Santorini Circuit

The very nature of adventure means that the unexpected can sometimes become part of the journey and that is all part of the experience. While we will always strive to deliver “Plan A”, there may be occasions where operational, safety, weather or environmental factors require us to adapt plans and implement contingency routes or alternative arrangements.

As with all Rat Race adventures, participant safety and overall event delivery remain our highest priorities. We therefore reserve the right to amend routes, itineraries or logistics where necessary, using the experience and judgement of our expedition team to make the best decisions on your behalf in changing conditions. Wherever possible, we will communicate any changes in advance. More often than not, these unexpected moments become part of the adventure itself adding to the stories, memories and unique character of the experience.

Disclaimer for 2026/2027: The kayaking section is not confirmed to go ahead due to ongoing concerns on kayaking activities in the caldera area due to earthquake activity, there may be restrictions and enforcements being placed on operators by the Port Authority during the time of our event. If this is the case, we will plan an alternative kayak challenge on the Saturday in an alternative location and link the run sections together by boat.

Click 'Enter' and sign into your Rat Race account and follow the sign up procedure. If you need any assistance please drop the customer service team an email on events@ratrace.com

Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure.

If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice. Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit vouchers are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 

You are very welcome to fundraise for any charity close to your heart while taking part in the event. Please note, however, that our Charity Refund Offer applies exclusively to participants fundraising for Children with Cancer UK.

You can view our current volunteer positions here. 

Yes, there are cut-offs on the event, but these are based purely around the available daylight hours each day. Our aim is to help everyone complete the adventure, so if you fall behind the required pace and are unlikely to reach the end before nightfall, our crew will transport you forward by car. You are then welcome to restart again the following day. This is not an event where missing a cut-off means your adventure is over.

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.

To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for this event and must cover both general travel and participation in the outdoor endurance activities included within the itinerary. You will also require Evacuation Insurance, which covers emergency extraction and onward medical transport by helicopter or similar should urgent assistance be required in this remote environment.

We strongly recommend arranging your insurance as soon as you enter the event and booking flexible flight options where possible to allow for any unexpected changes. Please ensure your chosen policy specifically covers the activities you will be undertaking during the expedition. There are a number of specialist adventure travel insurers available, including Mann Broadbent.

General advice on heat

The heat of the day as it warms up can be fierce, so a wide-brimmed sunhat, sun-cream and lightweight and breathable fabrics (ideally with SPF protection) should be used. On the kayak stages, you will receive reflected rays from the water, so thorough application of waterproof sun-cream and hat selection is very important. As the sun comes up, sunglasses with at least Cat 3 protection are required. There is not a massive level of shade on Santorini given its fairly barren rocky topography. So as the day heats up, we will be exposed more to the relentless Aegean sun.

The beauty of the support afforded by the vehicles is that we can interact with you many times on the route. So whilst we require you to take a lot of water with you at all times (and always leave a pit stop with full supplies), we can also re-supply you often.

Do not underestimate how much the heat will take out of you. Even if you think you are going well earlier on, as soon as that sun comes up, it’ll start sapping energy. You really do want to ensure you have max sun protection and keep taking on fluids and salts.

THE KIT LIST

Running or trekking

• Trail running footwear

• Shorts x2

• T-shirt x2

• Ultra vest or small daypack

• CAT 3 sunglasses

• Bladder or bottles/ soft flasks (aim to be able to carry a MINIMUM of 1.5l)

• Hat – cap or wide brimmed are fine

• Socks x2

• Buff or similar neck gaiter

• Blister care kit

• Scooby snacks of choice*

• Either a GPS watch or Smartphone capable of following a GPX file (phone with Outdoor Active App is recommended – see section on ‘route finding’ below) OR a GPS watch for following the route

• In all cases, participants must carry a Smartphone (so if using a watch for following the route, you must also have a Smartphone in your kit)

• Power pack and cable for recharging phone, in waterproof bag (ziplock or dry bag)

• Headtorch, waterproof to IPX5 standard, minimum 150 lumens + spare batteries or second headtorch

• Salt tablets and dissolvable electrolytes for water. Please bring salt tablets and some electrolyte mix for drinks. You will 100% need these on this trip and they are MANDATORY

• First Aid kit (small personal kit with a triangular bandage, steri strips and an adhesive dressing as a minimum). Also include any personal medication

• Trekking poles – totally optional 

• Dry bag or small zip lock bags: Very useful for general gear storage/ organisation/ protection – especially on the kayak but also in general for your day pack (zip locks are also good for doing your business and disposing of the toilet paper if caught short)

Kayak

• Hat

• Wicking Top

• Sunglasses

• Running Shorts

• Shoes you don’t mind getting wet (water shoes/spare trainers or sandals)

• Swimming Shorts / Bikini

• Kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid will be provided.

• One set of clothes for kayaking as suggested above. Swimming shorts/costume/bikini and a T-shirt would be adequate OR you could wear running kit, it will get wet but you are then able to jump out of the kayak and run Thirassia by just changing shoes.

• Our advice at this stage is to paddle in comfortable wicking garments; a second set of run kit would be fine. You will be completing 2 x kayak leg and a run/ trek leg between these, so clothing that is comfortable in the boat and on land is suggested.

• You WILL need a full change of run clothes for Thira (Main Santorini island). This is so you start the longer run dry and with clothes that are fresh to avoid chaffing from the salt water.

• 20/30L drybag will be useful to collate your bits n’ bobs into, plus your run pack for the run stage on Thirassia that you can put IN your dry bag. Definitely ensure that you have some water-resistant sun-cream and a wide-brimmed hat for these stages. We will be starting the kayak at dawn, but it is likely that it will get hot, quick.

• Water-resistant suncream.

No - this is a beginner friendly event and our guides will give you enough tips to get going on the kayak.