On day 2, leave Vytina and join a steady mountain ascent through fir-lined roads to Alonistaina, among the highest villages in the Peloponnese. Continue to Piana, a settlement tied to the Greek War of Independence, and pause at a traditional kafeneio beside Saint Georgios, the church perched on rock. From here, the route rewards you with a sweeping descent to Tripoli, Arcadia’s lively capital.

As landscapes shift from dense forest to open plateau, note old stone fountains and chapels that mark pilgrim paths and pastoral life. Stories of revolution-era guerrillas echo in these hills, inviting you to pause for photos and reflection before rolling into Tripoli’s squares and tree-lined boulevards.

Day 3 traces a circular route through vineyards and orchards to explore the archaeological site of Mantineia, one of antiquity’s great Arcadian cities. Walk among low walls and outlines of civic buildings where the alliances of classical Greece were forged. Opposite, admire the eccentric Agia Foteini church (1972), a collage of Classical, Byzantine and folk elements that locals love for its symbolism and craft.

Pedal on to the Kapsia Cave, a subterranean chamber of multi-coloured stalactites and stalagmites shaped by millennia of mineral-laden water. Emerging to quiet country lanes, you’ll spin back to Tripoli with the scent of apples and earth in the air, carrying the legacy of Mantineia’s storied battlefields.

On day 4, descend to the coast via the layered history of Tegea, where a 10th-century Byzantine church stands over the remains of an ancient theatre. The ride flows through olive groves and villages to the ancient city of Eva, then onward to the fishing settlement of Paralio Astros. Stroll the quay, wander the harbour and, if you wish, have a dip in the sea below the hilltop castle.

This is the Peloponnese in cross-section: Byzantine devotion layered on classical foundations, silver-leafed groves opening to the briny breeze. Choose a taverna for grilled fish and village salads and soak in the seaside atmosphere as the light softens over the Argolic Gulf.

Follow the shoreline on day 5 and trace the Argolic Gulf coastline to Mili, a fine spot for coffee by the water. Nearby lies Ancient Lerna, associated with Heracles and the Lernaean Hydra; the site preserves layers from prehistory to classical times. Continue to Argos’ ancient theatre, cut into the hillside and once seating tens of thousands, before curving into elegant Nafplio.

Marble-paved Syntagma Square, the islet fortress of Bourtzi and the bastions of Palamidi frame your arrival. With coastal scents and neoclassical facades all around, settle in and enjoy a free evening wandering lanes, browsing boutiques and sampling Peloponnesian cuisine by the harbour.

On day 6, pedal through citrus groves and cycle via Tiryns, famed for its Cyclopean walls that rise in massive limestone blocks. Continue to Mycenae, the Bronze Age stronghold and kingdom of Agamemnon. Walk through the Lion Gate into the acropolis, explore royal tombs and the palatial remains that shaped Homeric legend and the archaeology of the Aegean.

Now a joint UNESCO World Heritage site with Tiryns, Mycenae connects myth with material culture—golden masks, megarons and grave circles that changed our understanding of early Greece. After time to pause for photos and reflection, return to Nafplio along quiet lanes scented with pine and wild herbs.

Day 7 begins with an included transfer to Epidaurus, the celebrated healing sanctuary of Asklepios. Step into the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, renowned for near-perfect acoustics and still hosting summer performances, then wander temples, stoas and a small stadium that reveal the rituals of classical medicine at the Asklepion healing sanctuary.

After your visit, mount up for a rewarding ride: cycle mostly downhill through mountain foothills and the vast pistachio-growing region, gliding back toward the sea. The air shifts from resin and earth to salt and orchards, a sensory arc that ties together the week’s themes—sacred sites, rural lifeways and sunlit coastal views—before returning to Nafplio.

Arrive in the mountain village of Vytina and meet your local representative for a relaxed welcome on day 1. You’ll adjust your bikes to fit, check helmets and spares, and review the routes on the Headwater Navigation App so daily rides feel intuitive. Your host shares safety tips, Greek road etiquette, and favourite café stops, setting the tone for a week that flows from highland fir forests to the Argolic coast.

Between stone mansions and the cool slopes of Mount Mainalo, hear how Arcadia became shorthand for rural harmony in European art. With practicalities sorted, you’re free to enjoy a free evening in Vytina, sampling village tavernas and the resin-scented mountain air before tomorrow’s climb.