SACRED SITES

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

2027 Dates:   May 30-June 9 and Aug 26 – Sept 5

Trip Duration : 10 nights, depart on Day 11

Start & End Points 
Start:  Athens
End:  The tour finishes in Xylokastro with a vehicle transfer to central Athens hotel

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

Total Mileage  630.30 km, 391 miles

Highest Elevation  750 meters, 2460 feet

Rating   This road cycling tour is primarily for cyclists accustomed climbing mountains and daily rides that average 50 miles (80 kilometers).   The tour’s highest elevation is 2165 feet (660 meters).  Yet, moderate cyclists can join the tour, too, by vehicle transfers past steep climbs and minimize the daily mileage.

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

2027 Sacred Sites itinerary 10 nights, Depart on Day 11

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 Kalamaki Beach 

Take the 40 minute ferry to Salamina island, the site where in 480 BC the Greeks trounced the Persians in the famous Battle of Salamis.   Cycle across the island (13 km, 8 miles) to a second 10 minute ferry to get back on the mainland.  Follow the old National highway along the coast, pausing for a photo op at the Corinth Canal and then on to your seaside hotel on Kalamaki Beach in Isthmia. 49km, 30 miles 

Day 3  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 tour 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 4  Nafplio   

Bike to the 3^rd 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.    Dinner is a Greek cooking class where you prepare the food with a local chef, including wine tasting.  

Day 5 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 6 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.    82 km, 51 miles 

Day 7 Lampeia 

Morning tour with professional guide at ancient Olympia whose Temple of Zeus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  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 8   Kalavryta 

Start the day learning about bees in a honey tasting session with a local beekeeper.  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.   76.50 km, 47.50 miles

Day 9 Kalavryta  

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 10 Athens 

Except for an hour ascent, the rest of the route is a thrilling downhill descent from the mountains to the sea following the flat coastline to Xylokastro Beach for lunch.   After lunch vehicle transfer to Athens.   72.60 km    45.5 miles 

Day 11  Departures

Electric Bike

• E-bikes upgrade 400 euros for Sacred Sites tour.  See Our Bikes and Our Gear for more info

Carbon Road Bike

• Upgrade to a carbon fiber bike. Cost is 400 euros for Sacred Sites 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.

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.

COST  

3660 euros per person based on double occupancy.   Single Supplement 800 euros

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 Allez road bike with drop handlebars or Trek FX2 with flat handlebars.   Upgrade to a carbon road bike 450 euros for this tour.  Upgrade to an electric bike Yucatan 12 with Yamaha motor for 450 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, cell phone mount

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.  Additional vehicle/driver for groups of 10 or more riders.

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

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, Ancient Olympia

Cooking Class:  Conducted by local chef, including wine tasting

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 provided for your cellphone, (2) GPX tracks to download to your Gramin device – bring your own bike mount

Color copies of Distance Elevation Profiles

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 beer and 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