South Greek Aegean (Bike and Boat) – 8 Days
Type of tour: Guided
Level: 3
Duration: 7 Nights
Distance: 25 Miles/day average
Dates: May 2, 16, 30; Aug 29, 2015
Tour price: €1390
Start city: Marmaris/Bodrum, Turkey
End city: Bodrum/Marmaris, Turkey
Tour Description
Since the ancient times Rhodes is called the Island of the sun god Helios and there really is a reason for this: with over 3,000 sunshine hours each year it is one of the sunniest region in Europe – proving that Helios still pays special attention to his island.
Let yourself be mesmerized by the lively yet contemplative Rhodes, the towering volcano crater of Nissyros or the charm of Symi with its wonderful neo-classical buildings of the island capital. A highlight is Kos with its lively town and its Greek, Ottoman and Italian history.
Get enchanted and enjoy the time travel, discover the Aegean history very close. The rock throwing Poseidon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Knights of St John or the famous sponge diver of Symi: They are all impressing credentials in form of legends and historical construction that contribute to the unique character of these islands.
Highlights: Guided Daily Program: Guided Day 1: Marmaris (Embarkation) Day 2: Rhodes Island, Rhodes town (6 miles/10km) Day 3: Rhodes Island; Rhodes town – Kolymbia – Lindos (23 miles/37 km) Day 4: Rhodes Island; Lindos – Plimiri – Halki Island (22 miles/35 km) Day 5: Islands of Nissyros (19 miles/30 km) Day 6: Island of Symi; Panormitis – Symi town (16 miles/25 km) Day 7: Island of Symi – Marmaris (6 miles/10 km) Day 8: Departure from Marmaris Changes Included Services: Guided Bike Rentals: Guided All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge: Additional specifications on the Hybrid touring bikes: 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 arrival by plane to Bodrum, Dalaman or Izmir/Turkey and individual transfer to your ship and check-in from 2 pm. You may take a stroll across the huge bazaar or simply grab the chance to enjoy a delicious Turkish tea. Afterwards we have the first dinner on board.
Overnight near Marmaris.
Enjoy your first cruise on your ship in the morning. We cross over to the Rhodes town. You may go on a gripping visit of the old town of Rhodes. 2,400 years of history are waiting to be explored by you. At the entrance of Mandraki harbor deer and hind will make a good picture. Has this been the place where the famous Colossus of Rhodes was placed? We continue to the moat of the crusader town with its impressive walls, which give Rhodes town its unique appearance. To ramble through the various narrow lanes with its sensational buildings will give you unforgettable memories.
Overnight near Rhodes.
Our ship takes us early in the Morning to Kolymbia, where you go ashore for cycling. Today’s tour takes us along the fertile, agricultural interior of Rhodes. We cycle through ancient olive groves as well as on side roads to Archangelos, where you can have your lunch in a characteristic Greek tavern. We continue cycling to Lindos, which might be one of the nicest villages around the Greek islands. After a climb an amazingly beautiful view will take your breath away. The mighty Acropolis towers over vivid Lindos, which nestles ashore with its square buildings and narrow lanes. Grab the chance to visit this impressive ruin to top the day off.
Overnight near Rhodes.
We start from Lindos mostly cycling close to the coastline. We have a coffee break by the sea and might spot our ship cruising by on its way to Plimiri. We meet the boat at Plimiri and spend the afternoon cruising to Halki Island. On our 4 hour’s cruise there is plenty of time to relax on board. We spend the night in Halki, a beautiful small harbour on the hillside.
In the morning we cruise to the port of Mandraki at Nissyros Island. From there we start today’s cycle tour to Nikia – a village directly built at the edge of the crater in 1,400 ft./430 m height. From here we can enjoy a fascinating view into the volcano crater. Not only the volcano but also the white houses and the numerous mosaics made of pebble will truly amaze us. When we arrive at the village square we should not miss your chance to taste Greek coffee. From here we cycle on to the crater with its steaming sulphur springs and finally back to the small port town of Mandraki – its charm has attracted visitors for centuries. Afterwards the boat takes us to Symi, where we anquor in the marvelous bay of the Byzantine monastery of Panormitis.
Overnight near Nissyros.
The boat takes us to Symi on a three hours cruise, where we anquor in the marvelous bay of the Byzantine monastery of Panormitis and relax or take a swim till lunchtime. After we visited the big monastery of Michalis Panormitis – let’s cycle to explore the other side of the island. On a winding road we slowly crest the mountain. No worries! You have plenty of time to admire the astonishing panoramic view. The impressive island’s capital is the place where we are heading to. Classical, pastel-coloured buildings charm the visitor’s eye and bear witness of the telling past of the famous sponge diver’s island. In the evening our tour guide will join us for a walk up the 500 stairs to the upper town of Symi. The breathtaking view and the deep gorge is worth every step we made. With a tiny bit of luck an amazing sunset will match the scene.
Overnight near Symi.
From Symi town our last cycle tour leads us to an idyllic bay, where a beautiful beach invites us for a swim break. Afterwards a longer sail takes us back to Marmaris. Here we have still enough time for strolling through the lively harbour town before we meet for dinner. The last evening aboard our ship follows a nice tradition. While enjoying the communal dinner in a cosy atmosphere you will have the chance for a last get-together with your crew and your tour guides.
Overnight near Marmaris.
After breakfast disembarkation and individual trip home or extended stay in the Greek or Turkish Aegean.
We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements. This tour is sometimes operated in the opposite direction.
Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:
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, though it is highly recommended to bring your own helmet.
