Biking Tour Greece - The Cyclades - 8D/7N

photo of The Cyclades Islands, courtesy of Tourism Board of GreeceEnjoy a week long bike tour in the wonderful Cyclades Greek Islands a board the Panagiota.

General Information

Alterations: The Cyclades are relatively susceptible to wind. Normally this results in only a minor modification of the tour route. However by strong wind conditions the travel route may markedly differ from the planned route. Our substitute tour leads you into the Argosaronic Gulf, one of the most historic regions of Greece: You will cross between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnes and discover the islands of Ägina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses and the Methana peninsula. A highlight of this journey is a visit to the ancient Epidauros with the best preserved theatre in Greece.

Requirements (level 2 to 3) : The bike routes have a length of 20 to 60 km and lead through hilly or mountainous areas. Some uphill stretches are included. The roads are mostly asphalted. You can always choose to skip a bike tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead. Only children in a good physical condition and a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike tours on their own strength.

Catering: The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The full board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. On one longer bike tour you will have lunch in a restaurant.

Guided tour: The tour will generally be guided in German language. One of the guides will translate into English for non-German-speaking participants. (Except for pure English-speaking groups.)

Participants: Minimum: 16 participants. Maximum: 20 participants.

Rate: From $2,443.00 USD (per person based on double occupancy Bellow Deck)

Accomodation: The Panagiota, is an affectionately restored two-masted yacht, 23 feet wide and 102 feet long. It was built in 1990 and modernized in 2001 in conformity with the requirement of cruises. 6 cabins below deck and 4 cabins above deck are at the guests’ disposal. All cabins are air-conditioned and equipped with a French bed (4.6 feet wide), one single bed, and private shower and toilet. There is room for all guests in the spacious saloon to have meals, rengenerate, or spend time with new friends. When the weather conditions are fine, the guests can have meals outside on the shaded rear deck. The spacious sun dec, equipped with cozy mats, invites you to sun bathe and relax.

Included: 8-day-trip on a two-masted motor yacht with a crew of four - 7 nights on a motor yacht in a double cabin with shower/WC - 5 x half board and 5 x full board on the ship - Bed linen and towels - English-speaking tour guide - 6 guided cycling tours on the different islands - Rental 21-speed trekking bicycle with bicycle bag - Overview-maps for the daily tours on board - Collective transfer between Athens airport and the ship (only on embarkation and debarkation days) - Entrance to museums and archaelogical sites.

Not Included: Any airfare - Drinks on board - Meals ashore - Tips for crew and tour guides - Any personal expenses – Passport and Visas - Items not mentioned - Insurance.

How to come to Lavrio: A flight is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to come to Greece. Lavrio, your port of embarkation is only 30 km away from Athens Airport (named El. Venizelos Airport).
Please indicate your exact arrival date, flight number, etc. to us so that your tour guide is informed about your approximate arrival on board.
We recommend using a taxi for the transfer from the airport to Lavrio. The cost for the taxi is approx. 35 Euro.
Please note that Greece and Turkey are on Eastern European (Summer) time, i.e. GM(S)T + 2 hours.

Departure Dates 2009: May 23, May 30, September 5, September 12, September 19, September 26.

photo of The Parthenon in Athens, courtesy of Tourism Board of GreeceDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 (Sat) Boarding in Lavrio - Individual journey to Athens airport and collective transfer to Lavrio, a port only 30 km (18 miles) from Athens airport. Check-in from 2pm on the Panagiota. If all guests arrive in the afternoon, departure for Kythnos Island, otherwise the ship stays in Lavrio. Dinner on board.
  • Day 2 (Sun) Kythnos (approx. 25 km / 15 mi. y bicycle) - Kythnos Island was famous for its cheese and honey since ancient times. The first cycling tour, which will start in the harbor of Merichas and will first lead you to the capital Chora, offers lots of scenic views to the coastline. Chora is an appealing village, situated on a high plateau. Its angular alleys are decorated with painted flowers and geometric patterns. Finally you will reach the bathing resort Loutra. Its thermal springs are said to have curing energy. In the afternoon the Panagiota will take you to Seriphos. Overnight stay in Livadi.
  • Day 3 (Mon) Seriphos (approx. 35 km / 22 mi. by bicycle) - Seriphos is a small island far from the tourist track, with deep valleys, countless bays and coves and lots of beautiful sandy beaches. From the harbor town of Livadi you will cycle along a serpentine road to the main town of Seriphos, whose cube form houses nestle along a mountain ridge high above the sea. You will continue on through untouched landscape to the Byzantine monastery of the Archangel Michael. You will return to Livadi along a panoramic road on the East coast. In the afternoon the ship will bring you to Siphnos, where you can relax at the beautiful beach. Overnight stay in Kamares.
  • Day 4 (Tue) Siphnos (approx. 20 km / 12 mi. by bicycle) - The island of Siphnos, which is famous for its ceramic artwork, is only inhabited away from the coast, as its coast drops mainly steeply into the sea. The cycling tour begins in the harbour of Kamares. The route leads through a green, hilly terraced landscape to the central highlands with the island’s capital Kastro, which is a defensive settlement built on a steep cliff face and has been a listed and protected town since 1975. In the afternoon the ship will bring you to Syros, where you can round off the day in one of the numerous cafes on the spacious harbor promenade.
  • Day 5 (Wed) Syros (approx. 30 km / 19 mi. by bicycle) - Syros is the capital town of the Cyclades. The town of Ermoupolis offers visitors an unforgettable view upon arrival: The town which is built on two hills is different from the other Cyclade towns. Pastel colored houses, many of which have classical facades dominant the townscape. You will cycle along the coast of Syros which is full of bays and coves along the entire southern half of the island to the beautiful beach of Galissas and then past the convent of Saint Barbara back to Ermoupolis. In the afternoon you will continue by boat to Mykonos, where the picturesque main town with its famous windmills and its white cube form houses invites visitors to stroll through it. With a bit of luck you may even see the mascot of Mykonos in the maze of laneways, the pelican Petros.
  • Day 6 (Thu) Delos and Tinos (approx. 20 km / 12 mi. by bicycle) - In the morning you have the chance to visit the important ancient sites on the island of Delos, where, according to Greek mythology, the god Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born. After lunch you will crossover to Tinos, where you will cycle along a high road to the mountain village of Kambos. Kambos is full of walled dove towers with their filigree architecture, which represent remnants from Venetian times. On the return journey you will visit the famous Evangelistria church in Tinos town.
  • Day 7 (Fri) Kea (approx. 22 km / 14 mi. by bicycle) - In the morning the ship will bring you to Kea. The starting point for the tour of Kea, the most westerly inhabited Cyclade Island, is the wonderful natural harbor of Korissia. From here you will begin your cycle tour to the white beach of Otzias, where the Mediterranean will tempt you to a refreshing swim. The next stop is the picturesque main town of Ioulis which is situated in the mountains and has the main attraction on the island: The smiling lion of Kea which was chiseled from stone in the 6th Century B.C. Overnight stay in Lavrio.
  • Day 8 (Sat) Disembarkation - Guests disembark after breakfast on board followed by individual departure or guests may extend their stay in Athens by a week.

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Also tagged with: Cruise Expeditions, Escorted Journeys, Biking, Europe, Greece, Active Travel, Educational, Join-In Tour, Hosted Tours, Islands


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