You climb down a ladder from the boat directly into the water and swim about 30 meters to reach the mud baths in the bay.

What's included in the tour?

The boat ride, access to the volcano and hot springs, and a glass of local wine during the sunset sail. Towels and swimwear are your responsibility.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, but children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The volcano walk is self-paced, and swimming ability helps but the boat stays in the bay.