Frequently asked questions

Travel questions | Motorcycle questions

The trip

Athens' Elefthérios-Venizélos International Airport offers daily or weekly connections to most international airports during the tourist season.
However, the number and frequency of direct flights may vary according to airport and season.
If you choose the flight-inclusive option, we'll take care of booking your flights at all airports. Transfers to Athens are included in this option.
If you opt for a trip without flights, you'll need to book your tickets personally, making sure that your flights are compatible with the motorcycle's pick-up and drop-off slots. You'll have to manage your transfers yourself.
We'll give you all the information you need, and do our best to assist you.
If you know how to use Google Maps or a motorcycle GPS, you won't have any major difficulties riding your motorcycle. If you leave the indicated route, or get lost, you'll have to find your way on your own, which could prove difficult if you don't read Greek. In this case, neither Google nor road signs will be of much help. However, near built-up areas, road signs are very often doubled in Latin characters.
In the hotels and restaurants we recommend, and at the main sights, English is fluent. This will not be the case in villages or towns in the countryside or mountains. French is not widely spoken in Greece.
This depends on the travel package you have chosen.
With the Zeus package, we take care of practically everything, including flights and airport transfers in Athens if you choose the flight-inclusive option, and accompany you on your journey with the group you're joining.
In the Poseidon package, we organize the trip for you, including flights and transfers if you choose this option, but we do not accompany your journey, which you make on your own, following our exclusive itinerary day by day.
Finally, with the Athéna formula, you determine your itinerary and choose your stopovers. You organize your trip yourself, with our advice and information.
The rental motorcycle of your choice is included in the Zeus and Athena packages, and optional in the Poseidon package.
See our travel packages page for full details.
This depends on the travel package you have chosen.
Never included, whatever the formula, are your personal expenses and drinks, including during meals, fuel, the deposit for the rental motorcycle, insurance against theft and cancellation - repatriation insurance, which we recommend you take out on your own.
See the page describing our travel packages.
You'll need a smartphone to download and follow the itinerary day by day.
All bikes are equipped with a versatile holder that fits all sizes of smartphone. At Hellenic Rides, we map out our routes ourselves after meticulous reconnaissance, often several times for new stretches.
In the Zeus formula, the day's itinerary is transmitted before the morning meeting.
With the Poseidon package, you receive a complete day-by-day itinerary 15 days before departure.
With the Athena package, we advise you on the choice of stages for your tour, and you build your own itinerary.
If you don't have a smartphone, you can also use your GPS device if it fits the BMW pre-equipment.
With the Zeus package, we transport your luggage in a separate van, so you don't have to do it on your motorcycle. You are entitled to a maximum of 25kg of soft luggage.
In the Poseidon and Athena packages, your motorcycle will be equipped with full luggage so that you can carry your own luggage.
Inner bags for suitcases and top cases are not supplied. Remember to bring some if you don't want to handle the suitcases at every stage.
You can leave your suitcases or main bags with us for safekeeping during your trip.
Greece has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and sunny, hot or very hot, dry summers. Spring and autumn are relatively short between seasons.
The best time to ride in Greece is from late April to late October or mid-November, except in July and August when temperatures are often uncomfortable.
During these periods, maximum daytime temperatures vary between 20 and 30 degrees, and often around 35 in summer. At the beginning and end of the season, they can be cooler in the mornings and evenings.
It rains heavily in Greece from mid-November to late March or mid-April. Outside this period, rain is scattered and short, with a few showers in spring or autumn, and thunderstorms in summer. Apart from that, the sky is always blue.
However, we recommend that you bring light rain gear.
To book your trip, you must return your completed and signed quote.
In accordance with French regulations, you will then receive an order summary. This document has contractual value. It includes the characteristics of your trip, our conditions of sale, a summary of your rights and a declaration of commitment, as well as a form for flights if you have chosen an option with flights and transfers included.
On receipt of the signed order summary, we will send you a registration confirmation.
45 days before your departure, you will receive an information sheet to fill in and return to us for your motorcycle rental and accommodation.
15 days before your trip, you'll receive your complete travel booklet, checklist and reading suggestions.
All these communications take place in paperless form, by e-mail, digital platform or digital application.
You can choose to pay by credit card (CB, Visa, Mastercard, Amex) via a payment link that you receive by e-mail at the same time as the order summary, or by bank transfer using the RIB attached to the order summary.
More than ninety (90) days before the start of the Touristic Services, the customer must pay a deposit representing 50% of the price inclusive of tax.
Between ninety (90) and forty-five (45) days before the start of the Touristic Services, the customer must pay a deposit representing 80% of the price including tax. If an initial deposit has already been paid, the customer must pay a second deposit representing 30% of the price including tax, within 90 days of departure.
Less than forty-five (45) days before the start of the Touristic Services, the customer must pay a deposit representing 100% of the price including tax.
If one or more deposits have already been paid, the balance of the price (including VAT) remaining to be paid must be paid by the Customer no later than forty-five (45) days before the start of the Touristic Services.
As an exception to these provisions, Athena bookings can be settled in a single payment at the time of booking.
The right of withdrawal provided for in article L. 221-18 of the French Consumer Code does not apply to purchases of tourist services. The order is firm and definitive once the proposal has been accepted.
Scale of charges applicable in the event of cancellation by the customer before the start of the Touring Service.
For Zeus and Poseidon formulas:
- More than 45 days: amount of advance payments already made
- 45 to 31 days: 80% of the price incl. VAT
- 30 to 15 days: 90% of the price incl. VAT
- Less than 15 days: 100% of price incl. VAT
- No-show on first day: 100% of price incl. VAT
In the case of Zeus trips, actual completion of the trip depends on the number of participants.
If, no later than 20 days before the start of the Tour, the number of Customers taking part in the Tour is less than the minimum number of participants indicated in the Description, the Company will offer registered Customers the choice between :
- The price depends on the final number of participants;
- a credit note for a future stay ;
- full reimbursement of expenses already incurred.
In the Poseidon and Athena formulas, the number of participants does not have to be taken into account.
You have two options:
1/. The easiest way: as hand luggage
This solution is generally adopted by our customers, and we have never heard of a problem at check-in or security control. In fact, we do it ourselves.
It's best to use a specially adapted carrying bag, so that you can check it in separately if necessary.
2/. The safest: checked baggage in the hold
This option eliminates any risk of denied check-in or boarding, but has the disadvantage of reducing the space in your luggage, or even requiring you to take a second one if you're traveling as a Duo. Be sure to protect your helmets from damage during handling.

The bike

Yes, it's possible with the Poseidon travel package. We organize the trip you enjoy with your motorcycle, following our itinerary.
We can even organize your trip down to Greece if you wish.
The other two packages (Zeus and Athena) include the rental of the motorcycle of your choice.
You must hold a driving license appropriate to the vehicle category (A or A2). This license must be valid, i.e. neither suspended nor cancelled, and obtained at least two years ago (1 year for the A2 license). You must also be at least 25 years old (22 for the A2 license).
For licenses issued outside the EU or EEA, or in a country that is not a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention, you must hold an international driving license in addition to your national license.
The amount of the deposit varies according to the motorcycle. It is mentioned in the trip description and on the website.
When you pick up your motorcycle, a pre-authorization will be taken by credit card for the amount of the security deposit.
This will not be deducted on return of the motorcycle if no charges are due. Otherwise, a deduction will be made up to the amount of the repair costs. If these are higher than the security deposit, you will have to pay the difference without waiting for the insurance to cover it.
All motorcycles are covered by comprehensive insurance including third-party liability, fire and vehicle damage. This insurance is included in the price of the trip.
This comprehensive insurance includes a deductible that varies with each model and is covered by the security deposit. In the event of a claim, you are immediately liable for the costs incurred by Hellenic Rides or its partners.
If the claim is covered by insurance, the difference is reimbursed to you once the indemnity has been paid to Hellenic Rides or its partners.
However, the price of the trip does not include insurance against theft. The vehicles are equipped with the following anti-theft devices: steering lock, alarm, engraving and tracer.
The risk of theft is very low in Greece, but not non-existent, especially in the greater Athens area and Thessaloniki. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you take along a personal disk-lock.
The price of the trip does not include cancellation and repatriation insurance. We recommend that you take out such insurance before you leave, ensuring that it covers road accidents.
When we pick up your motorcycle, we carry out a visual inspection of the vehicle's condition. On return, we compare the vehicle's condition with the one it was in when you picked it up.
If the vehicle has been damaged, we will deduct the amount from the security deposit. If the deposit is not sufficient to cover the damage, you will have to cover the difference on first demand, independently of any insurance cover that may be deducted and refunded to you.
If the vehicle is not returned by the contractual deadline, or if it has been abandoned, you may be liable to prosecution.
We would like to draw your attention to the importance of not contravening any of the instructions given in the instructions for use.
Roads in Greece are neither particularly bad nor particularly dangerous - much less so than in Corsica, for example!
In mountainous or rural areas, the secondary network can be more or less well maintained. Herds and isolated animals are sometimes encountered, and falling rocks, branches and earth slides are not uncommon.
If you know how to anticipate while remaining vigilant, and keep your speed under control in all circumstances, not only will you have no particular difficulty, but you'll make progress.
Depending on your experience, you may find single-track or very winding sections, uphill or downhill, with a series of tight hairpins or fast switchbacks, difficult.
On our Zeus tours, our team opens the itinerary and supervises less experienced riders.
Motorcycling equipment is not provided, so you'll need to bring your own. As a minimum, you'll need a helmet, a pair of approved gloves and high-top shoes.
We recommend a motorcycle jacket + pants with integrated protection. The ideal jacket or blouson is a triple-layer system, with technical underwear underneath.
Light rain gear is recommended, as is a cooling vest for July and August.
You'll need a smartphone with the Google Maps application to be able to read the itinerary.
In the Zeus formula, the accompanying team is there to assist you. If the repair can't be done on site, a member of the accompanying team will help you find a nearby repairer. If necessary, the van can come and collect the motorcycle, or we can call in the service provider who provides assistance on the route for a breakdown.
With the Poseidon and Athena packages, you can call on the service provider providing assistance on the route to take your vehicle to a nearby repair shop. If the vehicle cannot be repaired quickly, it will be returned to the starting point.
When you pick up your motorcycle, we'll give you a puncture repair kit. In the Zeus formula, the van can carry a set of wheels in advance. If this is not suitable, or if it has already been fitted, the team will help you find a solution.
When it comes to morphology, the main issue is saddle height and width. It's all about being able to put your feet on the ground to feel secure when stopping or maneuvering, and for taller riders, it's also about the angle at which your legs can bend. Some of our models can be fitted with a low saddle on request. Please let us know.
Whichever travel package you choose, you are neither covered nor authorized to use the motorcycle off-road. So no off-roading!
This exclusion does not apply to stretches of unpaved road or roadworks, which are quite common in some parts of Greece. These stretches generally do not exceed a few kilometers.