Our “Epic Trails of Zeus” tour combines three spectacular destinations that couldn’t be more different: The floating Monasteries of Meteora, Mount Olympus, arguably the best-known and most famous mountain in the world and Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city.
Meteora with its world-famous Orthodox monasteries, listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage, is one of the most fascinating landscapes of Greece. A fascinating forest of towering rock cliffs is home to the so-called ‘Floating Monasteries’. Enjoy a ride on breathtaking trails that were used for the secret trafficking of the Christian monks, during the Ottoman occupation!
Home to Zeus and the other ancient Greek gods, Mt. Olympus is the perfect destination for an incredible biking adventure. You will discover epic trails through breath-taking scenery, total seclusion at dizzying heights, and incredible views with a perfect sprinkling of fascinating ancient Greek myths and legends. Look forward to beautiful nature, rustic mountain villages, and fantastic cuisine!
In contrast, Thessaloniki is Greece’s most exciting metropolis: Young, lively, and full of fascinating contrasts of old and new. The city inspires with its culinary delights and its surprisingly great variety of trails in the surrounding countryside.
*Alternative, individual tour dates are also available on request for groups of 4-6 people.
Our ride day in Meteora starts with a nice, local breakfast and right after we fix our bikes and verify all of our gear is in shape. We will start riding from our hotel through single tracks and forest roads, till we pass by -and maybe visit- some of the most important Monasteries.
We will we end up at the Great Meteora, which is the Monastery at the highest altitude. A part of our route will be an ancient trail used secretly by the monks during the Ottoman occupation.
Afterwards we will start downhill the single trail and we will end our ride at our hotel again for some rest and dinner afterwards.
After a warm cup of tea, we can optionally hike with our bikes to the summit at 1700m altitude, or we can start downhill from the refuge. We’ll ride downhill, at least couple of rides through uplifts, at proper mountain bike single tracks till we end up at the beach of Stomio village!
Once we arrive in the village of Stomio, we treat ourselves to a cold beer by the sea. Here there is plenty of time to swim in the sea and sunbathe before we return to Litochoro, where we enjoy a delicious dinner in a cosy taverna. Overnight stay in Litochoro.
Mt Olympus day starts with a good breakfast. Today we will explore the trails of Zeus, trails of Mt Olympus which are surround the entrance of Mt Olympus National Park. After a couple of shuttles with our van, we will end up, through the canyon of Enipeas (a river God and son of Ocean), at a traditional square of Litochoro village.
Here we will take a quick rest and enjoy a couple of drinks before heading to the beach for some dives at the refreshing waters of the Aegean Sea! After some resting at our hotel, we will discover the traditional taverns of Mt Olympus and the local cuisine.
A 10km purpose-build MTB trail, starting from the base of the Ski Resort and ending just above the Naoussa village, will make you scream from joy and fun! We will uplift you 3 times in order to take as much as possible from this beauty, before we stop for a snack of local treats and some local variety wine, Xinomavro, one of the Greece best’s!
Afterwards we will drive to Thessaloniki, for our overnight and preparation for riding at Greece’s second biggest city!
On our bike back to the city centre, we stop to sample a variety of local delicacies and the famous Greek raki. In the afternoon you are free to shop or visit some of the sights, such as Thessaloniki’s landmark, the White Tower. Dinner together and overnight in Thessaloniki.
Fully MTB
On our mountain bike tours, we only use high-quality fully, Scott Genius 950 MTBs. The standard equipment includes front shocks, disc brakes, and enough gears to cope with steeper climbs.
The hotels we book for this MTB adventure are predominantly small, family-run hotels. They offer comfortable accommodation in a double room with a private bathroom with shower/WC. The hotels are characterised by excellent hospitality, allowing you to totally relax and feel completely at home. Of course, if you bring your own bike, there is a safe place to store it.
If you have vegan, gluten-free, or other special dietary requirements, please let us know well in advance so that we can cater to them. All the restaurants we visit have menu suggestions to suit any dietary preference. All drinks except coffee or tea with breakfast are not included.
1,420€ per person in a double room
*Single rooms can be booked for an extra charge of approx. 190€/tour.
8 days/7 nights
Jun, Sep
Moderate
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Persons: 6+
Age: 10+
4 hrs
All year round
Easy
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Persons: 2+
Age: 4+
4 Hours
May – Oct
Easy – Demanding
Litochoro / Thessaloniki
Litochoro / Thessaloniki
Persons: 2+
Age: 10+
2,5 Hrs
All Year Round
Easy-Challenging
Kalambaka
Kalambaka
Persons: 2+
Age: 12+