Cyclade Islands (Bike and Boat) – 8 Days
Type of tour: Guided
Level: 3
Duration: 7 Nights
Distance: 20 Miles/day average
Dates: May 5, 16, 23; Aug 29; Sep 5, 12, 19, 2015
Tour price: €1390
Start city: Piraeus (near Athens), Greece
End city: Piraeus (near Athens), Greece
Tour Description
The Cyclades, which comprise more than 30 islands, were the cradle of the first European civilized society 5,000 years ago.
It is also here that Greece shows its most unadulterated beauty 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.
Experience the fascinating mixture between antiquity and modern times on your motorized sailing ship or your bike and absorb the beauty of the central archipelago of the Greek Aegean.
Highlights: Guided Daily Program: Guided Day 1: Arrival to Boat; Boarding in Piraeus (Marina Zeas) Day 2: Kythnos Island (15 miles/25 km) 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: Seriphos Island (22 miles/35 km) 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. Day 4: Siphnos Island (12 miles/20 km) 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 the ship takes us to Syros, where we can round off the day in one of the numerous cafes on the spacious harbour promenade. Day 5: Syros and Mykonos Island (19 miles/30 km) We 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 we 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 we may even see the mascot of Mykonos in the maze of laneways, the pelican Petros. Day 6: Delos Island and Tinos Island (15 miles/25 km) Today’s bike tour takes us along a high road to the mountain village of Tarambados, a village full of walled dove towers with their filigree architecture, which represent remnants from Venetian times. After the bike tour the boat takes off to Kea. Day 7: Kea Island (8 miles/12 km) Alternatively, there is also the option to make individually a short bike tour to the white beach of Otzias, where the Mediterranean will tempt you to a refreshing swim. In the afternoon last sail to Piraeus and overnight stay in Piraeus. Day 8: Departure Changes Included Services: Guided Bike Rentals: Guided Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include: All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge: Additional specifications on the Hybrid touring bikes (included in tour package price): Please note that the bikes are deliberately NOT equipped with water bottle holders. There is room in the saddle bag to carry a bottle of water, along with everything else you need for the daily rides. Additional specifications on the Electrically assisted bikes: The type i:SY Flyer ECO is available for all persons with a height of 150- 190 cm (it is not available for heights above 190 cm). Bicycle insurance is available to buy. It costs 10 Euros/week for the hybrid touring bikes, and 20 Euros/week for the electrically assisted bikes. Pedals: Seats: Helmets:
Individual journey to Athens airport, and on to meet the boat at Marina Zeas, the yacht harbour of Piraeus, only 25 km (15 mi.). You can book a transfer from the Athens airport to the boat in Piraeus (please see the ‘Dates and Prices” section for pricing informaiton). Check-in is available from 2 p.m. on the ship. Dinner on board.
Overnight stay in Piraeus.
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.
Overight in Merichas.
In the morning the Panagiota 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.
Overnight stay in Kamares on the island of Siphnos.
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 harbour of Kamares.
Overnight in Syros.
The town of Ermoupolis on Syros is the capital town of the Cyclades and offers an unforgettable view upon arrival: The town which is built on two hills is different from the other Cycladic towns. Pastel coloured houses, many of which have classical facades dominant the townscape.
Overnight in Mykonos.
In the morning we 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 we crossover to Tinos. There we first visit the famous Evangelistria church in Tinos town.
Overnight in Kea.
The starting point for the tour of Kea, the most westerly inhabited Cyclade island, is the wonderful natural harbour of Korissia. From here we begin our cycle tour to 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 chiselled from stone in the 6th century B.C.
Guests disembark after breakfast on board followed by individual departure or guests may extend their stay in Athens by a week.
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: We cross between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnesian and discover the islands of Egina, 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.
Bikes available, included in the tour package (reserved at time of booking):
The i:SY-Flyer ECO, a relatively light model of 50 pounds (21 kg), is a compact bike with a special low frame geometry for easy mounting and 20-inch wheels. The handlebar “Speedlifter Twist” is turnable, making the bike space-efficient for storage. This E-Bike model is equipped with an 8-gear-Shimano hub gearshift (Nexus), as well as Shimano V-brakes. It has a 10-amp battery along with an 8-amp back-up that allow for unlimited riding.
The bikes will have FLAT pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals. The guide on board the boat can assist you in attaching them to your rental bike.
If you plan to bring your own seat, please ensure that it is a universal seat post. The guide on board can also assist you if you bring your own seat.
It is required to wear helmets on this tour. In order to guarantee optimum protection, we request that you bring your own helmet and – for your own safety – wear it on all bike tours. A limited number of helmets are available on board to rent, at the time of booking, thought it is highly recommended to bring your own helmet.
