SARONIC JEWELS

Day 1: Spetses
After testing the bikes in Athens and a short spin in the carfree
Acropolis neighborhood, we take a high speed boat to
lovely Spetses. Children ride bicycles and honeymooners take
horse drawn carriages in this romantic harbor town. Our welcome
dinner is along the sea front.

Day 2: Spetses
Spetses is so small that we can circumnavigate it by bike in a
couple of hours. At a half-way point we stop to swim at an appealing
beach which has the added attraction of an underwater
sea cave easily accessible from the water or by steps into an
opening on land. If figs are in season, it is a divine pleasure to
eat them right off the trees.

Day 3: Poros
A water taxi takes us back to the Peloponnese mainland where
we cycle along the pleasantly flat coastline stopping for a
cappuccino at Ermioni. A ten minute ferry ride puts us back
on another island, Poros, whose harbor town is surrounded by
olive trees, lemon trees and pine trees. The highest point on
Poros (for ambitious bikers) is up to the Temple of Poseidon.

Day 4: Epidavros
The best part of today’s cycling route is a stretch of road that
looks down on the sea with tremendous vistas and next to
zero traffic. The waters of Epidavros town are pure and clean
and inviting for swimming. In the evening a half hour walk
along the bay takes us to the town where everyone eats along
the sea front.

Day 5: Nafplio
A one hour gradual climb brings us to Ancient Epidavros, the
3rd century BC outdoor theatre seating 12,000 spectators with
impeccable acoustics. Epidvaros was more famous in ancient
times as the largest Asclepion healing center in Greece. Elegant
Nafplio, the first capital of Greece, will bowl you over with
its mansions and charm.

Day 6: Nafplio
After one hour’s cycling amongst serene orange groves we
reach Ancient Mycenae, home of the ruler who launched the
Trojan War, King Agamemnon. He is buried in a beehive tomb
that never fails to startle visitors with its architecture of geometric
precision. We return early enough to explore Nafplio —
shop in local stores selling handmade jewelry, worry beads and
arts, climb the 999 steps to the Venetian fortress Palamidi,
take a quick boat to Bourtzi island or stroll the length of the

Day 7: Nafplio
An easy ride to the famous Peloponnese wine country. Learn
how wine is made, explore the winery’s cellars, taste the varieties,
experience the rhythms of the vineyards.

Day 8: departures

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

Trip Duration 8 days

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:  Day 8 vehicle transfer back to Athens from Nafplio (roughly 90 minutes)

Minimum / Maximum   A minimum of 8 riders is needed for a tour to be a “go.”  A maximum of 16 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

TOUR COST

2850 euros per person based on double occupancy.  Single Supplement 850 euros

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Accommodations: 3-4 star hotels, primarily family owned and operated, ranging from boutique hotels to seaside upscale hotels.   See Accommodations tab

Bikes:   Specialized road bike or hybrid bike.  Your choice. Triple chain ring, 27 gears. Road bike has carbon fiber fork. Hybrids have front suspension.

Bike gear: odometer, 2 water bottles, handlebar pouch, helmet

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.

Tour Leader / Bike Guide:  the Tour Leader handles all the tour logistics and cycles with the group.

All Meals:  Breakfasts are included at each hotel.  Choose your lunch from the menu.  Dinners eaten at trusted establishments within walking distance of the hotel.  Dinner consists of 2-3 appetizers and a salad shared by the group and chosen by us.  You choose the entrée from a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian.  Dessert, house wine, water or a beverage for those who don’t drink wine.

Cue sheets

Trip packet with useful and interesting information, such as what to see and do, recommended places to eat, packing tips, etc.

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

Entrance fees:  Entrance fees to Epidavros and Mycenae

Bike jersey  short sleeved, blue and white, pockets in back, CycleGreece logo

Gratuities, tips and VAT taxes

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

Airfare to/from Greece

Transfers to/from airport, see Extras tab

Alcoholic beverages (other than house wine)

Travel insurance (see Extras tab)

Travel Insurance  For U.S. citizens, we are official agents of Travel Guard travel insurance and can book your trip insurance or provide you a policy quote.

Airport transfer   A company driver transfers your party from Athens Airport to your Athens hotel.  170 euros per group for up to 8 passengers.

Athens hotel   We can book your pre- and post-tour accommodations in Athens with a choice of fine hotels we patronize in the Plaka or Psirri neighborhood.

One-day bike tours in Athens and the Attica Region

Historic Central Athens Bike Tour, 3 hours, 90% traffic free, 25 points of interest including Socrates’ Prison and the Pnyx where democracy was born.

Attica Winery Tour, 8 hours, wine tasting at four wineries in region east of Athens that has produced wine for centuries, visit Temple of Artemis, lunch along the sea.

Temple of Poseidon Excursion, 8 hours, cycle along the coast to the tip of Attica peninsula, roam the magnificent Temple of Poseidon, lunch at a seaside fish taverna, swimming

Battle of Marathon By Bike, 9 hours, bike to the site of where the Greeks defeated the Persians in 490 BC, the tomb where the Greek soliders were buried, the archaeology museum and the Marathon runners museum, Schinias wetlands, lunch at the sea.

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 Yialasi Hotel, a family run establishment less than five minutes walk to the sea.  (photo on left)

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BLUE Saronic Jewels overnight destinations

PURPLE Important historical sites

RED Athens Add-on destinations

This tour is also available for groups of more than eight persons. You can take the tour with the itinerary as listed or we can customize the tour’s destinations and activities to suit your party.

A group of eight participants travel in a company vehicle with staff driver who also acts as your guide. A group of 10-16 participants travel in either two company vehicles with staff driver/guides or one mini-coach. Groups larger than 16 participants travel in coaches or mini-coaches, led by a company tour leader who handles all logistics.

We offer innovative tours to large groups attending a congress, conference or corporate event.

See information on the Groups page.

Contact us directly for price quotes and itineraries for your party’s special stay in Greece.