Why the Greek Isles should be at the top of your list
Friendly locals that are happy to speak English and share their enviable Greek-island lifestyle. Great roads that link amazing sights, including some of the world’s finest archeological treasures. Clean air and a glass-like sea. The food is local, fresh, and healthy. The wine is light and refreshing.
Why haven’t your cycling friends flocked to Greece?
Although numerous Greek Islands offer a perfect day of sights and cycling, getting from one island to the next is a frustrating experience that typically wastes an entire day. Without a chartered yacht, this great week of rides would take two weeks, and becomes too exhausting for a vacation.
Our chartered yacht-dimension cruise ship is the sublime solution for a 9-day Greek Isles cycling adventure. A comfortable floating hotel that cruises from one carefully-selected island to the next while we sleep. A week of Greek Island cycling without a need for ferries or repacking.
Energetic cyclists will enjoy the morning climb from sea level, a chance to warm up while ascending out of a picturesque port. Others will opt for our morning boost, a short shuttle that gets you and your bike to a viewpoint that’s closer to lunch.
Embark Day – Santana’s Greek Isles cycling cruise starts and ends in Athens, the cradle of Western Civilization. Twice as old as Paris and half-again older than Rome, today’s Athens is safe, inviting, and vibrant.
Santana’s optional Athens PreTour is a great way to begin your Aegean Odyssey, and recover from a little jet lag. Our included shuttles from ATH airport and our PreTour hotel will take participants to our ship for embark.
After building our bikes, you’ll enjoy a glass of wine while our team goes over the route information for your next day’s ride.
Day 2 – Our first day of cycling is located along the Peloponnesian Coast.
From Nafplio we’ll pedal coastal roads skirting a beautiful bay. One of the optional loops winds through olive orchards and ascends a mild valley past the Cult of Hera’s temple to reach the excavated ruins of Mycenae — a bronze age city that predates Athens.
Local experts will guide your exploration of excavated chambers, homes, vaults, and tombs. A fascinating reveal of the lives of ancient residents.
Day 3 – Another day of epic cycling occurs on the island of Paros. Too small for jet planes or cruise ships, Paros has plenty of paved routes and is a favorite for Greek cyclists.
Our route away from the ferry port glides past Greek windmills and small farms to reach a stop for Greek coffee at a small village that surrounds the island’s boisterous fishing port.
Continuing through the heart of Paros, most will pause to explore the hidden village of Lefkes and the nearby quarry where Parian marble was prized by the great sculptors all over Greece. The day’s favorite stop, however, is a bakery with a resident chocolatier! Re-energized, many will opt for the longer return that circles the island.
Day 4 – On the famous “volcano island” Santorini, we worked with local cyclists to map out the best rides. While we expected the challenging route would be scenic, the result was nothing short of spectacular.
The amazing views coasting across the hillsides hundreds over the royal blue water of the Aegean made it hard to keep our eyes on the road.
Our new friend Christos also had an even better plan for our participants who were willing to forgo a day of pedaling. When a strong cyclist recommends a hike, we’re intrigued!
His non-cycling route passes through the string of cliff top villages (with artists workshops and galleries) that cling to the remaining edge of the famous island that broke in two. Standing amongst the cliff-side ruins, you’ll peer into the caldera where Greek legends say the ruins of Atlantis fell into the royal blue waters.
Whether you hike or bike, today includes a luxurious sampling of Santorini’s wines from a vineyard with an unforgettable view.
Day 5 – Bill’s (Santana’s co-owner) favorite island is Rhodes, home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Today’s ride starts from a small fishing village where we’ll clip-in as the local fishermen are unloading the morning’s catch.
While long riders work up an appetite with a climb through pine forests to reach a coffee stop at Mussolini’s Chateau, the coastal route is just as scenic and reaches lunch with less time and effort.
Either way, everyone’s favorite array is at a villa where award-winning wines are the mainstay and spiced tsipouro is a tasty sideline.
While we are riding, the ship will move ahead to the island’s oldest port, where she’ll remain tied up at the main gate of the walled city of Rhodes until midnight.
After you finish your ride and clean up, local guides will meet us at the gate for an informative and fast-paced walking tour through the still thriving center of an ancient town that has never allowed cars.
While dinner is always served onboard every night of our Greek Isles Cycling Cruise, Rhodes is a foodie’s paradise, so why not find a dining spot to share with a few of your new friends?
Day 6 – From our many weeks of scouting and cycling Greece, Jan’s (Bill’s wife & co-owner) favorite island is Kos, the birthplace of science and medicine. After pedaling away from Kefalos Bay, we’ll stop in a small village to tour the restored windmill that milled the flour for the fresh cookies that accompany our morning coffee. raiders.
After riding through a fir forest famous for peacocks, we’ll pedal through fields of grain interspersed with orchards of figs and olives. Before reaching old town Kos, we’ll learn about the island’s favorite son, Hippocrates, while enjoying guided tours of the Asclepeion, the birthplace of scientific healing. At the nearby Hippocratic Forum is a medical museum filled with ancient remedies and instruments.
As we enter old town Kos, our ride navigates the scenic palm tree lined bike paths before our tour of an oceanfront castle built in the 15th century to defend from raiders.
Day 7 – Those who joined us for our 2021 Greek Isles Cycling Cruise were unanimous in the praise of Naxos. Recommended to us by Greek cyclists, Naxos lacks a commercial airport or large cruise ship terminal, which leaves the beautifully-paved roads free from the usual tourist traffic.
This favorite day starts with an easy climb through storied vineyards to reach Chalkio, where we’ll stop for coffee and partake in an entertaining tour of a 125 year old citrus-fruit distillery, where we’ll sample a recipe handed down over the centuries.
Longer routes continue inland through gentle valleys to reach Apeiranthos, a hillside village that predates cars by a thousand years. While our mechanics watch our parked bikes, we’ll pass through the narrow gateway to explore a photographers’ paradise frozen in time. With marble paved streets, stone towers, and a culture unto its own, it’s easy to see why they call this village the Crown Jewel of Naxos.
The longest route climbs just a bit further to enjoy a particularly picturesque summit. Descending the island’s far side, we’ll unclip and hike 100 yards to marvel at a nearly-complete hundred-foot statue of Dionysus that has slumbered in its marble quarry for 2,600 years.
All of the routes return along the coast to reach the Temple of Apollo which has welcomed sailors to Naxos for two and a half millennia.
Day 8 – Our final morning of Greek Isles cycling is on Mykonos, where our routes pass legendary white sand beaches and pristine blue waters to reach a lighthouse and view of distant islands.
The return route threads through the lively dining and shopping district of “Little Venice” that surrounds a marina filled with expensive yachts. Re-boarding our own yacht late that morning, we’ll re-pack our bikes before a lunchtime cruise to the seventh island of our Greek Odyssey.
As we finish our meal, we’ll reach the island of Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo & Artemis. In a country that’s justifiably famous for marble temples and statues, this national park is the world’s finest showcase of antiquity.
Our expert guides will walk you through the streets of this ancient island sanctuary of the gods that was, for many centuries, a centerpiece of Greek culture. The evening’s farewell dinner as we cruise into the sunset is always a feast for the senses.
Disembark Day – On the final day of our Greek Isles Cycling Cruise we’ll arrive back in Athens, where our morning disembark and shuttles make it easy to take a flight out of ATH Airport in the late morning, or head over to our post-cruise hotel to enjoy a little more time in Greece.
La Belle de l’Adriatique
Greek Isles 2025
Aegean Odyssey Cycling Cruise
Week #1
We’ve chartered La Belle de l’Adriatique for Santana’s 2025 Greek Isles itinerary. A 110-meter (yacht-dimension) vessel outfitted with with advanced stabilization, ultra-green power plants, and Z-drive propulsion which enables it to pirouette within the small harbors that larger cruise ships can’t access.
Participants of Santana’s 2021 & 2023 Greek Isles Cycling Cruise witnessed first-hand the distinctive capabilities of La Belle, which made over half of the unique ports on our hand-tailored cycling itinerary possible.
Commissioned by CroisiEurope in 2007, this unique Belgian-flagged cruiser has just fewer than 100 soundproofed staterooms in five categories.
All staterooms have private bathrooms, spacious floor plans, king-width beds that can convert into separate full-width twins, individually-controlled A/C, and large view windows.
The floor plans of the A, B, C, & D Categories are identical, the only differences are the windows and which deck they are located on. A & B Staterooms have two large rectangular windows and are located on the top two decks. C & D Staterooms have two large portholes.
The cuisine is exceptional. Breakfast includes bountiful buffets created by our 5-star chef. Each evening your waiter will present a new five course menu—listing an array of choices for you to select from.
Is beer & wine included with dinner? Of course!
The Lounge has seating for all our guests and is a great place to relax, mingle with your fellow cyclists, catch up on emails, or read a nice book.
The bar, located on the Sun Deck, enjoys breathtaking 360-degree views of the Greek Isles.
Onboard Wi-Fi is included, as is expert wash-and-fold laundering of your valuable cycling wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Greek Isles 2025
Aegean Odyssey Cycling Cruise
Week #1
Q: What are the exact dates?
A: Santana’s 9-Day Greek Isles Cycling Cruise will take place October 10 to 18, 2025.
Q: Week #1 & Week #2?
A: Both itineraries share identical ports and incredible days of cycling, the only difference is the second cruise embarks 8-days later than the first; a few hours after we wave farewell to the passengers from the first cruise.
Q: Why October?
A: Greece is too hot and crowded in the summer. By October the crowds have thinned and the cycling weather is perfect. Mornings in the high 60s and afternoons in the mid 70s. Plus, early fall is the time of year when cyclists enjoy peak fitness.
Q: What’s the cost?
A: Due to the current strength of the dollar, our per-person double-occupancy pricing for this 10-day cycling cruise starts at $4,799. Booking early is easy and RISK FREE. Our reservations page shows pricing of available staterooms.
Q: Traveling Solo?
A: We have a small allotment of non-standard sized staterooms that we have designated as Single Passenger Staterooms.
Q: What’s “Early-In” Pricing?
A: To manage the risk of chartering entire cruise ships, couples who commit early are rewarded with lower pricing. Booking early is easy and RISK FREE.
Q: What about tipping?
A: Jan and I don’t accept tips. A comprehensive “cruise extras” fee of $450 per person includes port fees and a long list of off-ship activities, tours, admissions, interpretive guides, site fees, non-rider touring coach, and ride support (gps route files and a pair of SOS vans driven by pro mechanics). Note that this is less than the average cruise passenger pays for a week of “deluxe excursions.” Shipboard gratuities of $150 per person includes wash & fold laundry and valet bike handling.
Q: Are all staterooms the same?
A: The efficiently-scaled La Belle de L’Adriatique has 100 double occupancy staterooms in five categories (sorry, no singles or triples). Launched in 2007 and refurbished in 2017, all rooms in all categories feature exterior view and private bath. Instead of suites and/or balconies La Belle has large public areas and lots of deck space. Four of the five categories have full-width twins that convert to a king width double. A & B Categories have two large rectangular windows and are located on the top two decks. B & C Categories have a pair of large portholes. F Category staterooms are located on various decks, are slightly smaller than A-D Categories, and have a non-standard stateroom configuration.
Q: How are staterooms assigned?
A: In any sub-category all rooms are identical. Using the PayPal timestamp, those who reserve earliest get the conveniently located staterooms closest to the front of the ship. If friends desire a pair of adjacent staterooms the timestamp of the first reservation determines the location of both rooms. In short, out of fairness to all our guests, we will not take requests for specific room numbers. Those who book early obtain prime positioning.
Q: Are rental bikes available? Are e-bike rentals available?
A: Yes. If you own a nice bike that fits, however, bringing it with you is relatively easy and inexpensive. More info on this in Bill’s Travel Tips. Lightweight road bike rentals are about $450 per-person for the duration of the cruise, and E-Bike rentals are about $200 more. Greek Isles rentals include delivery on embark day and retrieval at the end of the final ride. More info on our “Welcome Aboard” page.
Q: How do we get to and from the tour?
A: Detailed info on the best days and times to fly to the Greek Isles will be emailed a year in advance. Those who arrive and leave on the embark and disembark days will receive free airport transfers.
Q: How many miles each day?
A: In addition to our daily pair of zero-mile options (remaining on the ship or reaching prime attractions via Santana’s non-rider touring coach), every day has multiple cycling routes. Anyone who can ride 30 flat miles will be able to enjoy multiple days of cycling. Longer routes are available, and often provide 60 or more miles. At each morning’s breakfast you’ll get a map charting the day’s cycling routes and recommended stops. During a brief route talk you’ll hear about each route’s attractions. Santana’s vets have learned to love and rely on their handlebar-mounted GPS units. Available for less than $170, these touch-screen marvels prevent the age-old problem of getting lost or riding unplanned miles. Want to use your smartphone? Use the tips in our GPS Guide to make sure you’re ready to go. Santana supplies free electronic mapping and route files. Simply select the route and follow the highlighted map.
Q: What’s the next step?
A: A near-immediate sell-out of the Greek Isles is anticipated. Pricing listed on the Stateroom Reservations section is the current pricing. Refresh your browser to see any changes that may have occurred if you delay booking after loading this page. To lock-in availability and the lowest pricing on a RISK-FREE basis, reserve your space through our PayPal portal. PayPal’s secure website is open 24 hours per day, accepts all major credit cards, and automatically adjusts for remaining stateroom availability. Reserving your spot is RISK-FREE. In each category the prime location staterooms will be assigned in the same order as the timestamp of your booking.
Q: What do you mean by RISK-FREE?
A: When you use your credit card and book through PayPal, we’ll give you 14 risk-free days to think it over and clear your schedule. If you change your mind, send an email to Cancellations@SantanaAdventures.com within two weeks to cancel the PayPal transaction and obtain a full refund. Here is a full listing of Santana Adventures’ Terms & Conditions.
Q: What if we change our minds after 14 days?
A: Because full-boat charters are binding, non-cancelable contracts, Jan and I will only enter into this charter based on your confirmed-through-PayPal commitment. In effect, we undertake a huge risk by guaranteeing full payment on your behalf. After entering into this obligation, we cannot afford for you to back out—for any reason. This is no different than the clear written policy that existed for all except one of Santana’s prior chartered-ship cruises (this charter will be our 68th!). While preparing for our 2009 Danube event I neglected to include the following proviso. That’s the year a group of friends, after verbally agreeing to pay in full and then stringing Jan along for many months, decided to cancel their plans. Lesson learned! Here it is (again) in writing:
Santana’s acceptance of your registration and non-refundable deposit for this event is subsequent to your agreement to pay the remaining balance in full. While Santana allows limited refunds on rallies and tours, Santana’s cruises are non-cancelable and non-transferable. When the possibility of paying yet not attending is unacceptable, Jan and I recommend Travel Guard trip insurance. For the past 25 years hundreds of our clients have relied on Travel Guard coverage without complaint. An informative application will be mailed with your invoice; and further information is available online. Here is a full listing of Santana Adventures’ Terms & Conditions.
Q: Have you ever relaxed your refund policy?
A: Jan and I have willingly resold a number of fully prepaid staterooms for a fee of $1,500 per stateroom—which is waived when vacating participants found someone to take their place. When there has been more than one pending resell request, those who paid-in-full earliest had their space resold next. Using this non-guaranteed method (which is grossly inferior to trip insurance) Jan and I have cheerfully refunded over $500,000 in otherwise non-refundable and non-transferable cruise fares. Here is a full listing of Santana Adventures’ Terms & Conditions.
Q: What’s the difference between a SAG-wagon and Santana’s SOS/treasure vans?
A: Most tour companies use SAG-wagons that haul luggage and “sweep” the route between overnight stops. The drivers refill water-bottles, fix flat tires, and retrieve riders who can’t manage the easiest route between the widely spaced hotels. The problem, of course, is that the roving vans tend to be annoying until you actually need help. At that point it’s common to wait for two or more hours until one shows up. Although SAG drivers can fix a flat, they don’t have the tools or know-how to handle serious mechanical problems. Instead, they drive you to a bike shop (which explains why SAG-wagons disappear for hours at a time). This tour’s pair of SOS vans are driven by pro bike mechanics who bring tools and spares. When you phone one of our drivers with the coordinates from your GPS, they’ll arrive in a flash to get you back in the saddle. Because Santana expects participants to fill their own bottles, fix their own flats, and choose a ride they can finish, our SOS drivers are underworked, and have time to retrieve your shopping treasures.
Q: Are beverages included?
A: Beer & Wine are included at dinner. Other alcohol is not included but can be charged to your room. Soft Drinks, Coffee, Espresso Drinks, and Juice are all complimentary at meal times.
Q: Which meals are included?
A: During Santana’s earlier charters from Croisi Cruises the culinary staff appreciated our appetites as much as we appreciated their multi-course gourmet meals. Croisi’s 5-star chef will curate a new menu for each meal, and will always include a surprising selection of local fruits and produce, regional specialties, the freshest-possible seafood, vegetarian options, and grilled-to-order meats. A changing assortment of desserts and pastries are produced aboard each day. Breakfast and Lunch are served buffet style, perfect for active cyclists. Dinner is a plated multi-course menu with plenty of gourmet options for all of our participants.
Q: Does La Belle offer WiFi?
A: Yes.
Q: Does the ship have an elevator?
A: Yes.
Q: Will there be menu selections for vegetarians, vegans and picky eaters?
A: Yes to all of the above.
Q: What if we have more questions?
A: The quickest and easiest way to get help is to use Santana’s Contact Form. One of our team members will follow up with you as soon as possible.