Arcadia - Messene (legends and myths in Peloponnese)
You will meet and be greeted in the head offices where you will get acquainted with your BMW rental motorbike. You will do a short briefing on the tour, the itinerary, and then you will take off for the tour.
Arcadia lies at the center of the Peloponnese peninsula and its varied landscape, the large mountains (Mainalo and Parnonas) and Argolis Bay make it an ideal year round motorcycle destination. It presents landscapes of incomparable beauty, areas of exciting archaeological interest, and historic locations. Its first inhabitants were the Arcadians, one of the oldest most prominent tribes of the Peloponnese.
Nowadays, the villages of Dimitsana, Stemnitsa, Vytina, and Laggadia fulfil every travelers' dream by offering excellent services, traditional accommodation in stone built mansions, and provide exquisite local cuisine.
In Dimitsana, you’ll visit the library, the open-air Water-Power Museum, and be impressed with the amphitheatrical built of this unique village.
In Stemnitsa, you’ll admire the clock tower of St George’s Orthodox Church, as well as the Monasteries of Prodromos and the Philosofos Monastery.
In Karytaina, you’ll be impressed by the architecture as well as the amazing castle of one of the most well-fortified ones in the Peloponnese.
Messene, located at the southwest of the Peloponnese, will simply captivate you. Its vast olive groves, rivers, mountains, gorges, and coves coupled with exquisite sandy beaches will realize every travelers dream.
Ancient Messene, where Nestor ruled, is a stunning site that lies in a serene valley, surrounded by the Arcadian Mountains on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other; a truly a spectacular setting.
The remains of this tremendous ancient city are complete with a grand ancient stadium, an Ancient Agora, an ancient theatre with a capacity of up to ten thousand spectators, and a fountain house.
It is so well-maintained that you can easily envision the city in all of its glory. There is also a museum located directly next to the archeological site, which is home to the thousands of findings uncovered by archaeologists.
Methoni and Koroni will simply leave you in awe. The castles of Methoni and Koroni (actually a fortified city) are some of the most important and most beautiful castles in Greece.
Methoni was built by the Venetians after 1209 at a strategic location, on a rock penetrating the sea and is separated from the land by an artificial moat whereas Koroni existed since the seventh Century AD and reconstructed by the Venetians in the 13th Century.
Nowadays both fortresses, even though in ruins, continue to be impressive and will simply mesmerize you. All these and much more will accompany the traveler who decides to participate in this spectacular four-day motorcycle tour.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Athens to Agia Fotini, Kapsias Cave System, and then on to Lagkadia (219 kilometers / 136 miles)
- Day 2: Lagkadia to Ancient Olympia cyclical route (194 kilometers / 121 miles)
- Day 3: Lagkadia via Messene to Kalamata (302 kilometers / 188 miles)
- Day 4: Kalamata to Athens (246 kilometers / 153 miles)
Skill levels required for this tour
Beginner:
- can ride for 2-3 hours
- minimal riding experience
- assistance required
- comfortable with curves and leans
- basic experience with unsurfaced roads
- short distance ascents and descents
Intermediate:
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents