Day 1

Guests arriving in Heraklion or Rethymnon will have a transfer to Chania in the morning, as we will start the tour in West Crete. We will rendezvous with guests who have already arrived in Chania, at the old Venetian harbor.

  • Accommodation: Christina, Chania.

Day 2

After breakfast we will bike from CHANIA to VRISSES. The first 20 km are easy to do. After VRISSES we will start a 19 km climb until the ASKIFOU HEIGHTS (750 m altitude gain). We will have a short break at Christos taverna in IMVROS in order to prepare us for the highlight of the day – a 16 km downhill until we reach the wild SFAKIA!

  • Distance: 65 km / 990 altitude gain
  • Accommodation: Nikos Place in Sfakia.

Day 3

Today we will cover SFAKIA – FRANGOKASTELLO – RODAKINO – PLAKIAS. We will travel on the panorama road, which runs along the untouched southern coast of Crete. The views are breathtaking! Be prepared for some intriguing climbs – the support mini bus will always be near by … If we are lucky we will see dozens of vultures in the Koutzifou gorge.

  • Distance: 75 km / 875 altitude gain
  • Accommodation: Alianthos Beach, Plakias.

Day 4

We start the day with a 30 minute transfer to SPILI by mini bus. At SPILI we will have time to have a look at the water springs with the 12 lion heads. This is a moderate ride from SPILI to PITSIDIA. We can always see the top of Mt. Psilorits on our left, while we cruise via AKOUMIA – MELAMBES – AGIA GALINI – TIMBAKI until we reach our destination. The Messara plain with its green houses is straight ahead. This is the area where most of the vegetables of Crete are being cultivated.

  • Distance: 55 km / 425 altitude gain
  • Accommodation: Varvara’s Hideaway, Pitsidia.

Day 5

A well deserved break in PITSIDIA. During this day you have various options: you can combine swimming in the Libyan sea at MATALA with visiting of the hippy caves. If you prefer archeological sites then the palace of FESTOS, where they discovered the famous Festos (or Phaistos) disk or the former Roman capital of Crete GORTYNA, where the first laws of Europe where found, are waiting for you. What ever you decide to do, we are always there to help you get organized!

  • Accommodation: Same as day 4.

Day 6

On your bike and head for the north coast. From AGII DEKA to PATSIDES – only a few km away from the ancient palace of Knossos, the birthplace of the Minoan civilization. This ride is not for the faint hearted but the endless vineyards make up for everything. As this is the main wine producing area of the island, we will also do some wine tasting in the little village of AGIOS SILAS.

  • Distance: 60 km / 765 altitude gain
  • Accommodation: Villa Maria, Patsides.

Day 7

A 45 minute transfer to the LASSITHI HEIGHTS starts the day. Here we will circle the heights on flat and slightly ascending roads. We will stop at the war memorial and the Dikti cave, where according to the legend, Zeus was born. At noon we will leave the heights behind us and will enjoy a 25 km downhill until STALIDA.

  • Distance: 45 km / 325 altitude gain
  • Accommodation: Same as day 6.

Day 8

This day belongs to you entirely! If you still have some energy left, you could visit the palace of Knossos which is just 10 minutes away from PATSIDES, do some shopping in HERAKLION (a 20 minutes ride by local bus), visit the archaeological museum and / or the Nikos Kazantzakis museum or just top up your tan besides the swimming pool of your accommodation.

At 17.00 hrs. the tour will end and we will transfer you to the accommodation of your choice in Heraklion, the airport or the port of Heraklion.

Click to enlarge Elevation profile of Le Tour de Crète

Elevation profile of Le Tour de Crète

(Click to enlarge)

99% of all Crete visitors travel by air plane. Please make your seat GREEN!

99% of all Crete visitors travel by air plane. Please make your seat GREEN!
www.greenseat.com

Le Tour de Crète

Traveling couple, 2 persons per room 550,- Euro
Traveling alone, 1 person per room 670,- Euro

Please note: Prices are per person, excluding flights to and from Crete.

Included in the price are:

  • Guiding by OBT guides
  • 7 overnight stays incl. breakfast
  • All rooms have shower or bath incl. toilet
  • Luggage transport from accommodation to accommodation
  • On the longer steep climbs the service mini bus is accompanying the group
  • Well maintained mountain bike or trekking bike, equipped with 27 gears Shimano XT or 24 gears Shimano Deore

Furthermore all participants of our biking programs will receive an OLYMPIC BIKE T-shirt free of charge valued at 15,- Euro.

We recommend that you pay by PayPal as it is easy, secure and fast.

We recommend that you pay by PayPal as it is easy, secure and fast.
www.paypal.co.uk

Tour remarks:

  • Duration: 8 days / 7 night’s accommodation.
  • You can also add a day o (zero) and / or day 9 as an option.
  • We cycle on paved, asphalt roads. Sometimes we also have short off road stretches.
  • Total length of the tour: Approx 300 – 350 km (shortcuts are possible).

Tour dates 2019:

Pre season:

19 March until 26 March, 02 April until 9 April, 16 April until 23 April, 30 April until 7 May, 14 May until 21 May and 28 May until 4 June.

End season:

10 September until 17 September, 24 September until 1 October, 8 October until 15 October, 22 October until 29 October and 31 October until 7 November.

For groups and incentives from 6 up to 15 guests we can arrange extra tours. Please contact us in order to work out the possibilities.

Additional options:

Extra day, 1 person per room 55,- Euro incl. breakfast.
Extra day, 2 persons per room 40,- Euro incl. breakfast.
Extra day bike rental 20,- Euro per bike incl. all biking equipment.

More information about the region: