A self-guided cycling holiday across eastern and central Crete that combines Minoan history, beaches, mountain villages and Cretan food. You start in Heraklion and visit Knossos on the first riding day. From there you ride to Agios Nikolaos, cross to Ierapetra on the south coast, and follow the south of the island to Tsoutsouros and Agia Galini, stopping at Phaistos on the way, before finishing in Rethymno.

The tour is built for recreational cyclists with a standard to good level of fitness. Days are around 32–65 km, with average climbing under 600 m a day, apart from one day of about 860 m. Bike and rider transfers on days 6 and 7 take you past the steepest climbs.

Your bike and equipment are delivered to your hotel on arrival, luggage moves between hotels for you, and you navigate with GPS routes on a phone app with 24-hour emergency phone support. Choose the 8-day tour (7 nights) or the 15-day version (14 nights), which adds extra days for optional rides, boat trips and time on the beach. You stay in 3-star hotels with breakfast.

What's included

3-star hotels with breakfast (7 nights on the 8-day tour, 14 nights on the 15-day tour); Luggage transfer between hotels; Bike and rider transfers on days 6 and 7; Area information; Handlebar phone mount; Access to the GPS app with the routes; 24-hour emergency phone support

What's not included

Hotel tax; Flights; Bike rental (trekking €100, road €140, e-bike €290, tandem €270 per week; helmet €10, GPS device €80); Airport and city transfers (available at extra cost); Excursions in free time; Entrance tickets to archaeological sites and museums; Lunches and dinners