Cycling holiday Island of Rhodes

Island of Rhodes

Cycling on the most beautiful island of Greece

Starting at € 765,-
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Summary
  • 8 Days Every day
  • 35 km average per day
  • Arrival Kalavarda Rhodes Airport
  • Departure Kalavarda Rhodes Airport
Highlights
  • Petaloudes, valley of butterflies
  • Mediterranean Sea and Beaches
  • Rhodes City: cultural and culinary highlight
  • Wine village Embonas at the foot of the Attaviros
Characteristics
  • Self-Guided Tour
  • Individual Tour
  • Bike & Hotel
  • Cycling level 2

    Distance: 40-60 km average per day Altitude: 100-500 hm average per day. Not too steep and not too long slopes on not very difficult terrain. 

Greece: Relaxed and welcoming

During this cycling trip you’ll  across Rhodes for 8 days and get to know this surprisingly green Greek island and its varied landscape. Relaxed and welcoming: the Greek way!

There’s a lot to see by bicycle, including Lindos: a medieval town, crowned with a castle and a temple. The white houses are located on a hill between two blue bays. Towering above the old centre on a hill you can find the ancient temple and impressive medieval fortifications of Lindos. In the southerly villages you will enjoy a frappé on a terrace under a big ficus. Cycle alongside blossoming agaves to the Seven Springs and onwards to the castle at Monolithos. On top of it all, the climate on Rhodes is comfortable throughout the whole year and the sights of the Mediterranean Sea are amazing.

Daily Program

  • Day 1 Arrival on Rhodes

    You will fly to Rhodes. You will be picked up at the airport and brought to your hotel. Kalavarda has been our cycling village of choice on Rhodes for 20 years now. You will stay at the Hotel Vouras, just 900m from the sea. If you arrive in the morning, you can already go for a little warm-up cycle ride, or visit the beach. Alternatively, go to Kameiros (3km from your hotel) to see the ruins of an ancient city.

  • Day 2 Kalavarda, roundtrip, 39 km

    Before you start the tour, you have a free day to go on a daytrip. You will do a round trip following the coast, which is completely uninhabited and unspoilt here. You can limit yourself to a trip of around 20 km, at which point you will see Chalki and the surrounding islands. Or you could carry on cycling until you reach the fishing harbour of Kameiros Skala (33 km). If you want to extend the trip even further, you could visit the castle ruins of Kritinia, making a trip of 38km in total. If you didn’t already do it yesterday, you can visit the ruins of ancient Kameiros (1 km extra).

  • Day 3 Kalavarda – Émbonas, 24 km

    From Kalavárda you cycle into a green valley. A first climb of 2 km brings you to the nice village of Sálakos. This village lies at the foot of the Profítis Ilias mountain range, with a nice and shady village square – perfect for a relaxing break. The tour continues going up and down frequently but never long or steep. In Émbonas, today’s stage town, don’t miss to explore the local wine-cooperatives to taste the wines which belong to the best ones of Rhodes and Greece. Today there is also an alternative route through Kámiros Skála (small fishing port) and Kritinía (castle ruin and nice village). This alternative is longer and steeper.

  • Day 4 Émbonas – Apolakkiá, 31 km

    First you’ll have Attaviros on your left, the highest mountain of Rhodes. Enjoy the distant view of the open sea with Chalki and other small islands. Siána, the next village, is well known for its honey-specialities. After Siána the trip will mainly go downhill. But in Monólithos you have to manage a small climb to have a breathtaking panoramic view over the castle. Today’s target is the small village of Apolakkiá where – among the locals – you can observe the daily life on the village square from the terrace of your hotel.

  • Day 5 Apolakkiá – Lárdos, 52 km

    Although this stage is the longest of the whole tour, it is mostly flat and without significant gradients. You cycle in the extreme south of Rhodes through unspoilt villages like Kattavía and Lachaniá. Enjoy the peace for a lunch break in the shade of a plane tree. In Kiotári you will cycle direct on the east-side coast towards  Lárdos which is situated at a beautiful bay.
    Please note: The route goes 10 km through the area that was hit by a wildfire in July. However, there is no serious damage and new trees and shrubs have been planted along the road. Moreover, not the entire 10 km was affected, but fortunately large green areas were also spared. And after the rain this winter, the surface will be green again.

  • Day 6 Lárdos – Archángellos, 35 km

    First stop today will be in Líndos, a medieval town with a big castle built on the ruins of an ancient acropolis. Take a walk to the castle and discover the Doric columns of the ancient sanctuary. The white houses of Líndos contrast with the clear blue bays on both sides of the town. Crossing several river basins you’ll reach the region of Másari and Malóna. Enjoy your coffee or lunch in one of the villages with nice views over the orange and lemon tree areas. Through a beautiful green valley you will climb to Archángellos, the second biggest town on the island, dominated by the ruins of a castle.

  • Day 7 Archángellos – Kalavárda, 43 km

    A nice and quiet road goes downhill to Kolimbía, the last village on the eastern coast. When you’re not afraid of a short but steep climb, you can visit the Eptá Píges (Seven Springs) surrounded by peacocks. At Agios Nektários you’re invited into the church of the old monastery. A short climb brings you to the village of Eleoúsa, a former Italian garrison base, and to Foundoúkli, a Byzantine chapel with very old frescoes. Steep downhill the small road leads to Dimiliá and through a green valley you approach the western coast and Kalavárda. Having finished your tour, the beach of Kalavárda invites you for a swim.

  • Day 8 departure Kalavarda

    You will be taken from Kalavarda to the airport for your return flight. If you are leaving early in the morning, a taxi will take you from Rhodes City to the airport. Should you have a late departure on the last day then you might want to explore Rhodes city a bit more during the day. The bus connection from Kalavarda to Rhodes-city is excellent.

Cycling in Greece

Rhodes

Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the country. The average daily distance is around 45 kilometers. A road book is included (1x per room). GPS-tracks can be provided by e-mail.

What else do you need to know?

Prices in 2024

Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)

Per person in a 2-person room:

  • Every day from April 14 - May 10 € 765,-
  • Every day from May 11 - May 30 € 795,-
  • Every day from May 31 - June 26 € 805,-
  • Every day from June 27 - July 7 € 845,-
  • Every day from August  22 - August 27 € 845,-
  • Every day from August 28 - Sept. 13 € 805,-
  • Every day from Sept. 14 - Sept. 25 € 795,-
  • Every day from Sept. 26 - Oct. 27 € 765,-

No departures from July 8 to August 21

Per person in a single room (when traveling together)

  • Every day from April 14 - May 10 € 895,-
  • Every day from May 11 - May 30 € 965,-
  • Every day from May 31 - June 26 € 985,-
  • Every day from June 27 - July 7 € 1.055,-
  • Every day from August  22 - August 27 € 1.055,-
  • Every day from August 28 - Sept. 13 € 985,-
  • Every day from Sept. 14 - Sept. 25 € 965,-
  • Every day from Sept. 26 - Oct. 27 € 895,-

No departures from July 8 to August 21

Surcharge Solo traveler € 240,-

Rental bikes:

  • Tourfiets of ATB € 45,-
  • E-bike € 80,-

Included

  • 7 Nights in hotels based on 2-person room with bath/lavatory
  • Transfers from and to Rhodes airport, excluding own bicycle
  • 3 x Bed & Breakfast (day 1/6/7)
  • 3 x Halfboard (day 2/3/4)
  • 1x all inclusive light (day 5)
  • Luggage transports
  • Route descriptions, maps and GPS tracks
  • Help/service line and local co-worker (English speaking)

Not Included

  • Reservation costs
  • Dutch Guarantee Fund (Insolvency Protection)
  • Bicycle rental
  • 4 x Dinners, lunches and consumptions
  • Tourist tax between € 0,50 and € 3,- per room per night (to be paid on spot)
  • Excursions (entrance fee for museums/gardens/parks)
  • Personal insurance

Special details

  • This tour is operated by local partner
  • Please take good notice of our Terms & Conditions.
  • Help/service line and local co-worker (speaking English)
  • No bike insurance available for this tour
  • Program is subject to change without notice

Arrival Information

Upon arrival at the airport of Rhodes, the representative of Cycletours on Rhodes welcomes you. The transfer takes place by car, taxi or bus and takes about 15 minutes. He/she has a Cycletours-sign.

Return Information

If you have booked the flight, we kindly ask you to ensure that our representative has received all the information about your flight (flight number, departure time, plus the airline that issued your ticket). The information regarding the return transfer and your return flight will be hung up in the hotel or you will get this immediately communicated by one of our representatives. Always compare this information with the information on your flight ticket and in case of ambiguities please contact our representatives. In general you are required to check out of your hotel room in the morning, also in case of an evening flight. Although in the event of an evening flight, you are still allowed to use the facilities of the hotel to take a shower / freshen up before departure. When you extended your holiday in Rhodes on your own, you must ensure the reaffirmation and transfer to the airport yourself.

(Please note that the hotels listed are only examples and are subject to change. You will find your final hotel in the hotel list, which you will receive before departure)

  • Kalavarda, Rhodes

    Hotel Vouras is our home base in Rhodes, which also houses the bicycle workshop run by our Dutch staff. However, the Greek family-run hotel is small, so we sometimes have to divert to rooms in the area.

  • Émbonas

    Named after the island’s highest mountain, family-run Hotel Ataviros is situated in the village of Embonas in Rhodes. It has an all-day restaurant and a bar. Guests stay in airy rooms with stone-built walls and air conditioning.

  • Apolakkia

    Amaliahotel features a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden. At the hotel, rooms are equipped with a patio with a garden view. The accommodation offers a continental or à la carte breakfast.

  • Pefki

    Between Lardos and Pefki, the all-inclusive Hotel Sunrise has a free-form pool with separate children’s section and a bar. The hotel offers spacious rooms, some of which offer stunning views of the Aegean Sea and the hotel's large private beach. All meals at Hotel Sunrise are served in buffet style.

  • Archàngello

    Hotel Rosmari is just 600 m away from the village centre and a 10-minute drive from Tsambika beach. The family run hotel offers a terrace with view of the castle and air-conditioned rooms. The simple, traditionally decorated rooms with private balcony have a view of the garden. 

If you have reserved a rental bike, the specified size and type will be ready for you at the workplace (behind Hotel Vouras in Kalavarda). A repair kit, pump and spare inner tube are included. All bikes are equipped with a bike bag, bottle holder and a simple odometer. You need to bring a water bottle yourself (small bottles of spring water usually fit into the holder as well and are for sale everywhere in Greece). If desired you may bring your own card reading standard and mount it on your rental bike. 

By this tour you can rent the following bikes:

  • Rental Bike Rhodes

    Trek 200

    • 24 gears, rear rack, light and mudguards
  • Rental Bike Rhodes ATB

    Trek 4500 with:

    24th gear,  luggage rack and front suspension

  • Rental E-bike Rhodes

    24 gears from TREK (type T200) converted by us into an E-bike with an FMH conversion kit.

Accommodation

All breakfasts are included. Breakfast will be served between 8 and 10.30 a.m. Lunches are not included. The tour guide can suggest a nice restaurant where you can have lunch. Dinner is included on days 2, 3 and 4.

Kalavarda

Kalavarda is located 15 km from the airport and 35 km from the capital Rhodes Town. It is located in a tranquil part of the island, on the relatively cool north coast near sand beaches. In a little store and at the gas station you may buy a few supplies. In Fanes and Soroni (3.5 and 5 km on the way to Rhodes) you will find a supermarket, ATM, pharmacy, bakery and greengrocer. Kalavarda contains multiple dining facilities including seafood restaurants by the sea. The village square contains a variety of little cafes where you can drink an ouzo or coffee together with the old men from the village, or enjoy en nice diner or a Mezedes (a type of Greek tapas).

Greece is one of the countries where the euro is considered the legal currency. Besides the ATM’s mentioned above in Kalavarda’s surroundings, you will come across ATM's in nearly all towns except between Embonas and Lardos/Pefki.

In case of the use of medicines, you are allowed to take only the amount you need during the flight in your carry-on baggage. Also, bring along a statement from your doctor about your medication. Furthermore please check out the new EU security requirements. A pharmacy is located in Kalavarda. You will also come across many pharmacies on the way. Many medicines are available without a prescription. In Greece pharmacies also offer a limited first-aid service.

Luggage transport

This is a trip with luggage transport. We kindly but urgently ask you to take into account the following. For air travel luggage, a weight limit of 20 kilograms per person applies. This limit also applies to the carriage of luggage. In addition, the weight per suitcase / bag should not exceed the weight of 15 kilograms. Our preference goes out to a weight of approximately 10 kilograms each in regards to the health of our employees. You have to leave your luggage before 10 A.M. at the reception of your hotel of departure. The latest at 4.30 P.M. the luggage will be at your next hotel.

Clothing and Luggage

Wearing a good helmet can prevent serious injury in the event of a crash. During cycling it is advisable to wear a well fitting cycling-shirt that quickly absorbs and dissipates perspiration. Bike shorts with padding are recommended depending on your bike. Furthermore: a bag for the road, head protection (helmet), sunglasses and a camera.