The Cycladic Islands are a relatively wind-prone region. As a rule, this causes only minor deviations from the sailing course. If weather conditions are, however, unfavourable, it can happen that the route will differ substantially from the original course. Our alternative tour will take you to the Argo-Saronic Gulf, one of the historically richest regions of Greece. You will sail between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese and visit the islands of Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses and the Methana peninsular. One highpoint of the trip is the visit to ancient Epidauros with the best-preserved theater in Greece.

Check-in on the boat starts at 2pm. Overnight in Lavrio or the bay of Sounion.

In the morning, sailing on the "Panagiota" to Poros town. In the afternoon, you bicycle from there to the 18th cent. monastery of Zoodochos Pigis. In antiquity, the island was dedicated to the sea god Poseidon. Next, you visit his sanctuary located high above the sea. Overnight in Poros town whose historical centre - dominated by its landmark, the blue clock-tower - is best explored on foot.

From Galatas, separated from the island of Poros by a strait of only 300m width, you bicycle along the coastal road to Ermioni in the southern Argolid. At first, the route leads across a 300m high pass and then continues along the coast all the way to Ermioni, where you spend the night. The picturesque little town sitting on a spit of land has several pretty sandy beaches, and interesting market square and two harbours with many inviting cozy cafes and tavernas.

The short biking tour in the morning takes you along the extensive Kranidi bay from Ermioni to Porto Cheli, a lively harbour town. After lunch, you cross over to the island of Spetses. The afternoon bike trip takes you all around the green island. This route offers innumerable panoramic views onto the craggy coastline and the Peloponnese opposite. The town of Spetses, where you spend the night, is particularly worth seeing because of its many neo-classical manor houses and the black and white pebble mosaic pavements of town squares and alleys.

Early morning crossing to Hydra island whose homonymous main town rises like an amphitheatre around the harbour. The only transportation mode on Hydra is the donkey. Neither cars nor motorbikes disturb the peaceful island atmosphere. There are no roads, only paths connecting the various settlements. At noon follows the crossing to the Methana peninsula which is volcanic in origin and therefore geologically of great interest. Also famous are the medicinal thermal springs in the main town also named Methana. The town is the starting point of the tour that lets you discover the northeast of the peninsula.

In the morning, your boat will take you to Palaio Epidauros, the starting point for this day's biking tour. It will lead you to the ancient healing centre of Epidauros, where the demi-god Asklepios was venerated and where the ailing pleaded for his help to get well. Here you visit the best-preserved theatre of Greece, and by dropping a coin you can convince yourself of the phenomenal acoustics. After lunch you continue on to the island of Aegina.

The island of Aegina is famous beyond the borders of Greece for its excellent pistachio nuts. The bicycle tour in the morning takes you high up past the large monastery of St. Nektarios to the sanctuary of the goddess Aphaia. The beautifully preserved temple, whose pediment sculpture can nowadays be admired in the Munich Glyptothek, sits magestically high above the blue sea. On the return trip, you bicycle along the north coast to Aegina town, where the boat awaits you for the last crossing to Lavrio.

After breakfast, check-out on the "Panagiota." You start on your individual return trip or extend your vacation for a few days in Athens.