A typical riding day starts after breakfast with a group roll-out. Mid-ride there's a coffee stop in a village, often Greek coffee in a square. Then comes the main effort of the day, either a long climb from sea level into the mountains or a stretch of coastal road. On the Mani200 week you should be fine with 60–90 km and 800–1,500 m of climbing on the harder days. The Flagship asks more. Its biggest days run to around 150 km with 2,400 m of climbing, and it mixes those with gentler 80 km coastal spins and early dawn rides.

The terrain is what sets this region apart. The Peloponnese has a long riding season, a large network of near-empty rural roads, deep forest on the climbs and long beaches at the bottom of them. Cycling writer Rik De Voogd called it the best bike trip he's done, mainly because of the sea-to-summit rides and the lack of traffic. He also helped plan the Flagship routes. Soigneur Magazine wrote about the Taygetos ridge in similar terms.

The trips can be changed a lot. Every day can be made longer, shorter, harder or easier. Pedal Greece also runs self-guided trips on whatever dates you want, for a couple, a group of friends or a solo rider. They can plan the itinerary, help with travel and transfers, and give you options for each detail. Group departures are planned for three levels: sporty, intermediate and advanced.

The company was started by Agi Kolyvas, who grew up in a village outside Sparta. Agi spent childhood summers moving around the Peloponnese in their dad's VW T2 van, following good honey spots for his bees. Agi started riding these roads with friends about 18 years ago. Later, Agi met co-founder Doros at a wedding in Kardamyli. The two started riding together, and Pedal Greece grew out of that. It's now a full-service company.

Food is a big part of the week. Dinners are planned in advance and are often at the seafront. On Gravel Messinia the route goes past local festivals and remote villages. On the islands, Naxos is known for its food and its mountain villages. Outside the riding, Kalamata, the base for Mani200 and Gravel Messinia, is a lively city with plenty to do in the evening. The Cyclades trip leaves time for caves, beaches and cliff diving.

What's included

- Guided riding with a guide all day (group trips) - 5–6 days of riding depending on the trip - Daily coffee stops - Planned dinners, many at the seafront - 4-star hotels (PG Flagship) - Mechanic support, including building and packing your own bike - Route options for every day, from shorter to harder - Help with travel arrangements and transfers

What's not included

- Flights to Greece - Bike rental (60€/day, 100€/2 days, 330€/week) - Travel insurance - Meals not listed as part of the trip - Drinks and personal expenses