Day 1: Athens
You are coming home! What? Greece is the cradle of Western Civilization and that means, regardless of your nationality or ethnic background, Greece is your spiritual homeland. There are too many things to do in Athens in one day -- the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeology Museum, the changing of the guards at Parliament in Syntagma Square. Consider coming a day early.
Day 2: Poros
This tour is primarily land based, except for our first destination, Poros. It is barely an island with only a ten minute boat ride to the mainland. As you arrive by sea, Poros’ lovely harbor is a pretty picture to behold with pastel buildings typical of a Saronic island. Poros has two primary beaches for sea sports, both of which offer a variety of activities from water skiing to sea kayaking to windsurfing to snorkeling.
Day 3: Poros
Be ready to get wet on land. This morning you will climb a waterfall in a beautiful river setting. Then afternoon biking up to the Temple of Poseidon in Poros. By evening you will have only enough energy of a stroll along the harbor.
Day 4: Nafplio
Today's bike ride brings you atop cliffs with a magnificent view of the sea whose color radiates so deeply you question why dyed the sea! En route stop at Ancient Epidavros for a guided tour of this amazing outdoor theatre built in the 3rd century BC. Its acoustics are so impeccable you can sit in the last tier and hear a whisper from the stage. On the road to Nafplio stop and hike the Mycenae Bridge Trail.
Day 5: Nafplio
A bike ride through orange and olive orchards and small towns takes you eventually to Ancient Mycenae, home of King Agamemnon. You will express awe entering his beehive tomb whose lintel is the largest single such stone in Europe. Enjoy your stay in elegant Nafplio with such activities as climbing the 999 steps to the Venetian era Palamidi Fortress or visiting the Komboloi Museum.
Day 6: Stemnitsa
Leave the seaside. It's time to plunge into the Peloponnese, spefically to the mountains and villages of Arcadia. Today you hike the Lousios Gorge, visiting a monastery and the "secret school" which you will learn more about en route, plus Ancient Gortys which was an Ascliplion healing center in ancient days. The village Stemnitsa has only a few hundred residents yet it is lively with a jewelry school, a Byzantine church with frescos and shops homemade goodies.
Day 7: Stemnitsa
The Lousios River is where you will undertake anexciting rafting excursion into the heart of the region here you encounter dense vegetation, waterwalls, stone bridges, narrow cliffs, natural pools for swimming.
Day 8: Nemea
Leaving Arcadia you bike down to Olympia, descending along the Lousios Gorge. At Ancient Olympia a professional guide will introduce you to the famous stadium where most of the audience sat on the grass, the Temple of Zeus which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the stunning Hermes statue by Praxiteles located in the site's museum.
Day 9: Nemea
A bravura last day cycling. You will visit Ancient Corinth where Apostle Paul came to preach, the Akrokorinthos Fortress with spectacular views of two bodies of water and the Corinth Canal cut in 1893, which turned the Peloponnese from a peninsula into an island. Wrap it up with memorable meal and (for the adults) delectable Nemean wine.
Day 10 departure
Mileage
Total Mileage 40 miles, 64 km Average Daily Mileage 10 miles, 16 km
Day 1 test the bikes in Athens
Day 2 no biking, sea sports in Poros
Day 3 10 miles, 16 km, loop has one main climb about 250 ft
Day 4 32 miles, 52 km, highest climb 1150 feet
Day 5 30 miles, 48 kmroundtrip, about 1 hour each way, flat but ends with a 3 km climb
Day 6 hiking, about 4 hours
Day 7 rafting, about 5 hours
Day 8 36 miles, 58 km 1 slight hill, long descent.
Day 9 22 miles, 36 km climb up to 1033 ft, then all downhill.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Cost per person in euros.
4-5 persons - 2000
6-8 persons - 1730
Price includes, accommodations with breakfast, bikes, support vehicle with driver, maps and cue sheets, CycleGreece jersey and more.
Price Excludes:
- Airfare to/from Greece or to designated starting/ending points.
- Transfers to/from the airport in non-designated hours.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Greece
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Multi-activity
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