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4565

8 days / 7 nights

Period of Operation : April to October

Athens, Peloponnese

Min Participants : 4

Max People : 7

Tour Description

Join our Peloponnese Cycling Tour and get the chance to ride along amazing landscapes with historical importance and unparalleled beauty!

Starting and finishing in the city of Athens, this extraordinary ride offers lots of opportunities to discover and explore some of Greece’s treasures. Nafplio, Epidaurus and Mycenae are just a sample of what you will see and admire!

Inhabited for millennia, the Peloponnese is the source of many of Greece’s most beloved mythological figures and real life heroes, from Jason and his Argonauts to King Leonidas of Sparta, being arguably one of the most interesting parts of Greece. This thrilling cycling week is a journey through fascinating classical history and superb variety of landscapes, from the azure blue of the Aegean sea to the green olive trees and vineyards. Our Peloponnese cycling tour gives us the chance to sample excellent local food in various restaurants and tavernas while on the same time immerse ourselves in the Greek lifestyle and culture.

Highlights:

Amazing coastal cycling routes
Historic sights of ancient Greece
Discover Athens archaeological findings like a local

Level of difficulty

Moderate. Our Peloponnese Cycling tour includes 5 days of cycling with an average distance of 47km (29 miles) per day. There are no transfers to or from our accommodations during this tour, all the rides are designed to be door-to-door.

Road conditions are usually good, but in some places the tarmac will be pot-holed and the conditions average. Most of the route consists of rural back roads. We aim to use quiet roads where possible, but sometimes we need to pass busier sections in order to reach again the quiet roads. On Day 2 we will be cycling through Athens, where traffic can be intense but the leader will keep the group together and give a heads up of any busy areas.

Pace: Moderate; 13-16 km/8-10 miles an hour

Terrain: Low altitude; 80% tarmac, 20% dirt roads

Itinerary

Day 1Arrival day - Athens

Today there is time to walk around the Plaka, arguably the most picturesque part of Athens before our group dinner and a tour briefing from our Aegean Outdoors guide.
Meals included: Dinner

Day 2Explore Athens by bike; ferry to Poros Island; cycle to the beach for a swim.

In the morning, we explore some of the main sights in Athens by bike. Our route around the city takes us at a relaxed pace to some of the must-see sites: the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, the Roman Forum and Tower of the Winds, the Ancient Agora, Kerameikos, the Ancient Theatre of Dionysus and towering Acropolis. Athens is built on the slopes of a number of hills and valleys and although the distances are not huge on this tour there are a number of ups and downs before our final descent to Piraeus harbour through a busy road. Here we catch the ferry across the Argosaronic Gulf to Poros Island. (approximately 2.5hrs) In Poros, we cycle around town and ascend to the temple of Poseidon, from where we enjoy amazing views of the island. We then head down to one of the many beautiful bays where we can enjoy a refreshing swim.

Please note that the ferry timetable is modified frequently at very short notice. On occasion we may have to take an early ferry in which case the visit of Athens will be done at the end of the trip.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance covered: 55 km / 34 miles

Day 3Boat to Galatas and scenic coastal ride to the ancient site of Epidaurus.

In the morning we take a boat to the Peloponnese mainland and, after cycling through olive groves and quiet hamlets, we start our ascent along one of the most dramatic coastlines in Greece, boasting breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea. There is a short section of off road which takes us to Diaologefyro, here we can have a short break and take in the magnificent scenery. The views throughout todays ride are fantastic and are our reward for the number of short steep ascents along the way, which eventually lead to a 5km long descent to the ancient town of Epidaurus. Palia Epidaurus (or ‘Old Epidaurus’), to give it its full name, is built around a natural harbour and is our base for the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance covered: 40 km / 25 miles

Day 4Optional visit to the theatre of Epidaurus, cycle to Tolo.

After a short uphill ride of approximately 10km, there is an optional visit to the ancient site of Epidaurus (this visit is optional, you can relax at the hotel before riding to join the group as they finish their visit). From Epidaurus we head inland and ride along quiet, undulating mountain roads and descend to the seaside town of Tolo. Epidaurus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its amphitheatre that was built in honour of Asklepius, the God of Medicine and son of Apollo and Coronis. The huge theatre, renowned for its size, symmetry and acoustics held up to 15,000 spectators in its peak.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance covered: 39 km / 24 miles

Day 5After visiting Nafplio, today's ride takes us into the heart of the Peloponnese to Mycenae.

Leaving Tolo, we make our way to Nafplio, one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in Greece and capital of Modern Greece in the early 1800’s. Situated on the hillsides at the northern end of the Argolic Gulf, the town contains numerous neoclassical buildings as well as the Palamidi Castle. Riding to the heart of the Peloponnese, we leave the coast behind and make our way to the world famous site of Mycenae. The imposing Lion Gate, dating back to 1350-1200 BC awaits us on our arrival. Outside the walls we can see many of the wonders Mycenae is known for: the vault-shaped tombs of Lions, Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, and the Treasury of Atreus. An optional visit of the site is highly recommended.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance covered: 37 km / 22 miles

Day 6Explore Nemea, famous for its wine; visit a vineyard; continue to Loutraki.

A challenging start of our Peloponnese Cycling Tour sees us today climbing on a road through vineyards to the Ancient Nemea; here we visit the archaeological site and ancient stadium before a long descent to Nemea. The town is nowadays famous for its exceptional wine and we get the opportunity to visit one of the wineries, see the process and perhaps taste (a little!) before we continue on quiet country roads to Corinth and then on to Loutraki, where we spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance covered: 62 km / 38 miles

Day 7Bus to Athens; guided tour of the Acropolis.

From Loutraki, we take the bus to the centre of Athens and a metro to our hotel. Here we enjoy a guided tour of Acropolis before a free evening to sample some more delicious Greek food.

Meals included: Breakfast