Ride Coordinator Comments

If you are looking for back to back rides, there is going to be a Croatia ride after this ride.

Ride Description

                                   RIDE WITH THE GODS- A GREEK ODYSSEY 

 

Come ride your bicycle through the terrain forged by Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of the Olympian gods. See the lands and sights that Hercules roamed in ancient times and relive his adventures on two wheels as you explore beauty that can only be found in Greece. Highlights of the tour include: descending down out of the clouds of Mount Olympus, feasting on mushrooms you gathered, drinking wines fit for royalty, visiting the Meteora Monastery and the turquoise beaches on the island of Lefkada, and be ready to observe the grecian brown bears, the largest terrestrial mammal in Europe. We will experience the food, culture, and history that which only Greece can provide.

 RIDE RATING: The trip is rated a 3B! with an average of 44 miles/day and 3,092’ feet of climbing (day 8 wasn’t included) in the calculations.  However, the rides range from 1B to 4b. The longest day #5 is 57 miles.  Days 10, 11, & 15 have 4,675’, 4,042’, & 4,465’ of climbing respectively. 

 Arrival Day – Saturday May 16, 2026

The commercial ride starts on May 17th, 2026.  However, Lodging for the first night's hotel (Holiday Inn Athens Airport) is included in the ride.  

Day 1 – 17th May: Welcome to Greece!

No Cycling

Your adventure begins! Riders will be picked up at the Holiday Inn Athens airport and whisked away on a scenic 1.5-hour transfer to the charming town of Livadia, the starting point of this unforgettable journey to meet the GCH tean.  We will have our pre – tour briefing, as well as the opportunity to set up and check the bikes and equipment before dinner. 🍽 Meals Included: Dinner

 Day 2 – 18th May: Conquer the Slopes to Galaxidi

Distance: 77 km | Elevation Gain: 1132 m Kick off the tour with a thrilling ride through the ski resort of Arachova, nestled at the base of Mount Parnassos. Experience the magic of the ancient world with a guided tour of the renowned archaeological site of Delphi, before descending to the picturesque coastal village of Galaxidi.🎟 Activities: Guided tour of Delphi 🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 – 19th May: Coastal Escape to Nafpaktos

Distance: 68 km | Elevation Gain: 709 m  Today, cycle along Greece’s stunning coastline to Nafpaktos, a historic town with Athenian naval roots and a captivating harbor. This is Greece at its most picturesque!🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

 Day 4 – 20th May: From Lagoons to Legends

Distance: 92 km | Elevation Gain: 573 m  Cycle westward on a mostly flat route to the seaside village of Astakos. Midway, pause at Messolonghi, famed for its lagoons and its unique delicacy, Avgotaraho (dried fish roe).🎟 Activities: Visit the Garden of Heroes in Messolonghi🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Day 5 – 21st May: Island Bliss in Lefkada

Distance: 76 km | Elevation Gain: 989 m  Ride to the dazzling island of Lefkada, connected to the mainland by a bridge. Known for its turquoise waters and breathtaking beaches, Lefkada will steal your heart. 🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

 Day 6 – 22nd May: Coastal Gems and Ancient Myths

Distance: 81 km | Elevation Gain: 792 m  A short transfer sets the stage for a coastal ride to Parga, the Riviera of Epirus. En route, explore Necromanteio, an ancient temple devoted to Hades and Persephone.🎟 Activities: Guided tour of Necromanteio 🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Day 7 – 23rd May: Tropical Beauty in Syvota

Distance: 27 km | Elevation Gain: 551 m  An easy ride takes you to Syvota, Greece’s tropical paradise. With time to relax, enjoy its sheltered beaches and crystal-clear waters before tomorrow’s mountainous adventure.🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 – 24th May: Explore Ioannina

No Cycling  Take a scenic bus transfer to Ioannina, a city rich in culture and history, nestled on the shores of Lake Pamvotis.🎟 Activities: Optional boat trip to the island on Lake Pamvotis  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast

 Day 9 – 25th May: Ascend the Pindus Mountains

Distance: 54 km | Elevation Gain: 1425 m  Tackle the rugged beauty of the Pindus Mountains on your way to Metsovo, a mountain town famous for its cheese-making traditions.  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Day 10 – 26th May: Mystical Meteora Awaits

Distance: 72 km | Elevation Gain: 1232 m  Ride through rolling hills to Kalabaka, home of Meteora’s stunning cliffside monasteries.  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

 Day 11 – 27th May: A Day Among the Monasteries

No Cycling  Explore the UNESCO World Heritage monasteries of Meteora on a guided tour. This otherworldly landscape is a true marvel.  🎟 Activities: Guided tour of the Meteora Monasteries  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

 Day 12 – 28th May: Discover Grevena

Distance: 64 km | Elevation Gain: 1032 m  Cycle through serene landscapes to Grevena, a town surrounded by lush forests and streams.  Enjoy mushroom foraging and a delightful picnic en route.  🎟 Activities: Mushroom foraging and picnic  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 – 29th May: Lakeside Beauty in Kastoria

Distance: 76 km | Elevation Gain: 878 m  Arrive in Kastoria, a charming lakeside town steeped in history, set against the shimmering Lake Orestiada.  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

 Day 14 – 30th May: Climb to Nymfaio

Distance: 62 km | Elevation Gain: 1361 m  End the day in Nymfaio, a jewel perched high in the mountains. Visit its renowned bear sanctuary and take in the awe-inspiring views. 🎟 Activities: Visit the bear sanctuary 🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Day 15 – 31st May: Celebrate in Edessa

Distance: 69 km | Elevation Gain: 247 m  Cycle to the final destination, Edessa, famed for its waterfalls. Stop for wine tasting at the celebrated Ktima Alfa winery along the way.  🎟 Activities: Visit to bear sanctuary and wine tasting 🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 Day 16 – 1st June: Farewell

No Cycling - Depart from Thessaloniki Airport with memories to last a lifetime.  🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast

ROUTING EXPECTATIONS:  Due to the complexity of riding in foreign countries, all participants should have Ride with GPS, know how to download the routes to use their smart phones and/or Garmins.   The participants should have better than average map reading and directional skills.  Also, riders are expected to be comfortable riding on a multitude of surfaces (including cobblestones and compact dirt on bike paths) and riding in some city traffic 

 WEATHER: Riders should plan on cool to cold mornings and evening temperatures turning warm mid-day along with possible days of rain.  Average temperature for May is of 50F to highs of 85F.

SAG SUPPORT:  The commercial support vehicle is not a SAG vehicle.  Riders are expected to ride on all ride days.  Riders must carry basic bike repair equipment such as spare tubes, tube repair kit, and pump.  All riders should be able to handle their own bike repairs, at a minimum how to change a tire.  If you have a major equipment failure, we will try to get you to the nearest bike shop.  Only two carry on size luggage (see your airline carry-on measurements) - (25 lbs maximum).  

BICYCLES:  Your bicycle should have tires 28mm or larger.  Bike boxes will be transported to Thessaloniki.  E-bikes and tandems are welcome.  Greek Cycle Holiday (GCH) has bike rentals for €370, and E-bikes for €580.

LODGING, MEALS & HAPPY HOUR : The 16 nights lodging will be everything from 3 and 4-star hotels or a private villa. 15 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 13 group dinners are included in the cost of the tour.  “Dinners will include wine, beer and soft drinks.  There will be a daily route review where drinks can be purchased.  On nights when dinner is not provided, a drink will be provided during the route review.

LOGISTICS: Fly into Athens (ATH).  Arrival day is Saturday May 16, 2026, which will require you to leave the USA on Friday May 15, 2026.  You will have a room reservation at the Holiday Inn Athens’ airport the night of May 16, 2026.  There is hotel transportation from the airport.  On Sunday May 17th, your adventure begins!  We’ll whisk you away on a scenic 1.5-hour transfer to the charming town of Livadia, the starting point of this unforgettable journey.  We will have our pre – tour briefing, as well as the opportunity to set up and check the bikes and equipment before dinner.  The last day of the ride, June 1, 2026, you will be transferred to the Thessaloniki airport (SKG) or the Holiday Inn at the Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) by bus.  Depending on your flight departure times, you may want to book a room for the night of June 1, 2026 at either the Holiday Inn in Thessalonki or at the Holiday Inn Athens airport, which allows you to depart on June 2, 2026.

HEALTH & SAFETY: Vaccinations for Covid are highly recommended, but not required.  Participants will be invited to a Zoom meeting about 3-4 weeks prior to the tour start date to discuss health and safety rules. Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. In short, if you are ill on the tour, be it a cold or test positive for COVID but you can ride your bike, then you can stay on the tour with precautions in place. In this case, protocols for isolation, masking, and social distancing are required. If you test positive and cannot ride your bike, then you must isolate in place. That may mean departing the tour or arranging your own transport to subsequent hotels along with accepting additional hotel room costs on the tour. Protocols for isolation will be required. We will all need to be flexible as safety comes first. (NOTE-this text may change if the CDC changes their COVID recommendations. But so far it hasn't happened yet so I'm leaving this as is.)

COST & ADMINISTRATION: The cost is $4,800.  Included in the price are 16 nights lodging, all breakfasts, 7 light lunches, 13 group dinner, Ride with GPS routes.  The estimated cost is based on an exchange rate of 1 Euro = $1.16. The initial deposit of $1,800 does not include the BAC registration fee of $100 and both will be due upon acceptance to the ride.  The second payment of $1800 is due on January 15, 2026.  The 3rd payment of $1,200 is due March 15, 2026.  However, the third payment might be adjusted up or down due to finalized hotel expenses.

SINGLES & SOLOS:  Single and solo riders will be accepted. While we encourage singles to try to find their own roommate, we will assist singles who are looking for a roommate. If a roommate cannot be found by February 15, 2026, participants can cancel without penalty (except the BAC registration fee and credit card fees or singles can pay the solo supplement of $1,376 directly to BAC. 

The solo supplement payment can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle:

• In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org
• Initiate a payment
• In the Message block, enter the name of your ride.
• Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

 CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled 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 canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling 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 canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo 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.

INSURANCE: 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 your 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. (e.g., annual influenza, tetanus, etc.). Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. If traveling outside your home country you may wish to consult with a travel physician or nurse to ensure that the appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  Personal travel insurance is recommended and it runs ~$600 for a year.

SIGN-UP: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($100) and tour deposit ($1,800) by credit card or other methods acceptable by BAC. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description or call Warner at 775-843-3960.