Walking Crete

Itinerary – Walking Crete

Day 1 : Start Chania
Pick up at Chania airport and transfer to your 3* hotel Arkadi in the centre of Chania North West Crete (less than 30 minutes transfer).
There will be 5 walking days offered on this trip and for every walking days 2 levels of walks will be guided.
Moderate level: Distance from 7 to 12 km with 350 m to 600 m of Ascent
Every day, Breakfast is included, Lunch and diner are not included.
Day 2 : Walk Akrotiri peninsula
Superb first walk at Akrotiri peninsula, located East of Chania (short transfer 30 min). It is a dry area with some hills on the northern part. The Agia Triada Monastery was built in the 17th century and was still a very important religious school up to 50 years ago. Finish at Stavros on the lovely sandy beach where they shot the final scene of Zorba the Greek.
Day 3 : Imbros gorges
Today you will transfer by bus to the entrance of the Imbros gorges (1 hour). From there you will walk down the gorges, which even if less popular than the Samaria gorges have a lot to offer. Spectacular with some very high rocky cliffs on each side, really nice rock formation to observe as well as flowers and birds. The walk takes about 3h30 minutes maximum and you can relax at a cafe before going back to Chania.
Day 4 : Falassarna
Today after a transfer of 45 min you will take a superb coastal walk on the Western side of Crete to Falassarna, one of the island’s nicest beaches. The route goes through a pretty village and olive groves before taking a path with stunning views overlooking the far West coast of Crete.
Day 5 : Free day
You can just relax in Chania, archaeologic museum, local beach or take an excursion to Heraklion (with one of the local travel agencies in Chania).
Day 6 : Walk to Kallergis Shelter or Samaria Gorges
The Samaria Gorge is Crete’s best known natural feature and certainly the most popular walk on the island. Each year many thousands of people complete this route and at times the trail can feel very crowded. Nevertheless this popularity is certainly justified by the superb scenery and the sense of achievement.
The gorge itself is 10 miles long and descends from the Omalos Plateau to the sea at Aghia Roumeli. It is now designated as a national park and a small entrance fee is payable. If some people in the group don’t feel like descending the whole length of the gorges, it is possible to take a boat from Sougia and explore the end of the gorges. In early and late season high water levels can mean that the gorge is closed to tourists – in this situation alternative walks will be substituted.
Alternatively, we could walk to the shelter Kallergis that is located in the White Mountains at 1680m high. It is built on an amazing site on Plateau Omalos with breathtaking views of the surroundings peaks and the sea of both North and South Crete.
Day 7 : Almirida walk
After a short transfer (40 minutes) to the coastal village of Kalyves you will walk along the olive groves to the lovely village of Douliana, and then will take a nice track to Gavalochori where we will stop for lunch. In the afternoon it is all the way to the sea, passing old water wells you will finish your walk at Almirida sea resort where you can enjoy a swim and a refreshing drink!
Day 8 : FAREWELL!
Spend the morning relaxing or exploring Chania, before your airport transfer in the afternoon.