Motorcycle trip through Greece

[sniper]

Αρχικά δημιουργήθηκε από Cpt. Haddock
Yeap, Kalambaka is on the foothill of Meteora

Αρχικά δημιουργήθηκε από Nostra
...sightseeing of Meteora and be on time for the ship...

Are you both out of your minds?????????


HE IS NOT crs-k


Meteora IS NOT on the way from Thessaloniki to Ioannina.

[npat]

A rather "standard" way to go from Thessaloniki to Igoumenitsa is the one Cpt. suggested. See also the map linked below. Your route is marked in blue.

If you like the sea, there are a lot of beaches around Katerini, Leptokaria, Platamonas, or even more to the south (taking you a bit out of your way in Agiokampos, Polidendri, Velika). None of these are spectacular, according to Greek standards, but then again, Greek standards are quite high

From Thessaloniki to Larisa it's mostly a highway and you can maintain quite high average speeds with the exception of the part around Tembi where the road gets narrower with several twists (and depending on the day, some traffic).

From Larissa to Trikala it's a standard 1 / 1.5 lanes per direction road without too much traffic, and mostly "fast" curves. There's nothing special to see in Larissa and Trikala (Trikala is a nice little town, but nothing special).

Continuing from there the road will take you through Kalambaka. While in Kalambaka DO spend some time to visit Meteora.

From Kalambaka follow signs towards Ioannina through Katara Pass---around which there are some serious twisties---On your way you can take a short detour and stop in the village Metsovo for coffee or for lunch.

Ioannina is also a very nice city, built to the shores of a lake, with a lot of places for coffee or a meal (ask around).

From Ioannina to Igoumenitsa you can either take the highway (green on the map), or the "old" road (which is the one marked on the map).

Don't worry too much about cops or speed limits, but DO slow down when you get near built-up areas (which is the place most likely to get a ticket at). Motorcycle repair shops you can find in mostly every town (even small ones) so if you are traveling on a working day a flat tire would not be too much of a problem...

The map:

http://npat.smugmug.com/photos/173970579-O.jpg

[vroomfundel]

npat, thank's for the info, that's really what I asked for!!! I'd rather go for the windy roads rather than highway.

the others, thanks for the jokes except for the ones in Greek that i didn't understand.

Nostra, finding your dick may really not be that easy, depending on the size of your belly!

About the guys worried about my tight schedule, I plan to take the ferry at 23:30 or 24:00 and start the trip about 6:00 in the morning, so this is about 18 hours, so I think it should be enough. After all it's < 400 km, for which 6 hours should be enough, and the other 12 for beach and sightseeing, sounds just fine.

No one told me about the tolls on the highways, are there such for bikes?

Also, has anyone used the ferries that I asked for? Is it ok to book online or it's better to go it on site?

Thanks

[hornet]

Hi mate well you can go to your destination from at least two different roads the first is the road that npat show you and the other is from the new egnatia road...the choice is yours

From larissa its a toll road until larissa
From egnatia its also a toll road until beroia

Well about local police well its a lucky thing ..if they are out then you might get a ticket

Have a nice trip and ride carefully

[hornet]

Αρχικά δημιουργήθηκε από vroomfundel
npat, thank's for the info, that's really what I asked for!!! I'd rather go for the windy roads rather than highway.

the others, thanks for the jokes except for the ones in Greek that i didn't understand.

Nostra, finding your dick may really not be that easy, depending on the size of your belly!

About the guys worried about my tight schedule, I plan to take the ferry at 23:30 or 24:00 and start the trip about 6:00 in the morning, so this is about 18 hours, so I think it should be enough. After all it's < 400 km, for which 6 hours should be enough, and the other 12 for beach and sightseeing, sounds just fine.

No one told me about the tolls on the highways, are there such for bikes?

Also, has anyone used the ferries that I asked for? Is it ok to book online or it's better to go it on site?

Thanks

Also until larissa its a highway
The tolls are also for bikes but they are cheaper (from 1 euro to 1.30 depends the toll)
The online booking its better due to the high season

[Cpt. Haddock]

Αρχικά δημιουργήθηκε από vroomfundel
Also, has anyone used the ferries that I asked for? Is it ok to book online or it's better to go it on site?
Thanks

I have used in the past both Minoan and Superfast ferries and in both cases I booked online the tickets.

However, it may well be possible to buy the ticket on the spot at Igoumenitsa, it shouldn't be a problem. Check the ferry schedules though beforehand

On the road tha npat showed, you will pay tolls from Tessaloniki to Larissa the rest is free

[Daemon]

99,9% you wont pay any tolls, in north Greece they usually let motorcycles pass without paying.

[StavrosMAGNA]

Personaly i wouldn't recomend the "Blue" line of yours my friend "nprat" for a one day transit through Greece, and with a ship to catch in approximately 20:00 !
I will though recomend yours green line travel e.g. from "Thessaloniki" ****deleted by sniper and through VERIA - KOZANI - GREVENA - METSO PUX ..... Sorry METSOVO - IWANNINA - IGUMENITSA ..... Ferry boat ..... ANCONA or PRINTISI- & & & &

deleted by sniper

Yspex priatel

[vroomfundel]

Thanks for your continuing help, guys! It's so nice to see helpful people which see you for the first time!

About the ferries, how much is it normal to pay for 2 of us on a bike? I didn't find anything below 170 euros but I think i have seen offers for about 100 EUR a month ago. This is to Bari or Brindisi.

[Cpt. Haddock]

Αρχικά δημιουργήθηκε από vroomfundel
About the ferries, how much is it normal to pay for 2 of us on a bike? I didn't find anything below 170 euros but I think i have seen offers for about 100 EUR a month ago. This is to Bari or Brindisi.

It's true that the two companies I gave you are not the cheapest ones... You may try with Agoudimos Lines and Italian ferry companies are usually cheaper

Bari is the closest port from Igoumenitsa I reckon

However Stavrosmagna is correct that your schedule may be rather tight is you choose the mountain winding roads and skip the highways.

[VegasKitty]

You should also keep in mind that the going rates that you saw about a month ago are
very different from the ones that you will find in august, because as was mentioned previously, it will be during high season, where there is usually a sufficient increase
in the rates for ferries and all accomodations in general.

[StavrosMAGNA]

.... Reading in http://www.greekferries.gr/other-en/...a.htm?8,1#date , i guess that the most cheap and unforgetable experience my Bulgarian friend is to "book" your DECK tickets !!! (44 EURO) The trip is lasting for about 6 hours , ( IGOUMENITSA 23:30 BRINDISI (Via Corfu) 06:00 ) But with the priceless help of your teammates and a bottle of RAKYQ that shouldn't be a major problem! (+ i assume that you have each one his "sleeping bag" ,right?
They say that they charge 14 EURO for a motorcycle so we have a perfect 58 Euros for your trip !!! PLUS fuel surcharge
of EURO 5.00 per way, per passenger and THAT'S IT !!!


Stavros

[vroomfundel]

My original intention was to sleep in a couch and 100e for the two of us and a bike looked quite afordable... I checked a month ago, but I searched for August, so it was still the high season. But if we can't find anything for < 150 EUR then we may go for the sleeping bags on the deck.

[alex-vstrom]

STRASTH KOLEGA KADE OTIVAS
OT KOI GRAT SI.
AS BIAX STUDENT B SOFIA

[npat]

If you decide to do the route I suggested, then you should know that:

From Thessaloniki to Larisa it's about 2 hours,
From Larissa toy Kalambaka it's about 1 hour,
From Kalambaka to Ioannina, it's about 2 hours,
From Ioannina to Igoumenitsa, I'm not sure as it's been ages since I've done this trip, but it should be less than 2 hours.

These are VERY conservative estimations, without counting stops.