Cycling in Greece

Arrival in the morning to Athens. We settle in the hotel, have lunch and, in the afternoon, we will have guided tour of the Acropolis. In the evening, dinner in the Plaka district, the oldest in Athens (over 6000 years old), also distinctive for all the typical shops and restaurants!

We finally start pedalling. Departure in the morning from Athens. We leave the city and reach the Corinth Canal, an artificial canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Aegean Sea. At this point we be in the Peloponnese, beginning to descend on a quit road taking us immediately to the coast all the way to Loutra Elenis. Relaxing afternoon. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel in Loutra Elenis.     

Departure early in the morning, the road goes up and down, all around us fascinating olive trees and after about 60 km we arrive at the archaeological site of the Theatre of Epidaurus. After the visit, we continue to Nafplion, a beautiful seaside resort, with its historical castle. After lunch in one of the characteristic Greek “taverna”, we will have the opportunity to relax on the beach. Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Nafplion.

We leave for Leonidio, we skirt this part of the Peloponnese coast to the east, up and down between cliffs and beaches, with the intense blue of the sea as a frame. We will then cross the village to first reach the Orthodox monastery of Elonas, an easy climb but that will make us gain about 300 meters in altitude, perched on a spectacular valley and then go back down to settle in the hotel. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Leonidio.

This is the most demanding stage, today we really climb. We will retrace the stretch to reach the monastery, continuing to climb up to 1000 meters through a landscape that at a certain point becomes alpine. Starting to descend we arrive at the characteristic village of Kosmas, a small snack and all the way down to the extreme south of the Peloponnese, Monemvasia awaits us, with its fortified peninsula and the sea with crystal clear waters. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel in Monemvasia.

Today a particularly relaxing stage after yesterday's mountain. We reach the island of Elafonissos, after a ride of about sixty km we embark for a 15 minutes trip, reaching the tiny island where we can enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, Simos. With its Caribbean sea, we will spend the day enjoying this enchanted place, eating fish at the marina before returning to Monemvasia in the late afternoon. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel in Monemvasia.

Today is a hilly stage: we begin the ascent of the Peloponnese. The inland itinerary with uncontaminated landscapes, olive trees, olive trees and more olive trees, passes through Skala to finally reach Sparta. But forget the glorious history of the ancient and powerful rival of Athens, today's Sparti is a quiet town, immersed in a green Mediterranean landscape where the olive tree is the protagonist. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Sparti.

The morning will be dedicated to visiting nearby Mystras. The archaeological UNESCO site is a fortified city with Byzantine churches, palaces and fortresses. It is the place where the Byzantine culture reached one of its greatest splendours between the 14th and 15th centuries. After lunch, departure with the organization's vehicles for Athens airport to return home.

SCOTT ADDICT 30 BIKE RED

KEY FEATURES

• Addict Disc HMF Carbon Frame
• Addict HMF Fork
• Shimano 105 Disc 22 Speed
• Syncros RP2.0 Disc Wheels
• Schwalbe ONE Tires
• Syncros Carbon/Alloy Parts