ACT Greece (Guided Tour)

“Adventure Country Tracks offers Real Adventure in Ancient Greece”

Key Info

Start Location: Athens, Greece Finish Location: Athens, Greece Duaration: 10 days Distance: TBC Riding Difficulty: Difficult – Experience Essential Unpaved Tracks: 40% approx. Dates: See guided tours calendar Price PPS: See guided tours calender

This is an authentic multi-day adventure ride which is suitable for big adventure bikes, for experienced riders, and combines incredible natural scenery with a thoroughly enjoyable riding experience. It’s never been easier to take that step into real motorcycle adventure on trails that take you away from population into empty valleys, up windswept hills and mountains, through beautiful nature along empty sinuous country roads and tracks.

Phone: +353 (0)53 9422415 Email: [email protected] Web: www.overlanders.ie

Background Info - Adventure Country Tracks (ACT) takes the classic Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) concept of a border-to- border route and so follows a north-south path down the east side of Portugal – only it doesn’t run arrow straight, instead curving east and west as it picks out places of interest or tags onto trails of exceptional interest or beauty. It is inspired in the Backcountry Discovery Routes successfully implemented by Touratech USA in the past. The goal of ACT is to guide adventure motorcyclists to routes that are legal to ride and are environmentally and socially compatible and to create a mutually beneficial relationship between adventure motorcyclists and the rural communities and businesses of Europe. This is what adventure motorcycles were created for.

2016 saw the launch of Adventure Country Tracks and the first track in Portugal. The ACT concept has been a huge hit and become very popular. Our first ACT Portugal Tour was completed in May 2016. In succession to Portugal the ACT Greece was released in the Autumn of 2017. Being big fans of Greece from both our road tours in 2016 and 2017 plus our endeavours in the Hellas Rally 2017 we know Greece has an unbelievable amount of some of the most spectacular trails in all of Europe. Just waiting to be ridden!

WARNING: The Greece ACT is an adventure tour of medium/high difficulty and depending on the weather and the condition of the track, it could be quite difficult! We strongly advise off road training and recent experience in advance of the trip. As we’ll be crossing the most remotes tracks of the Greek back-country, it’s important to pay attention to every detail and to be prepared for all the possible situations, because in many of these regions it won’t be possible to find help nearby…

Included in this trip: (Please note we endeavour to provide as many inclusions as possible in an effort to make the trip easier and more transparent for the customer.)

• Return transport to/from Athens, Greece • Experienced tour guides • Bed & breakfast accommodation in quality hotels and guest houses. Possible one night wild camping. • Support Vehicle

Not Included: • Flights • Lunch and evening meals • Fuel • Personal Travel Insurance • Anything not listed above.

Phone: +353 (0)53 9422415 Email: [email protected] Web: www.overlanders.ie

Route Itinerary The actual Greece ACT track (920km of which 45% is off road) is designed as a 5 day route but we will be doing it over the course of 6 days in order to appreciate the remoteness as much as possible and also to make some of the more difficult sections a little easier. We will also have the opportunity to ride some of the Trans Euro Trail getting to the starting point of the ACT track and also after completing the ACT track on route back to Athens

Day 1 – With an early start we depart Athens and head west in search of the mountains of South Central Greece to our starting point of the ACT track at the beautiful town of Nafpaktos on the Corinthian Gulf. Along the way we will have the opportunity to travel along some of the TET and also to visit Delphi for anyone that is interested. Nafpaktos is a beautiful coastal town were the big adventure starts. We strongly recommend a visit to the castle, were you can be delighted by an amazing view and then to spend the afternoon and evening on the harbour area, enjoying the relaxed environment and the warming atmosphere of the bars and restaurants around this place.

This first off-road day will lead us to Kalavryta, a city in the middle of the mountains of Peloponnisos. To cross the Gulf of Corinth on our way south, we have two options, the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge or by boat. If we have the opportunity and the time, we will cross it by boat and then take the bridge on the next day, were the schedule will be tighter.

After we cross of the Gulf we’ll be climbing the mountains immediately amidst beautiful landscapes. After this, we’ll get to the interior of the Peloponnisos region, crossing several mountains until reaching Kalavryta, final destination of day one. Despite being a day with not that many kilometres, it can still be a long riding day, depending on the condition of the track. In case of bad conditions there are two alternatives available to shorten the distance. If we have the time to do the full track we won’t hesitate because the last section of the day is a remarkable riding experience.

This is a long day of riding, so an early start is in order. The track direction changes to the north, crossing again the Gulf of Corinth and keeping the riding close to the sea line. Then the track starts to go up to the higher regions and we’ll have once again the Gulf of Corinth as our main landscape as well as the mountains we’ve crossed the day before. Up on the mountain, lake Mornou will be our company for some kilometres. By this lake, on the small town of Lidorik, we’ll have to refuel, because it will only be possible again to refuel on the end of the next day. The day end’s up in Ano Chora a beautiful small town surrounded by mountains.

Phone: +353 (0)53 9422415 Email: [email protected] Web: www.overlanders.ie

There’s a small, but nice, restaurant where we can enjoy some local food.

The sunrise in Ano Chora can be pretty delightful and it shows us the kind of landscape that will be with us on the third day of the ACT ride. Even though it’s not a long day in terms of distance, it will provide an intense off-road experience, with a not so fast track to a truly amazing mountain landscape. On the middle, there is a rocky section that should be avoided if anyone feels already tired and the alternative route should be used instead. On the final of this stage, after crossing the Panaitoliko Mountain, we’ll arrive on Karpenisi, the place to refuel the motorcycles and also the human stomachs. Here, it’s easy to find motorcycle- shops, supermarkets, restaurants and hotels.

An easy day is in order today with opportunity for rest or some local exploration. For those keen on some camping, 30kms ahead, already on the track of day 4, we’ll find the perfect spot, a huge valley, near the old Viniani Bridge, that crosses the river Tavropos. The place is absolutely stunning.

Day 6 starts with an amusing sequence of asphalt twists and turns that will thrill you. Afterwards, already doing off-road, the track will change a little, becoming faster on the moment we enter the Agrafa Mountains. On these mountains we’ll follow the river Agrafiotis, on a really fun off-road section. On the track we’ll find the colourful Restaurant / Coffee shop Neromylos, the right place to rest and to charge our battery’s for the remaining kilometres of the day. After passing the village of Agrafa, we’ll climb to 1700 metres, were the mountain landscape causes a big impact for its beauty and magnificence. From here we’ll be going down until we reach the huge lake of Plastira. And just by the lake rests the village of Neochori, were our day 4 ends.

In the morning, we’ll refuel just outside of Neochori. The first part of the track starts with 13kms of hard off-road, which should be avoided if it rains the day or night before. After a sequence of asphalt roads where we can have some fun, with also some parts of easy and fast off-road track in the middle, always in the mountains, we’ll reach the beautiful town of Metsovo. From here, we follow to Monodendri, on a very entertaining asphalt road to reach our final destination, Vikos Gorge. Here, we have to stop the bikes and follow on foot for 200m until the viewpoint. The last ACT Greece mission is to enjoy the breath-taking scenery and be involved with the feeling of excitement and

Phone: +353 (0)53 9422415 Email: [email protected] Web: www.overlanders.ie

` satisfaction of completing this amazing track.

Day 8 | Start: Vikos Gorge | End: Nafpaktos | LENGTH: 380km

Having reached the most northerly point on tour we turn west and south in search of Ionian Sea and follow the coast south back to Nafpaktos. For anyone still looking for more off road we have the option to follow some of the TET once again.

Day 9 | Start: Nafpaktos | End: Galixidi | LENGTH: 70km

Intended to be an easy ‘rest’ day its a very short ride if we go directly to Galixidi but there are many options for scenic road or off-road routes on either side of the Gulf…

Day 10 | Start: Galixidi | End: Athens | LENGTH: 210km

Being our last day’s biking in Greece it’s a quick run to Athens in time for the flight home.

FAQ:

1. What riding gear: We suggest bringing full summer type/ventilated protective motorcycle riding gear with removal inner/outer waterproof layer. Average temp SHOULD be in the mid teens to mid twenties. However in the mountains temperatures can drop to single figures. Off road type body protection is highly recommend including good torso, back, hip, knee and ankle protection. We would also suggest hydration backpacks. Travel Light! 2. Bike Preparation: As the route involves off road sections we highly recommend the following. Please call us for further info: a. Suitable adventure style motorcycle b. Off road biased tyres c. Sufficient engine, radiator, fairing and sump protection 3. Travel Insurance: ESSENTIAL - Travel Insurance including medical repatriation (make sure and check that you’re covered for a motorbike trip – a lot of policies have fine print stating you’re not covered over a certain cc). 4. Navigation: There will be a .gpx file available for upload to your Sat Nav

Checklist of the more important things: • Travel Insurance (with large cc motorbike cover) • Any medication plus pain killers, headache tablets, anti-histamine, motillium, Imodium, rehydration salts, sun cream etc. • Passport valid for over six months • Drivers Licence

Phone: +353 (0)53 9422415 Email: [email protected] Web: www.overlanders.ie

We will be providing a more detailed itinerary in due course. Please note that this is an outline route and maybe subject to change.

EXPLORE DREAM DISCOVER “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did ” Mark Twain

Phone: +353 (0)53 9422415 Email: [email protected] Web: www.overlanders.ie