Central & Northwest Greece Guided Motorcycle Tour

TYPE OF RIDING

You will be riding mostly on small, secondary mountain roads, where traffic is often absent. We have included the most scenic routes, with the most amazing vistas, those that are considered by the local riders’ communities as truly the best of Greece in terms of scenery and landscape.

But a lot of sections of the tour run through continuous narrow winding roads, with little room to spare. You will ride as much as 100 kilometers of such roads in one single take! Successive ascending or descending switchbacks/ hairpins are often present, and many of them are very steep and tight.

There are occasional rough sections, with potholes or scattered stones dropped from cliffs on the surface, especially at the most remote mountainous roads that you will ride. Also, on those remote roads, due to extreme weather conditions that might have preceded during the winter period, there will be damaged sections that are in a state of repair. This means we might encounter short stretches (i.e. 50-100 meters long each) with dirt or gravel – but that’s part of what makes this route feel like an adventure, not just a ride.

If you do this tour in early May, the highest mountain pass will require caution: snow has not melted yet, and the width of the road at that particular pass might be just enough for one bike!

The following images were all taken along the routes of this tour (during Autumn), so they should give you a pretty good idea of what you should expect.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

This tour blends natural wonders, ancient history, and authentic Greek culture — all stitched together by roads that will stay in your memory long after the ride ends.

Along the way, you’ll explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• Ancient Delphi – the legendary navel of the world
• The Monasteries of Meteora – built impossibly atop vertical pillars of rock

And much more:

• Zagori & Tzoumerka – remote mountain regions dotted with traditional stone villages and legendary arched bridges
• Vikos Gorge – one of the world’s deepest canyons, with jaw-dropping viewpoints
• Voidomatis River – known as the clearest river in Europe, with colors you won’t believe are real
• Lefkada Island – connected to the mainland, offering turquoise beaches and Ionian breezes
• Nafpaktos – a coastal town with a perfectly preserved medieval castle

A land of stone villages, sacred monasteries, and otherworldly views

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Athens.

We will arrange your pick up from the airport and take you to your hotel. Late in the evening the group will have a welcome dinner and we will also do some briefing and discuss the tour.

Day 2: Athens – Delphi (route options, 165 – 170 kilometers / ca. 105 miles)

You leave busy Athens and soon you will find yourself riding on secondary roads. The first day is relatively easy going but we do give you optional routes if you want to make it more interesting and spend more hours exploring the country side.

You will arrive in late afternoon to Delphi with plenty of time left to visit the historic sites of this place.

Day 3: Delphi – Meteora (route options, 290 – 330 kilometers / 180 – 206 miles)

Today is a long day and the routes offer a variety: from an alpine pass, to small country roads, you ride through central Greece. As you will be approaching the town of Kalambaka, the “gateway” to Meteora, you will be stunned by the dominant view of the massive detached stone pinnacles, 400 meters above the ground. We ascend to the top to gaze upon the vistas. The Meteora is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are feeling religious or just want to indulge to Byzantine history, pay a visit to one (or more) of the monasteries that are perched on the summits

Day 4: Meteora – Zagoria, 3 nights in Zagoria ( 160 – 170 kilometers /  ca. 100 miles)

Today you enter the NW territories of Greece. You will cross a part of the eastern Zagoria, where once again the landscape is alpine. But soon you will find yourself riding along endless curves and corners, at this mountainous area. Then, the first villages of the west Zagoria appear in front of you. You reach your stone-built boutique hotel, at a tranquil site. Time for “meze” and “tsipouro” (local spirit)!

Day 5: Zagoria loop (185 kilometers / 115 miles)

Most people who do this loop get blown away by the beauty of the area. Most people say that they would have never thought Greece has such landscapes! It’s hard to put it in to words, but we guarantee you will enjoy the ride! The numerous villages that are along the route offer you many options for road-side stops, and the architecture of the houses, gives a unique character to them.

The wonder of nature, gorge of Vikos, will amaze you!

Day 6: rest day in Zagoria, with option to ride 

This day is offered for relaxation away from crowds, but should you prefer to ride, we do provide you with a scenic route, a loop that will bring you near the Greek-Albanian border.

You should also consider visiting the town of Ioannina, spend the day strolling around the old historic center, enclosed behind the fortifications of previous centuries! There are many interesting things to do and see in Ioannina, and your stay there won’t disappoint ! Our handbook will reveal most of them to you!