MOUNTAINS AND MYTHS

We want you to have the best experience riding through the mountains and forests of Northern Greece, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike adventure, with the right level of challenge, for you.

You’re an experienced mountain biker, riding at least twice a week through the season and comfortable on: long descents with drops, roots, rocky sections, tight corners, steep sections, and sometimes very loose (slippery when wet) surfaces. Some of the trails are used for international enduro races, so expect technical features. Read more on our intermediate+ skill level.

Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.

Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.

Skill level: Intermediate+

• You are generally comfortable riding most types of terrain in different conditions: singletrack, double track, muddy, dry, loose, bedrock…
• You can brake, use gears and corner instinctively
• You’ll have a go on moderate technical features, such as small rock gardens, small drops and steeper sections, but may get off and walk certain technical features
• You mountain bike two or three times a week throughout your biking season
• And the ‘+’ part of ‘Intermediate+’ means that you will be aiming to tackle more of those moderate technical features

Fitness level: 5/7 

• You have a good level of bike fitness, exercising at least three times every week throughout the year, for an hour at a time
• You can ride a mountain bike for up to six hours a day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for three or more consecutive days
• You can tackle two or three fairly significant climbs a day, up to 600 metres each

Typical trails you’ll be riding

• Double track: undulating forest roads made up of hard-packed dirt and small rocks
• Singletrack: mainly forested and ridgeline trails with roots crossing the trails; steep descents, some very flowing, others more technical; chunky rock gardens; tight corners; dusty loose trails (or slippery when wet); and purpose built MTB trails
• Some of the trails are ridden by very few people throughout the year, so there may be some forest debris and fallen trees to watch out for

Training for your MTB adventure in Greece

To get the most out of your mountain bike tour in Greece you should plan plenty of training in advance of your tour.

The ideal bike for the trails in Northern Greece is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and around 140mm of travel front and rear.

If you’re planning to travel with your own bike we have some handy tips on how to do this.  When travelling with your own bike, you must ensure that it has been properly serviced before the trip.

If you would prefer not to travel with your bike, we can arrange rental of a high quality full suspension mountain bike for the duration of your mountain bike tour in Greece, in conjunction with our local partners.

We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will be a maximum of 10 riders in each group in Greece. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Greece is five.

Our mountain bike tour in Greece caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.

This mountain bike adventure in Macedonia and Thessaly in Greece is a guided mountain bike vacation, ideal for Intermediate+ mountain bikers. The terrain you’ll be riding consists of double track and singletrack through thick forests, villages and mountain ridges in northern Greece.

You’ll encounter some steep descents and rooty sections, as well as fabulous, swooping descents. Some of the trails are little-used and will be natural and rustic in nature. As well as using shuttles some days, there will also be plenty of climbing.

No, you only need to carry a back pack with you whilst riding, with all of your spares and repairs, warm and waterproof clothing. Your main luggage will be transferred in the vehicle each day as required.

Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills help during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in Greece.

If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!

Your mountain bike guides are local to Macedonia and experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the culture and landscape of Greece. They are also trail builders and look after some of the trails you’ll be riding on your adventure.

Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in Greece. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip.

The accommodation we use on the mountain bike tour in Greece is an eclectic mix of cool, modern and boutique hotels in Thessaloniki and Meteora, and rustic lodges in the mountains where tourism is much less prevalent. These accommodations are more basic, but  you will receive the warmest of welcomes from your hosts.

All breakfasts, lunches and 6 evening meals are included in the tour price. You have a free evening on day 6 to explore Meteora by yourselves, or with your group, it’s up to you!

The ideal bike for the Greek trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and around 140mm of travel front and rear.

Read the full kit list to find out what to bring with you for your mountain bike tour in Greece

Yes, you can do laundry at your hotel in Thessaloniki and in Meteora.

Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety.

Thessaloniki airport (SKG) is well-served by many major airlines.

We have some handy tips for travelling with your own bike, if you haven’t done this before.

Visas

Citizens of most countries do not require a visa to visit Greece. For more information on visa requirements visit the website of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Arrival and departure details

Your mountain bike tour in Greece will start and end in Thessaloniki. We advise that you arrive the day before and book an overnight stay in Thessaloniki, in order to allow for any delays in flights and/or luggage.

If you are arriving the day before the tour start date, transfer between the airport and your hotel in Thessaloniki is included in the tour price and we will organise this for you. If you are arriving earlier, we can organise a transfer for you, at an additional cost.

We have created this handy guide to spending 24 hours in Thessaloniki before the start of your MTB adventure in Greece.

Our mountain bike guides in Greece are of the highest level in their country.

They are qualified in first-aid and they have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these remote, wild and beautiful parts of Northern Greece.

Your head guide Achilleas was born and raised on the outskirts of Thessaloniki and this is where he started his mountain biking career.

He will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. He’s also a genuinely nice person and will do his best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.

We aim to use the best, locally-run accommodation in each country, and that which is traditional to that specific area, whether it be city or mountain.

On this MTB tour in Greece you’ll be staying in a selection of different accommodations, from a cool, modern hotel in Thessaloniki, to basic lodge accommodation for two nights in the mountains, to a boutique hotel in Meteora. You’ll receive the warmest of welcomes from the families who run the accommodations, and staff who work there.

You will enjoy a wide array of delicious local food and drink on your MTB adventure in Greece, mostly Greek-style mezze, all of which is prepared with the greatest of care and skill, using local ingredients.

All lunches and most dinners are included in the tour price, and we will eat together as a group at each mealtime, in carefully selected cafés and restaurants. You will have a free evening in Meteora and your guide will give you suggestions on where to eat.

No vaccinations are required for visiting Greece.

We recommend you check with your guide before drinking tap water, but 99% of this is safe for consumption. Bottled or filtered water will be readily available throughout the trip.

Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, allergies or pre-existing conditions your guides should know about.

Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services.

You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.

The official currency of Greece is the Euro. ATM machines are readily available in Thessaloniki.

Tipping

It is not compulsory to tip your guides or drivers in Greece, but if you feel that you have had a good service or experience on your mountain bike tour of Greece, you can tip at your discretion. We recommend around 5% of your tour price.

It is not compulsory to tip in restaurants, however should you wish to tip your servers, 10% of your meal cost would be acceptable.

You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers trip cancellation, and baggage loss/ damage, including your bike.

The minimum fee for cancelling your tour with us is your deposit, so it is essential that you take out suitable travel insurance to cover you should something happen that prevents you from taking part in your tour with us.

We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them. Global Rescue Signature Travel complements the cover you have with us as part of your booking.

You are covered through our Global Rescue membership for emergency evacuation to a local hospital, and have 24/7 telephone access to a doctor also. It does not cover the items mentioned above.