WELCOME TO BREAKAWAY

Breakaway Greece is just us two, Chris & Helen Ward.

I’ve been fortunate to not just have cycled around much of the world, from Mallorca and Girona, with thousands of others, via the Great Wall of China, Mount Everest, North Korea and Australia, to bike-packing trips across India, Bangladesh and Taiwan but I’ve also represented GB in the amateur world championships, became the oldest Briton to cycle up Mount Ventoux six times in a day, ridden almost every Grand tour climb and guided groups throughout Europe.

I write about some of these trips for the cycling website Road.cc and for research for finding the best coffee stops, I previously ran the UK’s coffee shop awards and wrote the first book about working ‘Out of Office’.

I love cycling; for the exploring, physical workout and peace of mind it provides. With those ingredients, life itself can feel rich and it is that feeling and way of life that we want to provide and share with our guests.

It was when I cycled the length of Greece and reached the Peloponnese, that I experienced that the best I ever have, on a bike trip. It’s a rare place, where you can spend every day outside; from the morning pastries and cappuccino, via endless glorious roads and the odd island-hop, to ancient cities, amphitheatres and stadiums and a modern-day, tourist-free, holiday paradise. Helen joined me and the plan to open Breakaway Greece, in order to share this cycling paradise and simple approach to life, was born.

Helen previously worked at a record company and her role was to host artists such as Tina Turner, Queen and Paul McCartney, whilst she’s spent recent years raising our four children. Her father was Greek and she herself was raised to believe that family, and hosting as many friends as possible, is at the heart of a simple, happy life.

Together, we want to share our love for cycling, community and the outside, so have created trips that are not just about enjoying riding the very best of Greece, but what we call ‘riding+’.

Riding, plus+ time to also enjoy the very best culture and cuisine, to feel part of the local community, create new friendships and have rewarding and memorable experiences that last a lifetime.

“Cycling is about connecting – with yourself and with what it is to be alive. To be immersed in a place, connecting with friends, with history and culture.”

Simon Mottram, Founder Rapha

So, for us, off-bike time is just as important as on. You need to rest and recover but you will be the beneficiary of some legendary Greek hospitality with the abundance of contemporary culture, fresh Mediterranean cuisine, warm azure waters and overnight stays in rooms with views.

We will make sure you can have time to enjoy a swim in clear, warm waters, wine tasting, island hopping and to talk the day through over some local beer or wine, meze and home-cooked souvlaki or fish of the day. All backdropped by the late-night clear skies.

Sharing passions, whilst getting knackered, is what we are about. At the end of each day, you should feel tired but with a sense of real achievement. By the time you leave, you should feel relaxed and refreshed, ridden as far and as fast as you wished and return home filled with inspiring conversations, a feeling of contentment from your sweaty activities and memories of a week, where just life itself feels rich.

Please email us to discuss anything related to booking your own Breakaway hello@breakawaygreece.com

We trust you will join us soon to enjoy the very best that Greece offers cyclists.

Chris & Helen Ward

OUR GREEK & RIDING GALLERY

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