Athens and Saronic islands by bike

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The perfect combination of island hopping around the beautiful Greek islands and an adventurous bicycle tour. Your guide will show you the best spots in Athens and you will get to peddle through the green landscape of Poros and the "pistacio " island" fo Aegina. You will see a unique birds park, visit coastal towns and enjoy Greece at its best - with the wind in your hair and the crystal clear sea before your eyes.

Tour highlights:

♦ Athens - guided bike tour around the city

♦ Island hopping with a bicycle

♦ The lively and green island of Poros

♦ The wetlands of Psifta on the Peloponnese

♦ The “pistachio” island of Aegina

NOTE:
In April and after 15th October, bookings can be accepted for days that there are ferries. Timetables are not yet known, and booking is upon request.

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Athens

Your holiday starts in Athens. After checking into your hotel, you may choose to spend the rest of your day exploring. An optional guided cycle tour of Athens can be arranged for this evening (must be booked and pre-paid with the agent in advance). The tour starts at 18:00 hrs from a central point in Athens and takes three hours with an English speaking guide, using 'city bikes' - European style bikes with high handlebars and just a few gears. This excursion is not exclusive to you and may have a maximum of 15 people. If planning to book this tour you will need a flight which arrives into Athens by 15:00 hrs. Your bikes for the rest of the trip will normally be delivered to Piraeus port to meet you on day 2 for the ferry crossing. You will be required to sign an agreement of care upon receipt of the bike and will have the opportunity for a quick test ride along the quay. Occasionally due to the type of ferry booked the bikes may instead be delivered straight to Poros and will be waiting for you on arrival in Poros. You will be given an envelope containing all the ferry times and ferry vouchers for the duration of your holiday either at your first night’s accommodation, or on the transfer to the port on day 2. You will need to exchange the ferry voucher for your ticket at the port.

Day 2.Transfer to Poros by boat ( cycling distance 15km , total ascent/descent 350 m)

Transfet ro Pireaus to catch the ferry to Poros. Your bike will be waiting for you at the Pireaus Port and andyou will need to take your bags and bike with you on the ferry.The car ferry takes 2.5 hours from Piraeus to Poros. The ferry schedule changes throughout the year and in case there is no car ferry you will travel by hydrofoil (Flying Dolphin) or high speed boat (Flying Cat). Due to lack of room on these smaller boats your bike may instead be sent to Poros on the previous day and will then be waiting your arrival in Poros. The optional Athens bike tour (see day 1) is also possible to do at 09:30 hrs this morning if you had a late flight arrival time yesterday. Depending on the ferry arrival time in Poros a first bicycle ride may be possible this afternoon on the island. There is a short route along to the monastery of Zoodochou Pigis as well as two additional loops to the beach and to the peninsula town of Poros. Alternatively these rides could be left until tomorrow.

Day 3. Bicycle trip on Poros

Today’s trip takes you to the western and central part of Poros. First along the coast to the west where you have the possibility to stop at a former Russian Navy base. Through a wooded area you will gradually ascend to a small plateau, one of the few arable areas of Poros. On the top you can cycle a loop to visit the beautiful archaeological site of the Temple of Poseidon. At the end follow a tough descent to Poros town.
Note: At the western point you can walk within 1 hour on a stony path to the beautiful restored lighthouse of Poros and back.
Note: In case of late arrival to Poros on day 2 you can cycle today a loop to the monastery and/or to the peninsula of Poros town.

Day 4. Round trip from Poros via Psifta

With the bicycle you take first the little pontoon boat from Poros to Galatas (to be paid on the spot). Here starts a nice bike trip through an agricultural area. You ascend to the local town Taktikoupoli and from this village descend rather steeply to the coast. Along the coast you peddle to the wetlands of Psifta (protected area). The last section runs back to Galatas via the same route as in the morning. From Galatas you take the small ferry back to Poros.

Day 5. Poros to Aegina

Depending on the ferry time table you can make a cycling tour on Poros before traveling on the boat to Aegina. On Aegina you can explore the nice town of Aegina by bike.

Day 6. Bicycle trip on Aegina

Today you have a relaxing day. You can either explore Aegina town with its Archaeological site and museums or you peddle 10km along the coast to the south to the picturesque village of Perdika. In the summer season you can go across per fishing boat to the uninhabited island of Moni and sunbath here on the organized beach with sunbeds. Alternatively you may prefer to walk to the inner land to the Ancient Olive grove or the summit of Ellanios mountain (532m).

Day 7. Bicycle trip on Aegina

Todays cycling tour heads inland and gradually ascends to the monastery of Agios Nektarios, the Saint of the island. Many Greek-Orthodox believers go there on pilgrimage. Thereafter you cycle downhill towards the east coast. A short ascend takes you to the archaeological temple of Aphaia (altitude 165m). After a visit you descend to the seaside resort of Agia Marina. From there you peddle to Portes, followed by a steep ascent to the hamlet of Anitseo where you
find a great tavern. Just down the road you will see a beautiful Byzantine church, built on and with the materials of a former temple of Zeus Hellanios. Follows a descent to the west coast of Aegina and back to Aegina town.

Day 8. Departure

Today you will travel back to the mainland at Piraeus by ferry (with the bikes). The organised part of your holidays comes to end once the bikes are collected from you here. There are regular public transport connections with Athens Airport or you may prefer to take a taxi. To allow time for the ferry and travel to Athens airport you must book a return flight at 14:00 hrs or later.

Price Includes:
7 nights incl. breakfast in 3*/4* hotels
Ferry tickets Piraeus-Poros (high speed if necessary),Poros-Aegina and Aegina-Piraeus
Transfer Athens-Piraeus
Bicycle delivery in Piraeus and bike collection in Piraeus
Luggage transfers port-hotel-port on the islands
Detailed roadbook and basic maps
GPS tracks

Not Included:
Guided bicycle tour in Athens (27 EUR)
Bike rental (E-bike - 30 EUR per day,hybrid bike - 12 EUR per day). Bikes have minimum 27 gears,front bags OR map holder,rear pannier,lock,bottle holder incl. bottle and repair kit. no helmet or GPS supplied
Flights
Tourist tax (1,50 EUR per room per night for 2* and 3* hotels)
Transfers from/to the airport (Athens Airport-Athens center,taxi max. 4 persons 62,00 one way) (Piraeus-Athens airport,taxi max. 4 persons 66,50 EUR)
Travel Insurance
Admissions and entrance fees of any kind
Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses such as meals,drinks,phone calls,extra transfers etc.
Any items that have not been specifically mentioned in the program

Additional Services:
Additional night/s at any of the accommodations along the way or any other destination in Greece

Gallery

Athens and Saronic islands by bike (Rated 4.9 / 5 Based on 43 Reviews.)

Tour difficulty C
C

These tours include trekking which is a little harder, normally on a challenging terrain. We take it for granted that you are in good condition and fit. You should be physically prepared at home to get the maximum of the tour. Most of the trekking is done at a greater height (max 3000m).

1650 €, 9 Days

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