Bike and Sail Greek Islands Cruise - From Athens or Corfu

Afternoon

Our cruise director will meet you at the passenger terminal and guide you on board. After settling into your cabin, meet the crew and the other guests joining the journey.

Explore the ship’s open decks, lounge areas and cycling facilities before the departure briefing.

Depending on your arrival time, spend part of the day exploring Athens or walking around the marinas and waterfront of Piraeus.

Evening

The cruise begins with a welcome and safety briefing, followed by the first dinner on board.

The cycling guide introduces the programme for the week, explains the routes and helps guests prepare their bikes. Spend the evening getting to know the ship as Running on Waves prepares to leave Athens for Aegina.

Morning

Wake as Running on Waves approaches Aegina, an island known for its pistachio orchards, neoclassical houses and ancient landmarks.

After breakfast, go ashore to explore the island at your own pace. Walk along the waterfront of Aegina Town, browse local shops and try products made from the island’s famous pistachios.

Depending on the programme, there may also be an opportunity to visit the Temple of Aphaia, set on a hill overlooking the Saronic Gulf, or explore the island’s villages and coastal landscapes

Afternoon

One of the voyage’s most distinctive passages begins as Running on Waves approaches the Corinth Canal.

Step onto the open deck to watch the ship enter the narrow waterway between steep rock walls. The canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf, allowing smaller vessels to pass between the Ionian and Aegean sides of Greece without sailing around the Peloponnese. You'll also have a chance to sign up for navigation lessons and find our what the captain needs to сlick on the bridge to get through such a channel.

Evening

After leaving the canal, Running on Waves enters the Gulf of Corinth and continues towards Itea.

Dinner is served on board, followed by a relaxed evening on deck and time to prepare for the first cycling stage of the cruise near Delphi.

Morning

Wake in Itea, a small coastal town framed by the mountains of Central Greece. After breakfast, prepare for the first cycling route of the cruise.

The ride begins at Itea Marina and gradually leads inland through the vast olive-covered landscape surrounding Delphi. Guests using e-bikes will find the ascent considerably easier.

Afternoon

Cycle towards the Delphi archaeological site, once considered the centre of the ancient Greek world and home to the Oracle of Apollo.

Spend time exploring the Temple of Apollo, the ancient theatre and the remains of treasuries built by Greek city-states. The mountain setting offers wide views across the valley and the Gulf of Corinth below.

After visiting Delphi, cycle back towards Itea Marina. The complete route is approximately 36 kilometres, with time afterwards to relax by the waterfront or visit a nearby café or beach.

Evening

Return to Running on Waves for dinner and a quiet evening on board.

The ship leaves Itea and begins its passage towards Katakolo on the western coast of the Peloponnese.

Morning

Begin the day aboard Running on Waves as the ship approaches Katakolo.

Before going ashore, guests can join the crew for a practical introduction to the ship’s sails. Learn how the sailing system works and help lower the sails under the crew’s supervision.

Afternoon

After arriving in Katakolo, prepare for a cycling expedition towards Ancient Olympia, following a route inspired by the paths once travelled by ancient athletes.

The circular ride covers approximately 67 kilometres, beginning at Katakolo Marina and continuing through the countryside of the western Peloponnese to the archaeological site.

At Olympia, explore the remains of the ancient stadium, the temples of Zeus and Hera and the grounds where the original Olympic Games were held. There may also be time to visit the museum, have lunch at a local taverna or join an optional olive oil tasting.

Evening

Cycle back to Katakolo and return to the ship.

After an active day, join the sailors for a knot-tying lesson, learning several practical maritime knots and the techniques traditionally used aboard sailing vessels.

Dinner is served on board, followed by an overnight stay in the area.

Morning

Running on Waves leaves Katakolo and sails towards Zakynthos, an island known for its pale limestone coast, sea caves and intensely clear water.

After arriving, the ship anchors for a day centred on the sea. The crew lowers the swimming platform and slide, giving guests direct access to the water.

Afternoon

Spend time swimming, snorkelling or using the ship’s kayaks and windsurf boards.

The programme may include a visit to Xigia Beach, a small cove enclosed by dramatic rock formations. Its mineral-rich water, pale cliffs and vivid colour create one of the island’s most unusual coastal landscapes.

There is also an opportunity to take a small private boat towards the Blue Caves of Zakynthos. Inside the caves, sunlight reflects from the limestone and clear water, filling the rock formations with shifting shades of blue.

Evening

Running on Waves remains at Zakynthos overnight.

Return to the ship or spend the evening ashore. Guests may choose to have dinner at one of the island’s seafood restaurants, while dinner and drinks purchased ashore are paid separately.

The overnight stay allows time to experience Zakynthos after the daytime boat traffic has begun to disappear.

Morning

Sail towards Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands and a landscape of mountains, karst valleys, caves and long coastal roads.

During the passage, guests can join a step-by-step mast-climbing lesson led by the crew. Learn the basic safety techniques before climbing above the deck for a different view of the ship and the surrounding sea.

Afternoon

After arriving in Kefalonia, begin a cycling expedition towards Melissani Cave.

The route passes through karst landscapes, rural roads and sections of the island’s elongated coastline. At Melissani, small boats cross an underground lake illuminated by sunlight entering through an opening in the cave roof.

Depending on the selected route, the ride may continue through village ports, local markets and waterfront settlements where guests can stop at small cafés or tavernas and experience everyday island life.

Optional experiences available for an additional charge may include a visit to a private collection of vintage cars, featuring early European models, or a tasting of Robola, Kefalonia’s characteristic local wine.

Evening

Return to Running on Waves for dinner and time to recover after the cycling route.

Spend the evening on deck while the ship remains surrounded by Kefalonia’s mountainous coastline.

Morning

The final full day begins at a more relaxed pace, without a scheduled cycling expedition.

After breakfast, travel by bus or boat to Myrtos Beach, one of Kefalonia’s most recognisable landscapes. The wide bay lies beneath high limestone cliffs, with pale pebbles meeting deep blue Ionian water.

Afternoon

Spend time swimming, walking along the beach and photographing the coastline. The visit is designed as a relaxed photo safari, with opportunities to capture the bay from the shore and from elevated viewpoints along the surrounding roads.

Return to Running on Waves later in the day and use the remaining time to rest on deck, relax in the Jacuzzi or enjoy the ship’s watersports equipment when conditions permit.

Evening

Running on Waves leaves Kefalonia and begins the final passage north towards Corfu.

Gather for the farewell dinner and spend the evening on deck as the ship crosses the Ionian Sea.

Morning

Running on Waves arrives in Corfu in the early morning.

Enjoy a final breakfast on board before saying goodbye to the crew, the cycling guide and the other guests who have shared the journey.

After disembarkation, continue to the airport, travel onwards or remain on the island to explore Corfu Old Town and its Venetian streets, fortifications and waterfront.

Itineraries are subject to change.