Santorini Experience 2026
See more about the offers- Next event : Early October 2026
- Last event : 10 Fri ➜ October 11, 2025
The event in a few words
You will make your heart race in Greece! 🇬🇷 Come in October, set your sights on Santorini, that iconic Greek island in the Cyclades, famous for its bustling tourism... and its mass start in the Santorini Experience race! You’ll find yourself in the town of Fira, the capital of Santorini, kicking off at a landscape that feels straight out of a postcard 🌞.
Set against this stunning backdrop: blue rooftops, whitewashed walls, volcanic landscapes, dizzying cliffs... you've arrived in Greece for the Santorini Experience 🌅. The event offers 3 trails and an open water swim race 🌞. For trail enthusiasts, you have options: 5, 10, or 15 kilometers over a loop starting from Oia and passing through Imerovigli and Firostefani. These trails offer breathtaking views of the caldera of Santorini. STOP! ✋ A cultural pause: What exactly is a caldera? 🤓 Well, it's a large, flat-bottomed volcanic crater surrounded by cliffs 🧗. On Santorini, it formed 3,600 years ago, outlined by the various islands of the archipelago 🏝️. Now that you're in the know, keep your eyes peeled 👀 to spot where the ancient summit might have been right in the middle of the islands 📍. If you're up for swimming in this maritime trench, opt for the open water course covering 2.4 km from Thera to the historic old port of Fira 🏊♀️. Surrounded by these towering volcanic walls 😵💫, you'll quickly understand what it means to feel small in the face of nature's forces 🌋.
After crossing the finish line, don't rush back home ◀️. Santorini is one of the world's top travel destinations, and visiting in October means you'll skip the summer crowds while still enjoying ideal temperatures 🌡️. After the race, wander through the alleys of Oia or Fira, savor an iced coffee at a terrace café, book a sunset cruise around the caldera 🌄, try scuba diving to explore the volcanic seabed 🤿, or take a Greek cooking class 🥗. And recovery? Here, it's a sacred ritual 🙌. The Mediterranean diet, recognized by Unesco as a cultural heritage of humanity 🌐, will be your best ally to replenish your energy ⚡️. Indulge in Moussaka, Greek salad, grilled Souvlaki, Tzatziki or Pita Gyros: each bite will be a well-earned reward 💪
So, are you ready to take on the volcanic trails with the prowess of an Olympic Greek athlete? 🏛️
4 reasons to join this race
A distance for every taste
15 kmTOP
10 km
5 km
2.4 km
- Early October 2026
A few more words
On the 15 km, you start off easy with a small 250 m descent, then you tackle a 1.2 km trail with a good incline of around 12% 🤯. After that, the path tightens a bit with some rocks: keep your eyes up, but watch your step. It goes downhill until km 2.5, where you pass by the first station. Then, a short climb on 660 m of road, followed by a return to a softer but slippery trail, watch your footing. The slope becomes quite steep for 700 m, fortunately, the view is worth it. At this point, stick to the left of the trail. At km 3.8, you reach the chapel of the Prophet Elijah 👀. You continue on a paved path that climbs until km 4.5, then head towards the second station at km 5. The next two kilometers don't give up much, but the ground is stable and the view remains great. You follow along Imerovigli until Fira, with a round trip to Saint Gerasimos Church (km 7.5), the third station and turnaround point 🙌.
The return follows the same path until km 11. There, a small change: you turn right onto the road, be cautious here too. You follow it until km 12, then you find the trail again. Hang in there: just before km 13.5, there's a 40% incline wall over 100 m. After that, relax: the last 1.5 kilometers are downhill 👏.
10 km : Trail 10 km "Run powered by Sixt, member of motodynamics group"
Trail- Early October 2026
A few more words
For the 10 km course, you start with a slight descent, then it climbs quite steeply for a good kilometer. The path becomes a bit narrower and rocky, just be careful where you step. Then, you descend until km 2.5, where there is a first aid station. You go back up onto the road for 600 m, then you find a slightly slippery trail, with a steep climb but a great view 😍. Stay well to the left. At km 3.8, you arrive at the chapel. Then, it goes downhill to the second aid station (km 4.5), then another 500 m to the turnaround point 🔄.
The return is the same, except after km 6: you take a road to the right before the chapel, then you find the path again around km 7. Just before km 8.5, there is a very short but very steep climb ⬆. After that, it's all downhill to the finish! 🤘
5 km : Trail 5 km
Trail- Early October 2026
2.4 km : Natation 2,4 km
SwimmingFrequently asked questions (FAQ)
You can collect your race bib at the following locations and times:
On Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 10 AM to 8 PM at Alafouzos Sport Store, Fira for both runners and swimmers
On Friday, October 10, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at Old Port, Fira for swimmers
On Friday, October 10, 2025, from 10 AM to 8 PM at Alafouzos Sport Store, Fira for runners
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 7:30 AM to 10:15 AM at Desalination Plant, Oia for runners
The race starts will take place at Oía, Εργοστάσιο Αφαλάτωσης, on October 11, 2025:
5 km: 11 AM
10 km: 8:15 AM
15 km: 8:15 AM
The open water swimming event will start in Thera, at Santorini Old Harbor, on October 10, 2025:
Swimming 2.4 km: 9:30 AM
5 km: €35
10 km: €40
15 km: €45
2.4 km: €50
The cut-off time to complete the 15 km Trail race is set at 195 minutes from the race start time.
The cut-off time to complete the 10 km road race is set at 130 minutes from the race start time.
The cut-off time to complete the 5 km road race is set at 65 minutes from the race start time.
The cut-off time to complete the 1.5 km swimming event is set at 100 minutes from the race start time.
The age limit for participating in the 15 km Trail race is 18 years and older (born no later than 2007)
The age limit for participating in the 10 km Trail race is 12 years and older (born no later than 2013)
The age limit for participating in the 5 km Trail race is 12 years and older (born no later than 2013)
The age limit to participate in the 1.5 km swimming event is 14 years and older (born in 2011 or earlier).
You can check the race rules here
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