A glorious week cruising and cycling through the Dodecanese in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Explore this remote and wild archipelago by traditional Turkish gulet, getting to know the character, mythology, and unique beauty of each island.
- Duration
- 7 nights
- Type
- Electric biking, walking, and sailing
- Price
- From From £5,950 per person
- Group size
- Maximum 10
- Good To Know
The price of your journey will depend on the boat available and the dates of travel. Ikiria is part of the North Eastern Aegean Islands, rather than the Dodecanese, but will be included in this journey.
Welcome to The Slow Cyclist
This voyage across the South Eastern Aegean will take you to seven of the less-visited islands in the charming Dodecanese. Inhabited since prehistoric times, each island has its own unique character and story. Although different in nature, the islands have experienced similar historical rhythms, with waves of powerful outsiders – from the Minoans, Persians, and Athenians to Romans, Crusaders, Venetians, Turks, and, more recently, Germans, Italians, British, and Greeks – each leaving their footprint. Throughout our laid-back journey, we will encounter the best of each island's wild nature, turquoise waters, and welcoming people who call these scattered islands their homes. I hope you will join us and have a wonderfully relaxing and fun week exploring.
Oli BroomFounder, The Slow Cyclist
The Journey
In true Slow Cyclist fashion, we’re turning it down a notch, sailing to and cycling across some of the most charming Dodecanese Islands, discovering their rugged beauty and varied and fascinating histories. You'll explore secluded beaches and fishing villages, dipping in the pristine turquoise waters that surround them. We begin our voyage in Bodrum, Turkey, where we embark on a traditional Turkish gulet. With our exceptional Turkish crew, we journey west from Bodrum, sailing into Greek waters before heading north and making our way to some of the most wild and remote islands in the Aegean.
Is It For Me?
Slow Cyclists are curious travellers with a bit of juice in their legs, approaching their time with us as an opportunity to explore rather than a test of fitness. That’s not to say we don’t pedal hard sometimes, just that we are often distracted by the food, history and people that make this place so special. When we see something interesting, we tend to stop and take it in rather than race by. If this sounds like your sort of holiday, we're pretty sure you'll love your time with us.
When to Go?
May, June, September and early October are the best times to sail and cycle in the Dodecanese. The islands are blessed with a typical Mediterranean climate with long, sunny and dry summers. Average temperatures in May, June and September are around 25 °C, and the sea reaches 25-26°C in September. The end of July and August are humid, so not as comfortable for walking and cycling. Most rain falls from late October to March and clear skies are the norm in the summer.
The Cycling and Walking
Cycling distances will be between 15 and 60 kms per day, and we use hybrid electric bikes as standard. The cycling consists mainly of quiet tarmac roads. Due to the nature of these small islands, we will sometimes be cycling on the island's only main road, and sometimes on quieter backroads. Our journey is suitable for almost all levels of cyclist and, whether you are a novice or experienced, our guides are skilled at spotting your ability and level of confidence and reacting accordingly. Walks will be no more than three hours and will not generally be technical. However, you should be comfortable walking on uneven ground up and downhill. There will always be someone travelling at your pace; this is a journey to take time over.
The Sailing
This is a Slow Cyclist journey with a difference; your home for seven nights will be a traditional Turkish gulet which will transport you from island to island. Boats may vary depending on dates, but all gulets have been hand-selected by our team and will include a dedicated, experienced crew. A highlight of any boat journey is the food, and you'll be amazed by what your onboard chef can whip up in a galley kitchen.
Food & Drink
We’ll travel with an exceptional chef who will create the seemingly impossible from their small below deck kitchen, using local food and produce purchased en route. Of course, there will be an abundance of seafood. Delicious breakfasts will be on board each day, and some lunches and dinners will be in tavernas on the islands. During the day we provide local fruit and snacks. Allergies and other preferences are noted at the time of booking.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Bodrum
Transfer from airport to Bodrum Marina 26 kms (45 minutes)
On your arrival in Bodrum, you'll be transferred to Bodrum Marina to board the traditional Turkish gulet, your home for the next seven nights. There will be time for a stroll around the bustling Bodrum Marina before dinner made by the gulet's exceptional chef.
Day 2 - Bodrum to Kalymnos
Late morning cycle 12kms - Afternoon cycle 21kms
After an early breakfast onboard, we will cruise to the town of Pothia on the small island of Kalmynos. The island was once the global centre for sponge diving and, while we wait for the port authority to approve our gulet for Greek waters, we'll visit a family-owned sponge shop. From here, we'll cycle east to Vathy, a small port set in a lush, fertile valley where we will stop for lunch at a local taverna. Finally, we cycle to the serene bay of Emporios where we anchor overnight and enjoy dinner on the boat.
Day 3 - Kalymnos to Patmos
Morning cycle 27 kms - Afternoon cycle 13 kms
In the turquoise waters of Emporios, we will enjoy an early morning swim before cruising to Patmos, home to the Cave of the Apocalypse where Saint John the Apostle supposedly wrote the Book of Revelation. By bike, we will discover the island's wild north, stopping at a small bay before returning to the medieval settlement of Chora with its narrow, maze-like alleys and stone houses. From here we head to the Cave of the Apocalypse before an afternoon cycle to the south of the island, visiting the island's highest point for spectacular views of the Aegean. The day ends with well-deserved sundowners in a quiet cove before dinner in a local taverna.
Day 4 - Patmos to Fourni
Walk 5.5kms
Today we cruise to remote and tranquil Fourni, where we'll take a break from the bikes and explore this picturesque island on foot. The island may be tiny, but it has a fascinating history; a hub of the ancient world, and once a pirate hideout, it is home to many ruins and in recent years, over 50 shipwrecks have been discovered dating from the 4th century BC through the 19th century AD . We will walk from the island's southern-most tip to its bustling harbour, a quintessentially Greek fishing village. There we will visit a small folk museum and if we're in luck, try Patras' chocolate cake - famous around the Dodecanese, and for good reason!
Day 5 - Fourni to Arki
Morning cycle 20kms - Afternoon cycle 20kms - Walk 4 kms
This morning, we will cruise from Fourni to Ikiria, where we will ride along quiet roads to the middle of the island for a walk through dramatic terrain. Ikiria's landscape is made up of gorges, rocky mountains and pristine beaches. The island's culture is also varied; the villages are known for parties with lots of food, wine and dancing, but Ikiria may be best known for its status as a Blue Zone where a third of residents live into their 90s. From the port of Agios Kirykos, we'll cruise to Arki where we will anchor overnight and enjoy dinner onboard.
Day 6 - Arki to Lipsi
Morning cycle 15 kms
Today we cruise from Arki to Lipsi. Circumnavigating little Lipsi by bike - it's only 8km long - we’ll ride quiet roads and tracks passing by orthodox churches. It’s a relaxing day really, one with plenty of time for swimming and kicking back on the boat. In the early evening we will wander up to a family owned winery to sample wine made from the revived local grape variety Fokiano, before heading into Lipsi town for dinner in a local taverna.
Day 7 - Lipsi to Bodrum
Morning cycle 40kms
From Lipsi, we cruise to Leros where we take our final and longest bike ride visiting the picturesque church of Agios Isidoros before having lunch at the family-owned Hadzidakis Winery. After lunch we’ll cycle back to our gulet to make our way back into Turkish waters and finally into Bodrum. There we will have our final dinner together onboard.
Day 8 - Bodrum and Departure
Transfer to airport 26 kms (45 minutes)
On our final morning together, we'll enjoy breakfast onboard the gulet before visiting Bodrum Castle, the fascinating underwater archaeological museum, and if there's time, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Lunch will be at your leisure (not included) before your transfer for Bodrum airport.
Practical Information
Guiding & Support
Our attention to detail sets us apart. You will be looked after by two of our local guides throughout. Each guide is fluent in English and is very familiar with the region you'll be travelling through. We’re sure you will become firm friends by the time you leave. As well as the two local guides, our exceptional Turkish gulet crew will look after you every step of the way.
Accommodation
Our home will be a fully crewed, traditionally designed wooden gulet with six to eight en suite cabins. The boat is beautifully presented with an exceptional team; you can truly make yourself at home with no need to pack and unpack each day. We provide our own pillows. The gulet may vary depending on availability.
Bikes & Safety
We take your safety seriously. You must wear a helmet when cycling and we cannot accept bookings from anyone unwilling to wear one. The bikes you'll be riding with us are electric bikes. You will be given a brief lesson in how to use them effectively before we start cycling. If you have any technical issues during your time with us, from squeaky brakes to punctures, please let us know and we’ll fix it. And finally, please don’t worry if you feel you are too slow or too fast for others in the group. We have a guide at the front and one at the back precisely for that reason. Please remember, we're not here to race; this is a journey to take time over.
Packing & Reading
Well in advance of your travels we will send you an online Information Pack including various details you need to know in advance. This will include a suggested packing list as well as some of our favourite books about the Dodecanese and Greece.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Pricing & Booking
Total in group |
Per person |
|---|---|
| 10 | From £5,950 |
| 8/9 | From £6,700 |
Extras |
|---|
We are often told how nice it is that almost everything is paid for up front. So, while you are with us you can forget about your wallet, relax and enjoy yourselves. Included are:
- Group airport transfers (1 x arrival, 1 x departure)
- Support team, vehicle and luggage transfers
- 2 x English-speaking local guides. Only 1 guide will be cycling with you and the second guide will be driving the support vehicle
- 7 x nights accommodation (single supplement not available)
- All meals, snacks and drinks
- All activities
- E-bike and helmet hire
- 100% financial security
- Tip for gulet and local teams
- 1% donation to local causes aligned with our values
- Flights
- Personal costs
- Travel insurance
- Visas (if required)
For private groups a 30% deposit is required from the group leader and, thereafter, from each member of the party. A minimum of 50% of the party are required to book and pay their deposit within one month of the group leader. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date.
If you are travelling on one of our Scheduled Journeys, we require a 30% deposit on the core trip price (i.e. not on any extras) at the time of booking. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date.
Please make sure you are familiar with our Standard Terms & Conditions before booking.
You will receive two emails shortly after booking. First, a payment receipt, then a second email explaining next steps. Within two working days you will then be contacted by a member of our Guest Services team who will look after and advise you in the lead up to your travels.
All of our experiences are covered by Trust My Travel who protect our travellers their payments
Flights
Included in our price is one transfer for the group on arrival and departure but flights themselves are not included and you are responsible for booking your own. There are lots of options between Bodrum, your arrival airport in Turkey and the UK each day but we have designed the itinerary around the flights below.
British Airways: London Heathrow 11:35 Bodrum 17:50
British Airways: Bodrum 18:50 London Heathrow 21:00
We recommend using Liz Rees to book flights. Her contact details are liz.rees@travelcounsellors.com or +44 7816 936876. Please let her know your departure dates.
Transfers
We will provide one transfer for the group on arrival and another on departure. If you need to look at alternative transport options because you are arriving or leaving earlier or later, we recommend contacting Liz Rees, who helps many of our guests with their supplementary transport requirements.
Protect the Planet
We are thrilled that increasing numbers of our guests are choosing to get to and back from their Slow Cyclist adventure in creative ways, for environmental reasons. We understand that this may not be practical, but urge you to consider doing so if you can make it work. Of course, you can undertake the research and book yourself, or Liz Rees can organise your journey for you.
The Dodecanese Islands, strategically located at the crossroads of civilizations, have a rich history. First inhabited by the Telchines and Iliads, they saw waves of newcomers, including the Cares and Achaies, who played a role in the Trojan War. The Greeks firmly established themselves in the 14th century, leaving traces of their presence with 18 settlements and Mycenaean findings. During the Dorian era, Rhodes, Kidnos, and Alikarnassos formed a league, a Dorian settlement of political and religious significance. Notable figures like Kleovoulos the Lindian, Hippocrates and Theocritus hailed from this region. Under Roman rule, Rhodes shaped maritime law, while Kos contributed to Hippocratic medicine. The Byzantine period saw the spread of Christianity, but the islands faced hardships under the Persians, Arabs, Venetians, Genoese and Ottomans. The Knights of St John took control in 1312, transforming Rhodes into a cultural and trade hub, fortified against Turkish invasions. In 1523, Ottoman rule replaced the Knights, marking a dark period of terror, destruction and religious conversions. The Greek revolution led to massacres. In 1912, the Ottomans ceded the islands to the Italians. Though they initiated public works and restorations, locals yearned for independence. In 1947, with the Treaty of Paris, the Dodecanese officially became part of Greece, ending centuries of foreign dominance.
Exceptional Quality
Our passion for creating exceptional shared experiences in places we love is reflected in the journeys we design. We don't rest on our laurels, seeking continued improvement and innovation so that you, our guests, are enriched around every bend in the road.
Community Driven
The Slow Cyclist was born as an antidote to mass tourism. All stakeholders, from our guests and team in the UK to our local guides, from food producers we work with to the communities whose lives we touch, must feel our influence and impact is positive.
Future Focused
We travel with a light footprint but that’s not enough. We can always do more. We are part of a generation that must act responsibly in business and in tourism; one that begins to restore our planet's biodiversity and delicate ecosystems.