Discover the Cyclade Islands by bike and boat on the PANAGIOTA

Your floating accommodation, a 33m/102ft long Greek motor sailing ship, will take you from Lavrio to the island of Kythnos.

This is your starting point for hopping around the heart of the Greek archipelagos. The Cyclades, which comprise more than 30 islands, the cradle of the first European civilised society 5,000 years ago. It is also here that Greece shows its most unadulterated side in all its variety: Gleaming white cubic houses with blue shutters and labyrinth lanes give the typical architectonic flavour to the island towns. The mostly ragged coastlines show impressive geological formations, turquoise-blue sea and fantastic sand beaches. Experience the fascinating mixture between antiquity and modern times on the PANAGIOTA or the bike and imbibe the beauty of the central archipelago of the Greek Aegean.

Schedule

Day 1: 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: Kythnos Island (Cycle route approx. 25 km/15 mi.)
Kythnos Island 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 you 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 you will reach the bathing resort Loutra. Its thermal springs are said to have curing energy. In the afternoon the PANAGIOTA will take you to Seriphos. Overnight stay in Livadi.

Day 3: Seriphos Island (Cycle route approx. 20 km/12 mi.)
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 you 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. You will continue on through untouched landscape to the Byzantine monastery of the Archangel Michael. You will return to Livadi along a panoramic road on the East coast. In the afternoon the ship will bring you to Syros, where you can round off the day in one of the numerous cafes on the spacious harbour promenade.

Day 4 Syros (Cycle route approx. 30 km/19 mi.) and Mykonos Island
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 Cyclade towns. Pastel coloured houses, many of which have classical facades dominant the townscape. You 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 you 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 you may even see the mascot of Mykonos in the maze of laneways, the pelican Petros.

Day 5 Delos Island and Tinos Island (Cycle route approx. 20 km/12 mi.)
In the morning you 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 you will crossover to Tinos, where you will cycle along a high road to the mountain village of Kambos. Kambos is full of walled dove towers with their filigree architecture, which represent remnants from Venetian times. On the return journey you will visit the famous Evangelistria church in Tinos town.

Day 6 Andros Island (Cycle route approx. 60 km/37 mi.)
Early in the morning the boat will bring you to Andros, a shipping and sailing island. From the harbour town of Batsi today’s cycle tour leads you through the fertile mountainous area of the island, where numerous finely built dry stone walls add to the beauty of the landscape of the second largest Cyclade Island. Your goal is the picturesque capital Andros, whose white houses and well kept laneways invite visitors to look around. Overnight stay in Batsi.

Day 7 Kea Island (Cycle route approx. 22 km/14 mi.)
The starting point for the tour of Kea, the most westerly inhabited Cyclade island is the wonderful natural harbour of Korissia. From here you will begin your 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 chiseled from stone in the 6th Century B.C. Overnight stay in Korissia or Lavrio, depending on the departure of the flights next morning.

Day 8 Disembarkation
Guests disembark after breakfast on board followed by individual departure or guests may extend their stay in Athens by a week.

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 Ägina, 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.

Accommodation

The ship PANAGIOTA
The PANAGIOTA, our latest finding in Greece, is an affectionately restored two masted motor yacht, which is 23 ft. wide and 102 ft. long. It was built in 1990 and modernized in 2001 in conformity with the requirements of cruises. 6 cabins below deck and 4 cabins above deck are at the guests’ disposal. All cabins are air-conditioned and equipped with a French bed (4,6 ft. wide) , one single bed and private shower and toilet. There is room for all guests in the spacious saloon to have the meals, to regenerate or to spend some time with new friends. When the weather conditions are fine the guests can have the meals outside on the shaded rear deck. The spacious sun deck, equipped with cosy mats, invites to have a sun bath and to relax.

The ship NICOLAS A
The Nicolas A is a traditional, Greek two masted motor yacht with much charm. With a length of approx. 30 m and width of approx. 8 m it belongs to to the largest island hopping ships and offers place for 28 guests in 14 double cabins. Service and friendliness are largely written on this ship: A crew of five provides for the well-being of our guests. The bright, generous salon offers sufficiently place for the meals and the cosy gathering. In beautiful weather the meals can be taken also on the large reardeck of the ship, on which also a beverage bar is. On the front deck beach chairs and much place are at the guests disposal for sun bathing and for relaxation. 4 of the 14 cabins are equipped with a French bed, the other 10 with two beds lying one above the other. To each cabin belon air conditioning system as well as its own bath with shower/WC.

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. On one longer bike tour you will have lunch in a restaurant.

Requirements (level 2 to 3)
The bike routes have a length of 20 to 50 km (13 to 32 miles) and lead through hilly or mountainous areas. Some uphill stretches are included. The roads are mostly asphalted. 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.)

Participants
Mininum: 16 participants
Maximum: 20 participants

Dates & Price for 2010