A 13-day bicycle trip. By bus and bicycle to classical sites and isolated areas from Thessaloniki to Patras. Biking in the mountains, on the plains, by the coastline and on an island. Visiting excavations, museums and churches. Swimming in the sea.
Itinerary
Day 1st: Welcome to Greece!
Individual arrival to Thessaloniki. Transfer to our hotel on the Olympic Riviera (50km). Two overnight stays.
Day 2nd: The Macedonian city of Dion. Bike tour in the Olympus.
Transfer to Dion (10km), where in the shadow of the Olympus Macedonians celebrated their Olympic Games. We visit the excavation of the ancient city. Transfer to Kokkinopilos, at 1160m (70km). Bike tour in the northern Olympus: On forest roads and through dense forest we get into the valley of Xerolaki, at 1400m, with stunning view on the summit. We continue towards Petra, 520m and Fotina, 300m [37km, 400m uphill, mostly on dirt forest roads, moderate to challenging, B-C]. Return to our hotel (30km).
Day 3rd: The tomb of Philip II of Macedon at Vergina. Bike tour in the area of Kato Olympos
Transfer to Vergina (75km). Visiting the tomb of Philip, with the outstanding collection of archaeological finds. Transfer to Sykamnia, at 920m, on a plateau between the High Mount Olympus and the Lower Mount Olympus (135km). Bicycle tour, over an 1160m high passage, to Tyrnavos, at 90m, a wine region in plain of Thessaly [33km, 280m uphill, long downhill, small gravel section, B]. Transfer, via Larissa and Trikala, to Kastraki at the foot of the Meteors (94km). Overnight stay.
Day 4th: Meteora, the "Pending" monasteries. Bike tour on the edge of Thessaly plain.
Short drive to the Meteors and visiting two of the "Pending convents". Opportunity for a short hike between the vertical rocks. Transfer, across the Thessaly plain through Trikala and Larissa, to Plassia, at 55m (100km). Bike tour at the foot of the mountain of Mavrovuni to Kanalia, at 80m [30km, easy to medium, A-B]. Transfer to the mountain Pelion (40km). 2 overnights stays.
Day 5th: Bicycle tour on the mountain of the Centaurs.
Day tour in Pelion Mountain. Bicycle tour through chestnut woods, apples groves and traditional villages from Chania to Tsagarada [34km, medium, long downhill, short uphill, B]. Promising hike to Damuchari [1h 30', easy] and swimming opportunity.
Day 6th: Via Thermopylae to the mountain of Kallidromon and on to the Corinthian Gulf.
Transfer to Thermopylae (140km). Short stop at the monument of Leonidas. Bike tour on the scenic roads transversely through the mountain Kallidromon over the Fontana Pass, at 700m, to the Boeotian Kefissos [35km, 800m uphill, asphalt, B-C, possibility of just doing a part of the tour]. Transfer, via Gravia and Amphissa, between the mountains and Giona and Parnassus, to Itea on the Corinthian Gulf (70km). 2 overnight stays.
Day 7th: The oracle of Apollo at Delphi. Mountain bike tour on the Western Parnassus.
Transfer to Delphi, the "Navel of the World", at 590m (18km). Visiting the oracle of Apollo, the Archaeological Museum and the sanctuary of Athena. Transfer to the plateau of Parnassus, at 1150m (24km). Bicycle tour, partly through dense conifer forest in the mountain solitude and the National Park of Parnassus, to Elaionas after Amphissa, at 180m [34km, mostly gravel, 200m uphill, long downhill, B-C]. Transfer back to our hotel (12km).
Day 8th: To the monastery of Saint Loukas and to Athens.
Transfer to the plateau of Desfina, at 660m (15km). By bicycle we pass Distomo and Steiri till arriving to the monastery of Saint Loukas, at 470m [30km, 170m uphill, easy to moderate, A-B]. Visiting the decorated with mosaics church of St. Loukas and the domed cruciform church of Panagia. Transfer to Athens (180km). 2 overnight stays.
Day 9th: The island of Aegina.
Day excursion to Aegina. Lovely bicycle tour on the island. From its neoclassical capital on the west coast to the ancient sanctuary of Aphaia, at 170m, one of the most beautiful Greek temples. We reach Agia Marina on the west coast and continue to the pass Oros, at 250m. There, on the ruins of the ancient sanctuary of Zeus, built by Hellanios, a Christian church was built. Our bicycle tour continues and leads us back to the port of Aegina, to take our boat back to Piraeus and Athens [40km, 570m uphill, moderate to challenging, B-C].
Day 10th: The Acropolis of Athens. Bicycle tour in the wine territory of Nemea.
Visiting the Acropolis of Athens. Drive to the Peloponnese. After a short stop at the Canal of Corinth, which separates the "Pelops’s island" from the mainland (80km), we arrive to the wine territory of Nemea (30km). We ride our bikes and, from Old Nemea, where Hercules had killed the lion and the Hellenes were celebrating the Nemean games, in the temple of Zeus, through the vineyards of New Nemea, we get to Gymnon [22km, easy to moderate, A-B]. Transfer to Tolo, a seaside resort on the Gulf of Argos (40km). 2 overnight stays.
Day 11th: Argolis, land of legends.
Transfer to Epidaurus and the temple of Asclepius (30km). We visit the world famous theater. Bicycle tour, through low mountains and along the coastline, to Drepano [26km, easy to moderate, A-B]. Transfer to Mycenae (40km). Visiting the castle of Agamemnon and the Treasury of Atreus. On the way back to Tolo, short stop in the picturesque Nafplion, the first capital of Modern Greek State.
Day 12th: Dreamland Arcadia.
By bus and bicycle through the region of Arcadia. Transfer, via Tripolis and Megalopolis and above the River Alfeios, to Karytaena with its impressive medieval castle. Eventually, via Andritsaena we arrive to Bassae, at 1150m (152km). We visit the Temple of Epikourios Apollo. It is time for the day’s bicycle tour, through the barren Arcadian Mountains and the fertile Elean hills, down to the west coast [42km, 470m uphill, medium, B]. Transfer to Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games (28km). Overnight stay.
Day 13th: Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games. Bicycle journey to a knight's citadel. Goodbye.
We visit the sanctuary of Zeus, the Olympic Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. Transfer to Kavassila, at 20m (60km). Bicycle tour on the fertile plains of Elis to Kastro, at 180m, and the castle of Chlemoutsi, and further on to the dunes on the bay of Loutra Killinis [25km, easy to moderate, A-B]. Transfer to Patras (85km) and return home or extension of your holidays to the beach of Psathopyrgos (+15km) or to Athens (+110km).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Olympus, the mountain of the gods
- The tomb of Phillipos the Macedonian, in Vergina
- The Macedonian city of Dion
- Meteora, the "floating" monasteries
- Pelion, the mountain of Centaurs
- The monument of Leonidas at Thermopylae and the bike tour on the mountain Kallidromon
- The oracle of Apollo at Delphi
- The monastery of Saint Loukas with the Byzantine wall mosaics
- The Acropolis of Athens
- The Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina
- The castle of the of Atrides in Mycenae
- The theater of Epidaurus
- The temple of Epikourios Apollo in Arcadia
- The temple of Zeus at Olympia.
TRAVEL NOTES
BICYCLE TOURS AND HIKES
12 moderate to challenging mountain bike tours (short uphill - long downhill, some dirt roads), between 20 and 45km and two simple hikes of 1h-1h30’.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
- 12 nights in clean and quiet, bed and breakfast, hotels of the middle class
- 12 dinners at the hotel or to taverns
- At midday a picnic or to a light meal in a tavern are previewed
SERVICES
- Transportation and excursions as described in the program
- 12 overnight stays, breakfast included, in rooms with WC and bath or shower, in middle class hotels
- Dinner at the hotel or a tavern
- A well-functioning mountain bike
- A qualified English speaking Greek tourist guide
- NOT included in the price: Arrival to Greece; entrance fees to museums and excavations (about 60 €); transfer from/to airport (can be arranged on request); travel insurance
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Possible extension: 2 nights at a resort on the Corinthian Gulf, € 72/person in double room
PRICE
- in double room: € 1464/person
- in single room: € 1644/person
Number of participants: min 10, max. 20 persons
INDIVIDUAL ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
- To Greece: Scheduled flights from Olympic Air and Aegean to Thessaloniki (other airlines may also fly to/from the airport "Macedonia").
- From Greece: By ferry from Patras to Venice or Ancona. By charter flight from Araxos. Scheduled flights from Olympic Air and Aegean (or other) from Athens.
