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Bike Tour Saronic Islands

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trip advisorGeneral Information 7 days / 6 nights

Period of operation : March to October
Price: has risen > 830€ / person for min 8 participants
(for more or less participants please request pricing)
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Minimum attendance: 8 participants
Level requirements: Good fitness level

Description

biking the saronic gulf islands This is a biking program in the islands of the Saronic Gulf, a breath away from the city of Athens. So close and so far away from the hectic city, you will have the opportunity to enjoy magnificent biking along coastline of pine tree forests and enjoy the endless blue of the sea. The chosen itinerary will take you through beautiful roads, to the region’s most important historic and cultural sites, revealing you what is Greece is all about: beautiful landscapes, crystal clear waters, delicious and nutritious Greek food, and friendly people. 

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Itinerary

biking the saronic gulf islands Day 1: Arrival in Athens and take boat to Aegina island
Upon arrival in Athens, we will all make our way to Pireaus port (there is a direct bus line from the airport). Meet with our guide and take our ferry to Aegina island. Overnight in Aegina island. (Just bike fitting for today, light use of bicycles due to trip). Overnight in Aegina.
Regular ferries connect Pireaus with Aegina from 08:20 in the morning till 20:00 in the evening approximately (currently: 08:20-09:35, 12:15-13:30, 16:15-17:30, 20:00-21:15) Duration: 1hour 15minutes, Recommended: a schedule around 16:00.  Note: to avoid extra costs of transferring bikes with a support vehicle and ferry, guests will be taking their bikes in Pireaus port. Upon arrival in Aegina, the hotel owner will come and pick-up our bikes, while we will cycle to our hotel.  

biking the saronic gulf islands Day 2: Cycling in Aegina Island
Our first day of Cycling starts with an easy route, with swimming possibilities. Ideal for bike fitting and getting the sense of this lovely island. Overnight in Aegina.
Start our tour from Aegina town and head South. We will begin with a flat terrain and then ascent to try our bikes and own strengths up to 263m, and then descent down. Once we get down, we will enjoy a lovely coastal ride to Perdika seaside town, where we can relax, swim and explore the nearby beaches. (28km, +581/-566m, highest point at 263m.)
Note: route may be extended or shortened but we recommend this as a good start for bike fitting.

Day 3: Cycling in Aegina Island
From Aegina town, we will start and move to the inner part of Aegina, with our first stop, the monastery of Agios Nektarios. Continue today’s most demanding part to Afea archaeological site, where we can stop for an optional short visit. Continue our day to Agia Marina port, where we can spend plenty of time, swimming, eating and relaxing in one of Aegina’s most popular destinations. One our way back, we have a demanding ascent for the very beginning, while we will be cycling on a coastal ride to the North side of the island, all the way back to Aegina town. (35km, +602m/+602m., highest point at: 173m, 3 ascents-descents)
Note: today’s route may also extend a but if necessary from group dynamics, and become more demanding,
 
biking the saronic gulf islands Day 4: Aegina – Poros , Cycle Poros island
Catch the 1-hour ferry to Poros island. We will follow a beautiful route around the island, with some optional more challenging deviations for the most demanding cyclers. Overnight in Poros island.
Upon arrival in Poros, we will stretch and ride our bikes around the town of Poros, and ride to some of the most beautiful beaches of this island for a refreshing swim. We will explore the beautiful internal part of Poros, and ascent to the remains of Poseidon temple, in a route via pine-trees that offers splendid views of Poros and its surrounding sea. We will descent back to Poros port and head to the beach “Little port of Love” (=Limanaki tis Agapis in Greek) for a refreshing swim.
Dinner and overnight in Poros. (25-30km, +1105m./-1101m, highest point at 214m, hilly day that can become easier, always depending on group dynamics.)

biking the saronic gulf islands Day 5: Poros – Ermioni
Today we cycle to the mainland, at a coastal and beautiful route from Galatas port to Ermioni. Spend the night in Ermioni.
From Galatas, which is the closest connection to Poros with the mainland, (just 5minutes by boat)we will start our cycling day, and head to the southern part of Argolis, with views to Hydra island. We will be cycling on a coastal road, with many chances to swim in the crystal clear waters. (40km, +874m/-845m, highest point: 234meters, mostly flat, with the most  demanding ascent at the beginning, from 5-15km when we ascent and descent the hill and then going quite flat)
Spend the night in Ermioni.

Day 6: Cycle Ermioni – Spetses island
Today we cycle from Ermioni and cross to Spetses island.  A lovely, quiet and yet cosmopolitan island, where no cars are allowed. A cycler’s paradise. Overnight in Spetses or nearby port (located in Peloponnese) of Porto Heli.
From Ermioni, we cycle to Costa, where we will catch the short ferry ride to Spetses.  (17km,+264/-300m,  with maximum height: 87meters). Pass via Porto Heli picturesque port for a stop.  It is a 25km ride to cycle around the island of Spetses, discover its most beautiful beaches and admire the spectacular well preserved mansions.

Day 7: Ferry back to Athens
Catch the ferry back to Athens. Program ends in Pireaus port. (from where guests can either extend their stay in Greece or take the bus to Athens International airport) 
Ferry information: We will be taking a closed type ferry, duration: 2hours and 30minutes approximately from Spetses to Pireaus . Currently, there are the following schedules: 06:15-08:40, 12:12-14:50, 15:55-18:40. I would recommend the first or the second ferry, unless guests would like to extend their stay.
From Porto Heli, it is 2hours40minutes, indicative current ferries: 06:00-08:40, 12:10-14:50 (the same ones that goes to Spetses too, no departure at night from Porto Heli). Important note: Please note that schedules might vary in times and number of departures per day, upon decision of the most convenient route, we will do our best to book the most convenient schedule for the group.


Price Includes

Included:
• 7 days/6 nights, accommodation in  DBLTWIN room in 3* hotels on BB basis
• Full board basis from dinner on day 1 – dinner on day 6 (only drinking water included in meals)
• Ferry tickets on economy class (Pireaus – Aegina – Poros – Spetses – Athens)
• Support vehicle while in mainland (day 6& 7, that will support group while on mainland and will take bikes back to Athens while we take the ferry back on day 7) with driver and its expenses
• Transfer of luggage from port to hotels while on the islands.
• English speaking Trekking Hellas guide and its expenses
Not Included:
• Personal Expenses
• Anything not mentioned in above program
• Personal Insurance


Accommodation

Indicative hotel list:
• Aegina islans: Hotel Klonos: http://www.klonos.gr/ or similar
• Poros island: Hotel New Aegli: http://www.newaegli.gr/ or similar
• Ermioni: Zoe Pension: http://www.zoepension.gr/ or similar
• Spetses island: Hotel Faros: http://faroshotel.gr/ or similar (Alternatively, instead of Spetses, group might also stay in Porto Heli port. Porto Heli: Hotel Porto Panorama: http://www.portopanorama.gr/ or similar)


Area Info

About Aegina:
Just an 85minute ride by ferry from Pireaus port of Athens, Aegina’s lovely port full of fishboats welcomes you. Blessed with beautiful beaches but also rich in history, Aegina has a bit of everything. The impressive monastery of Agios Nektarios and  Afea ancient temple are two of its most important monuments one would not like to miss while on this lovely island

About Poros island:
This lovely, peaceful and romantic island is our next stop. We will cycle around Poros and discover its lovely secluded beaches, admire the neoclassical homes. A lovely ride through this green island.

About Spetses island:
The island with a long naval tradition, famous for its significant contribution to the 1821 War of Independence. This is where the revolution flag was raised on April 3rd 1821. Nowadays, it is an island with traditional character, with its excellent preserved grand captain mansions.