Greece’s Peloponnese Luxury Walk, Bike & Kayak (from The Mountains To The Sea) 6D5N, Fully Guided

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 26 km (16 miles), 1-2 hours biking, Elevation gain: 244 m (800 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 39 km (24 miles), 2-3 hours biking, Elevation gain: 366 m (1,200 ft)

On the first day of the trip, meet your tour leaders at 9 a.m. at the main entrance of the InterContinental Athenaeum Athens Hotel, located at Syngrou Avenue 89-93 in Athens, Greece. Please ensure you arrive dressed in your cycling clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack containing your passport and other valuables, rain gear, a comfortable change of clothes, and anything else you may want for the day's hike (your luggage will be transported directly to your room).

Hello, Greece! Following our meeting in the lively Athens, we set out for the Peloponnese Peninsula, Greece's southernmost frond of land and the setting of our entire adventure. On arrival at a small taverna and working farm, whet your appetite as you go on a tour through the production of local liquid gold olive oil with local friends. Indulge in a taste test before savouring a lunch of homemade Greek specialties.

After lunch, your tour leaders fit you onto your bike and enlighten you briefly on biking techniques and safety. Then, we embark on our inaugural ride through the craggy Peloponnese terrain bejeweled with terraced olive and citrus groves. Our path takes us through an old steam train line, following the foothills of Artemisio mountain before eventually descending to the coast. Here, we bike past white beaches and the blue water of the Aegean en route to our hotel.

Upon arrival in Nafplion, we enjoy the magnificent welcome of Nafplia Palace Hotels and Villas, our aptly named home for the night. Its ambiance gives off that of the home of a ruler of antiquity, complete with chic stone terraces, private plunge pools, and swoon-worthy views of the fortified old city in which the hotel is nestled. You can get a massage at the luxurious spa (spa treatments at own expense).

Later, we convene for a welcome drink and toast the week ahead with awe-inspiring sunset views. Then we sit in the hotel's dining room for a luxury dinner prepared using fresh homemade products and oozing the flair of the talented chefs.

Level 1, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), 1-2 hours walking, Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)

This morning, relish breakfast with a view of Homer's "wine-dark sea," which is the star of the show today. Your tour leaders enlighten you briefly on trail etiquette and safety before we head to hike on a pleasant footpath that follows the shore south of Nafplio. Deep blue waters lap at craggy limestone cliffs, crowned by cypresses and fragrant umbrella pines, an imposing sight that remains the same antiquity.

At a panoramic beach, find our sturdy sea kayaks, with professional kayak guides waiting to fit you to your life jacket. These guides give a short orientation on paddling techniques and safety. After that, push off into the gentle waves for a morning of exploring the sparkling marine world and the historic fortifications of Nafplio's seaside old town. Eventually, we put ashore in a secret cove where it might be irresistible to take a dip, followed by an alfresco lunch.

Refuelled and dried off, join the afternoon shuttle that takes you deeper into the peninsula to our next spectacular getaway hotel. Euphoria Retreat is an idyllic enclave tucked into the pines of the Peloponnesian mountains. From the majestic gardens and terraces to the elegant spa, Euphoria Retreat offers plenty to explore for the rest of the afternoon—and plenty of curated comforts if you'd rather stay back for a snooze or some R&R.

Tonight, we meet in the hotel dining room for Euphoria's health and eco-conscious take on the specialties of Laconia, the region we're now in. Ancient Athenian stereotypes about the locals gave us the word "laconic," but words may not be apt enough to describe tonight's lovely hospitality. Kali orexi (bon appetit)!

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 244 m (800 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 366 m (1,200 ft)

Begin your walk from Euphoria Retreat this morning to traverse the steep slopes of Mystras, the hill town to which our resort clutches like a vine to a fence. A local guide joins us and reveals concealed details and fascinating historical insights. Mystras is a UNESCO-designated Castle Town whose walls and fortress are from the Byzantine era. During this stupefying period, a classical empire coexisted with mediaeval versions of many of the European states we know today. The history is captivating, but the views are just as spellbinding from the hill town's towering natural crown.

The trail delivers us to a country taverna in the shade of the Lgadiotissa Gorge. Here, devour delectable dishes (including signature roast meats) while the sound of woodland waterfalls prattle in the background. Then, head out through the gorge, navigating striking limestone walls streaming with greenery. Pause to admire a cave chapel carved into the cliff before looping back to the shuttle or hiking all the way to Mystras.

The afternoon provides us with a renewed opportunity to hit the Euphoria Retreat spa, which has won several awards and is highly recommended. Even if you don't want a massage or similar treatment, you can relish a therapeutic experience plunging into the surreal Waterwell. There, you can recline on the warm marble of the Byzantine hammam and float in the rejuvenating dimness of the indoor Sphere Pool, whose arched vaults were inspired by both the Hagia Sophia and the womb.

Dinner tonight is spectacular at a bistro in town. Enjoy fresh, upscale Greek food on a terrace belvedere strung with fairy lights. Exchange stories about the day's adventures and witness the twilight descend on the valleys of Laconia.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 31 km (19 miles), Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 61 km (38 miles), Elevation gain: 305 m (1,000 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 79 km (49 miles), Elevation gain: 853 m (2,800 ft)

This morning, say goodbye to Euphoria Retreat and join the shuttle to a nearby village, today's kickoff point. The route starts with a long, winding descent from the towering mountains of Laconia. Coast through orange and olive groves before pausing for coffee in the village square of Mirtia, in the shadow of the Byzantine church.

On reaching the Aegean, savour a seaside lunch before cycling along the coast, passing a sophisticated shoreline of inlets, coves, and beaches. After passing the delightful Elea fishing village, you can decide whether to join the shuttle or cycle all the way to our windy coastal getaway, Kinsterna Hotel, a luxury five-star hotel combining historic architecture and contemporary interior design. This accommodation is a restored Byzantine mansion nestled in orchards and gardens that offer expansive sea views.

Tonight, we set off to the coast and the nearby island city of Monemvasia. This ancient fortress-like town, famed as the region's beating heart, is the perfect destination to explore for dinner on your own.

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 32 km (20 miles), Elevation gain: 457 m (1,500 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 43 km (27 miles), Elevation gain: 579 m (1,900 ft)

Today's excursion is to the gem of the Southern Peloponnese, the Greek island paradise of Elafonisos—the best we saved for last. From Kinsterna Hotel, set out on the smooth coastal road, a biker's paradise, taking you through remote beaches, fields of wild cane, and hedgerows of parasol pines. We move south toward the tip of one of the Peloponnese's narrow fingers; later this morning, our route takes us up and over the interior ridge of this isthmus, followed by a reveling descent to where you board the ferry for the short ride to Elafonisos island (roll your bike aboard!)

Your destination is the gorgeous white beach of Simos, where you have a delectable seaside lunch of freshly caught fish waiting. Dig your toes into the sand, take in the breathtaking view, or swim in the ravishingly crystal-blue water. Then, you get to choose to finish out the afternoon by biking a leisurely loop encircling the island, perhaps with a stop in the cute central town for one of the coffeeshop's famous cold Freddo espressos. Or say goodbye to your bikes here and savour the beach on island time before it's time to join the shuttle back to the hotel.

In the evening, we come together in Kinsterna's gardens for a casual and chatty farewell activity: an olive tasting where we get to compare several types of Greece's favourite salty harvest. As the golden hour bathes the sea cliffs in light, toast to our week in the heart of Greece before we sit down together for a modern Greek meal prepared with fresh ingredients from the hotel's garden and neighbouring farms.

Level 1, Approx. 2 km (1 mile), 1-2 hours walking, Elevation gain: 61 m (200 ft)

If you want to stretch your legs with one last outdoor adventure before you ride to Athens, get up early with your tour leaders and hike to a nearby chapel, where you can view the sunrise's colors paint the sky and sea. Head back in time to savour Kinsterna Hotel's delightful breakfast spread. You can also choose to take it easy this morning before joining the shuttle back to Peloponnese. We break up the trip by stopping at a winery in the Nemea winemaking region. Here, a delectable lunch is paired with vintages produced from native grapes.

After the tasty lunch, the shuttle continues to Athens, where our trip ends.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.