Islandhopping by Boat and Bike
Bike Tour - Cyclade Islands - Itinerary & Advices
Itinerary - Day 1 (Sat) Boarding in Athens (Piraeus)
Individual journey to Athens airport and collective transfer to Marina Zeas, the yacht harbour of Piraeus close to Athens only 25 km (15 mi.) from Athens airport. Check-in from 2 p.m. on the Panagiota. Dinner on board.Overnight stay in Piraeus.
Day 2 (Sun) Kythnos (approx. 25 km / 15 mi.by bicycle)
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 will start in the harbour of Merichas and will first lead us to the capital Chora, offers lots of scenic views to the coastline. Chora is an appealing village, situated on a high plateau. Its angular alleys are decorated with painted flowers and geometric patterns. Finally we will reach the bathing resort Loutra. Its thermal springs are said to have curing energy. In the afternoon the motor yacht will take us to Seriphos. Overnight stay in Livadi.
Day 3 (Mon) Seriphos (approx. 35 km / 22 mi. by bicycle)
Seriphos is 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 will cycle along a serpentine road to the main town of Seriphos, whose cube form houses nestle along a mountain ridge high above the sea. We will continue on through untouched landscape to the Byzantine monastery of the Archangel Michael. We will return to Livadi along a panoramic road on the East coast. In the afternoon the ship will bring us to Siphnos, where we can relax at the beautiful beach. Overnight stay in Kamares.
Day 4 (Tue) Siphnos (approx. 20 km / 12 mi. by bicycle)
The island of Siphnos, which is famous for its ceramic artwork, is only inhabited away from the coast, as its coast drops mainly steeply into the sea. The cycling tour begins in the harbour of Kamares. 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 will bring us to Syros, where we can round off the day in one of the numerous cafes on the spacious harbour promenade.
Day 5 (Wed) Syros (approx. 30 km / 19 mi. by bicycle)
Syros is the capital town of the Cyclades. The town of Ermoupolis offers visitors 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. We will 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 will 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 (Thu) Delos and Tinos (approx. 20 km / 12 mi. by bicycle)
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 will crossover to Tinos. There we will first visit the famous Evangelistria church in Tinos town. 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. Overnight stay in Tinos town.
Day 7 (Fri) Kea (approx. 22 km / 14 mi. by bicycle)
In the morning the ship will bring us to 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 will begin our cycle tour to the white beach of Otzias, where the Mediterranean will tempt you to a refreshing swim. The next stop is 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. Last sail to Piraeus and overnight stay in Piraeus.
Day 8 (Sat) Disembarkation
Guests disembark after breakfast on board followed by individual departure or guests may extend their stay in Athens by a week.
General Information
Alterations
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: You will cross between the Greek mainland and the Peloponnes 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. The detailed itinerary you can find here .
Requirements (Level 2 to 3)
The bike routes have a length of 20 to 40 km and lead through hilly or mountainous areas. Some uphill stretches are included. The roads are mostly asphalted. Bike helmets are required on all bike rides. Bike helmets are available on board in limited number (reservation requested). You can always choose to skip a bike tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead.
Bringing Children
We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.40 m (4.6 ft.)
Catering:
The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The full board starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.
Guided tour
The tour will generally be guided in German language. One of the guides will translate into English for non-German-speaking participants. (Except for pure English-speaking groups.)
Participants
Mininum: 16 participants
Maximum: 20 participants