Greece Tour 2009
Six Day Adventure
Road Types
• A1:
National Road of European specifications - yes, there are such roads too in
Greece with two or three lanes for each traffic direction and a parapet in
the middle.
• A2:
Main road, wide, having one or two lanes per direction, protective bars at
the side wherever needed, and helpful signs.
• A3:
The typical Greek country road with its cute little potholes, its
peculiarities and its shining, smooth asphalt.
• A4:
Lousy road! Very narrow, full of potholes, worn at the edges, left without
maintenance.
• D1:
Very good dirt road. All vehicles can pass without a problem, including
buses and Harleys!
Peloponnese Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Herodion
Hotel
• Airport Pick Up Transfer to Hotel.
• Visit the Acropolis and surrounding area. Plaka,
Thiseion.
Day 2
King Minos Hotel
• Pick up Bikes at rental center and head out of Athens towards
Korinth.
• Use caution getting out of Athens. The traffic is unpredictable.
• We will take the “new” highway south towards Korinthos.
• New Tarmac A1 road. Two to three lanes in both
directions. Has a dividing barrier. Easy to read
signs.
• We continue on the highway towards Korinth and
exit at the Isthmus, Loutraki Exit.
• After we cross over the Canal we take the Exit Left towards
Epidavro.
• Here we follow the “old” Coastal Highway.
• Good Asphalt A2 road. Nice sweepers with a few long straights.
Dual carriageway. No divider between oncoming
traffic. Signs not as legible as A1 road.
• As we head inland past Ligourgio towards
Nafplion, Tolo we
encounter a change in road conditions again. We are now on a Main Road and a
Country Road.
• Good Asphalt A3 road,Older
asphalt in sections A4 road. Nice smooth turns with a few hairpins thrown in
the mix. Use caution on the older sections of asphalt,
Itʼs
a bit slick.
• Check in at The King Minos Hotel,
Tolo.
• Go explore Nafplion. Visit the
Palamidi Castle.
Day 3
King Minos Hotel
• We head out to the Ancient Theater of Epidavro,
followed by a ride through the mountains to Poros.
• Familiarity is key. Here will take the road
from Tolo to Ligourgio.
• As yesterday we will be on an A3 and A4 road.
• After visiting the Theater we will head over the mountains towards
Galatas.
• This section is mostly A4 roads. Not as slick as the section between
Tolo and Ligourgio.
A few switchbacks going up and down the “didima”
mountains.
• Time permitting we may visit Methana to the
north of Poros.
• A short ferry ride and we arrive at Poros for
Lunch.
• We now follow the narrow coastal route towards
Ermioni and Kosta.
• Usually paved with cement and asphalt sections A4 Road.
• Nice relaxing ride. Easy riding, some potholes.
• We shoot north on A4 Roads. Over the
Didima Mountains. Good tarmac with few
surprises.
• Veer left at Troxeia and go through the
Karnazeika Mountains towards
Iria.
• Here the ride is a bit more challenging. Quite a few
switchbacks on narrow roads. No traffic whatsoever so we can take our
time and enjoy the mountains and ride through the small villages.
• Perfect end to a great day. Follow the coastal road from
Iria to Tolo.
• Generally good tarmac. A3 and A4 Road.
• We can stop at Vivari for coffee by the Bay.
• Time permitting visit Mycenae.
Day 4
Byzantino
Hotel
• We head south down the coast towards Leonidio.
Over the mountains to Kosta
and back down to Monemvasia.
• Where we spend the night in a magical setting inside the castle.
• We follow the coastal road to Astros.
• Mostly A3 roads. Generally good tarmac.
Some rough patches.
• The views are fantastic so don't
forget to turn...
• The road becomes better on this section. Newer Tarmac.
• Again mostly A3 and A4 Roads. Some A2 type.
• We can stop in Plaka for a quick bite or carry
on over the mountain.
• Here the ride becomes a bit more challenging.
• Mostly old roads cut through the gorge A4 Roads. Narrow winding paths.
• The climb is majestic and you can see the monastery built into the
cliiffs.
• We enter Kosmas and stop for coffee and Greek desserts. Now this IS
Greece.
• Back down the mountain and the ride becomes easier.
• We start on A4 Roads and end up on A3 and A2 roads.
• After the decent, we cruise to Monemvasia.
Beyond words...
Day 5
Aktaion
Hotel
• Today we go to The Mani. The only place that managed
to stay free during the four hundred year occupation by the Ottomans.
• We head for Gythio where we check in to our
hotel.
• Sites to see are the Dirou Caves and the Mani
Towers.
• Nice easy ride to Gythio.
• No tight turns Good tarmac, mostly A3 roads.
• We head to Dirou Caves.
• Easy ride. Good Roads A2 - A4.
• At Areopoli the roads command more attention.
• We go spelunking !!!
• After the caves we head to Gerolimenas for
lunch. Beautiful town on the Bay.
• The roads are Mainly A3. A bit Narrow and a
little twisty. With a few switchbacks.
• Great photo opportunity at Vathia/Porto
Kagio.
• We head back to Gythio via the East side of
the Mani.
• Here the roads become more demanding and technical as you climb.
• Mountain, Sea and Air become one. Stay alert...
• After a few Kilometers itʼs
easy riding once again.
Day 6
Hotel Kentrikon Maniatis
• We head to the heart of the Peloponnese. Lagadia
( my fathers
birthplace).
• Here we take the New highway towards Sparta and
head for the Menalo Mountains.
• Sites to visit are Olympia and time permitting
TheTemple of Apollo.
• By now you have experienced most of the terrain changes and diversity the
Peloponnese has to offer.
• Here itʼs
mostly A1 and A2 roads. Good Tarmac. Relaxed riding.
• We follow the highway north towards Sparti.
• We continue north Towards Megalopoli.
Easy riding through mountain villages.
• Mostly A3 and A4 Roads.
• After Megalopoli we begin our second climb of
the day.
• We are now mostly on A3 Roads. Main roads. Good
tarmac.
• Like riding through the Alps. Microcosm...
• We check in to the hotel at Lagadia.
• After we go west to Olympia nice mountain roads.
Day 7
• Our last day of riding we head through the mountains back to Athens.
• Return the bikes and transfer to the airport.
