Islands of the Sun God

Greece Bike + Boat Tour

Southern Greek Aegean, Rhodes and its neighbors

Since ancient times the island of Rhodes has been called the Island of the Sun God with good reason! With over 3000 sunshine hours each year, it is one of the sunniest regions in Europe. Aboard the Bahriyeli and atop your bicycle, you will explore Rhodes and its neighboring islands. Let yourself be mesmerized by this exquisite place with it's sandy, pristine beaches and history dating back to the Byzantine era. The landscape is varied and ranges from arid and rocky to lush and forested. The island of Nissyros, located between Tilos and Kos, is famous mainly for its volcano, but is ideal for a quiet and relaxing vacation. You will discover the Castle of Spiliani, the villages and pebbled beaches, as well as, the thermal springs of the island on a journey full of blue and white. Impressive is the the towering volcanic crater of Nissyros or the charm of Symi,the island capital, with its wonderful neo-classical buildings. Follow the tracks of the midget elephant on the island of Tilos which fortunately hasn't lost its tradition and character. You will be enchanted  with the  picturesque port of Chalki and fascinated by Aegean history, mythology and legends as you hear the stories of the rock throwing Poseidon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Knights of St John and the famous sponge diver of Symi!

Skill Level

Moderate. Daily distances average approximately 25 miles (40 km) and will take you through partly hilly and mountainous terrain. There will also be extended climbs but walking your bike is of course permitted. Most of the roads are asphalted. Your tour guide will inform you each day about your tour details. You can set aside a whole day or half day for swimming or relaxing on board.

Where You’ll Stay

On the comfort plus class ships, the Bahriyelis.

What’s Included

• 8-day trip on a comfort class gulet (typical Turkish ship)
• 7 nights accommodations in double cabin with private bathroom
• Breakfasts & dinners
• Bed linen and towels
• 6 guided and individual tours as described in itinerary
• 21-gear trekking bike with an Ortlieb saddle bag
• Overview-maps for the daily tours, on board
• Transfer from the airport in Dalaman/Izmir to the boat and vice versa (as long as those transfers take place at embarkation and disembarkation days)
• All entrances to museums and archaeological sites
• English and German speaking tour guide

What’s Not Included

• Beverages on board (tally sheet)
• Tips for crew and tour-guides (optional)
• Meals on land
• Bicycle protection (€10 to €20/bike)

Tour Dates

• Saturdays on April 21, May 5, May 19, September 22 and October 6, 2012.

Tour Boats

• Bahriyelis

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Marmaris
2. Symi , 6 mi/10 km
3. Symi - Tilos, 16 and 7 mi/25 and 15km
4. Nissyros - Chalki, 25 mi/40 km
5. Rhodes, Plimiri - Lindos, 22 mi/35 km
6. Rhodes, Lindos - Kolymbia - Rhodes town, 23 mi/37 km
7. Rhodes, Rhodes town - Mamaris (3 hours by foot)
8. Mamaris

*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

DAY 1:  Arrival in Marmaris
Individual arrival at the turkish airport of Ismis, Bodrum or Dalaman. Transfer to the embarkation port and check in starting at  2 pm. There will be ample opportunity to explore the bazaar or visit the Turkish hammam. Dinner will be enjoyed on board.

DAY 2: Symi Island
The first passage by boat will bring you to Symi. The entrance to the port  will be a lasting memory for you: neo classical, pastel colored houses make a perfect picture of the island capital and the surroundings testify to the rich history. A short cycle ride to the beach provides a test ride for the bikes and opportunity to swim in the Aegean sea.  In the evening a guide will accompany the group to the upper town of Symi. After a climb of 500 steps, the reward is a breathtaking view of the port and bay that deeply indents the coastline. With some luck, the day will be topped off by an unforgettable sunset.

DAY 3: Symi 16 mi/25 km 
In the morning you will ride to the other side of the island. This is a magical place. A winding road  slowly crests the mountain allowing ample time to enjoy the many beautiful panoramic views. Final destination is the bay of Panormitis. The monastery here of the archangel Michael will be worth a visit. Afterwards on board once again, the destination is  the Island of Tilos, where on the bikes the route leads to the abandoned town of Mikro Chorio.  The old houses and buildings are all decaying and crumbling. Only a white-washed church with a tall bell-tower stands erect  in stark and romantic contrast, overlooking the valley and the sea. Mikro Horio was first inhabited in the 14th century by the Knights of Saint John who also built a castle on a hill.  Until 1940,  the village had 750 inhabitants but then gradually it was abandoned.  If weather conditions are fine, final destination will be Nissyros.

DAY 4:  Nissyros - Chalki, 19 mi/30 km
Formed from volcano eruptions, Nisyros is a place of wild beauty. The cycle ride  to Nikia, a village directly built at the edge of the volcano's crater at 430m height, is picturesque and impressive. The green gives way increasingly to gray and the scenery becomes dry and wild.  From here we can enjoy a fascinating view into the crater of volcano and also,  the white houses and numerous mosaics made from pebbles. Upon arrival  at the village square, do not miss the opportunity to sit and enjoy a Greek coffee. From here you will cycle on to the crater with its steaming sulfur springs and finally back to the small port town of Mandraki – its charm has attracted visitors for centuries.  In the afternoon the Bahriyeli will move on to Chalki where you can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening in an authentic Greek fishing port.

DAY 5: Rhodes, Plimiri - Lindos, 22 mi/35 km
The morning will be spent on board during the passage from Plimiri to the Island of Rhodes. From here you will cycle close to the coast on roads with light traffic. During a break in a café by the sea you might see the Bahriyeli passing to await  later  in Lindos. This picturesque and ancient  village is one of the most beautiful in all of Greece.  After a last ascent, the unforgettable view of this small town with its cubic houses and narrow alleys overshadowed by its mighty acropolis will be worth the effort.

DAY 6:  Rhodes, Lindos - Kolymbia - Rhodes town, 23 mi/37 km
Today the tour will lead  from Lindos into the fertile, agricultural used hinterland of Rhodes.The island of Rhodes was an important economic center in the ancient world. You will cycle through old olive tree groves on small side roads to Archangelos where a typical Greek tavern invites for lunch. The  boat awaits  at the end of an impressing eucalyptus alley in the tiny port of Kolymbia to bring you to Rhodes town. The rest of the afternoon you can stroll through the fantastic medieval old town.

DAY 7:   Rhodes, Rhodes town - Mamaris  (3 hours by foot)
After breakfast the guide will accompany on a thrilling expedition through the 2400 year old history of the island capital by foot. The deer and the hind at the entrance of the Mandraki-port will offer a first opportunity for a photo. A fascinating study is the the history of the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient "Statue of Liberty." It was a huge monument constructed of bronze plates over an iron framework (very similar to the Statue of Liberty which is copper over a steel frame)  The Colossus, which relied on weaker materials than that of the Statue of Liberty, must have weighed at least as much and probably more than the Statue of Liberty. it stood over two thousand years ago at the entrance to this busy harbor. Like the Statue of Liberty, it was also built as a celebration of freedom. This amazing statue, standing the same height from toe to head as the modern colossus, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Colossus stood proudly at the harbor entrance for some fifty-six years. Each morning the sun must have caught its polished bronze surface and made the god's figure shine. Then an earthquake hit Rhodes and the statue collapsed. Huge pieces of the figure lay along the harbor for centuries. "Even as it lies," wrote Pliny, "it excites our wonder and admiration. Few men can clasp the thumb in their arms, and its fingers are larger than most statues. Where the limbs are broken asunder, vast caverns are seen yawning in the interior. Within it, too, are to be seen large masses of rock, by the weight of which the artist steadied it while erecting it."
From here we will move on to the moat of the crusader town. Even today Rhodes monumental walls contribute to its unique character. A walk though the countless alleys with its impressive constructions will make this guided city tour an unforgettable experience.  After wards the Bahriyeli will bring you back to Marmaris where you will once again have the possibility to visit the bazaar or the hammam.

DAY 8:  Mamaris
Disembarkation will occur after breakfast. 

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