This summer, he was a guest blogger and bicycle travel expert. Rik de Voogd Traveling through Europe. To us it seemed as if he had been on a cycling vacation for months. ‘Rik op Reis’ has his last stop in Greece, where he is joined by the men of Pedal Greece The region has been discovered. We were already excited after seeing the photos; below is the report of stage 1 and stage 2. Enjoy! If you want to know more about Rik’s adventures this summer, check out his other blogs, for example about Bayern or over Tuscany.
Text: Rik de Voogd – Photos: Maarten Zuur/Acidfilms
Stage 1: Nafplio – Leonidio
The first bike ride in Greece is already something special. The ride from Nafplio to Leonidio covers a total of 83 kilometers and 900 meters of elevation gain. From Athens, we drive by car to the starting point. From there, I continue on the bike with Agi. Friend of the show and travel companion Maarten He continues driving the car, while occasionally getting out to take (stunning) photos. The cycling routes in Greece are challenging but of high quality, as you will read later on.
It was cloudy, but the temperatures were still high. 25 degrees was perfect for acclimatizing a bit. We followed the coastline and headed south. It was a relatively easy route to get a good impression of this region, the so-called Peloponnese. This peninsula forms the southern tip of Greece.
I really have no idea what to expect from cycling in Greece. After all, it’s not the most popular destination for a cycling holiday. The first impression is really very good. The stretch along the coast is stunning and offers incredible views. It also makes it easy for us to enjoy it because there’s almost no traffic. If there is even a car nearby, it drives around in a big circle and is very patient. Very nice! Moreover, the road is of very high quality. The pavement almost seems as if it’s been freshly laid. Super conditions for a nice bike ride. I had absolutely no expectations of this. I’ve been to quite a few places, but I’ve just never seen anything like this. As a first day and as a way to get to know the region, it couldn’t have been better
Overnight stay in Leonidio
We spend the night in a fancy boutique hotel in the center of Leonidio. This small town is just a few kilometers from the coast, but at the mouth of a river it is surrounded by a beautiful landscape. The landscape also offers a stunning view of the town. After a night’s sleep, we are extremely spoiled with a (extensive) traditional Greek breakfast. The experience gets an extra boost because we are sitting on the rooftop terrace. We take in the landscape, the sun, and the blue sky. We are ready for day 2.
Stage 2: On to Sparta
Today we have 85 kilometers ahead of us. Combined with 1500 vertical meters, this is no easy task. But I’m in the mood for it. The day starts and ends well already. I can’t help but say that this trip exceeds every expectation. From the hotel, we head straight into the mountains. Leonidio is at sea level and we climb straight up to 1200 meters altitude. On top of the mountain, we drive into the traditional mountain village of Kosmas. There we stop for an espresso and we enjoy all kinds of variations of the traditional but honey-sweet Greek Baklava. For those who don’t know: it’s fantastic. Delicious traditional snacks with layers of phyllo dough dipped in honey.
Be local, buy local
Both Maarten and I have started making some local honey. We wanted to bring it all home with us. We put everything in the bag and then roll down towards Sparta, where we will once again check in at a beautiful hotel. This time we will stay for two nights.
It's another wonderful day. Sloping roads that don't seem to have any end in sight. Fantastic ascents with hairpin turns, stunning views and pure solitude in the truest sense of the word. I've also never seen so little traffic. Nowhere in Europe is it as quiet as here. Add to that the clear blue skies, an overdose of Vitamin D and 30 degrees outside temperature. The rest of the world is getting ready for autumn in September, but in this region it's still summer in full swing. What a delight!
ROUTES GREECE – RIK DE VOOGD
Below you will find all the routes of the adventure in Greece. All the cycling routes from start to finish. Do you have any tips and tricks about this region yourself? Let us know in the comments. Via our Komoot page you can find even more beautiful cycling routes in Greece, Europe and the rest of the world.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.