Itinerary

Bike & Boat Cyclades & Saronic Islands

8 days / 7 nights | from/to Athens | Guided bike tours

aprx. 100 miles/160 km by bicycle | Level 2 – 3

Highlights of this bike and boat trip

✔ Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina

✔ The cyclades Islands, a truly authentic side of Greece

✔ Rugged coastline with impressive geological formations and sandy beaches

✔ Stay on the three masted traditional motorship MS Thalassa

 The Cyclades, which comprise more than 30 islands, were the cradle of the first European civilised society 5,000 years ago. It is also here that Greece shows its most unadulterated side in all its variety: Gleaming white cubic houses with blue shutters and labyrinth lanes give the typical architectonic flavour to the island towns. The mostly ragged coastlines show impressive geological formations, turquoise-blue sea and fantastic sand beaches.

On the Saronic Islands between the Greek mainland and the Peleponnese, Greece can be experienced from ist most ubandant side. Learn about the Greek Liberation Struggle between 1821 and 1830 without Greece would not be as we know it today. Experience the fascinating mixture between antiquity and modern times by boat & bike and imbibe the authentic beauty of the Greek Aegean. 

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sat): Marina Zeas (Piraeus/Athens) – (Embarkation)

Individual journey to Marina Zeas, the yacht harbour of Piraeus, only 25 km (15 mi.) from Athens airport. Check-in from 2 pm on the ship. Dinner on board. Overnight stay in Piraeus.

Day 2 (Sun): Kythnos Island (Cycling aprx. 15 mi./25 km)

Early in the morning the boat takes you to Kythnos Island, which was famous for its cheese and honey since ancient times. The first cycling tour, which starts in the harbour of Merichas and first leads us to the capital Chora, offers lots of scenic views to the coastline. Chora is an appealing village, situated on a high plateau. Its angular alleys are decorated with painted flowers and geometric patterns. From there today’s cycle tour leads us to Driopida, a picturesque village. Afterwards we return to Merichas, where we can spend the evening in one of the cosy tavernas.

Day 3 (Mon): Seriphos Island (Cycling aprx. 18.75 mi./30 km)

 In the morning our boat takes us to Seriphos, a small island far from the tourist track, with deep valleys, countless bays and coves and lots of beautiful sandy beaches. From the harbour town of Livadi we cycle along a serpentine road to the main town of Seriphos, whose cube form houses nestle along a mountain ridge high above the sea. We continue on through untouched landscape to the Byzantine monastery of the Archangel Michael. We return to Livadi along a panoramic road on the East coast. In the afternoon the ship brings us to Siphnos, where we can relax at the beautiful beach. Overnight stay in Kamares on the island of Siphnos.

Day 4 (Tue): Siphnos Island (Cycling aprx. 11.25 mi./18 km)

The island of Siphnos, which is famous for its ceramic artwork, is only inhabited away from the coast, because its coast drops mainly steeply into the sea. The cycling tour begins in the harbor of Kamares. The route leads through a green, hilly terraced landscape to the central highlands with the island’s capital Kastro, which is a defensive settlement built on a steep cliff face and has been a listed and protected town since 1975. In the afternoon we enjoy a longer cruise to Kea. Along the way we throw anchor for a refreshing swim stop. Overnight in Kea. 

Day 5 (Wed): Kea Island (Cycling aprx. 15 mi./25 km)

Our starting point for exploring the northwestern-most inhabited Cycladic island is the beautiful natural harbor of Korissia. From here we cycle uphill to the capital of the island, Ioulis before continuing on to the white sand beach, Otzias where we can take a refreshing swim stop. Afterwards we return by bike to Korissia. In the afternoon we take a boats crossing to Poros in the Saronic Gulf. The harbor city of Poros is truly spectacular, its iconic clock tower juts out above the rest of the town, and provides a true Greek island atmosphere for a relaxing evening. 

Day 6 (Thu): Poros Island (Cycling aprx. 14 mi./23 km)

Today we start with a bike tour from Poros City to the Zoodochos Pigis monastery from the 18th century. Afterwards we ride almost once around the island which once Poseidon himself possessed. Shortly before the end of the tour we arrive at Russian Bay, a sandy beach with turquoise blue water which we cannot resist but to swim in. Back in Poros City the boat waits on us with a delicious midday meal during the cruise to Aegina. 

Day 7 (Fri): Island Aegina (Cyling aprx. 22 mi./35 km)

The Island of Aegina is known far beyond the Greek borders for its incredible pistachio nuts! Today’s bike tour takes us up to the sanctuary of Aphaia. The incredibly well preserved temple towers high above the blue of the sea in the single point of Aegina where the Aegean Sea can be seen on both sides. On our way back we cycle across the middle of the island past the monastery of Nektarios all the way to Aegina City where we board the boat for our last cruise back to Piraeus. We enjoy a last evening meal on board together in the company of friends, guides and crew and reflect on the wonderful experiences of the week.

Day 8 (Sat): Piraeus/Athens (Disembarkation)

Guests disembark after breakfast on board followed by individual departure or an extended stay in Athens.

Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only. 

Itinerary changes
The Cyclades are relatively susceptible to wind. Normally this results in only a minor modification of the tour route. However by strong wind conditions the travel route may markedly differ from the planned route. Our substitute tour leads you for the entire week into the Saronic Gulf, one of the most historic regions of Greece: We cross between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnesian and discover the islands of Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses and the Methana peninsula. A highlight of this journey is a visit to the ancient Epidauros with the best preserved theatre in Greece.