Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula

Depart home for Greece. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

Upon arrival at Athens’ International Airport, a representative holding a VBT sign meets you as you exit the baggage-claim area. Please note that there may be an additional wait time if there are other guests arriving within the same time frame. A transfer is provided to your centrally located Athens hotel, approximately a 1-hour drive. The remainder of the day is at your leisure (no meals included).

If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please let our representative know by calling the reception desk of the Electra Palace Hotel at +30 21 0337 0000 so they may alert the transfer company. You may also contact Allianz Global Assistance to advise of your delay and they will contact our transfer service. Our drivers are generally able to wait for up to one hour from the time your flight lands, after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.

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 recommends what to see and do during your stay.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in earlier than the scheduled dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.

Accommodation: Electra Palace Athens, Athens
Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast this morning before meeting your VBT representative in the hotel lobby at 8:30 a.m. You board a private motorcoach for an approximately 3 1/2-hour transfer to the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Along the way, your guide 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 transfer 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 11.5 km (7 miles)
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.

Accommodation: Mystras Grand Palace Resort & Spa, Mystras
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 historical 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. Here you meet your archaeologist guide for a fascinating tour of ancient Sparta. During your stroll, learn about the unique social structure of Spartan warriors and the lifestyle of this era. Lunch is on your own at one of Sparta’s cafés before you ride back to your hotel.

Later, you shuttle to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras. 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:
Cumulative Distance Range: 28 km (17.6 miles)
Morning
Mystras Palace Hotel to Sparta: 14 km (8.8 miles)

Afternoon
Sparta to Mystras Palace Hotel: 14 km (8.8 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 at the end of your morning ride and at the beginning of your afternoon ride.

Accommodation: Mystras Grand Palace Resort & Spa, Mystras
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 transfer 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 59 km (36.7 miles)
Morning
Mystras Palace Hotel to Gytheio: 59 km (36.7 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 flat coastal ride. You follow mostly country roads with some occasional traffic in the villages and as you coast into Gytheio.

Accommodation: Lazareto Hotel, Monemvasia
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. Motorboats are not allowed in the wetlands, so you have an opportunity to explore them via traditional fishing rowboats with a local fisherman.

Later, enjoy a fresh seafood family-style lunch in a traditional waterfront taverna. Perhaps try the local touloumotiri, the beloved cheese that is wrapped in goat skin to mature. If you wish, you can further explore with a hike to the hilltop castle of Gerakas, where views of the rugged coastline are sure to take your breath away. Alternately, cycle or shuttle back to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. If time allows, your trip leaders will have other options for additional coastal cycling this afternoon.

Early this evening, join your trip leaders on a walking tour of 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:
Cumulative Distance Range: 44 km (27.4 miles)
Morning
Lazareto Hotel to Limin Gerakas: 22 km (13.7 miles)
Afternoon
Limin Gerakas to Lazareto Hotel: 22 km (13.7 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s scenic ride features gently rolling hills with scenic sea views. Most of the cycling is on country roads with some heavier traffic as you leave and return to Monemvasia. Your trip leaders will have some additional options if you are interested in a longer afternoon ride.

Accommodation: Lazareto Hotel, Monemvasia
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day at sea as you join a local fisherman for an excursion around the massive rock of Monemvasia. During your outing, your captain demonstrates 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. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon exploring the Byzantine Tower watching over Elia. 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 35 km (21.9 miles)
Morning
Hotel Lazareto to Alas Resort & Spa: 35 km (21.9 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.

Accommodation: Alas Resort & Spa, Elia
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 Pounta, 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. Or set out to explore stunning Aegean landscapes on a loop ride, perhaps stopping in 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 Pounta 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 50 km (31.4 miles)
Morning
Alas Resort & Spa to Elafonisos: 50 km (31.4 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s route offers the longest rides and most significant elevation gains of the week. You follow country roads with some heavier traffic in and around towns. The VBT van will always be available for anyone seeking assistance.

Accommodation: Alas Resort & Spa, Elia
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

VBT Air Package guests: Transfer 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: Transfer 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 with him or her your transfer time at the end of your trip from your Chania hotel back to the airport. You transfer by private car or van (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 before your departure home.

Accommodation: Electra Hotel Athens, Athens
Included Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast* this morning, you will transfer to the airport for your departing flight **. Please ensure that you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the front desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

**VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your Transfer Reminder. VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. Transfer times are about 45 – 60 minutes to the Athens airport. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Accommodation: N/A
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.

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 transfer 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 11.5 km (7 miles)
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.

Accommodation: Mystras Grand Palace Resort & Spa, Mystras
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 historical 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. Here you meet your archaeologist guide for a fascinating tour of ancient Sparta. During your stroll, learn about the unique social structure of Spartan warriors and the lifestyle of this era. Lunch is on your own at one of Sparta’s cafés before you ride back to your hotel.

Later, you shuttle to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras. 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:
Cumulative Distance Range: 28 km (17.6 miles)
Morning
Mystras Palace Hotel to Sparta: 14 km (8.8 miles)

Afternoon
Sparta to Mystras Palace Hotel: 14 km (8.8 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 at the end of your morning ride and at the beginning of your afternoon ride.

Accommodation: Mystras Grand Palace Resort & Spa, Mystras
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 transfer 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 59 km (36.7 miles)
Morning
Mystras Palace Hotel to Gytheio: 59 km (36.7 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 flat coastal ride. You follow mostly country roads with some occasional traffic in the villages and as you coast into Gytheio.

Accommodation: Lazareto Hotel, Monemvasia
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. Motorboats are not allowed in the wetlands, so you have an opportunity to explore them via traditional fishing rowboats with a local fisherman.

Later, enjoy a fresh seafood family-style lunch in a traditional waterfront taverna. Perhaps try the local touloumotiri, the beloved cheese that is wrapped in goat skin to mature. If you wish, you can further explore with a hike to the hilltop castle of Gerakas, where views of the rugged coastline are sure to take your breath away. Alternately, cycle or shuttle back to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. If time allows, your trip leaders will have other options for additional coastal cycling this afternoon.

Early this evening, join your trip leaders on a walking tour of 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:
Cumulative Distance Range: 44 km (27.4 miles)
Morning
Lazareto Hotel to Limin Gerakas: 22 km (13.7 miles)
Afternoon
Limin Gerakas to Lazareto Hotel: 22 km (13.7 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s scenic ride features gently rolling hills with scenic sea views. Most of the cycling is on country roads with some heavier traffic as you leave and return to Monemvasia. Your trip leaders will have some additional options if you are interested in a longer afternoon ride.

Accommodation: Lazareto Hotel, Monemvasia
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day at sea as you join a local fisherman for an excursion around the massive rock of Monemvasia. During your outing, your captain demonstrates 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. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon exploring the Byzantine Tower watching over Elia. 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 35 km (21.9 miles)
Morning
Hotel Lazareto to Alas Resort & Spa: 35 km (21.9 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.

Accommodation: Alas Resort & Spa, Elia
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 Pounta, 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. Or set out to explore stunning Aegean landscapes on a loop ride, perhaps stopping in 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 Pounta 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 Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 50 km (31.4 miles)
Morning
Alas Resort & Spa to Elafonisos: 50 km (31.4 miles)

What to Expect: Today’s route offers the longest rides and most significant elevation gains of the week. You follow country roads with some heavier traffic in and around towns. The VBT van will always be available for anyone seeking assistance.

Accommodation: Alas Resort & Spa, Elia
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer 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 transfer 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 transfer arrangements to Athens from Elia.

Included Meals: Breakfast