Avoid Air Travel this Season and make traveling to your starting point a European bucket list adventure.

This Earth Day we know it’s nothing new to claim that sailing holidays provide a more environmentally friendly form of island hopping. By getting that engine off and the sails out, you and your pals can not only travel island to island, to the blissful sounds of the sea but reduce the carbon and pollution from the diesel engine at the same time.

However, you need to get yourself to that starting point in the first place eh? Why not consider avoiding air travel altogether on this trip? We’ve put together some ideas of how to get from London to Athens and Split totally avoiding flights, proving cost effective and way more environmentally friendly. You’ll get the chance to tick another few beautiful spots off that bucket list en route, and arrive happy you’ve done your bit.

LONDON TO ATHENS (3 days through Paris, Milan, Bari and Patras)

From London St Pancras catch the Eurostar to Paris Nord on Thursday morning. Stop in Paris for a fresh baguette and a cheap glass of wine on the sunny vibrant streets before you jump on the metro to the Gare de Lyon.

In the afternoon hop aboard the Frecciarossa to Milan Centrale- relax and enjoy the power sockets, Wi-Fi and stunning scenery as the train snakes through the Italian mountains and countryside.

Arrive in Milan late evening and head out for a very European-esque late dinner. It’s Italy, you can’t NOT get pizza. That would be wrong.

Wake up early on Friday morning for a croissant, espresso and walk through the quiet streets before finding the 8am train to Bari also by Frecciarossa. Check out your first glimpse of the Adriatic as you fly through the little seaside towns.

In Bari walk through the Old Town and check out the Cathedral and Castle as you wander towards the Ferry Port. If your legs are feeling a little tired, Bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale Station to the Port Gate every 40 minutes.

Catch the Ferry from Bari at 19.30 to arrive in Patras around 13:00 on Saturday where you can jump onto the train/ bus to Athens, arriving just in time for a well-deserved welcome drink with your crew.

With this route you’ll travel through four stunning countries in three days costing you as little as €‎200, and coming in just €8 more expensive than the Ryanair flight from Stansted.

LONDON TO SPLIT (2 DAYS through Paris, Stuttgart and Zagreb)

Speed from London St Pancras to Paris Nord on Friday morning by Eurostar. Leave the station and jump on the metro towards the Arc De Trump. Grab lunch and a cheap glass of wine on a street off the Champs-Élysées. From there make your way to the Gare de l’Est. Alternatively, from the Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est it’s just a 7-minute walk.

Hop aboard the high speed TGV Duplex at 15.55 towards Stuttgart. Try to find yourself a seat on the top deck and book a seat >60 for the best views as you cruise through the French countryside and into Germany.

Arriving in Stuttgart, find a shop and grab some picnic essentials and a few beers for the next leg. At the station you can change to the sleeper train towards Zagreb. A sleeper train is a real travel must do in Europe. Whether you’lll love it or hate it- there’s only one way to find out. In our opinion, nothing beats falling asleep in one country and waking in another.

In the morning check out Zagreb, it’s a totally different side of the Croatia you’ll see aboard armada. We loved the more contemporary Museum of Broken Relationships and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the capital. From there jump onto a Flix Bus towards Split. Get your head down for a few hours and start to get excited, the best week of your summer is just about to start.

The cost of the trip starts at €130 and brings a way bigger sense of adventure than that Wizz Air flight you’re contemplating. We promise.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

Check out these great blog posts for some more info on the journey:

https://www.seat61.com/Greece.htm

https://www.seat61.com/Croatia.htm

Don’t forget to share your pre trip adventure with us through #armadaweek, we cannot wait to check out your adventure.

See you soon ⛵️