Santorini Volcano & Hot Springs Tour: Swim in thermal waters

Walk the smoking crater, then swim in water warmed by the volcano itself

A half-day boat tour from Santorini takes you to the active volcano's crater rim, then to the natural hot springs of Palaia Kameni for a thermal water swim. The boat leaves from the main port, spends 1 hour 15 minutes at Erinia where you can hike to the top and see active craters still smoking, then moves to St. Nicolas bay where the water stays between 30 and 35°C year-round. You swim about 30 meters into the bay, then return to port by 2pm. A live English-speaking guide is included. You choose morning or evening departure at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santorini volcano and hot springs tour

• Boat trip to volcano bay
• Hike to active craters
• Return to boat
• Depart to Palaia Kameni island
• Swim in hot springs
• Return to port

The experience

What makes this tour different from a standard sightseeing boat ride is that you actually climb to the active craters instead of viewing them from the water. After the 10-minute crossing to Erinia, the boat anchors for 1 hour 15 minutes: enough time to follow the path uphill, stand at the rim where the rocks still smoke and the air smells of brimstone, take pictures, and come back down without rushing. The guide is there to answer questions, but the pace is yours.

From the volcano, the boat moves to Palaia Kameni and the hot springs bay at St. Nicolas. The water here never cools below 30°C because it mixes constantly with seawater heated by the volcanic activity below. You climb down the boat's stairs and swim roughly 30 meters into the bay to reach the warmest water. There's no beach, so this is a genuine swim, not a wade. The 30 minutes here is enough to feel the temperature difference and float in water that has been naturally heated since the volcanic eruptions that created these islands. After swimming, the boat returns to the starting port by 2pm.

The tour runs three hours total and suits any fitness level, though the crater path is uneven ground and the boat entry requires climbing stairs and swimming. You can choose a morning or evening departure. Both follow the same route and timing. A live guide speaks English throughout, and the boat's schedule is fixed, so you know exactly when you'll be back.

What’s included

• Boat transport from Santorini's main port to Erinia volcano and Palaia Kameni hot springs.
• 1 hour 15 minutes at the active crater with access to the rim.
• 30 minutes swimming in the natural hot springs at St. Nicolas bay.
• live English-speaking guide for the full tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

Prices morningGuide in English · 11:00

Prices eveningGuide in English · Available from 26 Apr 2027Tour at noon

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00Last departure this season: 30 Nov

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: 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.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by BEYOND THE LIMITS

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want the rest of your afternoon free, or the evening option if you prefer to explore Santorini's towns earlier in the day: both tours follow the same route and return by 2pm. The fixed schedule means you don't arrange transport or timing yourself. The boat's departure and return are set, so you know exactly when to be at the port and when you'll be back.

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 actually swim in the hot springs, or is it just a viewing stop?

You swim in the hot springs at St. Nicolas bay. The boat anchors for about 30 minutes, you climb down the stairs and swim roughly 30 meters into the bay where the water stays between 30 and 35°C. It's a real swim, not a quick dip, though there's no beach. You enter directly from the boat.

How long do I spend at the volcano crater itself?

The boat remains at Erinia for 1 hour 15 minutes. You can follow the path to the top where the active craters are located, take pictures and see the smoking rocks, then return to the boat at your own pace. The full tour is three hours from start to finish.

What's the water temperature like in the hot springs?

The water in St. Nicolas bay ranges from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius because it constantly mixes with normal seawater while being heated by volcanic activity below. It stays warm year-round, which is why it's called the hot springs.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The crater path is uneven ground and involves climbing, and you'll need to swim and climb boat stairs to enter and exit the hot springs, but there's no extreme exertion required.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

A live guide in English is included with the tour and travels with the boat the entire time, answering questions at both the volcano and the hot springs.

What time does the tour end?

The boat returns to the starting port by 2pm (14:00). You choose morning or evening departure at checkout, but both follow the same three-hour schedule and return time.