Aegean Coast Road Bike Touring

Tour Highlights:

  • A week of perfect cycle touring beside the blissful Mediterranean
  • Choose from guided or self-guided options to suit you best
  • Flexible tour lengths from 5 to 12 days
  • Explore the ancient city of Ephesus
  • Cycle the Bozburun peninsula with it’s beautiful coves and villages
  • Discovering little known beaches on the Dilek Peninsula
  • Dalyan’s protected turtle beach and unique fresh water lagoon
  • Lake Bafa National Park and it’s unique rock formations
  • Get away from it all in the remote wilderness of Latmos Mountains

Tour Details:

This road cycling tour takes to a network of backroads that link mountainous olive groves with paradise beaches and rugged coastal peninsulas. It is a chance to experience the true beauty and character of Turkey’s less-developed seaside areas, far away from the hustle bustle of modern life. The tour follows a relatively hilly pathway through a patchwork of sights, sounds and tastes, and enjoy a relaxing yet challenging tour in a setting of natural wonder. We use small, boutique hotels in wonderful locations, and eat delicious food in authentic restaurants. Much more than a cycling holiday, this is a true experience of Aegean life and you will go home healthy and happy.

The guided tours and many of the supported self-guided programmes are led by a local professional cycling guide with excellent English and an encyclopedic knowledge of the area. Not only will you learn a great deal and enjoy his warm, calm and well humoured company, but he will ensure that dining experiences are perfectly tailored to your tastes and you will relish the fresh, healthy food that (when done properly) makes the Aegean kitchen so special. Food is definitely a highlight of this tour!

Self guided options tours let you explore Turkey by bike at your own speed, leaving plenty of time for sightseeing, time on the beach, or lazy mornings by the hotel pool… A full route map, tour itinerary and GPS files will be supplied, so navigation is easy too! Self-guided and private groups can request a longer or shorter itinerary if required!

Click here to view the Full Itinerary.

Tour Options:

You can choose from options that let you choose the tour format that suits you best:

1: Guided Group Departures
By riding with one of our professional guides you will not only learn so much about the places you ride through, but enjoy the company and companionship that social cycling provides. These tours run on fixed dates throughout the year and are open to single riders willing to share a twin room with no single supplement. All guides speak English fluently and have extensive cycling experience in the region. These tours include all meals at excellent and well-chosen restaurants. The group size is between 6 and 12 although smaller groups and bespoke guided tours are available on request.

2: Fully Supported Self-Guided
This new option puts one of our professional biking guides in the driving seat of your support vehicle. It’s the best way to enjoy the support and assistance that a fully guided tour provides but gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and make your own choices. Not only will your baggage be transported from hotel to hotel but you will enjoy full technical support and route assistance at every stage- just like having a driver and a guide in one. This option includes evening meals but lunches are extra. Please ask for prices for groups larger than 2 Pax as the quoted rate is based on 2 people sharing a support car and driver / guide and larger parties will always cost less. Dates tailored to your preference and departures are available throughout the year.

3: Self-Guided 
For those who prefer the freedom and value that self-guided tours offer, this is the best option. Your baggage will be transported from hotel to hotel, and you will still have a support car and driver following you (out of sight) along the route. But with this option your driver may not speak much English, and certainly won’t have the skills or knowledge of an expert guide. These tours are bed and breakfast only, leaving you free to make your own meal arrangements. We can add a half board supplement if you prefer, and all hotels are able to produce excellent meals. Please ask for prices larger than 2 Pax as the quoted rate is based on 2 people sharing a support car and driver.Dates tailored to your preference and departures are available throughout the year.

Click here to view the Full Itinerary.

Practical Details:

The Aegean coast is substantially less developed than the Mediterranean and is perhaps the best place to take a road biking holiday in Turkey. The absence of a major coastal highway, combined with a maritime geography of wooded peninsulas, inlets and islands and a blissful climate makes this a perfectly idyllic and intriguing area. Average daily distance is 80km but the route is quite hilly in places and this can represent a good challenge for any cyclist.

The weather is generally fine, beaches are superb, roads are good, and the quality of restaurants and accommodation excellent. The tour is possible at any time of the year but best between April and June, and September and November to avoid the summer heat.

Fly into Izmir and back from Dalaman international airports where a host of affordable flight options are available. Many people enjoy a stopover in Istanbul for 2-4 days either on the outward or return leg. It’s also possible to return to Izmir at the end of the tour or transfer from Dalaman at the beginning- we can arrange an extra one-way transfer.

Price (per person): 
Prices are based on the standard tour length of 8 days, but shorter or longer itineraries are also possible. There are 3 options available:

1: Guided
Price 1860 Euro. 
Including all meals and snacks.
Minimum Group size: 6
Maximum Group size: 12
 
2: Supported Self-Guided.
Price: 2100 Euro.
Includes 7 evening meals at top quality restaurants and English speaking professional guide / fixer / driver, at your disposal 24/7.
Price based on 2 people travelling.
 
3: Self-Guided.
Price: 1500 Euro.
Bed and Breakfast only.
Price based on 2 people travelling.
 
Price includes:
7 nights boutique hotel accommodation. Transfers from Izmir and to Dalaman airports. Full use of support vehicle.

Price does not include:
Flights. Alcoholic and soft drinks available at camps or Restaurants, drinks and extras at optional cafe stops and entrance fees to historical sites and museums. Tips for guides and driver.

Options: 
Single Supplement: 390 Euro.
Bike Rental (Trek FX hybrid road / sport bikes): 300 Euros
Road Bike Rental (High quality road bikes with alu or carbon frames. Price depending on availability): 250-500 Euros
eBike Rental (Trek Powerfly): 480 Euros

2023 Guided Dates: 
10 – 17 April
21 – 28 October 

Self-guided tours are available year round but best in spring and autumn

Tour Length:
8 days / 7 nights

Start / finish point:
Izmir / Dalaman

Grade:
3-4: Some hilly sections but nearby car support makes it suitable for most riders.

Features:
7 days multi centre road bike touring. Some sections with poor quality tarmac. Very little traffic. Easy version available. Our personal favourite road biking tour!

Equipment advice:
A road or lightweight touring bike plus proper cycling clothing, shoes and pedals is recommended for this tour although many people prefer a flat handlebar MTB / hybrid. 

 Aegean Road Kaunos Dalyan Aegean Road Bozburun Cove    


22 thoughts on “Aegean Coast Road Bike Touring

  1. Do you have any tours in the week of April 13th – with that I could join. Am coming from Qatar and will arrange own flights. Thanks, Andy

    • Hi Andy, Thanks for getting in touch. We don’t have any group road rides scheduled and confirmed in the week of April 13th. However, there are excellent supported self-guided options available. In addition, we can open a new group departure which would then run subject to minimum numbers. I’ll send you an email with these details too, and look forward to hearing back from you soon. Best regards, Jon

  2. Hi Jon,
    Will be in Izmir Sep 16 and looking to ride during my down time between work. Slightly concerned about road safety as a single road rider so thought I would ask the professionals about recommended hard hilly terrain but relatively safe (quieter roads) around the Izmir area. Any suggested routes/areas?
    Hope you can help
    Kind Regards, Steve

    • Hi Steve, Thanks for getting in touch. Road cycling in Turkey is very safe, and you’ll find that drivers give you a much wider birth than in other countries. However, you don’t really want to cycle on roads with lots of trucks, or big buses, and the flip side of that is that the road surface is often quite poor. Around Izmir you can try any of the roads in either of our Aegean tour programmes, though for hilly terrain you need to head south to Selcuk and beyond. If you want something really tough then go up into the Latmus Mountains! Around Lake Bafa… Let me know if there’s anything we can do to help! All my best, Jon

  3. Hello! I am interested in doing the Cycling Aegean Coast group ride with you on Oct 17-24, 2015. However I need to leave a day early– Fly out of Dalaman on Friday Oct23. Can you accommodate?
    I will also need to rent a bike.

    If a group tour is not available, can I do a self guided for 1 person?

    Thank you!
    -William

    • Hi William. Thanks for getting in touch. Yes you would be welcome to join our October Aegean Road Biking group and fly out of Dalaman a day early on the 23rd. If your flight is in the evening you will even be able to complete the last cycle ride (which is a short day and normally we’re back in Dalyan for lunch. I will send this message also via email so you can respond directly. All my best, Jon

  4. Hi Jon

    I am looking for a guided tour from about 20th – 27th September for 2 of us?

    Is there anything available? Road or MTB?

    regards
    Nicky

    • Hi Nicky, Thanks for your message. We have several private departures that week but no group tours, unfortunately. Have you cosnidered either a private guided tour or a self-guided option? If you went for the first option we can open a new group departure date and advertise it to others if you prefer the ideal of social cycling! I’ll send you an email with some details. Many thanks, Jon

  5. Hey! I am really interested in doing the Aegean Road tour, however I plan to be in Turkey around 28th June till 9th July. I understand it’ll be hot around that time and am wondering if there are any tours available within this period. Group tour prefferably as I am travelling alone?
    Cheers!

    • Hi Courtney, Thanks for getting in touch with us! Like you say, it gets pretty hot around the Aegean in July and August, and although some people still ride the tours during those months we tend to focus our group tours on other areas. We have a wonderful guided tour of the Kackar Mountains area in north-eastern Turkey from June 26th to July 4th. It’s mountain biking, but mostly on dirt roads, and no off road experience is required. Would that be of interest to you?

  6. Hi,

    Your tour/service, is it for road bike? Looks like you are going through some tough terrain more suitable for mountain bike and/or hybrid one. Please let me know if there is any agency (or you) doing only road biking with groups at the level of average 25K/h for at least daily 100K.

    Thank you

    • Dear Bora, Many thanks for getting in touch with us. You are correct that we are the only people in Turkey offering a challenging road biking itinerary. The Aegean Road Tour is fairly hilly, as you have noticed, with some sections of poor surface, but is truly suitable for dedicated road bikers. If you prefer a flatter route, we can change our program to suit your group! I will send you an email with some ideas and options. Best regards, Jon

  7. Hi! I am gonna be doing a volunteering project in Izmir for the 2 first weeks of july and I was planning to make it to Istambul by bike. Is it possible/is there a nice road/path along the northern coast?

    Thanks,

    Carles.

    • Hi Carles. Yes- you could bike north along the coast from Izmir via Ayvalik to Canakkale and then cross the straights to Gallipoli. That’s a nice ride! Would you be looking for a guide or do you plan the trip self supported?

      • Hi! My initial idea is to do it self supported, but I need to figure out many things like hiring the bike and so on… Would you recomend me to go north from Izmir or is it more beautiful towards the south? (then I would take a bus back to istambul)

        Thanks!

  8. Please tell me more about your bicycles for rent. Do you have small frames (46cm) available for 2 petite women. I’m interested in comparing prices for the guided and self guided. How many people are needed for a group discount. I see where the Cappadocia and Aegean Coast Rd tours could be combined. Would there be a discount for doing both tours?

  9. I am looking to put together a group of friends for one of your tours – maybe the road cycling at Easter.
    Would that be possible and what price could we negotiate ?

    Mary

    • Hi Mary. Thanks for your interest! We can usually give discounts for group bookings- I’ll email you with some info. All the best, Jon

  10. Hey there! I’m looking at maybe doing a bike tour in Turkey next Aug or Sept (2013) I’ve booked a swim tour in Greece which starts on Sept 15 (could change it to the earlier one, which starts on Sept 8). Can you tell me what tours you would have at that time. I have a Mountain bike but havent done much Mountain biking here in Oz. And I have a road bike. I think maybe the road bike trip might be better for me. But looking at those roads I’m wondering what kinda tyres you need on the road bikes cos it didnt look like bitumen. Also, do you rent bikes as its a bit exxy to bring my own.

    Cheers
    Rebecca

    • Hi Rebecca. Sound like the Aegean Road biking trip may be perfect for you. We’re just now finalising the dates for our 2013 tours, so will let you know within a week. The road surface isn’t at all that bad- I ride a 23mm tyre road bike and touch wood haven’t had a punture yet!!! We do rent good quality Specialized road bikes for 30 Euro a day. Anyway, will get back to you with more info soon. Cheers, Jon

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