SARONIC JEWELS

Itinerary – 10 nights, depart on Day 11  

Day 1 Athens

Welcome to Historic Central Athens for the first day of the tour.   The meeting point of the tour is Acropolis pedestrian walkway.  Today is for relaxing, adjusting to jet lag, meeting fellow cyclists on the tour and getting fitted for your road bike and test riding it on the Acropolis walkway.  Welcome Dinner on a rooftop taverna.

Day 2 Hydra island  

A two-hour hydrofoil transfer takes the group to car-free Hydra, an elegant island attracting high-end artists whose paintings, jewelry and clothes fill the local shops. As Hydra is also bike-free, the day’s activity is a hike up to a monastery offering tremendous views. Hydra hike 6 km, 3.7 miles, from sea level to 1561 feet, 476 meters

Day 3 Spetses island

Arriving by boat from Hydra to Spetses we bike to a lunch spot right on the beach offering swimming and relaxing.  After lunch, a short bike ride through the old harbor and up to the lighthouse built in the 1890s plus a visit to the Laskarina Bouboulinas Museum – she was a national heroine who commanded her own fleet during the Greek Revolution.

Day 4 Spetses island

Spetses is so small you can circumnavigate the island by bike in a couple of hours. At a half-way point enjoy swimming at a beach with a marvelous sea cave where pirates hid out.  Access is through a hole in the earth!   Swim or walk back to the bikes.   24 km, 15 miles

Day 5 Poros island

Return to the Peloponnese mainland by water taxi and hug the coast eastward on mostly flat terrain to reach Galatas, the port opposite Poros, from where you take a ten minute ferry to the island. Put on your aprons for dinner to prepare your meal in a traditional Greek cooking class. 57 km, 35 miles

Day 6   Poros island

Methana feels like an island but it’s actually a peninsula well known for its thermal waters.  Lunch on the water at Methana and then bike back to Poros.  Put on your aprons for dinner to prepare tonight’s meal in a traditional Greek cooking class 47 km, 16.70 miles

Day 7 Nafplio

After a vehicle transfer to coastal Epidavros, cycle a gradual climb to Ancient Epidavros, the 3rd century BC outdoor theatre seating 13,000 spectators with impeccable acoustics. Epidavros was the most famous healing center in ancient Greece, focusing on mind, body and spirit.  Second cycling leg brings us to Nafplio.  48.50 km, 29.80 miles 

Day 8 Nafplio

Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, is the prettiest city in the Peloponnese. Bike Nafplio to Ancient Mycenae on mostly flat back road. Tour Mycenae with a professional guide. After lunch cycle back to Nafplio. Pre-dinner wine tasting of famous Nemean wines. 46.60 km, 30 miles

Day 9 Kalamaki Beach

One hour vehicle transfer to Ancient Nemea, one of the four sites where athletic games were held (the most famous being Olympia), and the one with the finest stadium entrance. From Nemea cycle to Ancient Corinth, the Roman ruins where St. Paul preached.   Photo op in front of the Corinth columns.   Home stretch leg to the seaside hotel on Kalamaki Beach.  Partake in our Greek Spirits Night!  48.60km, 28 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 for lunch.   Then cycle to the second ferry that takes us to Piraeus port.   Farewell Dinner.    63.30 km 39 miles

Day 11 Departures

The Cycle Cyclades tour is operated by our exclusive cycling division, our sister company, CycleGreece.

Trip Duration 10 nights, 11 days

Total Mileage  335 km, 208 miles

Highest Elevation   1561 feet, 476 meters

Start & End Points 
Start:   Arrive one day early in Athens to fit and test ride your bike.  Day 1 take a high speed boat to Spetses island by departure from Piraeus port (Athens’ port).

End:  Athens

Minimum / Maximum   A minimum of 8 riders is needed for a tour to be a “go.”  A maximum of 14 riders per tour.

Rating   This road cycling tour is for cyclists who like to take life easy.  The rides average 25 miles (43 kilometers) and the ascents are gradual and minimal.  Vehicle transfers avoid the few tough climbs, or if you feel ambitious, you can opt to ascend them.   Sample climb – sea level to 1100 feet (335 meters) in 8.8 miles (14 kilometers)

BOOKING AGREEMENT Participants are required to sign our company Booking Agreement as a condition of the tour.

WAIVER Participants are required to sign our company Waiver as a condition of the tour

Cost in euros based on double occupancy

See daily exchange rates

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. Check single supplement price for a single room.

7 sea transfers: Piraeus to Hydra (hydrofoil), Hydra to Spetses (hydrofoil), Spetses to Kosta port on mainland (water taxi), Galatas port on mainland to Poros (ferry or water taxi), Poros to Galatas (ferry or water taxi), Nea Perama to Salamina island, Salamina to Perama port.

Bikes:  Specialized Allez road bike with drop handlebars or Trek FX2 with flat handlebars.   Upgrade to a carbon road bike 400 euros for this tour.  Upgrade to an electric bike Yucatan 12 with Yamaha motor for 400 euros this tour.  Regular pedals or toe clips. 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, spare fully pumped wheels, floor pump, ice cooler, water, nutritious snacks, bike tools, first aid kit, day packs, luggage and gives you a lift if you get tired.  Additional vehicle/ driver for groups of 10 or more.

Tour Leader / Bike Guide: the Tour Leader handles all the tour logistics and bikes with the group.  Additional bike guide for groups of 10 or more.

All Meals:

* Breakfasts are included at each hotel.

* 10 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.

Bike Routes: Options (1) RideWithGPS App tour routes to upload to your iphone or Android with voice narration – request a bike mount (2) GPX tracks to download to your device – bring your own bike mount

Color copies of Distance Elevation Profiles

Map of the region

Trip packet: useful and interesting information about the regions, packing tips, general travel info for Greece

Archaeology tours: Private one hour archaeology tour with professional licensed guides at Epidavros and Mycenae.

Entrance fees: Entrance fees to Epidavros, Mycenae, Nemea.

Wine Tasting: a wine tasting of Greek wines with local expert

Traditional Greek Cooking Class: takes place in Poros, led by local cook

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 between Athens Airport and Athens — see Extras tab

* Travel insurance — see Extras tab

• 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 an Aegean Adventures tour

Electric Bike

• Upgrade to an electric bike.  Cost is 400 euros for Saronic Jewels tour.  See Our Bikes and Our Gear for more info

Carbon Road Bike

• Upgrade to a carbon fiber bike. Cost is 400 euros for Saronic Jewels tour. . 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.

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.

An indicative hotel for the Saronic Jewel tour is Golden Beach View Hotel in Poros, a family run establishment directly on the sea.