George loved his grandparents: he started visiting the island when he was young, sleeping on the sofa of the small house on the hill of Chora and waking up το the aroma of the fresh buns of his grandmother and the fresh milk that his grandfather brought. Abstainer by nature (and due to his profession), he managed to combine the nightlife the island generously offers, with trail running and swimming in the crystal clear blue waters of the island.
Flora on the other side, after graduating from school, decided to work on the island all year long. She got to know its inhabitants, their traditions, their routine and was thrilled by the nature.
Discover Ios island by e-bike
Duration
4-5 hours
Group size
Up to 2 people
Type
Outdoor activities
Language
English - US, Greek
The Experience
Visit the main sights of Ios by electric bike.
Join us on a unique tour using an electric bike. Put on your helmet, grab your backpack, and off we go. Easily and quickly, take our tour around the archaeological sites and points of interest, and experience the history, traditions, and flavours of Ios.
Your Itinerary
Cycling Experiences provided.
Chora - Skarkos - Homer's Tomb
The exact duration of the activity can vary between 3 and 5 hours depending on the group.
- Meet at Ios Paths offices in Chora
- Cycle to Skarkos Archaeological Site
- Cycle to Homer's Tomb
- Return to Chora
The main landmarks of this bike ride through Ios are the Skarkos Archeological Site and Homer's Tomb. You will make stops at the landmarks, where your guide will provide you with insights regarding the history of Ios and the Cyclades, which go back to the Bronze Age. You'll also learn some mythology about the island, and how it became so linked to Homer, the mysterious and legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two of the oldest books in the world.
Chora - Skarkos - Paleokastro
The exact duration of the activity can vary between 4 and 5 hours depending on the group.
- Meet at Ios Paths offices in Chora
- Cycle to Skarkos Archaeological Site
- Cycle to Homer's Tomb
- Cycle to Palaiokastro
- Optional stop at the Diaseli Cheesery
- Return to Chora
The main pitstops of this bike tour through Ios are the Skarkos Archeological Site, Homer's Tomb, and the ruins of Palaiokastro. These three landmarks take you on a chronological journey through Ios' rich history, which your guide will tell you about throughout the tour. At Skarkos, learn about Ios in the Bronze Age, and discover the prehistoric origins of the civilizations living in the Cyclades. At Homer's Tomb in the North of Ios, learn about the legendary associations of Ios with the Iliad and the Odyssey, two of the oldest preserved texts in the world. Cycling through to the East, head up the hill and break at Palaiokastro, where your guide will explain the medieval life here on Ios while you take in beautiful panoramic views over the Aegean and neighbouring towns of Paros, Naxos, and Amorgos.
Chora - Skarkos - Homer's Tomb, Diaseli Traditional Cheesery
The exact duration of the activity can vary between 4 and 5 hours depending on the group.
- Meet at Ios Paths offices in Chora
- Cycle to Skarkos Archaeological Site
- Cycle to Palaiokastro
- Cheese tasting at Diasli Cheesery
- Return to Chora
Hike to the traditional Diaseli Cheesery on the hilltops above Chora! This hike in Ios will take you from the main town of Chora to its untrodden paths in the hills, overlooking the surrounding sea. On the way, you will get to view some of the Ios' best sites and culminate your efforts in a yummy Greek cheese tasting in a beautiful setting.
The hike begins with Ios' scenic windmills situated in the upper streets of Chora. Already starting strong in this charming section of the town, your guide will then lead the way out of Chora, in the direction of the Diaseli cheesery. On the way, you will also make a stop at the Odyseas Elytis Amphitheatre, a beautiful modern amphitheatre built in the same style as in Ancient Greece. The view over the Paralia Beaches and the greater Mediterranean Sea is as breathtaking as the site itself and is well worth the stop.
Once you've taken in the views, you'll head off to the Diaseli Cheesery, a still functional cheesery that also acts as a museum, exhibiting the long-lasting tradition of cheesemaking here in Greece. If you want, you will then have the possibility to pay for a cheese tasting of the various goat's cheeses produced on the island - a delicious and worthy option indeed. Bellies full of Greek produce, you will then make your way back down to the town of Chora, finishing the tour at the upper square (Pano Piatsa) - a perfect spot for a local coffee or snack should you need refreshment after the 4-5 hour outing.
The Diaseli Cheesery is one of Ios' top experiences and for good reason. Discover Ios by hiking and enjoy the flavours!
Do not forget to bring:
- Sunglasses
- Sports clothes
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Trainers
Inclusions
All taxes
Certified guide
Equipment of the activity (e-bike & helmet)
Liability insurance
Refreshments, local snacks
Exclusions
Cheese tasting (20 euros per person at the cheesery)
Ios during winter is incredible. Incredibly lonely, since most residents and visitors depart in order to work in Athens or abroad. Incredibly green and fertile, something that someone who visits the island in July or August could not imagine. Incredibly mysterious: Starting from the 1970s, when most of the population quit their jobs in the countryside and started working in tourism. Today, half a century later, scattered abandoned farmhouses and chapels, invite you to explore them and bring them back to life through the stories of the old.
Experiences Near By
AUD88 /people
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