Sparta

About the Route

Starting from Sparta this route will take you up the shoulder of Mount Taygetos, one of the 5 biggest mountains of the Peloponnese region.

Don't forget that Sparta and its famous spot at the Leonidas statue is home to Greece’s most celebrated and popular amateur road bike event, the Spartakiada where every year hundreds of road cyclists cover the distance of 270 km approx from Athens to Sparta. It's a good place to visit before starting your ride.

The route starts with a short flat section as you leave the city and head towards the UNESCO Heritage castle town of Mystras Castle. Then, we follow a magnificent gorge and ride up the first switchbacks overlooking the valley, heading deeper and deeper into the forest. The route will give you a good rhythm and superb views over the valley.

When we reach Siliboves, the highest settlement of the Taygetos mountain, we’ll fill your bidons at any of the water springs. At the turn after Touristiko kiosk you will get deeper in the mountain, riding the western shoulder to head over the top to the east side again. Enjoy the silence and the traffic-free roads with the serene feeling of nature and fresh air all around.

As we cross on the other side, take care of the steep switchbacks before you reach the village of Georgitsi and enjoy your descent to Sparta. Have a break and then continue towards Anavryti climb a dead end road that offers more switchbacks and even better views over the olive trees.

This is one of our favourite routes in the Peloponnese region.