Epic Trails of Zeus | MTB Holidays in Greece | Olymp & Meteora

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Epic trails of Zeus – Explore Mt. Olympus and Meteora

Biking bliss, swimming, and nightlife in the home of the gods

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.

Highlights

  • At dizzy heights: Discover the ‘floating ‘ Meteora Monasteries
  • In the home of the gods: Conquer the legendary Olympus by bike
  • From 1,000 m altitude to the sea: Experience Thessaloniki’s wealth of trails!
  • Fascinating history: Explore the old town with its historical sights!
  • Taste explosion: Thessaloniki is the culinary capital of Greece


7 days/6 nights
Jun, Sep
Moderate
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Persons: 4+
Age: 18+

Included Activities

  • 5 guided MTB tours at different bike spots with a certified guide
  • Swimming stops at beautiful beaches
  • Daily lunch and dinner to allow you to discover the diversity of the local cuisine

Dates

  • 5 – 11 June
    11 – 17 September

*Alternative, individual tour dates are also available on request for groups of 4-6 people.


DAY 1
Arrival in Thessaloniki – Transfer to Meteora | The adventure begins at Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) where your guide will be waiting for you to pick you up and transfer you to Meteora. After the arrival at the hotel, a first meeting will take place. You will meet the tour leaders and a tour briefing will be given to you accompanied by some traditional “meze” and welcome drinks – just a few since some serious all mountain biking is waiting for you the next days!

DAY 2
Conquering Mount Olympus (approx. 30-35 km / 18-22 mi. by bike) |

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.

DAY 3
Mt. Kissavos, twin brother of Mount Olympus (approx. 25km to 35km by MTB) | After a rich breakfast, a 3-hours transfer takes us to the Kissavos peak, the twin of Mount Olympus. We will drive through the seaside village of Stomio, a well-known kite surf destination, till we reach the refuge of Mt Ossa at 1500m altitude.

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.

DAY 4
Conquering Mt. Olympus, Mountain of Gods (approx. 30km to 35km by MTB) |

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.

DAY 5
Naoussa Downhill Fun (approx.. 30 km by MTB) | Heading back to Thessaloniki, we will make a stop and ride at the foot of one of the most famous ski resorts in Northern Greece, 3-5 Pigadia at Naoussa village.

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!

DAY 6
Peaking – Highest point of Thessaloniki (approx. 25km to 35km) | A delicious breakfast is the ideal way to start another varied day of biking. First, we take a 40-minute shuttle to Mt. Chortiatis, the highest point of Thessaloniki. At an altitude of 1,000 m / 3,280 ft., we can expect challenging terrain and extra-long trails.

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.

DAY 7
Time to say Goodbye | Sadly, this is the end of your magnificent mountain biking holiday in Greece. Depending on your flight’s schedule, you may have time to do some last-minute shopping in Thessaloniki before we transfer you to SKG Airport and say to each other, “Till our paths meet again!”

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.

Charming family-run hotels

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.

What are the age requirements for this tour?
Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome on this tour. As long as the individual riding ability and fitness level are suitable for the requirements of the tour, the age of the participants does not matter.

What language is the tour conducted in?
This tour is conducted exclusively in English.

Are changes to the tour itinerary possible?
In the event of extreme weather conditions, we reserve the right to change the tour itinerary.

How big are the groups?
We usually keep groups small to ensure that everyone has the best possible experience. Usually, a group consists of 4 to 6 people. The minimum number of participants required for this tour is 4.

How difficult is this tour?
We have rated this tour as moderate in terms of technical difficulty. A very good basic fitness is required. You should also have at least one year of regular mountain biking experience and be able to cope with varying terrain and weather conditions. It is also important to be able to cope with longer climbs without any problems. The trails we ride vary from technically demanding to flow trails.

Smart heads stay safe - Helmets are compulsory on our cycling tours!
Helmets are compulsory on our bike tours. If possible, please bring your own well-fitting helmet. If you do not have your own helmet with you, we will be happy to provide you with a rental helmet free of charge.

Can I bring my own bike?
Of course, you are welcome to bring your own bike on this bike adventure. Our transfer vehicles are designed to transport bikes and bike cases. We guarantee that your bike will be transported properly and safely in the shuttles during the tour. If all this is too complicated for you, you are more than welcome to hire a high-quality rental bike from our fleet.

What meals are included?
In order to give you an excellent insight into the culinary diversity of Thessaloniki, daily breakfast in the hotel, as well as 5 lunches and 6 dinners, are included in the tour price. Catering begins with dinner on the day of arrival and ends with lunch on the day of departure.

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.

Suggested packing list for this tour
We recommend that you bring the following on this tour:

  • Sporty clothes for biking
  • Helmet, arm and leg protectors, and gloves
  • Trainers/sport shoes
  • Depending on the weather, windbreaker, or rain jacket
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun cream
  • Casual clothing and a change of shoes for the evenings

BASIC TOUR PRICE

1,420€ per person in a double room

*Single rooms can be booked for an extra charge of approx. 190€/tour.

INCLUDED SERVICES

  • 6 nights in a double room with breakfast
  • Transfers between Thessaloniki Airport and Litochoro on Mount Olympus on arrival day
  • Transfer between Thessaloniki city centre and Thessaloniki Airport on departure day
  • All shuttles during the trip as per itinerary
  • 5 x lunches and 6 x dinners
  • 5 guided bike tours at 5 different bike spots
  • Local English-speaking tour guide (with MTB certification)

NOT INCLUDED

  • Journey to Thessaloniki
  • All drinks
  • Entrance fees to places of interest
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips for tour guide & driver

ADDITIONAL

  • Rental MTB (Fully): 200€
  • Single room, surcharge: approx. 190€/trip
  • Additional nights in Thessaloniki: prices on request

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