Aphrodite moto tour

The Aphrodite Moto tour will take participants to some of the most fascinating areas of Greece, Eastern Macedonia and western Thrace.

Some of the tour's highlights include:

- the city of Xanthi with the mansions and narrow roads of the scenic old town
- the forests of Rodopi Mountains - an area of unique natural beauty; including the Frakto forest, the only forest in Europe with no human activity the last 500 years
- the aesthetic forest and the meanders in the gorge and the lagoons in the delta of Nestos river, and
- Lake Kerkini, one of the best places for bird watching in Europe.

There are also more places of interest to visit on this tour, like the archaeological sites of Amphipolis, Philippi, Thasos, and Avdira, the Natural History museum at Paranesti and important wild life areas. This is a motorcycle tour, so participants will travel on great country roads, and have the chance to experience true Greek countryside life.

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This itinerary applies to guided tours, and is recommended for individual travellers.

Day 1
Participants will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel, in the centre of Thessaloniki.  Guests who arrive early will have time to relax or walk in the town, before meeting again for the welcome dinner.

Thessaloniki is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to the great number of Byzantine monuments. But it is a mistake to believe that this is the only interesting thing about the city. In fact, there are so many attractions to visit and enjoy that tourists will just get a taste of them.

Depending on their arrival time, guests may visit the archaeological and the Byzantine culture museums, the Eptapirgio or Yedi Cule (Thessaloniki's Acropolis), churches of great interest including those of Agios Demetrius, Agia Sophia, Acheropiitos and the monasteries of Vlatades and Osios David. Guests may have time to enjoy ouzo and meze before continuing to the Roman agora (market) and the numerous cafes on the waterfront. A walk in the city centre and a drink in a cosy bar is a must before returning to the hotel.

Day 2
Participants will ride to the small scenic town of Arnea, through a dense oak tree forest, on a narrow twisting road. After a refreshing short stop under the huge plane tree it will be time to continue to Olympiada, named after Alexander the Great's mother. A small detour will lead to the ruins of the castle of Redina and an old monastery in small, leafy valley.

The tour route will pass the impressive Amphipolis Lion standing by the road as a memorial to a great victory of Phillip II, and continue on the coastal road to Kavala. Participants can stop for a swim at one of the numerous fine beaches next to the road. In Kavala is the Roman Aqueduct and Imaret, a very well preserved building from the Ottoman era, now converted into a luxury hotel.

The final destination for the day is the quiet village of Toxotes which lies next to Nestos River, less than 30 minutes from Kavala.

Day 3(R)
The tour will head to the small port of Keramoti with a long golden beach, next to the Nestos Delta. A short detour will lead to the river delta, and the ferry takes participants to the island of Thasos or Limenas in about 40 minutes.

It is about a 90 kilometre ride around the island on winding roads by the sea, under the shade of pine and olive trees. There will be stops at the scenic settlement of Ano Prinos, the great beaches and many villages. Participants will have to return to Limenas in time to catch the last ferry.

Day 4(R)
Participants will visit Nestos river valley, just a few kilometres from the hotel, where they can walk next to the river and the rail lines.

The city of Xanthi is 10 kilometres away, and it is famous for its old town, the traditional sweets and the fact that it is a multicultural, colourful town. Participants will continue to Porto Lagos, a fishing village situated between the sea and Lake Vistonida, a Ramsar convention site. Apart from its great natural significance, Porto Lagos is known for the small monastery of Agios Nikolaos, built on a small island in the lagoon, and for the nearby beach of Fanari.

The next stop is the archaeological site of Avdira, the hometown of Democritus. The return to Toxotes is through corn fields and scenic agricultural villages. A winding road leads to the top of the mountain above Toxotes, which overlooks the Nestos Valley meandering below. The bikers can admire the sunset before dining near the river.

Day 5
Participants will head for the mountains on the fifth day. They will ride through Xanthi once again, where they can buy more sweets if they wish, before taking the beautiful mountain road to Stavroupoli, where there is a stop for a coffee at the small scenic square.

The group will follow an unpaved road for a few kilometres, climbing on the mountain slopes, into the forest. Thereon, the road is freshly paved and perfectly designed for bikers, with nice turns and great views. The road leads to the Forest Village, high on the mountain and then to Livaditis, hidden behind the mountain peaks. The descent to Paranesti offers breathtaking views of Nestos valley, where the bikers will stay the night.

With the luggage left at the hotel, the group will continue with a loop ride to the great Dam of Thisaurus (treasure), the largest in Greece. After lunch, participants can relax or follow the guide and explore some beautiful small roads in the area.

Day 6(R)
The group will go high on the mountains of Rodopi and deep into the forest, reaching the entrance of Frakto Virgin Forest. This area is protected and no human activity has been recorded for about 500 years. Entrance is not allowed of course, but that is not a problem, as the surrounding areas are equally beautiful. The tour will continue on small unpaved roads to Elatia Forest or Kara Dere (Black Forest).

At Elatia the journey will continue on paved roads towards Skaloti and follow the artificial lake of Thesaurus Dam back to Paranesti. It is possible to avoid the unpaved road by riding 50 extra kilometres, but as the total distance on unpaved roads is only 70 to 80 kilometres, and every metre a rewarding experience, it is not recommended.

Day 7
The group will journey west towards lake Kerkin. After visits to Alistrati and Maara caves the participants will head towards the small border town of Nevrokopi. From there, the ride is through forests and agricultural villages until the next stop, the busy city of Serres.

The national road will be used for a few kilometres, to get close to Lake Kerkini, and then it will be on to a small road just next to the water, ideal for a slow ride to admire the splendour of the surroundings before arriving at the lovely hotel.

Day 8
The day will be spent around the lake, riding or taking part in activities like boat tours, 4x4 vehicle tours, canoeing and mountain biking. Participants may ride to Strimonas river valley, and the thermal baths of Aggistro, or around the lake and to the traditional mountain settlements nearby.

Day 9
Thessaloniki airport is less than 90 minutes away, so departure from the hotel may be adjusted to flight departure times.