Chris & Helen Ward’s
Cycling and outdoor activities
THE PELOPONNESE, GREECE
THE PELOPONNESE IN GREECE - CYCLING’S NEXT DISCOVERY
Join us at ‘Breakaway Greece’ to cycle our ‘Lap of the Gods’ routes, and enjoy the very best cycling week or one of the many other outdoor activities we organise, from our villa, overlooking the Saronic Gulf, in the outdoor paradise of the Peloponnese. Just 90 minutes from Athens, it’s like the Greek island of your youth – beautiful, quiet and a place where simply life itself feels rich - rich with routes, history, culture and the taste and smells of local cuisine.
The Peloponnese is the Mallorca of Greece - a peninsula on the mainland, with amazing beaches, behind which lay simply the best coastal roads, and hillside climbs. But here we cycle to famous Greek islands and huge amphitheatres, over the oldest standing bridge in the world, to the first capital of Greece and the best bakeries, coffee shops, beaches and tavernas that the Peloponnese has to offer.
CYCLE A ‘LAP OF THE GODS’ THROUGH ANCIENT HISTORY
Join us to ride our ‘Lap Of The Gods’. A week of routes that take in legendary climbs and stunning descents that carry you back through time, to enjoy morning coffee stops at the epic sites from some of history’s greatest literature, whilst short ferry trips take you out to enjoy lunch on special islands - Hydra, Spetses and Poros.
You can cycle the tough climbs the pros ride and beautiful coastal roads with your own bike or by hiring anything from top-end road bikes to e-bikes. I have cycled around much of the world and will guide or plot your trip, so whether you are here to train hard or just enjoy great riding, you will return home feeling challenged, refreshed, and inspired.
Itinerary
We can personalise weeks for anyone from regular weekly cyclists to professional teams. Each rider can enjoy tough-as-you-want, beautiful and rewarding cycling. Check out our sample routes. Our very best daily rides start at about 80km and 900m of climbing. We normally head out after a hearty breakfast on one of our numerous routes, taking us along the coast or into the hills for a coffee stop by the beach or an ancient site. A bit more cycling takes us into a harbourside town for lunch before looping back to Epidavros for refreshments and a late afternoon swim. We generally guide our rides but can provide routes and notes for those who want to self-guide.
Come ride the Peloponnese yourself but be quick before the whole cycling world discovers Greece, cycling magazines and TV shows have been to visit us and we will only ever provide for small groups - that works best for guests and locals - so we fill our limited spaces quite quickly.
ENJOY OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES…
OR JUST RELAX.
There is something for every outdoor lover in the Peloponnese (not just cyclists!) - bays to swim in, volcanos to hike, forest running and walking routes, hot natural spring baths to soak in and all water sports to avoid getting soaked in. Visits to ancient sites, beautiful villages and beachfront cafes and restaurants. Tastings with local food producers and at wineries. We have bikes, e-bikes and motorbikes for hire, places to write, relax or create, places to shop, to explore and even a disco to dance the night away.
Come with your cyclist partner or friends or come alone, but however you enjoy your me-time, this is the place to do it. (more)
HELEN AND CHRIS ARE YOUR HOSTS
Being from a Greek family, and with a lifetime living it, Helen is in charge of all your hospitality!
Chris is in charge of cycling and our outdoor activities. “I have been fortunate to have not just cycled in Mallorca and Girona with thousands of others, but also to the Great Wall of China, Mount Everest, North Korea and Australia and to have bike-packed across India, Bangladesh, Central America and Taiwan and also represented GB in the amateur world championships, became the oldest Briton to cycle up Mount Ventoux six times in a day, ridden almost every Grand tour climb and guided groups throughout Europe - but it was when I cycled along the Peloponnese coast from Poros island to here in Epidavros, I knew I’d found an outdoor paradise.”
“I love cycling and the outdoors; for the exploring, physical workout and peace of mind, it provides. With those ingredients, life itself can feel rich and it is that feeling and way of life that we want to provide and share with our guests.”
FINISH YOUR BREAK FEELING FITTER, REFRESHED AND INSPIRED
When you leave us in the outdoor paradise of the Peloponnese, you should feel physically refreshed, and mentally inspired by a break, where just life itself feels rich.
Penny Brown - Review
Chris and Helen have cultivated the perfect retreat in one of the most beautiful, historic, and unspoilt parts of the world. Watching the sunrise over the sea from my balcony each morning, followed by a relaxed breakfast in a true home-away-from-home, set the tone for each day. The cycling was challenging but stunning, and the smooth road surface, friendly drivers, local coffee shops and authentic tavernas, not to mention the stop-offs at sites steeped in history and the promise of a dip in the sea and a kilo of wine at the end of the day, made every ride exceptionally rewarding.
Chris and Helen have immersed themselves so well into the community that I rarely felt like a tourist. We were greeted by locals at every turn, and I was even handed a freshly picked orange by a motorcyclist to encourage me while climbing one of the steeper inclines on a hot afternoon. Evenings were spent in local tavernas, enjoying live music and hearing tales of Epidavros that matched the historic legends of the area.
Other highlights include snorkelling the sunken city, walking through orange groves, shopping in Nafplio, and taking a break from cycling at Methana volcano by sitting in a natural jacuzzi overlooking the Aegean sea.
This is a retreat to rival the nearby ancient Sanctuary of Asklepios - the world’s first health sanctuary - stunning scenery, nourishing food, great entertainment and company, crystal waters, and unbelievably challenging yet rewarding cycling.
The reality is even better than described! I will certainly be making more pilgrimages here in the years to come! ”
Penny Brown
GALLERY
THE PELOPONNESE - AN OUTDOOR PARADISE, JUST 1.30HR FROM ATHENS.
Our Gravel rides are in association with ALPKIT SONDER bikes.
