Crete: Mediterranean Dreams

This ride is a fixed-base or semi-fixed-base ride, please read the ride description for more details.

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Crete: Mediterranean Dreams

Ride Description:

Embark on an unforgettable cycling adventure on the captivating island of Crete, nestled in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and steeped in Greek history. Our base for this incredible journey is the charming city of Kissamos, situated near the northwest corner of Crete. Our home for the next 12 nights is the Nautilus Bay Hotel, a delightful beachfront accommodation that has earned Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor. This ride was first offered by Robert Deering in 2022.  Thank you, Rob, for letting us lead this ride.

Each day promises a blend of exploration and relaxation. Begin your mornings with a hearty buffet breakfast at the hotel, followed by the option of two rides each day catering to various difficulty levels – from leisurely beachside routes to challenging mountainous trails. Each night we'll indulge in a social/happy hour and on six evenings delightful dinners together, fostering camaraderie among fellow cyclists.

Our diverse destinations include ancient ruins at Polyrthenia and Falasarna, awe-inspiring monasteries at Moni Hrisoskalitissas and Moni Gonias, the historic port city of Chania, the mountainous village of Elos, and the picturesque coastal village of Sfinari.

The itinerary also features an optional boat trip to a Victorian Castle on an island and a remote scenic beach, as well as an optional hike to the stunning Samaria Gorge or Irini Gorge on a separate day (additional charges apply).

Ride Rating: The average ride rating is 2B, spanning distances of 35 to 50 miles a day with 1500 to 2500 feet of climbing. Riders have the flexibility to choose their preferred rides, each equipped with maps, cue sheets, and GPS tracks available on the "Ride with GPS" website.

Weather: Expect pleasant weather in April, with an average high of 68°F and a low of 52°F. The area generally experiences minimal rainfall, ensuring enjoyable riding conditions.

Lodging & Meals: The accommodation on this trip will be a very nice 3-star hotel. 10 Daily Happy Hours will include a glass of wine, beer, soft drink, juice or water with a small snack. Drinks at dinner are normally extra.  There will be 6 group dinners. We use Preferences in your Profile to try and accommodate your special medical and dietary needs.

Our accommodation at the hotel includes daily breakfast. The hotel offers a beachfront location, a swimming pool, secure bicycle parking, free WiFi, and other amenities for a comfortable stay.

Logistics: The adventure kicks off with an introduction meeting at 6:00 pm on April 28, 2025, at Nautilus Bay Hotel and concludes after breakfast on May 9, 2025. An optional shuttle to Chania Airport is available on the departure day at an extra cost. Participants are responsible for their transportation to Kissamos and must bring their bicycles or rent locally.  E-bikes and tandems are welcome and bike boxes will be stored locally at the hotel.

Health and Safety:  Participants must be vaccinated for Covid. Participants will be asked to provide verification. Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised, and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all participants. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

Cost & Administration: The trip fee is $2,200, covering 12 nights of lodging, meals, a day-long boat excursion, and the non-refundable BAC registration fee. Airfare, ground transportation to Kissamos, and bicycle rental are not included. A deposit of $1,200 per person is due at sign-up, with the remaining $1,000 due on February 1, 2025.  It is expected that the final payment will be adjusted (up or down) based on the exchange rate at the time.

Singles & Solos Policy: It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. Singles are accepted as long as they pay solo supplement if no roommate is found.  Solo supplement is $420 extra. Please contact the Ride Leader if you want to be solo, since extra rooms may be difficult to reserve in May, as it is getting into high season.  The Ride Leader will help with the single's search for a suitable roommate. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by February 1, 2025. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193. Zelle payment transfer using the following instructions: In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient with the email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org. Initiate a payment, o    In the message block, enter the name of the ride. Refunds are subject to the BAC cancellation policy.

Cancellation Policy: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible.

Sign Up: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time, you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1000 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description