CORINTH CANAL
coastal cycling to the entry of the Peloponnese
Cycle coastal road from Athens to Corinth.When the Corinth Canal was cut in 1893 it turned the Peloponnese peninsula into an island. The little strip of land 6.4 kilometer, 4 miles long was what attached the peninsula to the west Attica mainland. Since antiquity Greeks dreamed of a water passage at the isthmus but had to settle for portage by towing ships 70 feet, 21 meters on a stone carriage way from one side to the other. At the south end of the canal you can still see the remnants of the diolkos next to the modern canal. By the way, for the extremists there’s bungee jumping off the Corinth Canal bridge.
Ancient Corinth is only a couple of miles from the Corinth Canal. Corinth was a wealthy city in ancient days because of its strategic location to control the only land access to the Peloponnese. Evidence of the prosperity can be seen in the fine art filling the archaeology site’s museum. Only 3-4 kilometers from Ancient Corinth is the Akrocorinth Fortress, a medieval citadel from whose summit you will find spectacular views of the two gulfs. Be sure to fill up your water bottles at the Ottoman era fountain with Arabic writing.
The tour has few hills. It is mostly flat. You have a choice of mileage, from over 100 km, 62 miles if you do the entire route include crossing Salamina island, or 60 km, 37 miles if you cycle only from Nea Perama to ancient Corinth. There are multiple mileage options in this tour. The route hugs the old coastal national highway with stunning views of the sea on your left.
Details
Dates | choose your date |
Duration | 9 hours |
Transfers | Yes, to and from your central Athens hotel or Piraeus for cruise ship travelers |
Tour Start Point | multiple choices |
Tour End Point | Loutraki Bay |
Minimum Age |
18 |
Minimum Pax |
2 participants |
Maximum Pax |
8 per group, multiple groups possible |
Total Mileage | from 50 km to 100 km, 30 – 60 miles, your choice |
Highest Elevation |
575 meters, 1886 feet (Akrocorinthos) |
Rating | Active to Advanced, see Rating System |
Itinerary
We pick you up at your central Athens hotel and transfer you to . . . . .well, the start point of the bike tour is up to you. This is because there can be many different start and end points on the tour and it is all up to how much you want to ride.
The longest route, 100 km, 62 miles crosses Salamina island, hugs the coastal highway to the Corinth Canal, then Ancient Corinth, an ascent to the Akrocorinth Fortress, and finally crossing the west side of the Canal on the Poseidon Bridge that lowers in the water for passing ships before reaching the beach at the expansive Loutraki Bay. Shorter routes can begin anywhere on the old National Highway and end at anyone of the aforementioned sites. You need to decide your start point at the beginning of the tour, but you can decide your end point during the tour based on how you’re feeling.
The tour ends with a vehicle transfer back to Athens.
Cost
2 – 4 riders | 290 euros per person |
5 – 8 riders | 250 euros per person |
9 or more riders | contact us for cost |
Inclusions
Transfers to and from your central Athens hotel or cruise ship to ride start point, and on return back to your hotel or cruise ship
Support vehicle: (“sag wagon”) with bilingual driver who is also a bike mechanic. Vehicle carries spare parts, spare fully pumped wheels, floor pump, ice cooler, water, nutritious snacks, bike tools, first aid kit, day packs, and gives you a lift if you get tired.
Tour Leader / Bike Guide: the Tour Leader handles all the tour logistics and cycles with the group.
Bikes: Specialized Allez road bike with drop handlebars or Trek FX2 with flat handlebars. Electric bike available as an upgrade for 50 euros. Carbon bike available as an upgrade for 70 euros. Regular pedals or toe clips on request. You are welcome to bring your own clip-in pedals and shoes. See Our Bikes and Our Gear
Bike gear: water bottle, helmet, handlebar pouch, odometer
Lunch at seaside taverna in Loutraki Bay
Entry fees to Ancient Corinth the museum
Water
Click to open in Google maps
Most everyone taking an Athens Day Tour does so as an add-on to their multi-day bike tour, before or after the tour. The cost of the selected day tour will be added to the final cost of the multi-day bike tour.
If you are only a day tripper – perhaps you are a cruise traveler – you will need to contact us to arrange the date and time you wish to schedule a day tour and we’ll let you know how to make payment.
See details in the Booking Agreement which you must agree as a condition to participation in a CycleGreece tour. Participants are also required to sign a Waiver & Release of Liability.
Corinth Canal Photo Gallery
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