The Slow Cyclist Reviews 

Another wonderful experience, fascinating part of the world, all needs more than catered for and really top notch guides ably assisted by the host. Enough guides to cover different levels of ability if needed. Thoroughly recommend.

This holiday was simply wonderful.
It was based around the first Benaki literature festival and hosted by the travel company The Slow Cyclist. The festival was held in the author Patrick Leigh Fermor’s home which is in the Mani close to Kardamyli in the Peloponnese.
We attended the festival each morning. The speakers all had extensive knowledge of Greece, ancient and modern.
Following a delicious lunch we then cycled on e-bikes to help with the mountainous terrain, or walked. The e-bikes levelled up all abilities which meant the experience was very inclusive.
The festival included 2 evening meals with fascinating debates and The Slow Cyclists hosted a further 2.
The holiday was a joy. It was relaxing, intellectually stimulating, a gastronomic treat, very friendly and physically satisfying. The scenery was extraordinary with rugged mountains and crystal clear sea.
I stayed in the Diapori Suites Hotel in Kardamyli. The rooms were stylish and service excellent. The beds were particularly comfortable. Views from the hotel were stunning. The infinity pool a great way to relax.
I visited Limeni, 15k from Kardamyli at the end of the festival where giant turtles swam in the bay and within touching distance of the fish restaurant O Tacki.
I stayed a further 3 days after the end of the holiday enjoying walking in the gorge and eating in the restaurants Stoupa overlooking Stoupa beach and Ellie’s at Agios Nikolaos.
Restaurants in Kardamyli were all good including Tikla, Lela’s, Gialos, Dioskouri and Harilaos. I enjoyed the bar 1866. There was sadly not enough time to try the bar Aquarella.
The professionalism and hard work by The Slow Cyclist team made everything run incredibly smoothly. They could not have been more helpful.

We had such a wonderful time in Transylvania. Exploring the amazing countryside via e-bike was a joy. Breezing up the hills and through the ancient woods. The wonderful lunches awaiting us in fields or gardens was a treat. Sergiu, Iancu and Hebe looked after so well. The accommodation was well thought out and extremely comfortable. I celebrated my birthday on the same day as Iancu and we all had wonderful evening hosted by Theodora and Andrei in their lovely home. Thank you Slow Cyclist - we loved every minute.

Tremendous holiday. Excellent route, bikes, accommodation and food. Supported by 2 excellent guides (Sergiu and Iancu) and a fantastic hostess (Hebe) who kept our glasses topped up and made the trip trouble free.

Wonderful experience. I have been on many organised cycling trips. This was by far the best. Ever. Despite the weather (not their fault) the trip was well planned, enjoyable, interesting, fun and personal. Thank you slow cycling team. What a wonderful time and a well needed break after COVID hard work.

We had a fabulous holiday cycling and walking through the most beautiful countryside and villages of Transylvania. Our guides were all exceptional and it was the perfect way to spend our first holiday for over two years. Thank you to all the team.

We have just spent five days in Transylvania and I cannot recommend it more. Wonderful scenery, beautifully looked after and learnt so much about the Saxon villages on our travels. Lovely walks and bike rides through forests, meadows and the occasional road. This is a must!

The Slow Cyclist Co -- highly recommended

What a fantastic trip!! Zagori is a hidden jewel and the Slow Cycle team made the trip peerless in every regard.

Thank you all

The Peloponnese are a very largely unspoilt part of Greece. The mountainous core of the peninsula known as the Mani, between the Messiniakos and Lakonikas Gulfs, is surrounded by foothills containing countless Byzantine churches, olive groves, coastal inlets and, in the South, is studded with old towers as well., . The latter, often deserted, are ideal for swimming so long as you remember to take shingle- friendly footwear. The inhabitants seemed genuinely friendly and welcoming, with many speaking English. The local cuisine — lamb, home- grown fruits and vegetables, feta cheese, yoghurt and irresistible sweetmeats — is simple but never boring. With its rugged terrain and the erstwhile home of the Spartans, it is easy to see why the Mani was where the fight for Greek independence began. Also why the travel author,Patrick Leigh Fermor decided to settle here. A wonderful place to walk and bike — but electric bikes are advised if you want to explore the hinterland and appreciate the stunning coastal views.

This was our second trip with Slow Cycling and every bit as enjoyable as our first ( the Saxon villages of Transylvania). We stayed in two different but both very well appointed homes during our trip and the hospitality received was outstanding in both places. The hosting, accommodation, restaurant selection, cycling logistics and guiding arranged by their team was exceptional and we have already booked our third trip with them for next year.

The end of September/ October is a good time for visiting as not too hot for cycling/walking and we were blessed with great weather.

The biking and hiking was beyond our expectations with views I will treasure. The most amazing food, the wild swimming, dancing, felt making, wine tasting all in such beautiful places and of course the mobile feather pillows!! The only thing I would say is we would have preferred to have a two night stay in some of the hotels. Otherwise it was the most wonderful trip with very knowledgable and friendly guides, they couldn’t have been more helpful, we will be booking another trip very soon. Thank you

Just returned from a Slow Cyclist trip to Romania. Transylvania transcended every expectation, and the SC team on the ground made the trip so memorable. Nothing was too much effort, and they struck a perfect balance of being both a part of our group and providing excellent support and service at the same time. We will miss them. Beautiful place, brilliant hosts, efficient organisation, magical guesthouses and the 'surprises'* that were thrown in as little bonuses. (*...if you want to know what they were...go yourself!). and - probably like anyone who takes one of these trips we're a) hoping to go somewhere else soon and b) scouring the e-bike websites - what fun they were!

I thought the trip seemed a bit expensive - but it turned out to be incredible value for money. A brilliant holiday!

We had a fabulous time, our hosts and guides thought of everything to make our stay as comfortable as possible, they were charming, knowledgable and informative. The places we visited were beautiful and very special, I would recommend this holiday to anyone...provided you like cycling!

We have just had four enthralling and exhilerating days in beautiful Zagori, snaking up and down the hills on foot and by bike, learning a bit about the history of the area, stopping off in unspoilt though empty villages for delicious food and meeting lovely people. I
I dont think any of this would have been possible without the subtle care and guidance of The Slow Cyclist.

Excellent holiday. Visiting the Saxon villages of Transylvania is like turning the clock back. We had a wonderful guide in Sergiu and were extremely well looked after by Clare. The farming is fascinating and the people we encountered along the way were delightful, interesting and incredibly self sufficient.

A really well contrived cycling holiday, clearly created with a great deal of thought into what would interest and delight the enquiring visitor.

The knowledge and enthusiasm of our local guides around the Saxon villages was infinite. They were great and very nice people. And for our English “home” guide, for whom this was her first tour, nothing was too much trouble.

It is clear that the Slow Cyclist thinks deeply as to how it can help the local community.

We will return.

Tom L

It really was a perfect break - your attention to detail was spot on and nothing was too much trouble. i want to thank the wonderful team comprising Hebe, Szabi, Iancu and all the wonderful hospitality from the locals. The accommodation was really comfortable, food delicious .. even the weather mostly obliged. An amazing area with so much history. Many thanks to you all for making it so good. Nikki and Johnny Glover

Another impeccably organised trip to beautiful Transylvania. The Slow Cyclist team knows how to introduce people to fascinating countryside in style. Can’t wait to go again.

For those keen on an experience of a lifetime this is the one for you. Slow Cyclists have captured the beauty of the country with staying in wonderful guest houses where you are impeccably looked after, to giving you the real life experience of the countryside and all whilst being on holiday. The cycling is no easy feat but worth the extra effort to be rewarded by romantic lunch settings in the meadowlands, or hosted by kind generous locals feeding you with their knowledge and delicious home produce.
We were blown away by the wonderful people and comfort of their homes.
Slow Cyclists provided excellent guides and hostesses whose attention to detail was above and beyond.
I would recommend this holiday to any age group and a must see country.