Wheels of Rhodes

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 $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

                                                          Wheels of Rhodes

                                 A Cycling Odyssey Through Myth, Coast & Mountain

Uncover the soul of Rhodes on two wheels with “Wheels of Rhodes: A Cycling Odyssey Through Myth, Coast & Mountain.” This immersive 12-day tour blends exhilarating cycling with rich cultural discovery, guiding you from the cobbled alleys of medieval Rhodes Town to the sun-drenched tip of the island at Prasonisi, where two seas dramatically collide. Ride through forested hills, quiet olive groves, hidden mountain villages, and along stunning coastal routes dotted with ancient ruins and golden beaches. Enjoy two hand-picked base locations — one in the vibrant, history-soaked north and one in the serene, untouched south — with each offering its own rhythm and charm. Along the way, savor local cuisine, relax on a rest day, and embark on a breathtaking boat trip to Symi Island, one of the Aegean’s true jewels. This is not just a bike tour — it’s a mythic journey of contrasts, where every climb, coast, and cultural stop invites you deeper into the timeless spirit of Rhodes.

                                           Base 1: Northern Rhodes (6 nights)

Arrival day Sunday May 3, 2027  Our hotel for the 7 nights has not been selected yet.

Day 1 Monday, May 4, 2017– 1st day of the official ride - Filerimos Hill Warm-Up Ride Ease into your journey with a scenic warm-up to Filerimos Hill, where the acropolis of ancient Ialyssos sits amid forested trails and peacocks roam the paths. Take in sweeping views over the Aegean and visit the cross-topped ridge before gliding downhill back to Rhodes Town. In the evening, explore the cobbled alleys of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, lit up like a medieval movie set.

Day 2 Tuesday May 5, 2027 – Western Coastline & Ancient Kamiros 19 miles 1,459'  Spin westward through lush valleys and citrus groves, passing rural villages to reach the archaeological site of Ancient Kamiros, where streets, columns, and cisterns whisper stories of 5th-century BC life. Lunch by the sea in Kalavarda, then cruise home on quiet roads scented with wild herbs and pine. This is Rhodes in its most natural, untouched state.

Day 3 Wednesday May 6, 2027 – East Coast Ride to Tsambika Beach & Monastery 45 miles 1,538'  Hug the sparkling east coast, stopping at Afandou Beach, the leafy avenues of Kolymbia, and finally Tsambika Monastery, a mountaintop chapel with soul-stirring views. Descend to the golden sands of Tsambika Beach for a swim and seaside lunch. The ride back is sun- kissed and scenic — the perfect balance of effort and reward.

Day 4 Thursday May 7, 2027 – Mountain Loop: Salakos, Embonas & Wine Country 68 miles 3,159'  Climb into the green heart of Rhodes, through forests and hillside farms to Embonas, where vineyards cling to the slopes of Mount Attavyros. Sample local wines, explore Profitis Ilias’ mossy woodlands, and descend past Byzantine chapels and ancient springs. This is aroute for riders who love peace, climbs, and timeless landscapes.

Day 5 Friday May 8, 2027 – REST DAY: Discover Rhodes Town on Foot  Leave the bike behind and delve into Rhodes Old Town, a medieval maze of stone streets, fortress walls, and hidden courtyards. Visit the Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of the Knights, and sip a coffee in Sokratous Street’s cafés. Wander the marina, shop for local crafts, or simply relax at Elli Beach. You’ve earned it.

Day 6 Saturday May 9, 2027 – Day Trip to Symi Island (No Cycling)  All aboard for a boat trip to Symi, an island jewel just 90 minutes from Rhodes. As you sail into Symi Harbor, you'll be greeted by rows of pastel-colored neoclassical mansions tumbling down the hillsides. Explore the harbor town, hike to Kali Strata (the old town), or take a dip in the azure waters of Agios Nikolaos Beach (optional taxi boat). Try local shrimp and ouzo by the sea before sailing back at sunset. A magical day to remember.

                                             Base 2: Southern Rhodes (6 nights)

Quieter, more remote — perfect for long rides, pristine beaches, and starry skies.

Day 7 Sunday May 10, 2027 – Ride South via Lindos to Gennadi/Lardos/Kiotari 41 miles 2,080'  Pack your bags and head south on the most scenic stretch of the east coast. Stop in Lindos to climb to its majestic acropolis and admire the bay of St. Paul. Enjoy lunch on a rooftop terrace, then continue along the coast to your new base near Gennadi, Lardos, or Kiotari, where slower rhythms and endless sea views await.

Day 8 Monday May 11, 2027 – The Southern Tip: Prasonisi Peninsula 69 miles 3,431'  Head to Prasonisi, where two seas meet and the road ends in sand. It’s a windswept wonder of geography, beloved by windsurfers and photographers alike. Stop in Kattavia for atraditional lunch, then ride back with the breeze at your back. This is the end of the road — and one of the island’s most unforgettable spots.

Day 9 Tuesday May 12, 2027 – Hidden Villages & the Castle of Asklipio 35 miles 3,097'  Today’s loop dives into the lesser-known side of Rhodes, exploring stone villages, Byzantine chapels, and fortified ruins. Climb to the Castle of Asklipio, perched on a rocky bluff, and descend into tranquil lanes flanked by olive trees and grazing goats. Stop in Arnitha or Vati for a snack under the plane trees. It’s Rhodes unplugged and unfiltered.

Day 10 Wednesday May 13, 2027 – Leisure Ride to Monasteries & Secret Beaches 51 Miles 3,441'  Spin gently along back roads through Lachania and Lardos, with stops at peaceful gems like the Monastery of Panagia Ipseni. Later, descend to the coast for a long beachside lunch at Glystra or Kiotari, then nap or swim before rolling back. A low-effort, high-reward kind of day.

Day 11 Thursday May 14, 2027 – Bonus Ride or Free Day 21-30 miles  You choose: ride a shorter loop through Gennadi’s farms and low hills, spend time on the beach, or revisit a favorite taverna or viewpoint. It's your last full day, so you might just relaxand savor the vibe — maybe even book a sunset horseback ride or massage. You’ve conquered the island!

Day 12 Friday May 15, 2027 – Farewell & Departure

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Vaccinations for Covid are recommended, but not required. 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 leaders and communicated to all individuals. 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.

RIDE RATING: This ride is rated 3B! with an average daily mileage of 47 miles and average daily climbing of 2,670 feet on mandatory riding days.  There are 3 days with milage over 50 miles.  Please note the riding days vary greatly in difficulty and the average may not fully communicate the challenge. Riders are expected to be comfortable riding on a multitude of surfaces (including cobblestone, compact dirt, and bike paths) and gradients along with riding in city traffic.  

CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES: The ride leader will provide RWGPS routes prior to the start of the tour.  Participants will receive an email containing a link to the EVENT, which will include all routes for the tour.  Participants will need to have downloaded (at the minimum) the free version of the RWGPS app to receive voice turn by turn directions.  Participants wanting cue sheets will need to print their own from the files provided.  The routes in RWGPS are easily loaded to GPS devices.

WEATHER: Riders should plan on warmer weather with morning lows of 61F to afternoon highs of 79F. Average rainfall for May is between 6/10" of an inch to 1".

LODGING & MEALS: Lodging will be in everything from family-owned hotels to 3 or 4-star hotels. All breakfasts and ten dinners are included in the cost of the tour. Happy hours will be at the hotel's bar, which will include a glass of house wine or a local beer before each night’s dinner.

LOGISTICS: Fly into Rhodes airport "Diagoras (RHO). Arrival day is Saturday May 3, 2027. The name of the hotel will be provided in later 2026.  We will meet at the hotel’s bar at 5:30pm for happy hour and our first meeting.  We will be transported back to the Diagoras airport the morning of May 15, 2027.

ETIAS is to start the last quarter of 2026.  This will require Americans and Canadians to obtain their ETIAS visa, which last 3 years.  Riders will need to read and acknowledge the ETIAS requiremnts.

VAN SUPPORT: The luggage van will transport the luggage and any bike boxes going to Rhodes. Participants are expected to ride the entire route and will be transported only in the case of injury or illness. 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 assist or direct you to the nearest town with a bike shop.  

LUGGAGE LIMITATIONS:  We request that each rider limit their luggage to one medium sized suitcase/duffel (25lb. max) and a small backpack.  You will primarily be responsible for moving your own luggage to/from the luggage van, but others may also have to move your luggage from time to time, so please be considerate.  If you cannot fit your belongings in one medium suitcase under (25 lb. max), considering using a medium suit case and a duffel or carry-on size bags.

BICYCLES: We recommend your bicycle has tires that are 28mm or larger in size.  You will be riding on all types of surfaces – everything from nice smooth paved bike paths to cobblestone, compact dirt paths, and farm roads, to busy city streets with varying gradiants. Tandems and e-bikes are welcome. However, E-bike riders should be experienced riders prior to riding their e-bikes along with knowing the "rules of the road"!   We recommend rental bikes be arranged as soon as possible so you rent the bike type they are looking for (E-bikes, gravel bikes, etc.). For rental bikes contact Steven Frost the owner of Greek Cycle Holidays (steven@greekcycleholidays.com).  Rental bikes are €350 and E-Bikes are €540.  The ride leader DOES NOT get involved with bike rentals!

COST & ADMINISTRATION: The cost estimate is $4,910.  The tour operator's charge is €3,300 or $4,290.  based on the exchange rate of one Euro = $1.30. The cost includes 12 nights lodging, all breakfasts, 10 dinners, happy hour drinks, and RWGPS daily route maps with full RWGPS voice navigation features for downloading to your GPS devices or phones. The initial deposit of $2,000 does not include the BAC registration fee of $150 and both will be due upon acceptance to the ride. After being approved on the ride, solo supplements are due with the 3rd payment.  See below.  The second payment of $2,000 is due November 18, 2026 and the final payment of $910 is due January 13, 2027. Riders will be informed prior to the final payment if there are any adjustments.  If 15 riders join the ride, the ride cost decreases by €100 per rider.  The ride cost does not include transportation to the first night's hotel, and other types of entertainment – museums, trams or gondola rides.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY:  We recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until March 1, 2027 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee or pay the $1,700 solo supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.  We will accept solo supplement riders. Solo supplement payments are due with the 3rd payment.  Payments need to be sent to the BAC office by check or Zelle.  Make checks payable to “BAC” and mail to Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193. Send Zelle payments to treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org. Indicate the ride name when using either method.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled because the number of participants is less than the minimum established for the tour. 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 solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  In addition to the BAC cancellation policy, if a participant cannot be replaced, the commercial operator (Greek Cycle Holidays) has the following cancellation policy based on the tour start date. Cancellations must be made by email to the ride leader and steven@greekcycleholidays.com 

·       90-to-76-day notification has a 10% penalty.

·       75-to-59-day notification has a 30% penalty.

·       58-to-45-day notification has a 40% penalty.

·       44-to-15-day motivation has a 80% penalty.

·       15 days or less notification has a 100% penalty.

BAC encourages members to purchase travel insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT POLICY: 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 tour 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 the ride leaders. While on the tour, support your ride leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere the tour by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the tour. Please keep the ride leader(s) informed of any special request you may have and respect the ride leader’s decisions.

Commercial Operator Insurance: Greek Cycle Holidays carries 300K of general liability insurance.  The insurance policy for the tour is attached under Ride Leader Docs.  Additional information can be obtained by contacting the ride coordinator.

INSURANCE STATEMENT: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

SIGN-UP: To register for this tour, use the sign-up link displayed just above this 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 website to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the non-refundable $150 BAC ride registration fee and tour deposit by credit card. 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 leader(s) by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.