Explore Crete all the way from its eastern coast to Europe’s southernmost town on this incredibly varied mountain bike holiday by E-MTB. The largest island in Greece is characterized by rugged mountain landscapes, green plateaus, spectacular gorges, and a sea sparkling in a hundred shades of blue.
Crete’s terrain makes it the perfect location for an unforgettable holiday in Hellas. Crete offers everything a mountain biker could desire. Here you will find total variety from technically demanding trails to stony mountain paths and flowing coastal routes. Day after day, the summer-warm Mediterranean Sea will tempt you in for a refreshing swim. And during the trip, we stay at carefully selected accommodation. Furthermore we enjoy the local cuisine in traditional tavernas, allowing you to experience Crete at its most authentic.
As Crete is extremely mountainous and many of the trails require full concentration, we are offering the tour exclusively with E-MTBs. This way you can save energy on the climbs and enjoy the descents that much more.
1 – 8 OCT 2022
For groups of 6 or more, individual travel dates are also possible on request. Simply contact us with your desired dates.
Check-in and make yourself comfortable on your first night in Crete. Overnight stay in Palekastro.
The ride takes us through the island’s rugged north-eastern coastal region. With almost 3280 ft./1000 m to climb before lunch, you’ll soon be glad of the extra support provided by the bike’s powerful motor.
During lunch we are spoilt by typical Greek hospitality; a drink in hand and a table full of appetizers for everyone to share.
Refreshed and re-energized, we can enjoy the descent down to the fishing village of Mochlos, where we spend the night.
We pass one of the oldest olive trees on the island near the mountain village of Kavousi followed by a fantastic view of Mirabello Bay.
A gentle descent takes us through small traditional villages to our lunch stop. Here we again enjoy some delicious Cretan dishes before descending to Makrigialos on the coast, where we spend the night.
As there are many metres of elevation to master along the way, we recommend careful use of your E-MTB battery. Your guide will be able to give you all the advice you need.
Our destination today is Myrtos, located on the south coast of Crete. Here the glistening sea entices you to jump in and enjoy the refreshing water after a spectacular day of biking.
We also bike along spectacular stretches of coast, passing one beautiful beach after another. So be sure not to forget your swimsuit today!
At the end of the bike stage, we reach the coastal village of Tsoutsouros, next to the ancient town of Inados, where we spend the night.
At 3350 ft./1,020 m above sea level, we reach the highest point of our entire bike trip. But don’t panic: If your battery runs out, you can exchange it for a freshly charged one during the lunch break.
Our morning efforts are greatly rewarded! We enjoy a descent along a variety of trails until we reach the idyllic mountain village of Kapetaniana, 700 m above sea level. Until a few years ago, part of this old village consisted exclusively of ruins.
The current owner of the Thalori Guesthouse created an extraordinary resort in traditional Cretan style from the walls of these ruins: Each old house was lovingly restored and made into guest rooms, all with their own unique charm. A rich Cretan dinner rounds of the day.
After a stop at Tripity Beach, we tackle the last mountain pass of the trip. Crossing the rugged and remote Asterousia massif, we climb another 1312 ft./400 m to the famous Messara plain.
This unique region is welcoming us with its seemingly endless olive groves shimmering in a distinctive silver hue. The ancient trees have an aura all of their own and each one is a natural work of art.
We then descend along a trail to the mountain village of Zaros, which lies at the foot of the Ida Mountains, the highest mountain range in Crete. Here we spend the night.
If you would like any advice on extending your Greek holiday, please don’t hesitate to contact our team!
E-MTB
On this tour, we exclusively offer high-quality E-Hardtail MTBs from Focus Bold. Our E-MTBs have a powerful Shimano drive (up to 750 watts) with extra long-range, RockShox suspension forks with 120 mm travel and high-quality Shimano gears and brakes. In short: A robust trail bike that is perfect for the demanding Cretan terrain.
During this trip you will stay in carefully selected guesthouses and hotels, characterised by their warm hospitality and traditional Cretan interiors. Of course, there are safe storage spaces for the bikes at all the hotels. Bookings are subject to availability. You will receive a hotel list and further detailed information about your tour before your trip begins.
For more information, please refer to the detailed travel information that we will send to you before the start of the tour.
The bike tours are adapted by our guides on-site to the weather conditions, schedule, and riding ability of the group. On the challenging bike days, there are options to shorten the tours and reduce the elevation metres (indicated as “alternative” in the tour itinerary).
The mountain bike terrain on Crete is as varied as the island’s landscapes: technically demanding single trails, which require corresponding riding skills, alternate with wide natural paths and quiet asphalt side roads. Pushing passages may be encountered, as some of the trails have a lot of loose rock.
The following list is only a guideline, which you can of course modify according to your own needs:
1,350€ per person
4 days/3 nights
Apr – Oct
Easy
Santorini
Santorini
Persons: 2+
Age: 14+
7 days/ 6 nights
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Challenging
Paleochora
Paleochora
Persons: 8+
Age: 12+