CYCLE CORINTHIA
led by a real archeologist who loves to bike
guided, vehicle support
Ancient Greece bike tour in Corinthia. There are many archaeology tours in Greece, but Cycle Corinthia is the first and only such tour with a cycling archaeologist. The star of our tour, Brady Kiesling, is an ardent biker and archaeologist living in Greece who combines two loves by cycling from one ancient ruin to the next. Now he’s inviting you to join him!
Brady has an undergraduate degree in Ancient Greek from Swarthmore and a master’s degree from UC Berkeley in Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology. He has dug at Nemea and Ancient Corinth. Brady is a writer and was a diplomat in the U.S. Embassy in Greece for several years.
Oh, yeah, and this last part is important — besides a seemingly encyclopediaic grasp of ancient and modern Greece, Brady’s wit means lots of laughter on this tour.
Details
| Dates | By request for groups of 6 or more |
| Duration | 7 nights, 8 days |
| Add-ons |
No |
| Arrival City | Athens |
| Arrival transfer | see Extras tab |
| Tour Start Point | Athens |
| Tour End Point | Athens Airport or central Athens |
| Minimum Age |
18 |
| Minimum Pax |
8 |
| Maximum Pax |
14 |
| Total Mileage | 262 km, 155 miles |
| Highest Elevation |
194 m, 636 feet |
| Rating | Moderate – see Rating System |
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens
Welcome to one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the world, Athens, the capital of Greece. A Welcome Dinner in the Plaka gives you your first experience with delicious Greek cuisine, a highlight of the tour. And here you get your introduction to our beloved Brady Kiesling.
Day 2: Athens
In the morning, Brady takes you on a three hour bike tour of old central Athens, 90% traffic free, over 25 points of interest. You visit familiar places such as the 1896 Olympic stadium, as well as infrequently visited sites, such as, Socrates Prison and the Pnyx where democracy was born. Afternoon take a tour of Athens’ signature monument, the Acropolis, plus the Acropolis Museum with all its stunning marble statuary. 11 kilometers, 6.8 miles
Day 3: Athens
Bike from one temple to another, from the Acropolis to the Temple of Poseidon where Lord Byron carved his name in the marble. Bike with Brady along the Attika coastline stretching all the way to the tip of the Attika peninsula to Sounion where the Temple of Poseidon magnificently sits on a promontory with 360 degree views. 71.70 km, 44.50 miles (Option to reduce miles to 42 km, 26 miles via vehicle transfer to Vari).
Day 4: Epidavros
In the morning visit ancient Elefsina and learn from Brady about the mysterious Eleusinian Mysteries. Bike the coastline ending up at the Corinth Canal, which was cut in 1893 turning the Peloponnese peninsula into Greece’s largest island. Overnight on the coast at Epidavros town. 36 km, 22 miles
Day 5: Nafplio
A one hour gradual climb brings us to Ancient Epidavros, the 3rd century BC outdoor theatre seating 13,000 spectators with impeccable acoustics. Epidvaros was more famous in ancient times as the largest Asclepion healing center in Greece. Mind, body and spirit were combined approaches to curing the ill, including dream therapy. 48.50 km, 29.80 miles
Day 6: Nafplio
Brady leads the group through rural roads with orange groves as you pedal to Ancient Mycenae, home of King Agamemnon who launched the Trojan War. The beehive tombs are a wonder to behold. Don’t miss a pre-dinner wine tasting of the famous Nemea wines, including Agioritiko wine a/k/a the Blood of Hercules. 46.60 km, 30 miles
Day 7: Kalamaki Beach
Vehicle transfer from Nafplio to Ancient Nemea, where Brady once excavated on an archaeological dig. From Nemea cycle to Ancient Corinth where St. Paul preached. Lunch in Ancient Corinth and then home stretch cycling to Kalamaki Beach. 48.60 km, 22 miles
Day 8: departures
morning transfer to Athens Airport or central Athens
Cost in euros based on double occupancy
| Cycle Corinthia Tour Cost |
3300 euros per person |
| Single Supplement | 700 euros |
TOUR INCLUSIONS
7 nights Accommodations: 3-4 star hotels, primarily family owned and operated, ranging from boutique hotels to seaside upscale hotels. Tasteful, clean, air-conditioned, private bath, abundant hospitality, comfort. All accommodations are standard doubles with option for upgrade. All accommodations serve breakfast, usually buffet style. Tour prices are based on double occupancy. See Accommodations tab to request more info about tour’s accommodations
Bikes: Specialized road bike. Triple chain ring, 27 gears, carbon fiber fork. Carbon Tarmac bikes are available as an upgrade for 70 euros a day. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade for 50 euros a day. 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: helmet, water bottles, handlebar pouch, odometer
Support vehicle: “Sag wagon” with bilingual driver who is also a bike mechanic. Vehicle carries spare parts, floor pump, ice cooler, water, nutritious snacks, bike tools, first aid kit, day packs, luggage and gives you a lift if you get tired.
Archaeology & Bike Guide Brady Kiesling
Tour Leader / Bike Guide: the Tour Leader handles all the tour logistics and rides with the group.
Meals:
•Breakfasts are included at each hotel.
•6 lunches — you choose from the menu.
•7 dinners.
•Meals consist of 2-3 appetizers and salad chosen by us and shared by the group. You are offered an entrée choice, usually a meat, fish or vegetarian dish. Dessert, house wine or beer, water or beverage.
Archaeology Guide: Private tour with professional licensed guide at Acropolis & Acropolis Museum, Epidavros Theatre and Mycenae
Entrance fees: Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Temple of Poseidon, Elefsina, Epidavros Theatre, Mycenae, Ancient Nemea, Ancient Corinth
Wine Tasting: wine tasting with local expert
Bike Routes: Options (1) RideWithGPS tour routes to upload to your iphone or Android with voice narration – bike mount available on request (2) GPX tracks to download to your device – bring your own bike mount
Cue sheets and cue sheet holders available on request
Maps of the region
Trip packet: useful and interesting information about the region
CycleGreece jersey: short sleeved, rear pockets, locally made
CycleGreece lite backpack: 17” x 13”, 43cm x 33cm
Gratuities & 24% VAT taxes
TOUR EXCLUSIONS
• Airfare to/from Greece
• Transfer from Athens Airport to Athens hotel — see Extras tab
• Alcoholic beverages (other than house wine)
• Travel insurance – see Extras tab
• Tips for CycleGreece guides and drivers, at your discretion
TAKE NOTE
- Participants are required to sign our Waiver
- Participants are required to agree to the Booking Agreement
- Travel Insurance is required as a condition for participation in a CycleGreece tour
Electric Bike
Carbon Road Bike
- Upgrade to a Specialized Tarmac Sport, carbon fiber frame and fork at 70 euros a day. See Our Bikes and Our Gear for more info
Travel Insurance
- Travel insurance is required to participate in a CycleGreece tour. For comparative rates see Insure My Trip. Cost of coverage depends on various factors including your state or residence, your age, dates of travel. Travel insurance is not provided for flights booked using frequent flyer mileage. Some policies require booking within 15 days of paying your trip deposit, such as, cancel for any reason or coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.
Airport Transfer on Arrival
- Private transfer from Athens Airport to Athens hotel. You are met at the arrivals exit by one of our team holding a sign with your name on it. We wait for you regardless of how late your plane may arrive. No waiting in taxi or bus lines. 170 euros per transfer for up to 8 persons.
Athens Hotels
- If you stay in Athens pre or post tour, we can recommend a hotel and book your room. We patronize a range of Athenian hotels in different neighborhoods and different budgets.
Accommodations
An indicative hotel for Cycle Corinthia tour is Yialasi Hotel a family run hotel on the east coast of the Peloponnese.
We select the accommodations for guided tours based on quality, comfort, cleanliness, hospitality, location and charm. Most of the hotels on this tour are family owned and operated.
Hotels are included in the tour cost based on double occupancy. A single room entails an additional cost. Standard double rooms are provided but upgrade options are available.
All hotels are dependent on availability. In the event of no occupancy, we patronize comparable accommodations in the same location.
Guided tours require a deposit of 400 euros per person with the balance due 90 days prior to departure.
To make payment, click on the Book Now link which takes you to the secure Aegea Booking page to input your credit card information via PayPal. You may pay with a major credit card or Visa or Mastercard debit card or a PayPal account if you have one. You have the option to pay in euros other currencies. We pay all bank service fees although your credit card company may charge you a foreign transaction fee.
Alternatively, if you are reluctant to pay online, we can take your credit card information by phone. Please contact us to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for us to call you. We can also give you our bank account details if you opt to pay by bank wire transfer which usually has lower fees than those charged by a credit card company .
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.
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