Cycling in Greece

We begin at our hotel in the capital of Greece. After meeting with our leader, there is time to walk around Exarhia, the lively area of downtown Athens. Accommodation: Comfortable hotel

In the morning, we explore some of the main sights in Athens by bike and cycle down one of the major bike lanes in the city, before taking a short transfer to Piraeus harbour. Here we catch the ferry across the Argosaronic Gulf to Poros Island (approximately 2hr 30min). 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, the ferry timetable is modified frequently at very short notice. On occasion, we may have to take an early ferry.

In the morning, after a walking tour of the town of Poros, we take a boat to the Peloponnese mainland. Cycling through olive groves and quiet hamlets, we start our ascent along one of the most dramatic coastlines in Greece, enjoying breath-taking views of the Aegean Sea. Our tour takes us through ancient Trizina, the birthplace of Theseus, the mythical hero who slayed the Minotaur. Here we can have a short break and take in the magnificent scenery. The fantastic views throughout today's ride are our reward for the short, steep ascents along the way, which eventually lead to a 3mi (5km) long descent to the ancient town of Epidaurus. Palia Epidaurus (Old Epidaurus) is built around a natural harbour and is our base for the night.

After an uphill ride of approximately 6mi (10km), there is an optional visit to the ancient site of Epidaurus (if you don’t want to go in, you can relax in the shaded gardens or cafeterias outside the site). Epidaurus is a Unesco World Heritage site home to an amphitheatre built for Asclepius, 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. From Epidaurus, we head inland and ride along quiet, undulating mountain roads and descend to the seaside town of Tolo.

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

A challenging start to today's ride sees us climb on a road through vineyards to Ancient Nemea; here we visit an archaeological site and ancient stadium before a long descent to Nemea. The town is now known for producing exceptional wine and we visit one of the wineries, see the process and taste (a little) before we continue on quiet country roads to Corinth and then on to Loutraki, where we spend the night.

From Loutraki, we take the bus to Athens and a metro to Plaka, the picturesque historic downtown. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the Acropolis before a walking tour of the city centre. Our route takes us at a relaxed pace to some of the must-see sites: Monastiraki square and the Ancient Library, the Roman Forum and Tower of the Winds, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, the Ancient Panathenaic Stadium, the Greek Parliament and the National Gardens, and the monumental 19th-century buildings of the oldest Greek University. Enjoy a free evening to sample more delicious Greek food.

The trip ends after breakfast. However, if you’d like more time to explore this fascinating ancient city, you can speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.