Island Hopping

Why not extend your mountain biking holiday in Greece by doing a bit of Island Hopping while you're here. You can tag it on to the beginning or then end of your holiday and we will either pick you up or drop you off from the port of Rafina, included in the price. From Rafina you can travel to the following islands:

Evvia: the second biggest of the Greek Islands after Crete. Why not have an ouzo and fishes after visiting the castle at Karystos
Andros: well renownd for its many sandy beaches and many many churches
Tinos: a popular Greek pilgrimage destination
Mykonos: a popular holiday resort for Greeks and other Europeans

From Mykonos you can also catch a ferry to Santorini.

ferries from Rafina

Island Hopping timetable.


Andros	Ferry to Andros

Donkey on Andros	View of Evvia

sea plane island hopping

Air Sea Lines have a service from Lavrio port to some of the Aegean islands. Lavrio port is less than an hour drive from Nea Makri and the sea plane cuts down island hopping travel times by quite a bit. Lavrio to Mykonos is 25 minutes. Lavrio to Paros - 35 minutes, Lavrio to Santorini 55 minutes. They are also flights to Kos and Kalymnos from Lavrio.

Air Sea lines provide an island sight seeing tour.

Birdwatching tours

Why not take part in a special birdwatching tour?

Tour I: Imittos Mountain

Imittos (8123 hectares) is a long but narrow mountain (total length 20 km), with its highest peak reaching at 1026m, second highest in Athens, after Mount Parnitha. Starting from Kessariani area, officially an Aesthetic Forest, we walk in the pine and cypress forest, olive orchard, and Mediterranean shrub area. As we move towards the top, the landscape becomes more rocky and steep, with many aromatic plants such as thyme and oregano. An impressive panoramic view of all Athens is enjoyed from most parts of our trail.

TARGET SPECIES. Eleonorae's Falcon, Long-legged Buzzard, Hobby, Chukar, Hoopoe, Turtle Dove, Rock Nuthatch, Alpine Swift, Black-eared Wheatear, Cuckoo, Short-toed Treecreeper, Sombre Tit, Long-tail Tit, Alpine Swfit, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Subalpine Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Rueppell's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Rock Bunting, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Cirl Bunting.

Tour II: Schinias National Park

Schinias National Park (5000 hectares) is located at the NE part of Attiki, at the Marathon plain and if fringed by the lowlying mountains of Karoubalo, Pounta and Draconera. The marsh turns into a swamp in winter, receiving significant quantities of sea water subterraneously and fresh water from springs in autumn (changes in salinity).

Close to the historic city of Marathon, the extensive wetland which includes ponds, reed beds, rocky cliffs, pine forest and seashore has recently become an official National Park, the third around Athens region. As many as 6 observatories can be used by birdwatchers, while a maze of paths is covering practically most of the area.

The site remains an ecological quality despite its proximity to Athens. This is comprised of the following elements: 1) a variety of habitats with rapid interchange in a relatively small area, 2) its flora is rich in common species and also contains endemic and local endemics, 3) its fauna contains strictly protected species (birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish), 4) the area is very important for migratory birds as one of the few resting places, whereby spring and autumn routes traverse the peninsula of Attiki. At least 180 bird species have been recorded over the last years.

TARGET SPECIES: All Herons, Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, Eleonorae's Falcon, Hobby, Long-Legged Buzzard, Spotted Eagle, Hoopoe, Turtle Dove, Marsh Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Blue Rock Thrusch, Alpine Swfit, Red-rumped Swallow, Penduline Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Moustached Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler.

TOUR III: Combination of the above, plus Pendeli Mt, Vravrona Estuary


Rueppell's Warbler	Cretzschmar's Bunting

Schinias National Park

Car Hire

Why not take some time out to drive around the area and take in the beaches, scenery and historical sites. We can organise a hire car at very reasonable rates. The car can be dropped off and picked up from the Thomas Beach Hotel. We don't advise you drive into the centre of Athens.


Evvian Goats	Remote Taverna, Mt. Ochi


Athenian Warrior - Marathon	Marathon Lake

Snorkeling

There are many rocky coves and inlets in the surrounding area, where you can see many different types of fish and other sea life. Snorkeling kit (mask, snorkel and flippers) can be hired for 20 euros. We can take you or direct you to the best places.

Water Sports

At Schineas there is a water sports centre where you can learn or perfect your water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kite surfing, dinghy and offshore sailing.

Sight Seeing in Athens

Athens has a weath of monuments, archaeological sites and museums. It also has its' famous flea market - If this is your thing, then you can take the bus and/or metro to get you into Monastiraki - the heart of Athens. We can lend you maps and guide books.

Diving

Zouberi Dive Club is just down the road from us.

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The Athens Classic Marathon

History

Among all the Olympic events, the Marathon Race stands out because it was born by a real historic and heroic event.

It was a feat accomplished by a news-bearing foot soldier from ancient Athens, who announced - with his last words - the victory of the Greeks against the Persians in the battle of Marathon (490bc).

The 42,195m Marathon Race became one of the most competitive events when the Olympic Games were revived in 1896. A Greek athlete by the name of Spyros Louis, running what has ever since been referred to as the 'Original Course' from the ancient city of Marathon to the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens, won the gold medal of the first modern Olympic Games and became a legend of Greek and international athletics. The Marathon Race has always had a prominent place in the hearts and minds of sports enthusiasts, as it represents the highest effort where the human body, soul and mind are tested to their limits as the runner presses himself/herself to the finish line.