Grecian Formulas

A season's worth of outfitted trips
By Katie Arnold

Horseback Riding Sign on with FITS Equestrian for an eight-day ride through the rolling hills, beech and olive groves, and steep donkey trails of the Pilion Mountains northwest of Athens. The pace is moderate--you'll cover a total of about 110 miles--with nights spent in small family pensions. Land cost is $1,065 per person, and trips run May through October. Call 800-666-3487.

Sailing Spend two weeks island-hopping aboard a 40-foot yacht on an Aegean cruise offered by Guides for All Seasons. Sailing out of Athens's Kalimaki Harbor to the nearby islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra, you'll have plenty of time along the way for snorkeling in deserted coves and exploring the islands on foot. Leave the boat on day ten for an overnight trip via steamer to Crete, followed by three days of coastal hiking. Land cost is $2,450 per person, and the trip runs October 14-27. Call 800-457-4574.

Hiking The foothills of Mount Taygetus, in the central finger of the southern Peloponnisos, are crisscrossed by an elaborate network of walking trails and mule paths, the setting for Country Walkers's ten-day hiking trip. You'll trek between five and 14 miles a day through olive groves and rocky gorges, bedding down in small hotels and country pensions. Land cost is $1,950 per person, with departures April through October. Call 800-464-9255.

Himalayan Travel's 15-day hiking trip through the lush Pindos Mountains follows old goat tracks through the black pine forests and wildflower-studded meadows of western Greece, traversing Vikos Gorge, high passes, and 8,000-foot peaks. Be prepared to carry your own pack through the more remote sections. Land cost is $1,095 per person, and departures are May-September. Call 800-225-2380.

Sea Kayaking The Northwest Passage runs a seven-day inn-to-inn sea kayaking trip along Crete's south coast, visiting fishing villages, castles, and monasteries and ending with a hike through the spectacular Samarian Gorge. Land cost is $1,750 per person; trips run May 11-18 and October 5-12. Call 800-732-7328.

Bicycling For a two-wheel tour through the cradle of Western civilization, consider Classic Adventures's 14-day inn-to-inn cycling trip to some of Greece's most renowned ruins. Starting in ancient Corinth, you'll bike the back roads to Mycenae and Epidauros before heading south along the coast for a three-day side trip to the island of Zakinthos. Back on the mainland, you'll bike along the Alphios River to Olympia and back to Athens, covering about 35 miles a day. Land cost is $2,189 per person; trips depart May through October. Call 800-777-8090.