Greece - The Cyclade Islands to Santorini
Bicycle and boat
Bicycle and boat
15 days / 14 nights, approx. 350 kilometer (217 mi.)
On this two week journey to the Cyclade Islands, the heart of the Greek islands and the cradle of European culture, you will also get to know the southern islands of this archipelago. Over thirty islands jut out in a circular formation into the sea. You will spend an unforgettable two weeks here where Delos Island came up from the waves to be the birth place of the sun god Apollo.
You will be enchanted by the sparkling blue sea, the countless bays, white sandy beaches and the scattered islands, which can be seen from afar with their glowing white villages. You will be able to discover the most beautiful of the Cyclade Islands with your bike far from the beaten tourist tracks! In the company of your tour guide you will take journeys back in time and will be surrounded constantly by the remnants of the changeful history of the Aegean. You will be able to enjoy the colorful comings and goings in the lively harbors and the peacefulness of the small fishing harbors. Spend the evening in a cozy Greek tavern looking out on at the red sun as it sets into the ocean.
Day 1 (Sat) Boarding in Lavrio
Individual arrival in Lavrio, a port only 30 km (18 mi.) from Athens airport. Check-in from 2 p.m. onto the boat. If all guests arrive in the afternoon, departure for Kythnos Island, otherwise the ship stays in Lavrio. Dinner on board.
Day 2 (Sun) Kythnos Island (Cycle route approx. 25 km/15 mi)
Kythnos Island was famous for its cheese and honey since ancient times. The first cycling tour, which will start in the harbor of Merichas and will first lead you 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. Finally you will reach the bathing resort Loutra. Its thermal springs are said to have curing energy. In the afternoon the PANAGIOTA will take you to Seriphos. Overnight stay in Livadi.
Day 3 (Mon) Seriphos Island (Cycle route approx. 25 km/16 mi.)
Seriphos is a small island far from the tourist track, with deep valleys, countless bays and coves and lots of beautiful sandy beaches. From the harbor town on Livadi you will cycle along a serpentine road to the main town of Seriphos, whose cube form houses nestle along a mountain ridge high above the sea. You will continue on through untouched landscape to the Byzantine monastery of the Archangel Michael. You will return to Livadi along a panoramic road on the East coast. In the afternoon the ship will bring you to Siphnos.
Day 4 (Tue) Siphnos Island (Cycle route approx. 20 km/12 mi.)
The island of Siphnos, which is famous for its ceramic artwork, is only inhabited away from the coast, as 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 crossing to Folegandros.
Day 5 (Wed) Folegandros (Cycle route approx. 20 km/12 mi.)
On Folegandros, one of the smallest of the Cyclade Islands, the cycle route leads up to the main town of Chora, which is built at the edge of a vertical cliff face and is considered to be one of the most beautiful town in the Cyclades. You will then continue on along a road high above the sea with fantastic views of the 300m high cliff coast to the town of Ano Meria and finally you will return to Karavostasis, where the ship will be waiting to bring you to Santorini.
Day 6 (Thu) Santorini Island (Hike along the edge of the crater)
The volcanic island of Santorini, the pearl of the Cyclades, is a colorful island with a unique landscape. The edges of the crater which rise up from the sea, upon which the white houses of the towns are nestled, offer an unforgettable first view of the island. The hike along the edge of the crater from Fira to Oia will be one of the highlights of that journey.
Day 7 (Fri) The Small Cyclades (Cycle route approx. 15 km/9 mi.)
In the morning you will stay on board of the PANAGIOTA, which will take you to the Small Cyclades: Four inhabited small islands and a handful of non-inhabited mini-islands make up the island group of the Small Cyclades, which are worth a visit due to their unspoiled nature. In the afternoon you will cycle around the small island of Schinoussa. Picturesque bays, which at one time sheltered pirates, and the quiet laneways of the island villages will place you in another time. Overnight stay in Schinoussa.
Day 8 (Sat) The Small Cyclades and Naxos (Cycle route approx. 15 km/9 mi.)
In the morning your ship will bring you to the neighboring island of Iraklia, where after your short cycle tour, you will have the chance to taste the Melitinia, a sweet specialty of the island made from honey. In the afternoon you will be brought over to Naxos. You round of the day with a walk through the historic old town of Naxos.
Day 9 (Sun) Naxos Island (Cycle route approx. 45 km/28 mi.)
The father of the gods Zeus was meant to have spent his youth on Naxos, the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades and Ariadne, after she was abandoned by Theseus lived here with the god of wine Dionysos. You will be confronted everywhere on Naxos with remnants from the ancient past: In Naxos town the Portara, a 7m high gateway from the Apollo temple dating from the 6th Century B.C. impresses visitors. From Naxos town you will cycle to the mountain village of Sangri, where you will visit the beautifully located sanctuary of the goddess of fertility Demeter. The return route goes along the west coast with its long, white sandy beaches, which are among the finest in the Cyclades. In the afternoon the boat sails to Paros Island.
Day 10 (Mon) Paros Island (Cycle route approx. 50 km/31 mi.)
Paros is a mellow island which is very green in places. Its main export is its white glowing marble which even lets light through it. You will tour around the island along a coastal road with wonderful panoramic views over the ocean and the nearby small islands. In the afternoon you will cross over to Syros, where you will overnight in Ermoupolis. Ermoupolis offers visitors an unforgettable view upon arrival: The town which is built on two hills is different from the other Cyclade towns. Pastel colored houses, many of which have classical facades dominant the townscape.
Day 11 (Tue) Syros Island (Cycle route approx. 30 km/19 mi.) and Mykonos Island
You will cycle along the coast of Syros which is full of bays and coves along the entire southern half of the island to the beautiful beach of Galissas and then past the convent of Saint Barbara back to Ermoupolis. In the afternoon you will continue by boat to Mykonos, where the picturesque main town with its famous windmills and its white cube form houses invites visitors to stroll through it. With a bit of luck you may even see the mascot of Mykonos in the maze of laneways, the pelican Petros.
Day 12 (Wed) Delos Island and Tinos Island (Cycle route approx. 20 km, 12 mi.)
In the morning you have the chance to visit the important ancient sites on the island of Delos, where according to Greek mythology the god Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born. After lunch you will crossover to Tinos, where you will cycle along a high road to the mountain village of Kambos. Kambos is full of walled dove towers with their filigree architecture, which represent remnants from Venetian times. On the return journey you will visit the famous Evangelistria church in Tinos town.
Day 13 (Thu) Andros Island (Cycle route approx. 60 km/37 mi.)
Early in the morning the boat will bring you to Andros, a shipping and sailing island. From the harbor town of Batsi today’s cycle tour leads you through the fertile, mountainous area of the island, where numerous finely built dry stone walls add to the beauty of the landscape of the second largest Cyclade Island. Your goal is the picturesque capital Andros, whose white houses and well kept laneways invite visitors to look around. Overnight stay in Batsi.
Day 14 (Fri) Kea Island (Cycle route approx. 22 km/14 mi)
The starting point for the tour of Kea, the most westerly inhabited Cyclade island is the wonderful natural harbor of Korissia. From here you will begin your cycle tour to the white beach of Otzias, where the Mediterranean will tempt you to a refreshing swim. The next stop is the picturesque main town of Ioulis which is situated in the mountains and has the main attraction on the island: The smiling lion of Kea which was chiseled from stone in the 6th Century B.C. Overnight stay in Korissia or Lavrio, depending on the departure of the flights next morning.
Day 15 (Sat) Disembarkment
Disembarkment and then you must bid farewell to your wonderful journey through the Greek island world.
General Information
Alterations:
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 into the Argosaronic Gulf, one of the most historic regions of Greece: You will cross between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnes and discover the islands of Ägina, 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.
Requirements (level 2 to 3):
The bike routes have a length of 20 to 60 km and lead through hilly or mountainous areas. Some uphill stretches are included. The roads are mostly asphalted. You can always choose to skip a bike tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead.
Bringing Children:
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1,40 m (4.6 ft.)
Catering:
The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The full board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. On one longer bike tour you will have lunch in a restaurant.
On this two week journey to the Cyclade Islands, the heart of the Greek islands and the cradle of European culture, you will also get to know the southern islands of this archipelago. Over thirty islands jut out in a circular formation into the sea. You will spend an unforgettable two weeks here where Delos Island came up from the waves to be the birth place of the sun god Apollo.
You will be enchanted by the sparkling blue sea, the countless bays, white sandy beaches and the scattered islands, which can be seen from afar with their glowing white villages. You will be able to discover the most beautiful of the Cyclade Islands with your bike far from the beaten tourist tracks! In the company of your tour guide you will take journeys back in time and will be surrounded constantly by the remnants of the changeful history of the Aegean. You will be able to enjoy the colorful comings and goings in the lively harbors and the peacefulness of the small fishing harbors. Spend the evening in a cozy Greek tavern looking out on at the red sun as it sets into the ocean.
Day 1 (Sat) Boarding in Lavrio
Individual arrival in Lavrio, a port only 30 km (18 mi.) from Athens airport. Check-in from 2 p.m. onto the boat. If all guests arrive in the afternoon, departure for Kythnos Island, otherwise the ship stays in Lavrio. Dinner on board.
Day 2 (Sun) Kythnos Island (Cycle route approx. 25 km/15 mi)
Kythnos Island was famous for its cheese and honey since ancient times. The first cycling tour, which will start in the harbor of Merichas and will first lead you 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. Finally you will reach the bathing resort Loutra. Its thermal springs are said to have curing energy. In the afternoon the PANAGIOTA will take you to Seriphos. Overnight stay in Livadi.
Day 3 (Mon) Seriphos Island (Cycle route approx. 25 km/16 mi.)
Seriphos is a small island far from the tourist track, with deep valleys, countless bays and coves and lots of beautiful sandy beaches. From the harbor town on Livadi you will cycle along a serpentine road to the main town of Seriphos, whose cube form houses nestle along a mountain ridge high above the sea. You will continue on through untouched landscape to the Byzantine monastery of the Archangel Michael. You will return to Livadi along a panoramic road on the East coast. In the afternoon the ship will bring you to Siphnos.
Day 4 (Tue) Siphnos Island (Cycle route approx. 20 km/12 mi.)
The island of Siphnos, which is famous for its ceramic artwork, is only inhabited away from the coast, as 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 crossing to Folegandros.
Day 5 (Wed) Folegandros (Cycle route approx. 20 km/12 mi.)
On Folegandros, one of the smallest of the Cyclade Islands, the cycle route leads up to the main town of Chora, which is built at the edge of a vertical cliff face and is considered to be one of the most beautiful town in the Cyclades. You will then continue on along a road high above the sea with fantastic views of the 300m high cliff coast to the town of Ano Meria and finally you will return to Karavostasis, where the ship will be waiting to bring you to Santorini.
Day 6 (Thu) Santorini Island (Hike along the edge of the crater)
The volcanic island of Santorini, the pearl of the Cyclades, is a colorful island with a unique landscape. The edges of the crater which rise up from the sea, upon which the white houses of the towns are nestled, offer an unforgettable first view of the island. The hike along the edge of the crater from Fira to Oia will be one of the highlights of that journey.
Day 7 (Fri) The Small Cyclades (Cycle route approx. 15 km/9 mi.)
In the morning you will stay on board of the PANAGIOTA, which will take you to the Small Cyclades: Four inhabited small islands and a handful of non-inhabited mini-islands make up the island group of the Small Cyclades, which are worth a visit due to their unspoiled nature. In the afternoon you will cycle around the small island of Schinoussa. Picturesque bays, which at one time sheltered pirates, and the quiet laneways of the island villages will place you in another time. Overnight stay in Schinoussa.
Day 8 (Sat) The Small Cyclades and Naxos (Cycle route approx. 15 km/9 mi.)
In the morning your ship will bring you to the neighboring island of Iraklia, where after your short cycle tour, you will have the chance to taste the Melitinia, a sweet specialty of the island made from honey. In the afternoon you will be brought over to Naxos. You round of the day with a walk through the historic old town of Naxos.
Day 9 (Sun) Naxos Island (Cycle route approx. 45 km/28 mi.)
The father of the gods Zeus was meant to have spent his youth on Naxos, the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades and Ariadne, after she was abandoned by Theseus lived here with the god of wine Dionysos. You will be confronted everywhere on Naxos with remnants from the ancient past: In Naxos town the Portara, a 7m high gateway from the Apollo temple dating from the 6th Century B.C. impresses visitors. From Naxos town you will cycle to the mountain village of Sangri, where you will visit the beautifully located sanctuary of the goddess of fertility Demeter. The return route goes along the west coast with its long, white sandy beaches, which are among the finest in the Cyclades. In the afternoon the boat sails to Paros Island.
Day 10 (Mon) Paros Island (Cycle route approx. 50 km/31 mi.)
Paros is a mellow island which is very green in places. Its main export is its white glowing marble which even lets light through it. You will tour around the island along a coastal road with wonderful panoramic views over the ocean and the nearby small islands. In the afternoon you will cross over to Syros, where you will overnight in Ermoupolis. Ermoupolis offers visitors an unforgettable view upon arrival: The town which is built on two hills is different from the other Cyclade towns. Pastel colored houses, many of which have classical facades dominant the townscape.
Day 11 (Tue) Syros Island (Cycle route approx. 30 km/19 mi.) and Mykonos Island
You will cycle along the coast of Syros which is full of bays and coves along the entire southern half of the island to the beautiful beach of Galissas and then past the convent of Saint Barbara back to Ermoupolis. In the afternoon you will continue by boat to Mykonos, where the picturesque main town with its famous windmills and its white cube form houses invites visitors to stroll through it. With a bit of luck you may even see the mascot of Mykonos in the maze of laneways, the pelican Petros.
Day 12 (Wed) Delos Island and Tinos Island (Cycle route approx. 20 km, 12 mi.)
In the morning you have the chance to visit the important ancient sites on the island of Delos, where according to Greek mythology the god Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born. After lunch you will crossover to Tinos, where you will cycle along a high road to the mountain village of Kambos. Kambos is full of walled dove towers with their filigree architecture, which represent remnants from Venetian times. On the return journey you will visit the famous Evangelistria church in Tinos town.
Day 13 (Thu) Andros Island (Cycle route approx. 60 km/37 mi.)
Early in the morning the boat will bring you to Andros, a shipping and sailing island. From the harbor town of Batsi today’s cycle tour leads you through the fertile, mountainous area of the island, where numerous finely built dry stone walls add to the beauty of the landscape of the second largest Cyclade Island. Your goal is the picturesque capital Andros, whose white houses and well kept laneways invite visitors to look around. Overnight stay in Batsi.
Day 14 (Fri) Kea Island (Cycle route approx. 22 km/14 mi)
The starting point for the tour of Kea, the most westerly inhabited Cyclade island is the wonderful natural harbor of Korissia. From here you will begin your cycle tour to the white beach of Otzias, where the Mediterranean will tempt you to a refreshing swim. The next stop is the picturesque main town of Ioulis which is situated in the mountains and has the main attraction on the island: The smiling lion of Kea which was chiseled from stone in the 6th Century B.C. Overnight stay in Korissia or Lavrio, depending on the departure of the flights next morning.
Day 15 (Sat) Disembarkment
Disembarkment and then you must bid farewell to your wonderful journey through the Greek island world.
General Information
Alterations:
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 into the Argosaronic Gulf, one of the most historic regions of Greece: You will cross between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnes and discover the islands of Ägina, 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.
Requirements (level 2 to 3):
The bike routes have a length of 20 to 60 km and lead through hilly or mountainous areas. Some uphill stretches are included. The roads are mostly asphalted. You can always choose to skip a bike tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead.
Bringing Children:
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1,40 m (4.6 ft.)
Catering:
The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The full board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. On one longer bike tour you will have lunch in a restaurant.
Recommend this site to a friend!
1-800-487-1136
1515 N. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs,
CO 80907
