Cycling in the Peloponnese

Here are quiet rural communities where you can start each day well in their coffee shops and bakeries. Fishing villages where small boats nudge each other in the harbour and you can tuck into a daily fish lunch in seaside tavernas. Gorgeous routes along the coast, and dirt tracks through scented groves of oranges and lemons. Wineries and vineyards always happy to welcome thirsty cyclists in for a tasting no matter how dusty they may be. Olive oil factories open for guided tours. And practically endless beaches where you can walk barefoot on the sand and take a cooling dip before continuing on your way.

Mantinea has another impressively sized Greek theatre, able to seat some 6,200 spectators, as does Argos, the home of Heracles. In Lerna the same divine hero is said to have slain the mythical, multi-headed Hydra, while Trizina was the birthplace of another hero, Theseus, the founder of Athens. You might leave your bikes for an afternoon to explore the multi-hued stalagmites and stalactites of the famous Kapsia Cave, or the Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea, with a ferry over to Poros Island.

Other Peloponnese cycling vacations take you around the southeast of the region, in Laconia. You would start in Sparta, with its ancient archaeology and esteemed military heritage; the statue of King Leonidas of the Battle of the 300 bears witness. Mystras has Byzantine churches, monasteries and palaces that are a joy to wander, while just outside Neapoli there is a forest of petrified palms. The Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Ottomans all stamped their architectural mark on Monemvasia, and for a day out of the saddle you can simply take the ferry over to the beautiful island of Elafonisos, a sunken city said to lie beneath the blue-green waters off its coast.

You can opt for either a tailor made cycling tour of the Peloponnese region, or a small group tour, each having its own advantages. On a tailor made trip you will ride self-guided, predominantly point-to-point, with detailed maps and information packs as well as a GPS system. You can extend the distances you ride on some days, or make the trip longer if preferable.

They usually operate from mid-May to mid-June, and late August to mid-October, and include 24-hour support. Vacations in the northeast of the Peloponnese tend to be more easygoing, suitable for virtually any fitness level, while in Laconia in the southeast daily rides are between 30km and 60km and require a little more exertion on the pedals.

On a small group trip you have a tour leader showing you the way on a more fixed itinerary, and the companionship and motivation that comes with other riders of similar abilities urging you up every summit. They generally operate in May, June, September and October, on door-to-door circular routes. You’ll ride around 50km a day, beginning and ending in Athens.

Both types of trip usually last around a week, although on a tailor made vacation you can stay for longer if you wish. Luggage transfers between accommodations are provided, and you will normally have a choice of either road or hybrid bikes to hire (you’ll need your own helmet and water bottle). E-bikes are also available if you want a little extra oomph, as are tandems and bike trailers for anyone wanting to bring young children. Expect quiet tarmac roads for the most part and some dirt trails. Accommodations are typically locally owned hotels in less touristy areas that benefit immensely from this type of trip.

With tailormade trips, virtually every aspect of the itinerary can be customised, so you might have licensed archaeology guides waiting for you at key sites, and picnics provided en route.