Tour Summary
Our 6-days self guided motorcycle tour of the Peloponnese is a shorter version of the 8 days, complete tour of Peloponnese, suitable if you are two days short but still wish to see most of the region.
The itinerary is mostly the same. You will skip the southwest peninsula, and for this reason the route for a couple of days is altered.
But all the good elements are still here: winding roads, coastal routes and mountain ranges. You will visit most of the important cultural sites.
It is also possible to shorten this one even more, by removing the 5th day with the loop ride, and adjusting the previous day’s route slightly, thus making the entire tour last 5 days. Read the note at the end of the “itinerary” section, further below.
Start / Finish
Athens, Greece
Duration
6 riding days with options.
Riding hours
4-5 hours on the saddle daily.
Distance
1275 kilometers / 795 miles
Accommodation
Excellent boutique hotels of 4 or 5-star class, and a 3-star traditional hotel in Arcadia
Difficulty
“Moderate” level for most riders. There are a few tight and steep hairpins along the routes. Please read here about how our tours are graded!
Roads
100% paved. A large amount of this tour runs on narrow, single lane, secondary mountain routes.
ATTRACTIONS
The old town of Nafplion is one of the most picturesque of Greece. The historical center is for pedestrians only, full of little shops, elegant cafes and lots of things to see. The medieval castle of Palamidi stands imposing on the nearby hill.
The route will bring you to major cultural sites. 5 of them are indexed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites:
- the ancient Mycenae.
- the ancient Epidaurus.
- The byzantine site of Mystras (where the last emperor of Byzantium was crowned)
- the ancient temple of Apollo in Bassae
- the birth place of the Olympic games, the ancient Olympia.
The medieval fortified city of Monemvasia (some call it the “Gibraltar of the East”)
The subterranean river in the caves of Diros.
The Mani peninsula, with it’s secluded bays and the stone-built tower houses.
TYPE OF RIDING
You will be riding mostly on small, country roads.
Have a small taste in the pictures that follow:
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens – Nafplion (185 kilometers / 115 miles)
From Athens you will ride on a secondary coastal & mostly scenic route until the Canal of Corinth. The next stage will bring you on one of the most favorite routes of Greek bikers, until you reach Epidaurus.
In ancient Epidaurus visit the marvel of architecture that the ancient theater is.
Nafplion awaits for the evening. The first capital of the reborn Greek nation after the revolution war against the Ottoman empire, is a town full of charm. The castle of Palamidi, the old neighborhoods of the fishermen, the narrow, venetian style alleys and streets of the historic center are waiting to be discovered.
Day 2: Nafplion – Monemvasia (200 kilometers / 125 miles)
You start with a coastal ride, heading south, then you will ride through the deep forest routes of mountain Parnonas. Don’t be surprised if you don’t meet another car for hours!
You will then turn towards the southeast coast, until you reach the fortified medieval town of Monemvasia, right by the sea. As soon as you lay your eyes on the place, you will understand why many people have nicknamed it as the “Gibraltar of the east”!
Day 3: Monemvasia – Mani (170 kilometers / 106 miles)
The peninsula of Mani, an arid land, with a jugged coastline, full of stone-built tower houses, where clans were competing for independence for hundreds of years.
You will be riding close to the southern most point of mainland Greece, and 2nd southernmost point of the whole continental Europe.
According to Greek mythology, there lies an entrance to the underworld!
Just before reaching your destination for the day, you may want to take a boat ride in the subterranean river in the caves of Diros.
Day 4: Limeni – Dimitsana, 2 nights in Dimitsana (235 kilometers / 146 miles)
The mountain road over the Taigetos pass, one of the best biking roads in Greece, awaits you. After that, a stop by the historical site of Mystras (UNESCO World Heritage Site) may be appealing to you.
You will continue riding north, on a brief section on a fast flowing provincial route (former national road), and then you will enter the beautiful scenery of the Arcadia province.
Your destination for the day, the village of Dimitsana is one of the most historical of the entire region. Those of you interested in history, will visit the local museum and learn about this town’s role in the Greek independence war against the Ottoman empire in the 19th century.
Day 5: Dimitsana loop ride with options (205 or 240 kilometers / 128 or 150 miles)
Do you feel like visiting a couple of famous cultural sites or do you prefer to skip one of them and focus on riding ?
You have the chance of visiting the ancient sites of Olympia (the birth place of the Olympic Games) and of Bassae where the temple of Apollo is located. Both sites are indexed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites.
Day 6: Dimitsana – Athens (245 kilometers / 153 miles)
Back to Athens, via a superb mountain route. After reaching the canal of Corinth, you will continue your way on a secondary coastal road, skipping the motorway.
Option to make the tour shorter by one day:
This tour can be shortened to 5 days in total, by removing the 5th day with the loop ride.
And if you wish to visit one of the cultural sites that were initially included in the itinerary of that day, we will adjust the route leaving from Mani to Dimitsana accordingly! The visit to ancient Olympia for example will be added to the route of the 4th day.
Prices (in Euros)
2024 Prices
| (all prices in euros) | Single Rider, single room | Single rider, sharing twin room | Rider + Passenger *, double room |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R 1250 GS | 2,120 | 1,640 | 2,165 |
| HONDA NT 1100 | 1,930 | 1,550 | 2,080 |
| BMW F 750 GS | 1,805 | 1,425 | 1,950 |
| HONDA NC 750X | 1,615 | 1,235 | 1,765 |
| HONDA CB 500x | 1,520 | 1,140 | 1,670 |
2025 Prices
Offer :
Book your 2025 tour before Christmas of 2024, and get the 2024 pricing!
This offer will be valid for the first 10 bookings.
| (all prices in euros) | Single Rider, single room | Single rider, sharing twin room | Rider + Passenger *, double room |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R 1300 GS | 2,155 | 1,770 | 2,330 |
| BMW R 1250 GS | 2,075 | 1,695 | 2,225 |
| HONDA NT 1100 | 1,980 | 1,600 | 2,130 |
| BMW F 800 GS | 1,870 | 1,485 | 2,020 |
| HONDA NC 750X | 1,680 | 1,295 | 1,830 |
| HONDA CB 500X/ ΝΧ500 | 1,585 | 1,200 | 1,735 |
(* Rider and Passenger price is for both people, not per person.)
Booking deposit, per person : 300 euros
Remaining amount is paid in 2 parts:
- 50% : 60 days before arrival. If you are placing your booking initially at a date less than 60 days prior to the starting date, the 50% are required as a deposit.
- 50 % : during motorcycle pick up
Note: prices shown are based on quotes from hotels offered to us for group tours on fixed dates. Depending on the exact dates of your travel, prices may be slightly higher. For example (but not restricted to) :
- During the entire month of August
- the “long weekends” around national holidays/anniversaries : 25th March, 28th October, Ash Monday, Greek orthodox Easter, Labour Day (1st of May), Orthodox Holy Spirit Sunday & Monday
What is Included in the price you pay
– 5 nights accommodation with breakfasts, in personally selected hotels.
– Rental of Motorcycle, with side panniers, top case, comprehensive insurance with excess.
– 1 GPS per 4 riders, with all routes pre-loaded for every day, as well as all the major points of interest.
– Paper map with routes marked and a short handbook with key information for the trip.
– 2 helmets, of basic quality, European standards approved. Options available to upgrade to high quality helmets, for an added daily fee.
– Free luggage storage at our premises.
– All taxes
– accommodation in Athens, when you fly in and when you ride back to Athens (we can certainly arrange it if you wish)
– airport transfers (offered as an option)
– Fuel & tolls
– Food, drinks, personal daily expenses & tips
– Fines, tickets
– Entrance fees to local museums, tourist sites
– Ferries, parking
– Personal travel insurance
– Visas (if required)
Also, not included are the costs of any “added” days you may choose to have. Those costs will typically have to include the daily rental rate of the motorcycle plus the accommodation cost, which varies depending on where you choose to spend those added days.
Costs of Extra Options:
| Airport transfers. Prices are per 2-way transfer (to and from the airport), not per person. | |
|---|---|
| Up to 3 pax | 90 |
| 4 to 8 pax | 150 |
Dates
Best experienced during April, May, early June, the 2nd half of September and October.
July and August can get hot and crowded. The sea will be at its best though, if you decide to add non-riding days!
In November you are taking your chances with rain.
During winter, some mountain routes will demand increased awareness about the condition of the road (slippery, especially early in the morning).
Please read the Tour Terms & Conditions which include our Cancellation Policy.
Check the Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for further information!