Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula

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 at 8:30 a.m. 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 Thermopylea in 480 BC. 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 above the sea and measures about 1,000 feet wide and a half-mile 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: 44 km (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

VBT Air Package Guests: 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 Electra Hotel in Athens for your final night in Greece. You have the remainder of the afternoon and evening free for independent exploration.

VBT Post-Trip Extension guests: 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. Please verify your transportation time at the end of your trip from your Chania hotel back to the airport with your representative. You travel time is about 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.

Important note: Following the Post-Trip Extension, you will spend an additional night in Athens at the Sofitel Athens Airport before your departure home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast, complimentary transportation to the Athens airport will be provided (an approximately 45 to 60 minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your tour starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Electra Palace Athens hotel, Athens, Greece, Phone + 30 21 0337 0000. Your VBT representative will meet you in the lobby with a VBT sign. If your arrival at our Athens hotel will be later than 8:30 a.m. or if you are delayed, please call the hotel and ask the front desk to pass the message on to your VBT representative.

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: 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 Thermopylea in 480 BC. 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 above the sea and measures about 1,000 feet wide and a half-mile 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: 44 km (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 Electra Hotel in Athens. The tour concludes here at approximately 4:00 p.m. You will need to make your own transportation arrangements to the Athens airport. 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