The Ionian Islands from and to Corfu
Distance: 30 km average per day Altitude meters: 300 - 700 altitude meters per day
By Bike & Boat we discover the famous island of Ithaca, said to have been the home of Odysseus, the unforgettable green bird sanctuary island of Lefkas, and explore the fantastic mountain world of Cephalonia and the beautiful olive groves that cover the small island of Paxos. Enjoy your week in absolute comfort on board the wooden motor yacht and let yourself be spoilt by the excellent Greek hospitality and cuisine!
Off the west coast of Greece on the Ionian Islands, Greece shows her greenest side. Untouched nature, the clear blue, shimmering Ionian Sea, and centuries of Venetian influence dominate the the Ionian Islands archipelago. This tour starts on Corfu, the dream island of the unforgettable Austrian empress Sissi, and leads to spectacular regions little known outside of Greece.
Check in on the Panagiota is possible from 2 pm onwards. Dinner on board and overnight stay on Corfu.
Cast off! In the morning we cross over to Sivota on the Greek mainland, where we head off on our first cycling tour. Our first cycle leads us to Parga, a coastal town beautifully situated below a Venetian fortress that towers over the old town. Here the boat awaits us for a longer sail to Nidri on Lefkas Island. On our way we pass a floating swing-bridge which connects Lefkas with the Greek mainland. We spend the night in the lively harbour of Nidri.
After breakfast we start with a short tour to a waterfall near Nidri. With a bit of luck, the water will be deep enough for us to enjoy a refreshing swim. Afterwards we continue along quiet roads over the hills to the picturesque harbour town of Sivota. Here we board the boat and cruise to Fiskardo on the island of Cephalonia. Situated on the northern tip of the island, the harbour town enchants with its colourful houses and many cafes and bars that line the lively waterfront promenade.
We leave Fiskardo by bike and climb an impressive mountain road on the west coast of Kefalonia. Along the way we are rewarded with awe inspiring views over the Assos peninsula and the famous Myrtos beach. After the climb we turn inland and cross the island. Shortly before the end of the bike tour we hop onto a small rowboat to visit the Melissani stalactite cave. Here we have plenty of time marvel at the incredible blue tones created by the unique cave formations, the sun, and water. In Sami, the boat welcomes us back on board and sets off for Vathy on Ithaka.
In the morning, we head out on a bike tour. This hilly island with its spectacular scenery is said to have been home of the mythical king Odysseus. We start today’s tour in Vathy, and during the ride we get to enjoy the special character of the Ionian Islands off beaten tourist track: gnarled olive trees, crystal clear water and friendly islanders – time appears to stand still on Ithaca. You can decide yourself whether you are up for the challenge of a real hill climb or if you would prefer to enjoy the leisurely alternative: a panoramic ride that climbs only to half the height. The Panagiota awaits our arrival in Frikes before setting off to the small island of Meganisi.
In the morning we explore the tiny island of Meganisi by bike. The panoramic tour leads along secluded roads and the island’s three villages. These small hamlet gives us a good impression of traditional Greek island life. At Spartochori beach there is time to enjoy a coffee, and a swim in the sea. In the afternoon, we sail to Paxos Island, whose unique natural harbour in Gaios exudes a special island atmosphere. We can spend the evening in one of Gaios’ cosy taverns.
Paxos, the smallest of the seven Ionian Islands, is so densely covered in olive trees the whole island seems to glisten a wonderful silver green colour. Our morning tour leads us around the whole island. There is plenty of time to enjoy a swim in the sea at one of the many beaches. In the afternoon, the Panagiota takes us to Corfu. The last evening on board concludes with a communal dinner and last get-together in a cosy atmosphere with crew, fellow travellers, and tour guides.
After breakfast check-out and individual return home or extended stay in Corfu.
Ionian Islands from Corfu
Participants require a relatively high level of fitness for this tour. The daily routes vary in length 12 - 25 mi/20 - 40 km and lead through hilly or mountainous terrain. The tours can be completed without any time-constraints. The cycle tours range between a total of 1,000 – 2,970 ft./300 - 600 m of elevation. There are also some extended climbs where walking your bicycle is of course permitted. Most of the roads are asphalted and rarely frequented. Your tour guide will inform you each day about the tour details. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend on board the boat, instead of taking a planned cycle tour.
Requirement to wear a helmet
Helmet use is mandatory on all bike rides. . It is advised to bring your own, well fitted, helmet with you as our rental helmet numbers are limited (reservation required).
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
April 18 & 25, October 24
Lower deck: twin/double cabin € 1.899,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.849,-
Upper deck: twin/double cabin € 2.249,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.374,-
May 2 & 16, July 18, August 15, October 3, 10 & 17
Lower deck: twin/double cabin € 1.999,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 2.999,-
Upper deck: twin/double cabin € 2.349,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.524,-
May 9 & 23, June 13 & 20, July 11, September 5 & 12
Lower deck: twin/double cabin € 2.099,-
Lower deck: cabin single use € 3.149,-
Upper deck: twin/double cabin € 2.449,-
Upper deck: cabin single use € 3.674,-
Bike rental:
Rental bike per week € 80,-
E-bike per week € 245,-
Bike insurance € 20,- per hybrid bike and € 30,- per E-bike
Port of embarkation/disembarkation
Corfu: Marina Gouvia. It is located 7 km north of the city of Corfu. In Gouvia the Panagiota has a fixed mooring at Mole P.
You are welcome to check in on board from 2 pm onwards on the embarkation day. If you arrive without a pre-booked transfer and have difficulties finding the Panagiota, please call your local guide (phone number is mentioned in your travel documents).
Inbound flight to Corfu
A flight is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get to Greece.
Collective transfer (available on embarkation/disembarkation days only):
between Corfu airport and boat or a hotel in Corfu city and boat: prices on request.
On this tour the following barge is scheduled
For the duration of the tour we supply you with a waterproof pannier by Ortlieb, a practical way of carrying drinks, bathing gear, camera etc
With this tour you can rent the following bikes:
Our hybrid bikes are equipped with 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture proof touring tires, derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack.
Our hybrid bikes are equipped with 28 inch hollow chamber rims with puncture proof touring tires, derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack.
An e-bike powered mainly by a Bosch motor capable of covering long distances. Standard components in varying frame sizes include, 28 inch rims with puncture proof tires, derailleur gears and break systems, a carrier and a stand, touring saddle as well as mudguards and a pannier rack.
Catering
The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. A packed lunch instead of lunch on board is possible as well on our tour. The catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.The on-board chef is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and one or two warm meals a day. The catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.
If you wish to eat vegetarian food or have distinctly different eating habits please inform us in time before your arrival. Please keep in mind that special food requirements cannot always be met in all details. If you have extensive food allergies we ask you to give us a list of the food that you can eat. This should be done before your arrival so that the cook can be instructed to plan and shop accordingly.
In the case of a glutenfree diet, we request that you bring along your own basic foodstuffs such as bread and cereals for the duration of your tour with us, as it is extremely difficult to attain these products from Greek vendors.
Please note that due to the small size of the kitchen and the available equipment on board, we cannot guarantee that your food will not come into contact with kitchen utensils in which gluten-containing foods have already been processed.
So if you have a serious celiac disease, where the food must not come into contact with utensils in which food containing gluten was prepared, then we would recommend not to participate in the trip as the risk of an allergic shock would be too high. If it is a (mild) gluten intolerance it is not a problem.
Language aboard
Due to our international audience all Islandhopping tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.
Time zone
Please note that Greece is on Eastern European (Summer) time, i.e. GM(S)T + 2 hours.
Itinerary changes
We reserve the right to make changes to the planned itinerary due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements.
Group riding pace
On our regular cycling tours, the cyclists on regular bicycles determine the pace. We ask guests who have reserved an e-bike to be mindful of this and to acknowledge that the regular cyclists need time to rest and take longer to climb the hills. We thank you for your understanding.
Bringing Children
We believe that only children with a good physical condition and previous bicycle tour experience and a minimum age of 10 are able to master the cycle tours with their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.30 m (4.3 ft.) for hybrid bikes.
Internet availability
Please note that there is no WiFi available onboard the Panagiota. If you need to connect to the internet during the tour, we recommend bringing your portable electronic device to a cafe or bar somewhere in the harbour. Free WiFi is on offer almost everywhere. If you order something to eat or drink, then you are able to use the WiFi to your hearts content.
Bringing private bikes & EXCLUSION of private E-BIKES and road bikes
The tour which you have booked requires a bike with a fully functional set of gears. We can offer you high quality, fully serviced rental bikes perfect for the terrain of this tour.
Should you however wish to bring your own hybrid or MTB with you, please make sure to check the condition of your breaks, gears, and tires and don’t forget to bring along a puncture repair kit and the essential spare parts for your bike (e.g. brake pads and tubes). Your bike should be in prefect mechanical working order.
We do not allow private e-bikes on board of our boats. This decision has been made due to health and safety regulations. If you wish to ride an e-bike for the duration of your tour, please get in touch with us about the rental options.
We do not recommend bringing along private road bikes, as the thin tires are not suitable for some of the road surfaces encountered on the tours.
Our Ships
Please do not forget that the ship is your hotel as well as a machine, which has to be maintained and operated – day and night. A certain level of noise is therefore inevitable.
