Peloponnese & Saronic Islands: Bike & Boat

Exciting antiquity and the dazzling sea

Many peoples have left their mark on the Peloponnese. Some of the greatest archaeological sites of antiquity are waiting for you to discover them. You cycle through orange gardens and pomegranate plantations and capture the "Golden Mycenae" with its impressive lion's gate, the cyclopean walls and the treasury of Atreus. Embark on a geological journey through time on the volcanic peninsula of Methana.
With your floating home, the three-master Thalassa, you can reach the diverse islands of the Saronic Gulf. Visit the pistachio island of Aegina with the Temple of Aphaia enthroned high above the sea. On the island of Hydra, which is completely traffic-free, the only means of transport is donkeys. The islands of Poros and Spetses are known for their aromatic herbs - let yourself be enchanted!

Your ship: Deluxe ship Thalassa

The Thalassa is a three-masted motor sailer of the Turkish gulet type. A ship with the best equipment that combines pure elegance with the greatest comfort. With her towering masts, this proud ship is a real eye-catcher in every port.

The saloon and guest cabins are spacious. On the wide decks there are many comfortable places to sit and lie down. Here you can relax wonderfully during the crossing, read a book or just let the sea air blow in your face.

Your ship: Deluxe ship Erato (from 2024)

The elegant motor sailer Erato, painted in Bordeaux red, offers an ideal base for your journey by bike and boat in Greece with its comfortable and luxurious furnishings. The 6 teak-lined cabins with ground-level beds are 10-12m² in size and are located below deck. They are equipped with shower/WC, air conditioning and hairdryer. In the outside area of the ship you will find enough seating and sunbathing places to end the day comfortably and relaxed. Or perhaps you would prefer to start the evening in the salon before the friendly crew spoils you with typical Greek food?

1. day Marina Zeas (Piraeus/Athens) arrival

Individual arrival in Athens and transfer to the marina Marina Zeas (Thalassa) or Marina Alimnos/Palaia Faliro (Erato), which is part of Piraeus and approx. 25 km from the airport. Check-in from 14:00. Dinner on board and overnight in Athens.

2. day Marina Zeas - Poros island 23 km

In the morning you cross over to the island of Poros. Before you dock in the island capital of the same name, make a bathing stop with the ship. In the afternoon you cycle almost completely around the island. Just before your tour ends, you'll arrive at Russian Bay, where you'll have the opportunity for a swim in the sea. In the enchanting port of Poros town with its clock tower towering over all the buildings, you can end the day in a typically Greek atmosphere.

3. day Galatas - Ermioni - Porto Heli 40 km

In the morning you take a small car ferry from Poros to Galatas in the Peloponnese. A panoramic tour takes you through fertile agricultural land to the small coastal town of Ermioni. Back on board the Thalassa, enjoy lunch and a crossing to Porto Heli. If the weather conditions are good, you can take a long bathing break along the way.

4. day Island of Spetses 25 km

In the morning you cross over to the island of Spetses and start with a long swimming break in a picturesque bay. Before lunch, stroll through the pretty streets of the old town. On the "Island of Spices" as Spetses was already called by the Venetians, you cycle along an almost car-free panoramic road with the most beautiful views of the turquoise blue sea. In between you always have time for longer bathing and coffee breaks. After the bike tour, explore the old port by bike before boarding the ship again.

5. day Island of Hydra - Methana Peninsula 17 km

In the morning, drive to Hydra Island in two hours. Donkeys are the only means of transport on the car-free island. After the film "The Boy on the Dolphin" was shot on the island in 1957, it became an artists' Mecca. Explore the port on foot and then continue to the Methana Peninsula. You will immediately notice the volcanic origin because the air is full of the smell of sulphur. The peninsula is characterized by more than 30 volcanoes and thermal springs, some of which are still active and some of which are also used medicinally. In the late afternoon you go on a bike tour with beautiful panoramic views and a relaxing coffee break in the picturesque fishing port of Vathy.

6. day Methana peninsula - island of Aegina 25 km

After breakfast you take another bike tour on Methana and then cross over to Aegina in the afternoon. The island of Aegina is famous for its very good pistachios. In the old town of Aegina you can buy all kinds of pistachio products while strolling through the lively streets. Alternatively, you can embark on a bike ride along the coast to the fishing village of Perdika.

7. day Island of Aegina 35 km

Today's bike tour takes you to the sanctuary of the goddess Aphaia. The very well preserved temple towers high above the sea. From here you have a fantastic view of the Aegean Sea. On the way back via the pistachio island you will cycle past the monastery of Saint Nektarios to Aegina town. Here you board the Thalassa again, where you are already awaited for the last crossing of the journey with a final evening.

8. day Piraeus/Athens Disembarkation

After breakfast, your beautiful bike and boat trip ends with disembarkation at 9:00 a.m.

Particularities

Any necessary changes to the itinerary due to wind, weather and nautical peculiarities are reserved to the skipper as captain of the ship!

Worth knowing about the trip Peloponnese & Saronic Islands: Bike & Boat

Below you will find specific information about the trip Peloponnese & Saronic Islands: Bike & Boat with the deluxe ship Thalassa. If you have any further questions about this trip, simply give us a call: Tel.: +49 (0)6421 - 886890.

Arrival by plane

Arriving by plane is the fastest, cheapest and most comfortable way to get to Greece. There are flight connections to Athens from many airports in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Athens Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) is approximately 25 km from the port of Piraeus, the start and end point of the trip.

When booking your flight, please choose a return flight that departs in the midday or afternoon, if possible, to ensure a stress-free return trip to Germany. You can research and book flight offers, for example, at www.opodo.com, www.skyscanner.de.

We are happy to organize a transfer for you from the airport to the ship and back to the airport or a hotel in Athens on the day of disembarkation. Price on request.

Flight offers Opodo

Skyscanner flight deals

Port of Embarkation Athens (Marina Zeas/Piraeus)

If you arrive by car, rent a car in Greece or organize your own transfer to the port after the flight, here is the information about the port of embarkation:

Your port of embarkation is Marina Ueas, which is part of the Athens port of Piraeus. As a rule, your ship docks here in the part of the marina called pasa Limani. You can check in on board from 2 p.m. on the day of embarkation.

Requirements

The cycling stages require participants to have a certain level of fitness, which should be acquired through regular cycling. The daily stages of 17 to 40 km and 400 to 700 vertical meters per day lead partly through hilly and mountainous terrain. Longer inclines are also driven, but pushing is definitely allowed. The roads are mostly paved.

This tour is primarily designed as a guided group tour. After prior consultation with our tour guides and the selection of a suitable route, nothing stands in the way of individual cycling. Instead of a bike tour, you can spend half a day or a whole day on the ship at any time.

On a trekking bike tour, the guided group pace is based on the trekking bikers. If you rent an e-bike on a trekking tour, you are asked to be considerate of those who ride without electronic support. Thank you for your understanding.

Available rental bikes

There are unisex electric bikes with 11-speed derailleur gears and a low step-through step, or somewhat sportier unisex 9-speed hybrid e-bikes with a slightly higher step-through step.

The bikes are each equipped with an Ortlieb pannier

Helmet obligation

Helmets are compulsory on the bike tours. Please bring your own well-fitting helmet. A limited number of rental helmets are available (reservation required).

Catering

The accompanying cook prepares the extensive breakfast and one or two warm meals daily. Boarding begins on the day of arrival with dinner and ends on the day of disembarkation with breakfast.

Children

Basically, we are of the opinion that only children with good stamina and a minimum age of 10 years can complete the bike tours on their own. Please note that we can only provide trekking rental bikes from a height of 1.30 m and rental e-bikes from a height of 1.50 m.

Changes

Due to different wind and weather conditions as well as organizational needs, we reserve the right to change the route.

Taking your own e-bikes with you

It is not possible to take your own e-bike with you due to safety regulations on the ships and to protect the health of the tour guide. If you would like to ride an e-bike, we are happy to offer it to you for booking.

Passport and visa requirements

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

The Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis is probably the most important ancient Greek monument. This 2,500-year-old ruined city dominates Athens from the top of Acropolis Hill. And while the Parthenon Temple, with its distinctive columns, is the most famous monument on the hill, it's just one of the many treasures the Acropolis has to offer. After years of restoration, the palaces, columns and sculptures once again reflect the splendor, power and wealth of the city.

The buildings include the Erechtheum, the Temple of Nike, the Propylaea and the Temple of the Parthenon, which is said to have housed a statue of the goddess Athena. In ancient times, an acropolis was usually a fortification located on the highest part of the city. The Acropolis of Athens also initially had a primarily defensive function.

UNESCO put the Acropolis in Athens on the World Heritage List in 1986.

The Acropolis

Plaka - the old town of Athens

A visit to the Acropolis is a must for anyone visiting Athens. The same, however, applies to Plaka, which is immediately below – the picturesque and lively old town of the Greek capital. This district exudes a very special charm and is popular with locals and tourists alike. In the narrow streets of Plaka there are numerous cafes, boutiques and souvenir shops; many street musicians and painters offer their art for sale here. Since cars are taboo here, you can stroll around in peace - but you should do so early in the day, because the Plaka is often quite crowded by the early afternoon at the latest.

Plaka - the old town of Athens

Island of Aegina

The island of Aegina has something for everyone - sandy beaches with shallow waters for families with children, isolated аnd peaceful pebble bushes, lively beach bars аnd historical sights оf Greek antiquity. Thе island cultivates many vegetables аnd fruit, аs well аs pistachios - Aegina's pride. The center of activity on the island is Aegina town. In about an hour you can see everything, the wonderful corners of the waterfront, neoclassical buildings and the taverns and cafes overlooking the sea. In the town of Agia Marina lies one of the most beautiful and well-known sandy beaches in Greece.

Aegina island

The Peloponnese

The Peloponnese is located in southern Greece and is separated from the mainland by the artificial Corinth Canal. The Peloponnese is ancient cultural land and offers unique archaeological sites of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Mycenaeans, ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Franks, Ottomans, French and English all left their mark on the region. The peninsula also has a lot to offer in terms of landscape: the spectrum ranges from beautiful bathing beaches to wide plains to high mountains. Almost the entire peninsula is very fertile and, in contrast to the Greek islands, has little to do with drought and the resulting lack of water. Large parts of the mountainous region are covered with dense forests, in the valleys the good soil is used for agricultural development.

The name of the Peloponnese means something like "Island of the Pelops". Pelops is a mythological king who conquered large parts of Elis and Arcadia. Later the whole peninsula was named after him.