No-frills airline Monarch will start cheap flights to the Greek island of Santorini this summer, opening up connections from London Gatwick and Manchester airports.

The low-cost carrier is accepting bookings for the route now, with return fares starting from £160 all inclusive and departures on offer every Tuesday between 5 May and 5 October.

Visitors to Santorini widely credit the island as having one of the best sunsets in the world, complimenting its natural wealth of volcanic scenery and archaeological heritage.

The Greek island boasts a giant central lagoon circled by 300-metre high cliffs on three sides, with the smaller island of Therasia partially blocking off the Aegean Sea.

Alongside its stunning scenery, Santorini is known for its former Bronze Age inhabitants, the Minoan civilization, who peppered the ancient island with archaeological treasures. Main excavation site Akrotiri is expected to re-open to the public this year, though no firm date has been set.

The island is also renowned for its black sand beaches and sophisticated nightlife, which offers a quieter alternative to the more hectic clubs and bars on neighbouring islands.

Low-cost carrier Monarch operates scheduled and charter services from several UK gateways, including London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham airports.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Creative Commons image: Klearchos Kapoutsis / Flickr)

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