Islandhopping by boat and bicycle
Cycling cruise Cyclade Islands - Alternative tour Argosaronic Gulf


Islandhopping by boat and bicycle
Cycling cruise Cyclade Islands - Alternative tour Argosaronic Gulf
Alternative tour into the Argosaronic Gulf
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.
Itineray - 1st day, Athens (arrival)

Check-in on the boat in Marina Zeas, the yacht harbour of Piraeus close to Athens starts at 2pm. Overnight in Piraeus.

In the morning, sailing on the "Panagiota" to Poros town. In the afternoon, we bicycle from there to the 18th cent. monastery of Zoodochos Pigis. In antiquity, the island was dedicated to the sea god Poseidon. Next, we 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, we 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 we 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 us along the extensive Kranidi bay from Ermioni to Porto Cheli, a lively harbour town. After lunch, we cross over to the island of Spetses. The afternoon bike trip takes us all around the green island. This route offers innumerable panoramic views onto the craggy coastline and the Peloponnese opposite. The town of Spetses, where we 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.
5th day, Hydra Island and Methana peninsula (bicycle tour ca. 23 km/15 mi.)

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 Poros, the starting point of today's biketour, which leads us to the peninsula of Methana. Methana is volcanic in origin and therefore geologically of great interest. Also famous are the medicinal thermal springs in the main town also called Methana, where we will spend the night.
6th day, Epidauros and the island of Aegina (bicycle tour ca. 35 km/23 mi.)

In the morning crossing to Palaia Epidauros, the starting point for this day‘s biking tour. It will lead us 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 we visit the best-preserved theatre of Greece, and by dropping a coin we can convince yourself of the phenomenal acoustics. At noon your boat will take us to the island of Aegina, which is famous beyond the borders of Greece for its excellent pistachio nuts. In Aigina town there is in the afternoon enough time for a stroll through the lively alleys. Overnight stay in Aigina town.

The bicycle tour in the morning takes us 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 we will pass the Byznatine monastery town of Palaia Chora and cycle along the north coast to Aegina town, where the Panagiota awaits us for the last sail to Piraeus.
