Greece: Five Days, Five Islands - Video

Sep 24, 2016
by Mike Gamble  
Views: 8,569    Faves: 40    Comments: 4

It was sometime late last fall that I got a call from Chris Winter, of Big Mountain Bike Adventures, "Let's go to Greece, sail around and go biking on different Islands". I was sold, and from that point, all I could think about was floating on the Aegean and riding my bike in another country. The seasons soon changed and we were prepping our departure for Istanbul, Turkey. We had slight concerns about travelling through this area of the world, due to recent political instability, our concerns were put to rest upon arrival into the town of Bodrum, from where we would end our travelling and begin our adventure.

Arriving not far off midnight, we were met with warm hearts and cold beers, which after nearly 24hrs of travel certainly eased the soul as we put our heads to rest before departing for the Greek Island of Leros the next day. We awoke to breakfast from the onboard chef, only to find ourselves sailing through the history riddled waters of the Aegean Sea on a 120ft yacht.
Landing in the port at Leros, we climbed 1000ft to the Castle of Leros, which offered incredible views of the landscape and surrounding ocean. Exploring till sunset, we arrived at a small chapel in the sea to watch the day disappear.

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Waking at 5am to the sunrise, whilst everyone else on the boat was asleep, was for me, the most peaceful moments of the trip. We were heading toward the Island of Patmos, where we would spend the day exploring its network white alleyways and small coffee shops, before dropping into one of the rocky trails that snakes its way from the ancient windmills, 800ft above sea level, back to the boat, at sea level. We continued onto the small Island of Lipsi for a quick ride before dinner and dancing at a local taverna. Quickly discovering that, even though it's the smallest island, it has the highest concentration of chapels for its population. 50:500, there's also a lot of rock. By far, this was one of the most beautiful islands we visited, with exceptional scenery and technical trails overlooking nothing but turquoise waters.

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

At some point we had to turn around and head back to the mainland, luckily we still had a few more islands to visit on the way!

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Greece Five Days Five Islands

Kos, our last stop before returning to Bodrum, one of the larger islands visited, welcomed us with a castle perched precariously on top of a massive rock. Obviously we had to check it out and scope some lines around its ramparts. A five-day trip to Greece seemed like travelling a really long way, for a really short trip. Afterwards, it felt like we'd been on a 2-week vacation. The amount of riding and travelling we squeezed into such a short space of time was mind-blowing. Each Island visited was completely different to the next and added to the excitement of discovering each islands charm. Get in touch with Big Mountain Bike Adventures about creating your own Greek Island trip with a group of friends. You won't be disappointed!

Thanks to Chris Winter - Ride Big Mountain Bike Adventures


MENTIONS: @mike-gamble



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mike-gamble avatar

Member since Feb 7, 2005
16 articles

34 Comments
  • 27 1
 Nice trip but the easiest way to travel through the islands is from the Greek mainland. There are ships and aeroplanes all year long. We will be more than happy to give informations and help all the MTBers that will visit our country. If you wish check the site of Hellenic Mountain Bike Association and the facebook team page
www.mtbhellas.gr.
www.facebook.com/groups/321733767909462
  • 9 0
 Nice! Greece has a huge variety of terrain to explore, but it's not on the map yet as a riding destination. Mostly natural trails, but lately some man made and maintained too. And as much as famous the aegean & ionian islands are, the mainland has so much to offer. A few ski resorts have allready started operating as bikeparts during the summer, but you will mostly find rugged, natural trails and a huge array of conditions all year long. Plus you can ride anywhere legally. For a mtb focused vacation I recommend autumn and spring, as our summer can get brutally hot for riders not used to high temps.
  • 1 0
 Don't suppose you know if the trails in Lemnos are any good?
  • 3 0
 @piersgritten: Haven't been there myself so no, (although consider it for windsurfing mainly) but a co-worker vacations there every year and loves the place. Not the most mountainious place in Greece and can get pretty windy sometimes. There's certainly a lot of XC riding availiable as there are a lot on dirtroads leading to isolated beaches, not sure about more gravity oriented riding.

Not much help I know, but I'm not really familiar with the island in biking terms. I can recommend it for kiting/windsurfing though, it's a very polular destination.

People are friendly and prices very reasonable as I'm told.
  • 1 0
 @justwan-naride: thanks for the help!
  • 2 0
 @piersgritten: Try Lesvos. Just spent 5 weeks there. Awesome weather and very good riding. Mt Olympus rises to just under 1000m. Can descend all the way to the beach on rugged single track and ancient cobbled paths. Good to grab some locals from the bike shop to show you around. The island is literally full of single track.
  • 3 0
 Also, the locals would love showing travellers around. Rides organised normally 3 or 4 times a week from the shop in the main town, Anagno Cycles. A small ring on the front is recommended!
  • 5 0
 One should try two-three days of trail riding around safe city of Athens (lots of trails only 20km from Acropolis) before taking the ship/plane to any of the Greek islands. Your family can visit the museums in the morning and you can enjoy natural trails. Great deal!
  • 5 0
 Although Greece is famous for the sun and the beaches, 80% of the mainland is mountainous. A true paradise for mountain bike adventures. This is not advertized however extensively thus it is only available mainly to the locals and the connaisseurs of the sport.
Great video and scenery I can even smell the Aegean breeze...
  • 7 0
 I'm getting married on Santorini next year. If only I could convince my fiancé that we should do this…
  • 2 0
 The best choice ever for a wedding. You will enjoy it the most.
  • 2 0
 @TZAK: Terribly overcrowded during the summer season though unfortunately. But I have to admit that all of the Greece islands have hills which look very bike friendly.
  • 1 0
 @Archimonde: there is a trail there that I did. it's from the top of the highest mountain where there is a monastery... don't remember the name ! is super cool !
  • 3 0
 For those interested in trail riding in the mainland, check out Molista riding area in Trailforks
www.trailforks.com/region/molista-13357

And feel free to join the facebook page to get more info about one of the most virgin mountainous areas of Greece
www.facebook.com/groups/124354425505
  • 5 0
 We honeymooned in the islands 10yrs ago and I would constantly find myself looking for trails and lines in the hillsides as I sipped a cold Mythos.
  • 6 0
 C-c-c camelbak camelbak yeah yeah
  • 1 0
 Nice Video,very good photography,you must had great fun judging from the video.Nice to see the Patmos scenes(old town), since I have been there this summer myself, but didn't bring the mtb, had a good time anyway, maybe next time.
  • 1 0
 I was biking 9 years ago in Creta, there was a really nice hotel in Aigos Nicolaos:

www.martinbike.com/en/index.php

I spent 3 days biking with the group and the guide, was real fun, even though it was a bit warm at the end of August. September should be perfect...
  • 1 0
 I spent a Summer on Crete as a kid - I need to get back there. I was at Vai Beach when only some old hippies were there living in the cliff caves - no hotels yet.
  • 1 0
 Which islands did you visit? I'm Looking forward to going to Lemnos soon but have no idea what the trails are like
  • 1 0
 Nice overall view of the Greek islands!
Also nice choice of song! Name of it?
  • 2 0
 Thanks. Song is - Max Brodie - Take a Chance On Us.
  • 1 0
 We went island hopping summer 91, it was fucking hot, not good for riding but what an amazing adventure.
  • 1 0
 Cool writeup. I have to say that the photos all seem a bit underexposed to my eye. Are they actually stills from video?
  • 2 1
 How was the food? Love Greek food!
I can picture Zeus standing on the top of mountains!
Intriguing landscape!
  • 5 0
 Funny you say that... because if you ever visit the top of Mt Olympus, there is a formation on the face of the rocks that under the right light conditions looks like the face of zeus.

fysiolatris.gr/images/stories/galleries/2013/ekdromi26-29.6.13/o.JPG
  • 1 0
 Awesome clip. At 2:44 was that Fiskardo, on Kefalonia?
  • 3 0
 Fiskardo is on the west side of Greece (Ionian sea).
This video is filmed in Aegean Sea, at the east side of Greece.
  • 4 0
 @TZAK: Efkaristo!
  • 1 0
 Nice video boys !
  • 1 0
 Thanks @Bazosh !
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