SACRED SITES
cycle directly to legendary ruins in the Peloponnese
Sacred Sites on this tour: Ancient Corinth, Ancient Nemea, Ancient Mycenae, Epidavros Theatre, Ancient Olympia
Overnight Destinations: Athens, Nafplio, Vytina, Olympia, Lampeia, Kalavrita
Rural cycling prevails. Tour highlights include 3rd century BC Epidavros Theatre, once the largest healing center in the ancient world and Ancient Mycenae where King Agamemnon ruled who launched the Trojan War. Athletic competitions were held in four cities; on this tour you visit three of them — Olympia, Nemea, and Isthmia, but regrettably no time for Ancient Delphi.
Check out Boston Globe October 13, 2022 article “The Peloponnese peninsula is Greece’s best-kept secret.” Lonely Planet named the Peloponnese peninsula the #1 European destination in 2016. Outside magazine named our Sacred Sites tour one of the “6 Best Cycling Tours in Europe.“
After a vigorous bike tour, we recommend the Hydra Island Escape for three nights of pure R & R.
Details
| 2023 Dates | May 6-16 and Aug 26 – Sept 5 |
| Duration | 10 nights, 11 days |
| Add-ons |
Hydra Island Escape see Add-on tab |
| Arrival City | Athens |
| Arrival transfer | see Extras tab |
| Tour Start Point | Athens |
| Tour End Point | Athens |
| Minimum Age |
18 |
| Minimum Pax |
8 |
| Maximum Pax |
16 |
| Total Mileage | 630.30 km, 391 miles |
| Highest Elevation |
4347 feet, 1325 meters |
| Rating | Advanced see Rating System |
2023 Sacred Sites itinerary 10 nights, 11 days
Day 1 Athens
Arrival to Athens, one of the world’s oldest capital cities. The welcome dinner takes place in the Plaka, the center of historic central Athens.
Day 2 Nafplio
Cycle to three archaeology sites in one day! Bike to Ancient Corinth where St. Paul preached and then to Ancient Nemea, site of one of four Olympic-style games. Finally, cycle to Ancient Mycenae for private with professional guide. After the tour, bike to Nafplio, the prettiest little city in the Peloponnese and modern’s Greece’s first capital. 83 km, 51 miles
Day 3 Nafplio
Bike to the 3rd century BC healing site of Epidavros Theatre for a private tour with professional guide. Stand in the center and whisper; someone on the last tier can hear you! 53.60 km, 33 miles. Before dinner, learn about Greek wines in a wine tasting session with a local expert..
Day 4 Vytina
Today is the hardest day of the tour, but the most rewarding. You are biking deep into the Arcadia Mountains, an adorable region brimming with tradition, history and mythology. Highest ascent is 4347 feet, 1325 meters. 95 km, 57 miles
Day 5 Olympia
From Vytina to Olympia there’s a thrilling descent hugging the Lousios Gorge. You are now leaving the Arcadia Mountains to lower elevations. The biking route is flatter but with several hills too. At the end, before you know it, you are cycling past the ancient Olympic Stadium. Afternoon tour of Olympia with professional guide. 82 km, 51 miles
Day 6 Lampeia
Start out the day with an engaging session with a local beekeeper whose family has made honey for three generations. Afternoon biking we return to the mountains, traditional villages, goat herds, gushing water sources. Lunch is at Foloi, a rare oak forest inhabited by centaurs! 54 km, 33.50 miles
Day 7 Kalavrita
Bike Lampeia to Kalavrita, cycling a mountain ridge with lunch at a special river side taverna with fresh trout. After a guided tour inside the fascinating Cave of the Lakes, a steep 15 km climb ensues approaching Kalavrita. The descent takes a pit stop at the memorial to the village men murdered during World War II. 76.50 km, 47.50 miles
Day 8 Kalavrita
Today is a special ride to a special site. No spoilers here — you have to cycle the route to find out what is to be found in a little village called Plataniotissa. 57.20 km, 36.80 miles
Day 9 Kalamaki Beach
This is the longest day of the tour mileage-wise, but no worries, most of the route is downhill and flat. Leaving Kalavrita cycle down the mountain and along the coast hugging the sea to Xylokastro Beach for lunch. The tour ends at a seaside hotel on Kalamaki Beach. 120.50 km 75 miles
Day 10 Athens
Cross the Corinth Canal, the waterway that turned the Peloponnese peninsula into an island in 1893. Cycle the old national highway, hugging the sea to reach the ferry crossing to Salamina island. Lunch at Salamina’s fish market. Then cycle to the second ferry that takes us to Piraeus port. Farewell Dinner in Athens. 63.30 km 39 miles
Day 11 Departures
Add-on Hydra Island Escape
May 16-19 and September 5-8 after Sacred Sites Tour
Hydra is one of Greece’s most popular islands for many reasons. For one, it is very near Athens, only a two hour sea transfer. For two, it is car-free, not even any motorcycles, which means serenity prevails. For three, it is an artists island, a place where talent gravitates as reflected in the beautiful architectural landscape. The fact that artists abound means fine shopping whether for original clothes, jewelry, or artwork all crafted in distinct Greek tones.
Activities on Hydra
Swimming at four different beaches where the water is very blue and very pristine
Hiking various trails including up to Prophet Ilias Monastery where the guerrilla leader Kolokotronis was held in a cell that still commemorates his presence there.
Visiting museums, including the Deste Foundation’s Slaughterhouse art gallery, the Historical Museum with a focus on Hydra’s naval history and the elegant 18th century Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion.
Horseback riding tours to the monastery or a beach
Strolling one of Greece’s most gorgeous island towns, walking the labyrinth streets, getting lost and not caring because it’s always easy to head for the sea
On day 4 you return to Piraeus port.
COST
760 euros per person based on double occupancy for 2-4 persons
720 euros for single person
INCLUSIONS
3 nights accommodations: 4 star hotel on Hydra, upscale hotel with swimming pool in beautiful, romantic, restored old mansion.
Luggage transfers: Between Hydra port and Hydra hotel.
2 sea transfers: Piraeus to Hydra on Day 1 and Hydra to Piraeus on Day 4
Transfers between airport and Piraeus port
EXCLUSIONS
- All meals except breakfasts
- Port & airport transfers
- Activities on Hydra
- Travel Insurance. See Extras tab
Cost in euros based on double occupancy
| Sacred Sites Tour Cost |
3660 euros per person |
| Sacred Sites Single Supplement |
700 euros |
TOUR INCLUSIONS
10 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
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
Tour Leader / Bike Guide: Tour Leader handles all the tour logistics and rides with the group
All Meals:
- Breakfasts are included at each hotel
- 9 lunches — you choose from the menu
- 10 dinners consisting 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 guide at Epidavros Theatre, Ancient Mycenae, and Ancient Olympia
Entrance fees: Ancient Nemea, Epidavros Theatre, Mycenae, Olympia, Cave of the Lakes
Wine Tasting Session: Wine tasting with local expert in Nafplio
Honey Tasting Session: Honey tasting at a honey farm in Olympia
Bike Routes: Options (1) RideWithGPS tour routes to upload to your iphone or Android with voice narration – bike mount on request, (2) GPX tracks to download to your device – bring your own bike mount
Cue sheets and cue sheet holders on request
Trip packet: useful and interesting information about the regions, packing tips, general travel info for Greece
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
- Transfers to/from airport – See Extras tab
- Alcoholic beverages (other than house wine)
- Drinks and coffee at café pit stops
- Travel insurance – required. 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. Cost is 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.
Accommodations
An indicative hotel for the Sacred Sites tour is the family run Art Mainalon Hotel in Vytina with swimming pool and refined art throughout the hotel.
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.
Click to open in Google Maps
Overnight destinations and points of interest
BLUE Sacred Sites overnight destinations
PURPLE Points of interest
RED Athens Add-on destinations
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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