Sailing and Cycling

Nothing compares with riding your own bike, therefore feel free to take it along. All the logistics of your bike case are been taken care of. We will collect it after you assemble the bike and deliver it back to you on your trip's end. You will also be responsible for assembling and disassembling as needed, or we may provide a mechanic (based on availability) for a minimum fee of €200.

During our cycling days, our staff will make sure that you and all of the group have access to a laundry service. Every second or third day, our guides ask the group to get all their to-be-washed clothes just right after the ride (we need to allow as much time possible for them to dry). The next day, the dry clothes are delivered right after the breakfast. 

Note: always have a spare kit to wear and avoid giving everything for laundry. It has happened that they weren’t ready the next day, and wearing them wet, well…. it is not nice :-)

Gratuities for guides are much appreciated to thank them for exceptional service, support, and expertise. The industry standard is for each individual guest to tip 10-15% of their trip price at the end of the tour. Unless you want to tip separately, guides will divide tips among themselves. Tips in local currency and in cash are always preferred. We recommend that you plan ahead by bringing extra cash or visiting the ATM at the beginning of your trip, since ATMs are not always available or may limit the amount of withdrawal. Make sure your bank is aware that you will be using your card internationally.

Depending on the group's profile we adjust the number of guides accordingly. We always try to keep a ratio of 8:1 (often much smaller), something that enables us to provide an extremely well organized service and make everyone happy.

Well, as many as you like. We also prefer to see a lot of different outfits. However, if you want to travel light we recommend you bring 4 x cycling kits. Along the trip, there is going to be a laundry service, where you can have your kits washed and fresh.

Here is a small list for you to ensure not to leave anything behind.

• Cycling kits x4: that’s the minimum number of kits we recommend
• Cycling cushion gloves: if you use those, do not forget them
• Sunglasses: Greece is the country of light. A pair of good and dark sunglasses is ideal to make the cycling much more comfortable.
• Helmet: even though helmets are included in the bike rental, feel free to bring your own to ensure the maximum level of comfort.
• Windbreaker: a lightweight wind shield would be ideal to get you covered during days with chilly weather.
• Water bottles: you may bring your own. Each bike will have two holders for you to carry plenty of water or any juice that keeps you going. In case you need to purchase our Camelbaks, let us know
• Winter gear (for Dec - early Mar): 1 x Leg and arm warmers, 3 x base layers,  1 x pair of winter gloves, 3 x buffs, Waterproof windbreaker. Note: generally the winter gear is highly recommended for trips held during the period of December to early March. Even though the weather conditions at a low altitude may be very pleasant, climbing even a short mountain may result in very cold conditions (even then this has nothing to do with alpine cold waves)

The companions who prefer not to cycle can still enjoy the marvelous landscape and the culture of Greece. However, in this case we need to adopt a more delicate approach. Since our guides are focused mainly on supporting cyclists during daily rides, a dedicated support team (transportation, guides, etc) may be required for the non-riders members of the group. For the majority of the destinations, we can create a private itinerary where non-riders can enjoy daily outdoor activities, visit local sites and places of great interest, have stunning meals with authentic mediterranean cuisine and rejoin with the cycling group later in the day. Contact our trip agents to discuss how we can make it happen.

In the case of official restrictions, or imposed travel bans, resulting in cancelling your arrival to Greece, the trip is postponed for future dates, anytime within the next 3 years from your original departure. The next trip will have exactly the same terms as the initial one. Note: the new dates should be during the season with the same tourism activity (e.g. if your trip was set for May you may not be able to postpone that for August). In case you decide to cancel, cancellation fees will apply and per our terms and conditions.

Sanitizers and alcohol tissues  have always been a part of our daily life. In the light of this pandemic we guess that we cannot deviate from that.  Masks: we expect the guests to bring their own masks which they can wash and feel comfortable wearing, while our staff can also provide some some in case of shortage.

Fun fact: Two of our drivers, very sweet guys, have a more than a few microbe phobia issues.  Even during our early stages as a touring company, they have made sure we adopt a "surgical room" approach when it comes to cleanliness in our vehicles, commonly used spaces and personal hygiene. 

One day earlier would be sufficient and will allow you plenty of time to synch in.

Arrival on the day the sailing starts: if for an important reason you need to fly in the first day of the trip, please arrange for an early flight. We will make everything in our power for you not to miss the cycling, even if that means collecting you from the airport, fitting you on a bike and riding along the Athenian Riviera towards the Temple of Poseidon. Once you are on board, the rhythms are dropped significantly and you will have a lot time to recover.

We will use a Greek expression to describe the importance of the weather conditions. The weather is the Alpha(Α) and the Omega (Ω) when it comes to how the days are structured. When the weather gets rough we may seek a safe harbour or alter the cycling routes to ensure a great and safe experience for all. 

Our staff, both onboard and the ones sitting at our offices, sets up daily meetings where all parameters are discussed and basis the inputs and the conditions we draft the next days’ options.

Please find below specs:

Year built: max 2 years old
Type: Catamaran
Length: 12,80 m
A/C: Yes
Generator: Yes
Cabins: 4
WC / Shower: 4
Indicative: Lagoon 42

There are 5 reasons why we choose to sail on a Catamaran

1. The most important advantage of a catamaran over a mono-hull, is the increased space, which results more privacy. The fact that the hulls are separated, makes the cabins to be located at different parts of the boat. Finding a spot without bothering others, is no big deal.
2. Another noticeable benefit of a catamaran is its sailing efficiency. Modern catamarans sail windward as much as 25% faster than a similar length cruising monohull. Their performance when sailing off the wind, can be 80% to 100% better / faster than a monohull boat.
3. The wide deck areas, combined with both the significantly larger salon space and the fact that the cockpit is located at the same level with all other deck elements, provide a sense of spaciousness coupled with an awesome 360-degree visibility.
4. The extremely shallow draft of a catamaran enables sailing in areas very close to the coast, where monohulls fail to approach. Those hidden, majestic, weather protected bays are now accessible and shallow anchorages become an rewarding option.
5. When sailing, catamarans rarely heel more than 5 degrees, which means offshore passages are less tiring while drink and food stay on the table. The trip is much less tiring for the passengers and there are significantly less chances of getting sea-sick.

The temperature during the evenings may drop noticeably. This combined with the humidity (we are surrounded by the element of water) may require a couple of warmer cloths. What we recommend is to take a series of layers which you can adjust according to any situation. Do not forget to bring a wind stopper which can keep any chilly breeze away.

Typically the sailing and cycling packages run during spring and autumn.* In both cases the water is very pleasant to swim in, with the autumn to offer a warmer option. The summer sun have heated up the water significantly and the sea remains warm until early winter. Whatever the season you are aiming for, you will need no special swimsuits or equipment ulike. 

*For summer cruises the temperature may be too hot, but the water is spectacular. 

The current sailing boat industry standards offers us limited flexibility in running our Sailing and Cycling weeks on other days than Saturdays. All boat charters are traditionally on weekly slot (from Sat-Sat) and charging that may be possible, but we will have to review that as per request.

Absolutely! The cycling cruises always start and finish on Saturdays, which leaves you with plenty of time to visit the city of Athens for a couple of days,or more. The majority of our guests decide to do so before their trip starts, which also allows them more time to settle in and synch into a slower pace. We would recommend at least three days and that you select your accommodation as close to the city’s center as possible. An indicative plan on how you could  spend your days in Athens is:

• Day 1: Arrival, settling at the hotel, walk around the center and grab some nice dinner
• Day 2: Visit the awe inspiring archeological site (this can take up the whole of your morning) and have an early dinner and a night walk around the city’s picturesque neighborhoods.
• Day 3: Walk towards Lycabettus, Athens' highest hill, visit some local museums, wander on  the spice market and explore the plethora of the alternative small shops and cafes. For the evening you may catch up movie at the city’s famous open air cinemas or have a taste of its nightlife.
• Day 4: You belong to us :-)

Do you want us to arrange or help you with a pre-tour package? Just let us know.