Santorini-walking from Fira to Oia

One thing that had been on my 'travel wishlist' for a while was to walk along the caldera on Santorini from Fira to Oia. I found a group tour that included the walk and so with a group ranging between the age of 30 to 79 and of varying fitness levels we set out on the 10km walk. Did I underestimate the distance, terrain and challenge we were about to set out on? Yes. Was it worth the effort? Most definitely! 

Our group was based in Karterados, about a kilometre out of Fira, so we had an extra hike before the walk even started, however once in Fira the trail is easy to find. While there's no official starting point, most people seem to take the Atlantis Hotel as the beginning of the walk. Keep the caldera on your left and you can't go wrong. Just keep walking...

We stopped just outside of Fira to have a packed breakfast about 7am having left the hotel at about 6am. Our walk took place in October so the forecast was a bit unpredictable compared to the pretty much guaranteed sunshine and hot weather in the height of summer. However, the grey skies and cooler temperatures were actually a help. While the photos I took weren't demonstrating the clear blue skies synonymous with Greece, it made the walk slightly easier. There is no shade on the walk and only 1 small shack with the opportunity to sit down and doing the walk in the blazing heat would have made it very difficult. 

Starting early also helped. We had finished the walk about 1pm so while we walking during the midday sun, it was only for the last section. It might also be worth waiting until early evening to set off; not only will you get the amazing sunset views, the thought of a meal in the beautiful town of Oia at the end will help to get through the walk. 

Seeing this sign knowing we'd walked a kilometre already and with the village before Oia only 500m away gave us a bit of a boost. However, then seeing Oia is still 10km away was a little shock to the system. 

 All throughout the walk we were rewarded with the classic images of Santorini; the dramatic rock face, the whitewash buildings and the impressive views. Although it was hard not to be envious of people sunbathing and relaxing on their private terraces of their hotels as we were trudging onwards. 

The route starts off as a cobbled path, however this changes as you head further out of Fira. At some point the path is loose gravel and rocks and the terrain is not flat. At one point, a difficult uphill climb on gravel followed by an even more challenging descent made me thankful I'd worn comfortable, sturdy trainers. DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS OR SANDALS!! 

If you're looking to extend the walk, you can visit Skaros Rock, a kind of peninsula that sticks out from the Caldera. We did not visit this but I can imagine the view looking back across Santorini will be worth the extra hour to the walk. 

The first glimpse of Oia at the end of the Caldera is a useful energy boost ready for the next uphill climb. 

This church is a good excuse for a rest break to 'admire' the building. This is also the last stop for a toilet break before getting into Oia. 

After the last uphill climb, this is the most welcome view of the walk; the first clear sighting of the finish line. If you've got the energy to climb the 4 steps to the arch it's an amazing view. I must admit, I was really flagging energy wise here and just wanted the walk to be finished. From here it's about 2 miles into the centre of Oia. However, it's all downhill! It's also cool to look back along the caldera to see how far you've come. 

I must admit by the time we got to Oia, I was so tired and hungry I didn't fully appreciate or explore the village. We found the iconic domes, just as it started raining... and then we went for something to eat in one of the tavernas away from the caldera edge. Due to only having 2 full days on Santorini, we didn't have time to come back and explore Oia, so while I got an introduction to it, I'd love to come back and spend a whole day here, including watching the sunset.

Tips and Tricks

• Take lots of water. I was stupid and only had 2 small bottles of water. I got dehydrated and suffered for it the rest of the day and the next. Even though it was cloudy and rainy, the sun was still strong and I didn't anticipate getting sunstroke. 
• Make sure you have a good, nutritious meal before you set out. We were given a packed breakfast which was kind of the hotel, however it wasn't great and therefore I didn't each much of it. As a result I bought some crisps at the little kiosk about 3/4 of the way along the walk because that's really all that was available. Not the best snack for energy. 
• Wear closed in shoes with good grip. A lot of the path is loose gravel and slippery.
• To shorten the walk, get the bus from Fira to Imerovigli to start the walk. Or walk to Imerovigli, then catch the bus back to Fira and then on to Oia.
• Use walking poles.

I definitely underestimated this walk. I go to the gym fairly regularly but still found it difficult. While you don't need to train for the walk, it is worth having a reasonable fitness level. However, it is an amazing, beautiful walk and I feel a sense of achievement for having completed it.