Iconic Greece 2015: Skyfall & the Islands

We awoke this morning in luxury in the incredible setting of the Skyfall Suites. There's been lots of talk of not coming home!
It was difficult to drag ourselves away from this magnificent setting, but we did depart at 9:45am to meet our bus, & local guide Simone, to take a full-day tour of Santorini's smaller islands & the Caldera.
A short bus ride took us to the port of Athinias where we boarded our 'caique', a wooden 'pirate ship', to set off for the islands.
Our first stop was the volcanic outcrop of Nea Kameni (New Burnt). Often referred to simply as 'the volcano', Nea Kameni is an uninhabited national park that is the youngest of Santorini's islands - emerging from the sea within the last 500 years. We hiked to the top of the rocky island, stopping to view the caldera above us as well as different craters on the island, including some with constantly smoking 'fumaroles'. A quick dig into the gravel underfoot revealed the heat just a few inches below the surface!
Back abroad our ship, The Jason, we stayed ahead of the crowds as we sailed to Palea Kameni (Old Burnt), an older volcanic outcrop dating back around 2000 years. Here we anchored before plunging into the sea & swimming into an inlet fed by 'hot' springs. They proved to be more tepid than hot but we enjoyed the swim in the Aegean & were soon back onboard, looking miraculously younger thanks to the powers of the spring water!
Our final stop was on the island of Thirassia, an original part of the huge volcano of Santorini but separated from Thira by the eruptions & subsequent collapses of the caldera. There was time for lunch in one of the many tavernas along the waterfront, then free time to enjoy the view, hike or ride a donkey to the top of the caldera, or shop in the couple of stores.
We ended our sightseeing with a leisurely cruise along the inside of the caldera, passing underneath Oia, Fira, & the other villages on the crater's edge before docking & boarding our bus for the short drive back to the hotel.
This evening was entirely free. Many of the group explored the village of Pyrgos, some dining in one of the villages restaurants, whilst others relaxed & dined at Skyfall Suites.