Seven great bike routes to get you back in the saddle

This route showcases some of the best mountain biking in the Southern Peloponnese. The trail takes in long steady double track climbs, whilst delivering superb vistas with elevations of up to 1000m+. There are plenty of chances to pick up speed along the way and you can choose whether to brave the ridge or follow the contours of the hill above the small village of Nedousa.

You can opt to enjoy the challenging terrain and spectacular views of the ‘Presidential Trail’ circular route, or incorporate the route into a monstrous 55km downhill ride which encompasses a 1600m descent with only 800m climbing.

This route provides just a tempting glance into the excellent riding (on and off road) that’s easily accessed in the area around the Messini Beachclub.

Can you go the distance? This long-distance road bike ride will warm your legs up gently with a nice, steady rolling coastal ride to begin with, but with a shift inland the riding will soon step up a gear as you start to climb. Rising above lush green valleys, enjoy the views out past Karavostasi beach to the sea and across nearby islands.

Once you’ve reached the summit, you’ll reap the rewards with a long, cooling descent into the historic port town of Parga - the perfect pit stop for a coffee, well-deserved ice cream or a refill of the water bottle.

The return to the Retreat Beachclub is an adrenaline-fuelled mixed bag. Climbing steadily out of Parga and around the coast into the next valley, you’ll hit a good pace on the road that’ll guide you down towards Plataria. From this charming small port, you’ll make your final ascent up and over the ridgeline, where the welcome sight of Sivota will draw you down and home for a well-earned Mythos!

This is a short, fast paced mountain bike ride that’ll blast away the cobwebs at the same time as introducing you to the beautiful valley behind Vassiliki Bay and Cosmos Beachclub. It’ll test the thigh muscles as you wind up on a fire-track towards the traditional village of Agios Petras before letting loose on the steep descent.

After a couple of mellow open turns from the road, the bike trail closes into a tree-lined tunnel, where you’ll be riding on a limestone rock base that wouldn’t seem out of place in the Peak District. There are multiple line choices but it’s all about staying loose as you head towards the final drop – an eight-foot, near-vertical chute!

It mellows a little after this as the track widens. Nice berms, pump corners and small rock kickers will keep you on your toes as you head back down to the valley floor and the beach for a spot of windsurfing or relaxing!

This mid-distance ride gives a great flavour of Sardinia's tremendous road cycling. It's a ride of two halves: a hilly section with villages and lakes, followed by a blast through a scenic valley and along a super-smooth coast road.

Heading up from the beach, you’ll begin a steady climb through the hillside villages of San Lorenzo, Tamarispa and Brunella. The roads are well-surfaced and the views are great: Sardinia's dramatic landscape is a treat at any time of year. From a high point of around 250m, you begin a swooping descent to the sparkling waters of Lake Posada (also called Lago Macheronis), nestled between the hills.

A flat speedy ride back to the coast on the valley road will take you through the bustling town of Torpè and onto Posada with its distinctive hilltop castle. Your return to Baia dei Mori is via the smooth coast road, popular with touring cyclists. Before long, you're back on the beach, with a well-earned thirst and 50km under your belt.

One of the most popular Neilson mountain bike routes on the island of Lemnos, this 25km route is a great ride for intermediates looking to explore its wild, unspoilt landscapes, with a couple of challenging sections thrown in for good measure.   

You’ll warm up gently with a cruise along quiet, dusty farm tracks before reaching the lush, green landscapes that frame the curative springs of Therma.  These natural springs have been used for therapeutic treatments since the Byzantine and Roman times.  Whilst there’s no time to bathe on this ride, it’s the perfect place to top up the water bottle from the most natural of sources before hitting the road again!

It’s now time to put your stamina to the test with a rocky climb up Prophet Elias, towards the highest point on the island at 300m.  You’ll have to dismount and scramble up the last 40m to reach the vantage point and church at the summit, but it’s well worth it and once you’ve soaked up the view, you’ll enjoy some great downhill sections on the route back to Portomyrina Palace Beachclub

We're excited about the biking at our new Alana Beachclub on Croatia's Dalmatian coast. This 14km on-and-off-road loop gives a great taste of Croatia's unique terrain.

Your adventure starts with a winding stretch of waterside singletrack, following an off-road trail beside the amazingly clear waters of the Adriatic. The beachfront track takes you past the Venetian ruins of Večka Kula tower before you join the smooth road for a quick blast into the local village of Seline. More coastal trails skirt around the Pisak headland, with views across the water to the quiet village of Vinjerac.

Now it's time to head inland with a climb up a quiet lane towards the imposing mountains of the Paklenica National Park. As you gain height, the quiet road narrows and gives way to an impressive off-road cycle route, traversing the hillside, dropping, climbing and winding past one of the national park's dramatic gorges, then another, before it's time to head back downhill to the coast and Alana Beachclub.

Take to the road for this 42km undulating route which follows the coastline and boasts endless sea views along the way.  The pretty beachfront town of Mitikas provides the perfect coffee stop with atmospheric and typically Greek tavernas.  If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a pod of dolphins making their way towards the nearby fish farm for their breakfast!

After a pit stop, a gentle ride through the town will lead you back onto the main coast road, this time heading up towards the town of Kandila.  A detour up a stunning mountain path gives you time to enjoy valley landscapes before looping back down nicely onto the main road.  From this point, you’ll follow the same coast road back to Vounaki Beachclub for a second, well-deserved breakfast! 

One of the best things about this ride is the fact you don’t need a world of road biking experience to get involved.  A reasonable level of fitness will of course help, but climbs aren’t extreme and the downhill sections will cool you down a treat.

It’s simple; there are no hidden extras. Mountain biking is an inclusive activity at all our beachclubs and this means the bikes (in a variety of frame sizes), helmets, gloves, and water bottles, plus of course the bike guides, are ready and waiting!

TREK mountain bikes have been specially selected for the terrain we all love to ride. With a wide range of gears, comfortable front suspension and a range of frame sizes from 15.5” to 21” and models such as the X Caliber 9 and 7, we’ll ensure you’re well equipped for the trails and our experts will keep each bike running smoothly.

It’s not all about mountain biking though…with great climates, carefully selected routes, Trek road bikes and those all-important hills; the majority of our beachclubs are heaven for roadies. Head to Baia dei Mori, Retreat, Vounaki, Cosmos, Messini or Buca for road cycling with expert guiding. Road biking is of course an inclusive activity on a Neilson Beachclub holiday, so you’ll soon be clocking up the miles without a care in the world.

If you’re planning to spend most of your time in the saddle, check out our premium bikes: carbon fibre road machines including the Emonda 55 and 56, or full suspension off-roaders such as the Superfly 7 or Fuel EX8. Book one (at a supplement) and the bike, together with a Garmin GPS, is all yours for the week.