Greece – Peloponnese Coast to Coast 2019/20

Tour Price includes:

● Hotel accommodation
● Breakfast
● Vehicle support
● Services of leader/mechanic
● Local transfers
● Route information and briefing
● Medal for those that complete the trip
● Snacks or drinks required during the ride

Tour Price does not include:

● Lunches or evening meals
● Snacks or drinks after the ride
● Cost of any optional excursions, entrance fees etc.

Itinerary:

Day 0 – Arrival in Athens
Arrival in Athens and transfer to the hotel, which is located very close to the historical centre of Athens.
If you have planned an early flight, that leaves you with plenty of time to wander around the City and
visit some of some of the world’s significant Archaeological sites, e.g. the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

Day 1 – Pachi to Corinth – 60 miles – 4200 ft
A short drive of 45 minutes will transfer us to the the idyllic, by the sea village of Pachi. From there, the
ride begins with a mild hillly part, which will get us through an ancient olive tree field (800+ years old).
Later on, we descend to the other side on this thin stripe of land. Moving always in close proximity to
the calm waters of the Corinthian Sea, we notice the complete absence of traffic. We proceed by a
proper 1800 ft climb on the Mt. Gerania. The rich pine forests, the smells, the panoramic views and the
effort needed here, all are in perfect balance. Then, we move on with our descent towards the unique
spot of the Vouliagmeni Lagoon. Eventually, after one last short hilly part, our route now hugs the
coast, until the Corinth Canal.

Day 2 – Corinth to the volcanic island of Methana – 68 miles – 6200 ft
A network of majestic, remote and hilly roads, will get us to the rugged, exciting, coastal route, all the
way to the volcanic island of Methana. The various curative, sulphur, springs found there, were popular
since the antiquity. The surrounding nowadays, resembles a resort destination, ideal for a post
ride-swim.

Day 3 – Methana to Spetses Island – 65 miles (50 miles + 15 miles on the island) – 3300 ft
A joyful, wonderful coastal route. The sea and the wide open views are the eminent elements of this
day. We reach to the small harbor of Costa, where, using a small ferry, we get across, on the island of
Spetses. There we enjoy an exquisitely scenic circle route, which navigates us around the whole island.

Day 4 – Spetses, Epidaurus and Nafplion – 56 miles – 4800 ft
Starting from the sea level, a steady, mild climb will get us to the Archeological Site of the Ancient
Theater of Epidaurus, the very place where the theater, as we know it today, was born. Later, we
proceed our descent on joyful, quiet roads, through an endless number of orange tree fields, to reach
the scenic city of Nafplion, Greece’s first capital.

Day 5 – Nafplion to Leonidio – 50 miles – 5000 ft
A mainly flat coastal, winding route offers some of the very best views of the Aegean sea. At the end of
the ride, the spectacle of the rugged cliff, colored as red, signals our arrival in Leonidio, a small village
with tasteful agricultural products, produced by the local farmers.

Day 6 – Leonidio, Monemvasia and Gythio- 76 miles – 6500 ft
This is a wonderfully challenging ride. The flat coastal route, soon gives its place to a demanding,
though spectacular climb. After we reach the altitude of 3100 ft, we cycle on a magnificent plateau, and
then, we descend again to the sea level, all the way to the Medieval Fortified City, the famous
Monemvasia. From there, we enjoy an easy recovery ride to Gytheio, which will prepare the legs for the
next day.

Day 7 – Gytheio, Mani and Kalamata – 85 miles – 8200 ft
The more effort is needed, the greater the beauty in front of our eyes becomes. Views of the hard land
of Mani, combined with the endless blue of the Mediterranean, worth every single mile of this route.
The end destination is the modern town of Kalamata. Here, we spend our last night.

Day 8 – Transfer to the airport
After our breakfast, we transfer you to the airport (2.5 hours drive). In case your flight is scheduled for
later on that day, we might enjoy a short swim in the open sea, just before we depart for Athens.

HOLIDAY DETAILS:

The Country
Greece is perhaps the ideal destination for a cycling holiday. The country’s endless coastline and vast
number of islands were promoted for years, resulting a massive amount of travellers visiting the country
to enjoy the perks of swimming in the crystal blue water and enjoying the good weather. However, a
cycling paradise is hidden here. The country has an extremely varied landscape and a wealth of quiet
minor roads linking remote villages and hamlets, where every cyclist can discover the authentic aspects
of the Greek tradition.

The Tour
This is a Fully Supported cycling holiday with a leader/mechanic and support vehicle to carry all the
luggage and provide any necessary assistance. This cycling holiday trip is designed to offer you the
challenge of riding on one of the country’s most exquisite part, eastern Peloponnese, while at the same
time taking you through some uniquely and significantly important cultural landmarks of the Western
Civilisation. The riding distance is about 460 miles.

Accommodation & Food
This holiday is hotel-based. Accommodation will generally be graded 3* – 4* or similar in traditional
guesthouses, offering clean and comfortable rooms. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a
twin bedded room with another person of the same sex – unless the additional single supplement has
been paid. We book rooms with en-suite facilities where available, but this cannot always be
guaranteed. Full and complete breakfast, is served at the accommodation facility or by businesses
found in close proximity (cafes). All evening meals are arranged in local taverns or traditional
restaurants, where the guests can enjoy authentic Greek flavors. Fresh fish and vegetables,
traditionally cooked dishes and tasteful local recipes, are some of the highlights.

Start
The holiday starts in Athens, where we collect the guests from the Airport and transfer them to the
hotel, regardless of their flight’s arrival. Flights to Athens are currently operated by several carriers,
flying out from multiple UK airports. Note: The cost of the outbound flight is not included in the price of
the holiday. You must book the flight yourself (or make your own alternative arrangements).

Finish
The holiday ends in Kalamata on Day 07, and on Day 08 in the morning, we transfer you to the Airport.
Note: The cost of the return flight is not included in the price of the holiday. You must book the flight
yourself (or make your own alternative arrangements). Shall you have planned staying in Athens for
more days, we drop-you off in the centre of Athens City.

Cycle Transport
For your time during the trip, all transfers of your cycling equipment and gear are covered. If required,
and for an additional fee, we can also arrange for your cycle to be transported to anywhere in the UK.

Documents
You require a passport to visit Greece. Nationals of some other countries also require a Visa. Non EU
passport holders should check with the nearest Greek Embassy. You are also required to have travel
insurance for the duration of the holiday and you will be required to provide evidence of a suitable travel
insurance policy.

Bikes
All types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that the bike functions properly
and that you are comfortable riding it. However you should make sure that your bike has suitable gears
as parts of the route are hilly, with some quite long climbs. Most people will require a cycle with a triple
chainset. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow ‘slick’ tyres. You should
also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike. In
case you plan not to carry you own bike, you can hire a bike locally – we can assist with this.