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Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula

If you’re looking for a Grecian cycling adventure that escapes the crowded tourist centers, this VBT vacation is a breath of fresh air. The Peloponnese Peninsula juts into the azure waters of the Aegean Sea, and here you’ll experience authentic Greece. Cycling from historic Sparta, your Greek trip leaders introduce you to local traditions dating back to ancient times. Discover the region’s important role in the Byzantine Empire as you explore the imperial capital of Mystras with a local archeologist. Learn the art of Byzantine cuisine—passed down through the generations to the local chef who guides your cooking class. As you spin past seaside villages dipping their toes in Aegean waters, you may even feel the heart of western civilization pulsing beneath your wheels. 

Tour Highlights

  • Uncover the treasures of the hillside medieval gem of Mystras, the Byzantine Empire’s cultural capital for nearly a millennium, with an expert archaeologist-guide.
  • Savor the recipes and the flavors of ancient Byzantine cuisine during a special dinner.
  • Walk through the maze of alleyways in the medieval castle town of Monemvasia, a crossroads of civilizations with Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Ottoman influences.
  • Cruise around the monolithic Rock of Monemvasia.
  • Join a taverna owner on a shrimp-harvesting excursion, then join him for a cooking lesson and prepare garidopetoules—a savory shrimp pancake.

Positive Impact

VBT is proud to support Wine to Water with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. Wine to Water is an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions. We believe in giving back to the places that have enriched the lives of our guests. We’re committed to identifying and supporting sustainable initiatives in a variety of areas including education, world health, economic equality, safe drinking water, the environment, and the preservation of cultural traditions.

What to Expect

This tour offers a combination of rolling terrain and moderate-to-challenging hills and is ideal for energetic beginners to experienced cyclists. The majority of rides are on rural paved country roads with some traffic. Our VBT support vehicle is always available for those who would like it.

  • Daily Mileage: 7-37 miles|
  • Biking: 1-4 hours|
  • Max Group Size: 22
Activity Moderate
Moderate
Bar Graph Beginner - Experienced
Cyclists
Vehicle Support Vehicle
Support

Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):

Apr67º/53º

May75º/60º

Jun84º/68º

Jul89º/73º

Aug89º/73º

Sep83º/67º

Oct74º/60º

Average
Precipitation:

Apr1.0 in

May0.6 in

Jun0.2 in

Jul0.2 in

Aug0.4 in

Sep0.4 in

Oct1.9 in

Air Package

Tour Only

Roundtrip international airfare

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Airport car service for arrival and departures

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Two nights in Athens in conveniently located hotels with daily breakfast

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6 nights in 5-star hotels and a 4-star historical boutique inn

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12 meals: 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners

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2024 2025

Step-Through Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)

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Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)

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Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle

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Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle

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2024 2025

Step-Through Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)

See More >

Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)

See More >

Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle

See More >

Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle

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Biking Packages Include:

Custom VBT Bike and Helmet

Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders

Support Vehicle

Luggage Transportation

Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes

Welcome Reception

Facilitated Cultural Experiences

Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure

Itinerary

Tue, Apr 22 to Thu, May 1, 2025

Show Itinerary:

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

Start off your first day in Athens right by having a VBT representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

Enjoy an included breakfast this morning before meeting your VBT representative in the hotel lobby. After brief introductions, your group boards a private motorcoach for an approximately 3.5-hour drive to the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Along the way, your representative enlightens you about the fascinating cultural and historical significance of the Peloponnesian region.

You meet your VBT trip leaders at a Greek taverna outside the village of Mystras, situated among the forested slopes of Mt. Taygetos. Take in the breathtaking views of the valley of Sparta as you savor an included lunch. After, you travel to your nearby hotel, change into your biking clothes, and meet your trip leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session. A short warm-up loop from your hotel leads you through shimmering olive groves.

This evening, gather for a welcome cocktail and welcome reception at the hotel, followed by a delicious dinner featuring some of the hotel chef’s finest Greek specialties.

Today's Ride Choices

Afternoon: Warm-up — 11.5 km (7 miles)

What to Expect:

The warm-up ride will give you the opportunity to become familiar with your bike as you ride country roads with little traffic. The ride is fairly flat, mostly through neighboring olive groves.

Cumulative Distance Range: 11.5 km (7 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, set out on your bike into the picturesque valley of Sparta, once the epicenter of a prominent city-state in ancient Greece. Olive groves and scenic meadows point the way to the town of Sparta and its impressive Olive Oil Museum. Enjoy a short visit at your leisure before cycling to the famous statue of Leonidas, the King of Sparta and the legendary leader of the 300 Spartans at the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE. Ride back to your resort for an afternoon at leisure, enjoying a poolside lunch on your own.

Later, you shuttle to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras for an energetic walk with your archaeologist-guide. This fortified town is one of the most historic treasures in the Peloponnese, the Byzantine Empire’s cultural and artistic capital for nearly 1,000 years before it was conquered by the Ottoman army.

In the evening, enjoy dinner on your own in one of the village restaurants near your hotel.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Mystras Palace Hotel to Sparta — 28 km (18 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s ride is easy with some rolling hills. Most of the cycling is on country roads. There is some city cycling in Sparta.

Cumulative Distance Range: 28 km (18 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you cycle through Sparta Valley to the Peloponnesian coast, skirting the base of the soaring Taygetos Mountains, one of Greece’s highest ranges. Its summit is known as “Prophet Elias” and is one of the oldest recorded mountain peaks in Europe. It is even mentioned in Homer’s classic work, The Odyssey! You pass through scenic traditional villages before catching sight of the sea and following a coastal road to the charming fishing port of Gytheio. After the morning’s energetic ride, you are sure to be ready for lunch on your own at one of the seafront tavernas, perhaps savoring the fresh catch of the day.

Following lunch, you enjoy a scenic drive to Aegean shores. Your next hotel is just outside the walls of the historic castle town of Monemvasia, a crossroads of civilizations with Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Ottoman influences. This spectacular little island, linked to the mainland by a causeway, is known as the Gibraltar of the East for the massive rock that dominates its landscape. The behemoth rises some 300 feet (91 meters) above the sea and measures about 1,000 feet (305 meters) wide and a half-mile (.8 km) long, and hosts the remains of the medieval fortress.

This evening, discover the history of Byzantine cuisine during a special and unique presentation by a local chef. Sample some of these historic dishes while enjoying the sea breezes on our hotel’s charming outdoor terrace.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Mystras Palace Hotel to Gytheio — 59 km (37 miles)

What to Expect:

Today will give you a great workout as you ride a longer distance and gain some elevation before descending to a lovely coastal ride. You follow mostly country roads with some occasional traffic in the villages and as you coast into Gytheio.

Cumulative Distance Range: 59 km (37 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a typical hearty Greek breakfast on your inn’s lovely terrace before setting out on your morning ride. Your magnificent route follows the eastern coast of the Laconia region, delivering you to scenic Aegean vistas. Today’s first destination is Limin Gerakas, a stunning port hidden within a unique Greek fjord. The village’s lagoon and wetlands are part of Natura 2000—a vast network of nature preserves throughout the European Union.

Later, try your hand at catching shrimp with the owner of a local taverna. After the harvest, join your host for a cooking demonstration as he prepares garidopetoules—a traditional savory shrimp pancake—with your catch. Enjoy a fresh seafood family-style lunch in a traditional waterfront taverna. Cycle or shuttle back to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Early this evening, join your trip leaders for a stroll through the walled medieval village of Monemvasia, dramatically perched above the peninsula’s cliffs. There’ll be time after to explore the local shops and enjoy dinner on your own in one of the village’s renowned restaurants.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Lazareto Hotel to Limin Gerakas — 22 km (14 miles)

Afternoon: Limin Gerakas to Lazareto Hotel — 22 km (14 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s scenic ride features rolling hills with scenic sea views. Most of the cycling is on country roads with some traffic as you leave and return to Monemvasia.

Cumulative Distance Range: 22 – 44 km (14 – 28 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day at sea as you cruise around the massive rock of Monemvasia. During your outing, you may witness the traditional fishing technique of tossing nets into the water. This rewarding morning gives you a breathtaking view of Monemvasia from the water and some insight into a centuries-old way of life here.

Back on land, you cycle into Laconia’s fertile farmlands blanketed with olive and orange groves. As you ride through the coastal hills, take in splendid long-distance vistas of the Laconian Gulf shores. You arrive in the small traditional fishing village of Elia in time for lunch on your own. Then cycle to your seaside hotel, located within walking distance of the village. Treat yourself to a spa treatment or go for a swim in the crystal blue waters surrounding your resort.

Dinner is included on the hotel’s lovely seaside terrace this evening, but you need to make a reservation for the time that suits you best.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Hotel Lazareto to Alas Resort & Spa — 35 km (22 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s rewarding ride includes elevation gains as you cycle through the mountains to the Laconian Gulf. Your route follows country roads with some heavier traffic as you leave Monemvasia and as you pass through smaller villages. The VBT support vehicle will always be available for anyone seeking assistance.

Cumulative Distance Range: 35 km (22 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet of locally sourced traditional Greek selections, a delicious and nourishing start to a longer riding day full of endless rewards. Today’s route offers invigorating elevation gains that provide sweeping views of the sea and dramatic coastal mountain ranges. Your destination is the port town of Pouda, where you embark a local ferry for the short cruise to Elafonisos, one of the most famous islands in Southern Peloponnese. Its white-sand Simos Beach is one of Greece’s best; by some accounts, it is the best Mediterranean beach. Enjoy leisure time here swimming in the crystal-clear waters or catching some sun, and set out to explore the island’s charming village for last-minute souvenirs. Lunch is on your own here. Later, meet your trip leaders for the return ferry to Pouda and a shuttle back to the hotel.

This evening, join your fellow riders and trip leaders to enjoy the final setting sun over the Lakonian Gulf as you reminisce about your week during your festive farewell reception and dinner at your resort.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Alas Resort & Spa to Elafonisos — 50 km (31 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route offers the most significant elevation gains of the week. You follow country roads with some heavier traffic in and around towns. The VBT support vehicle will always be available for anyone seeking assistance.

Cumulative Distance Range: 50 km (31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel with a VBT guide to the Corinth Canal—a 19th-century engineering masterpiece connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Gulf. Today this dramatic waterway cut into the bedrock remains an international maritime hub and serves approximately 12,000 ships per year. There’ll be time to take in its magnificence and have lunch here before continuing to the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel for your final night in Greece. You have the remainder of the afternoon and evening free to enjoy the hotel amenities.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast, simply walk across the street to the Athens Airport international terminal for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula

Download Sample Itinerary:

Air Package (PDF) Tour Only (PDF)

Thu, Apr 24 to Wed, Apr 30, 2025

Show Itinerary:

Your tour starts at the Electra Palace Hotel in Athens, Greece. Your VBT representative will meet you in the lobby with a VBT sign.

VBT highly recommends flying to Greece at least one day before the tour begins; this allows you to rest and recover from jet lag before you begin sightseeing and cycling.

After brief introductions, your group boards a private motorcoach for an approximately 3.5-hour drive to the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Along the way, your representative enlightens you about the fascinating cultural and historical significance of the Peloponnesian region.

You meet your VBT trip leaders at a Greek taverna outside the village of Mystras, situated among the forested slopes of Mt. Taygetos. Take in the breathtaking views of the valley of Sparta as you savor an included lunch. After, you travel to your nearby hotel, change into your biking clothes, and meet your trip leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session. A short warm-up loop from your hotel leads you through shimmering olive groves.

This evening, gather for a welcome cocktail and welcome reception at the hotel, followed by a delicious dinner featuring some of the hotel chef’s finest Greek specialties.

Today's Ride Choices

Afternoon: Warm-up — 11.5 km (7 miles)

What to Expect:

The warm-up ride will give you the opportunity to become familiar with your bike as you ride country roads with little traffic. The ride is fairly flat, mostly through neighboring olive groves.

Cumulative Distance Range: 11.5 km (7 miles)

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

This morning, set out on your bike into the picturesque valley of Sparta, once the epicenter of a prominent city-state in ancient Greece. Olive groves and scenic meadows point the way to the town of Sparta and its impressive Olive Oil Museum. Enjoy a short visit at your leisure before cycling to the famous statue of Leonidas, the King of Sparta and the legendary leader of the 300 Spartans at the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE. Ride back to your resort for an afternoon at leisure, enjoying a poolside lunch on your own.

Later, you shuttle to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras for an energetic walk with your archaeologist-guide. This fortified town is one of the most historic treasures in the Peloponnese, the Byzantine Empire’s cultural and artistic capital for nearly 1,000 years before it was conquered by the Ottoman army.

In the evening, enjoy dinner on your own in one of the village restaurants near your hotel.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Mystras Palace Hotel to Sparta — 28 km (18 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s ride is easy with some rolling hills. Most of the cycling is on country roads. There is some city cycling in Sparta.

Cumulative Distance Range: 28 km (18 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you cycle through Sparta Valley to the Peloponnesian coast, skirting the base of the soaring Taygetos Mountains, one of Greece’s highest ranges. Its summit is known as “Prophet Elias” and is one of the oldest recorded mountain peaks in Europe. It is even mentioned in Homer’s classic work, The Odyssey! You pass through scenic traditional villages before catching sight of the sea and following a coastal road to the charming fishing port of Gytheio. After the morning’s energetic ride, you are sure to be ready for lunch on your own at one of the seafront tavernas, perhaps savoring the fresh catch of the day.

Following lunch, you enjoy a scenic drive to Aegean shores. Your next hotel is just outside the walls of the historic castle town of Monemvasia, a crossroads of civilizations with Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Ottoman influences. This spectacular little island, linked to the mainland by a causeway, is known as the Gibraltar of the East for the massive rock that dominates its landscape. The behemoth rises some 300 feet (91 meters) above the sea and measures about 1,000 feet (305 meters) wide and a half-mile (.8 km) long, and hosts the remains of the medieval fortress.

This evening, discover the history of Byzantine cuisine during a special and unique presentation by a local chef. Sample some of these historic dishes while enjoying the sea breezes on our hotel’s charming outdoor terrace.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Mystras Palace Hotel to Gytheio — 59 km (37 miles)

What to Expect:

Today will give you a great workout as you ride a longer distance and gain some elevation before descending to a lovely coastal ride. You follow mostly country roads with some occasional traffic in the villages and as you coast into Gytheio.

Cumulative Distance Range: 59 km (37 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a typical hearty Greek breakfast on your inn’s lovely terrace before setting out on your morning ride. Your magnificent route follows the eastern coast of the Laconia region, delivering you to scenic Aegean vistas. Today’s first destination is Limin Gerakas, a stunning port hidden within a unique Greek fjord. The village’s lagoon and wetlands are part of Natura 2000—a vast network of nature preserves throughout the European Union.

Later, try your hand at catching shrimp with the owner of a local taverna. After the harvest, join your host for a cooking demonstration as he prepares garidopetoules—a traditional savory shrimp pancake—with your catch. Enjoy a fresh seafood family-style lunch in a traditional waterfront taverna. Cycle or shuttle back to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Early this evening, join your trip leaders for a stroll through the walled medieval village of Monemvasia, dramatically perched above the peninsula’s cliffs. There’ll be time after to explore the local shops and enjoy dinner on your own in one of the village’s renowned restaurants.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Lazareto Hotel to Limin Gerakas — 22 km (14 miles)

Afternoon: Limin Gerakas to Lazareto Hotel — 22 km (14 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s scenic ride features rolling hills with scenic sea views. Most of the cycling is on country roads with some traffic as you leave and return to Monemvasia.

Cumulative Distance Range: 22 – 44 km (14 – 28 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day at sea as you cruise around the massive rock of Monemvasia. During your outing, you may witness the traditional fishing technique of tossing nets into the water. This rewarding morning gives you a breathtaking view of Monemvasia from the water and some insight into a centuries-old way of life here.

Back on land, you cycle into Laconia’s fertile farmlands blanketed with olive and orange groves. As you ride through the coastal hills, take in splendid long-distance vistas of the Laconian Gulf shores. You arrive in the small traditional fishing village of Elia in time for lunch on your own. Then cycle to your seaside hotel, located within walking distance of the village. Treat yourself to a spa treatment or go for a swim in the crystal blue waters surrounding your resort.

Dinner is included on the hotel’s lovely seaside terrace this evening, but you need to make a reservation for the time that suits you best.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Hotel Lazareto to Alas Resort & Spa — 35 km (22 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s rewarding ride includes elevation gains as you cycle through the mountains to the Laconian Gulf. Your route follows country roads with some heavier traffic as you leave Monemvasia and as you pass through smaller villages. The VBT support vehicle will always be available for anyone seeking assistance.

Cumulative Distance Range: 35 km (22 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet of locally sourced traditional Greek selections, a delicious and nourishing start to a longer riding day full of endless rewards. Today’s route offers invigorating elevation gains that provide sweeping views of the sea and dramatic coastal mountain ranges. Your destination is the port town of Pouda, where you embark a local ferry for the short cruise to Elafonisos, one of the most famous islands in Southern Peloponnese. Its white-sand Simos Beach is one of Greece’s best; by some accounts, it is the best Mediterranean beach. Enjoy leisure time here swimming in the crystal-clear waters or catching some sun, and set out to explore the island’s charming village for last-minute souvenirs. Lunch is on your own here. Later, meet your trip leaders for the return ferry to Pouda and a shuttle back to the hotel.

This evening, join your fellow riders and trip leaders to enjoy the final setting sun over the Lakonian Gulf as you reminisce about your week during your festive farewell reception and dinner at your resort.

Today's Ride Choices

Morning: Alas Resort & Spa to Elafonisos — 50 km (31 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route offers the most significant elevation gains of the week. You follow country roads with some heavier traffic in and around towns. The VBT support vehicle will always be available for anyone seeking assistance.

Cumulative Distance Range: 50 km (31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel with a VBT guide to the Corinth Canal—a 19th-century engineering masterpiece connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Gulf. Today, this dramatic waterway cut into the bedrock remains an international maritime hub and serves approximately 12,000 ships per year. There’ll be time to take in its magnificence and have lunch here before continuing to the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel. The tour concludes here at approximately 4:00 p.m. Departing flights prior to 7:00 p.m. are not recommended. If you have an earlier departure, you will need to make your own transportation arrangements to Athens from Elia.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula

Download Sample Itinerary:

Air Package (PDF) Tour Only (PDF)

Accommodations (Please Note: Days are based on the Air Package Itinerary. Accommodations may vary depending on departure date. )

Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With Low-Cost Trip Extensions

Airplane

Air Package Only

2024 2025

2025 Pre-Trip Extension - Santorini & Athens

3 Nights From $1145 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $645

  • Roundtrip flights between Athens and Santorini
  • 2 nights at the Volcano View Hotel on the island of Santorini
  • 1 night at the Electra Palace Hotel in Athens
  • Airport car service for arrival and departure
  • Daily breakfast
  • City information

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

A VBT representative will greet you at the Santorini airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming island at your leisure.

Believed by some to be the lost kingdom of Atlantis, Santorini enjoys a legendary setting, perched on the rim of a sunken volcanic crater 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the azure waters of the Aegean. Savor breakfast with stunning views of the soaring cliff of the caldera and the dazzling waters. Later, possibly enjoy an optional morning tour of the highlights of Santorini, where gleaming white houses and blue-domed churches glitter in the sun. After, enjoy lunch and the remainder of the day and evening at your leisure, perhaps treating yourself to a spa treatment or a swim in the pool with sweeping views fit for the gods.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy another freshly sourced breakfast with breathtaking vistas. There’ll be a little time afterward for relaxing or a bit of exploring before your flight to Athens. Upon arrival at Athens International Airport, a representative holding a VBT sign meets you as you exit the baggage claim area. Transportation (about one hour) is provided to your centrally located Athens hotel.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore Athens (no meals included).

Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 3:00 p.m., in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.

VBT provides city information with recommendations about what to see and do during your stay.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Volcano View Hotel

With breathtaking views of the Santorini caldera as it soars over the azure waters of the Aegean, the Volcano View hotel surely lives up to its name. This small boutique hotel, adorned in the white palettes for which the island is famous, exudes an intimate air and a breezy, casual atmosphere. The hotel is an example of the finest Cycladic architecture, with traditional cave houses in a minimal décor style. Distinctive touches of modernity add to the top-class accommodations of this 5-star hotel. Tradition and modernity are also combined wonderfully in the hotel’s Superior Rooms with breathtaking sea views. Dive into the refreshing waters of one of the property’s three ample swimming pools. Savor a wide range of Greek Mediterranean cuisine in the Caldera Restaurant, offering stunning views to the Aegean Sea, the sunset, and the caldera. And indulge in rejuvenating outdoor massage treatments and massage sessions.

Wi-Fi In Room
FREE WiFi Included
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Airplane

Air Package Only

2024 2025

2024 Pre-Trip Extension - Santorini & Athens

Nights From $ per person, double occupancy

  • Roundtrip flights between Athens and Santorini
  • 2 nights at the Volcano View Hotel on the island of Santorini
  • 1 night at the Electra Palace Hotel in Athens
  • Airport car service for arrival and departure
  • Daily breakfast
  • City information

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

A VBT representative will greet you at the Santorini airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming island at your leisure.

Believed by some to be the lost kingdom of Atlantis, Santorini enjoys a legendary setting, perched on the rim of a sunken volcanic crater 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the azure waters of the Aegean. Savor breakfast with stunning views of the soaring cliff of the caldera and the dazzling waters. Later, possibly enjoy an optional morning tour of the highlights of Santorini, where gleaming white houses and blue-domed churches glitter in the sun. After, enjoy lunch and the remainder of the day and evening at your leisure, perhaps treating yourself to a spa treatment or a swim in the pool with sweeping views fit for the gods.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy another freshly sourced breakfast with breathtaking vistas. There’ll be a little time afterward for relaxing or a bit of exploring before your flight to Athens. Upon arrival at Athens International Airport, a representative holding a VBT sign meets you as you exit the baggage claim area. Transportation (about one hour) is provided to your centrally located Athens hotel.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore Athens (no meals included).

Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 3:00 p.m., in which case you may store your luggage with the reception desk.

VBT provides city information with recommendations about what to see and do during your stay.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Volcano View Hotel

With breathtaking views of the Santorini caldera as it soars over the azure waters of the Aegean, the Volcano View hotel surely lives up to its name. This small boutique hotel, adorned in the white palettes for which the island is famous, exudes an intimate air and a breezy, casual atmosphere. The hotel is an example of the finest Cycladic architecture, with traditional cave houses in a minimal décor style. Distinctive touches of modernity add to the top-class accommodations of this 5-star hotel. Tradition and modernity are also combined wonderfully in the hotel’s Superior Rooms with breathtaking sea views. Dive into the refreshing waters of one of the property’s three ample swimming pools. Savor a wide range of Greek Mediterranean cuisine in the Caldera Restaurant, offering stunning views to the Aegean Sea, the sunset, and the caldera. And indulge in rejuvenating outdoor massage treatments and massage sessions.

Wi-Fi In Room
FREE WiFi Included
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Airplane

Air Package Only

2024 2025

2025 Post-Trip Extension - Crete

3 Nights From $895 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $345

  • Roundtrip flights between Athens and Chania, Crete
  • 3 nights at Samaria Hotel in Chania, Crete
  • Chania guided walking tour
  • Airport car service for departure
  • Daily breakfast
  • City information
1 Begin Post-Trip Extension

Travel with a VBT guide to the Corinth Canal—a 19th-century engineering masterpiece connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Gulf. Today, this dramatic waterway cut into the bedrock remains an international maritime hub and serves approximately 12,000 ships per year. There’ll be time to take in its magnificence and have lunch here before continuing to the Athens International Airport for your late-afternoon flight to Chania, Crete.

Upon arrival at the Chania International Airport, collect your luggage. Exit the baggage claim area and meet your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. Travel time is approximately 30 minutes to your centrally located hotel in Chania. VBT provides you with city information that includes recommendations on what to see and do during your stay.

Included Meals: Breakfast

2 Chania walking tour / Independent exploration

Nestled on the northern coast of western Crete, Chania is steeped in Venetian character and charm. This former capital of the island boasts narrow lanes arcing around a scenic harbor that’s graced with a picturesque lighthouse. After breakfast, you meet your guide at 10:00 a.m. in the hotel lobby for a two-hour walking tour. Explore hidden alleys and old Ottoman neighborhoods, strolling past the stunning Orthodox Cathedral, the Yali Tzami Mosque, old townhomes converted into restaurants, and the Venetian waterfront and dockyards. Your guide can recommend restaurants for lunch and dinner and other options for further exploration on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast

3 Continue your Post-Trip Extension

Continue your Post-Trip Extension

Included Meals: Breakfast

4 Continue your Post-Trip Extension / Fly to Athens

Enjoy your morning at leisure. Continue to explore Crete until your departure to Athens.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Departure Airplane

After an included breakfast this morning, walk across the street to the Athens airport international departure terminal and check in for your return flights home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Samaria Hotel

Fully renovated and located on 1866 Square in the heart of Chania, the 4-star Samaria Hotel offers a fresh and inviting ambiance amid Old World elegance. The Old Town and the historic Venetian Harbor are a short walk outside your door. Enjoy a relaxing poolside experience surrounded by lush greenery, and savor modern Mediterranean and Cretan cuisine in the restaurant or café. Each air-conditioned room is spacious and offers a sitting area with a sofa and evening turndown service.

Wi-Fi In Room
FREE WiFi Included
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Airplane

Air Package Only

2024 2025

2024 Post-Trip Extension - Crete

Nights From $ per person, double occupancy

  • Roundtrip flights between Athens and Chania, Crete
  • 3 nights at Samaria Hotel in Chania, Crete
  • Chania guided walking tour
  • Airport car service for departure
  • Daily breakfast
  • City information
1 Begin Post-Trip Extension / Chania walking tour / Independent exploration

Nestled on the northern coast of western Crete, Chania is steeped in Venetian character and charm. This former capital of the island boasts narrow lanes arcing around a scenic harbor that’s graced with a picturesque lighthouse. After breakfast, you meet your guide at 10:00 a.m. in the hotel lobby for a two-hour walking tour. Explore hidden alleys and old Ottoman neighborhoods, strolling past the stunning Orthodox Cathedral, the Yali Tzami Mosque, old townhomes converted into restaurants, and the Venetian waterfront and dockyards. Your guide can recommend restaurants for lunch and dinner and other options for further exploration on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast

2 Continue your Post-Trip Extension

After your included breakfast you are free to explore Crete on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast

3 Continue your Post-Trip Extension / Fly to Athens

Enjoy your morning at leisure. Continue to explore Crete until your departure to Athens.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Departure Airplane

After an included breakfast this morning, walk across the street to the Athens airport international departure terminal and check in for your return flights home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Samaria Hotel

Fully renovated and located on 1866 Square in the heart of Chania, the 4-star Samaria Hotel offers a fresh and inviting ambiance amid Old World elegance. The Old Town and the historic Venetian Harbor are a short walk outside your door. Enjoy a relaxing poolside experience surrounded by lush greenery, and savor modern Mediterranean and Cretan cuisine in the restaurant or café. Each air-conditioned room is spacious and offers a sitting area with a sofa and evening turndown service.

Wi-Fi In Room
FREE WiFi Included
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Reviews
192 out of 195 (98%)
4.8 out of 5 stars.
Read More Reviews

This VBT trip does not disappoint! The attention to detail for every visit and experience was remarkable. I live in the mid-west and don't have many hills to train on so these rides were challenging for me, but doable and once I was done I felt very satisfied. The accommodations were all different and great in their own way. The guides were energetic and informative. I highly recommend this tour - it's a great way to see Greece!

Jaymers,

Gorgeous views, rewarding rides and delicious food

The experience with VBT went beyond expectations as did the part of Greece where we cycled. The Peloponnesian Peninsula is a relatively undiscovered biking jewel, I enjoyed it far more than biking various Greek Islands. Accommodations were excellent and Greek food speaks for itself. VBT and the guides went out of their way in providing a 5 star experience. The bikes were new and top quality, the routes were varied and interesting. The guides bent over backwards to please us and provide a great biking as well as cultural experience.

Marcia B, Boise, Idaho

Wonderful trip

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