Walking in West Crete – Ann Enright Group 2023

Itinerary – Walking in West Crete

Day 1 Monday : Start Chania
Welcome by your guide at Chania airport (Ryanair flight coming from Dublin) and transfer by private transfer (30 min) to your 3 star hotel Arkadi, ideally located in the centre of Chania. Plenty of good value snacks / restaurants around the hotel to get food in the if you wish. Late arrival but plenty of restaurants and snack bars open late in town.
Night in Chania. Dinner not included.
Day 2 Tuesday: Free day
Your free day is an opportunity to relax at the hotel or on a nearby beach. Alternatively explore the charming Venetian city of Chania built around its picturesque harbour.
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 3 Wednesday: Mountain walks – Omalos – White mountains
Today after a bus transfer to Omalos of about 1 hour you will explore the white mountains and a total different scenery. The A walkers will climb Gingilos 1980 m a technical and demanding climb with a real feel of a mountain walk. The B walkers will climb to Kallergi shelter through two different routes, a mountain refuge will amazing views all around of the north white mountains from two different routes. Return by bus (1 hour) in the afternoon.
Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner not inclded.
Day 4 Thursday: 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 18km miles long and descends from the Omalos Plateau to the sea at Agia Roumeli. It is now designated as a National Park.
For those keen to walk the entire Samaria Gorge (challenging walk) you will take an early transfer to the village of Omalos (1 hour) the north entrances to the Gorge. Fantastic but long walk on rocky terrain.
Alternatively another bus will transfer the rest of the group to Sfakia (1h30 min) were you will take a boat to Agia Roumeli at the south entrance to the Gorge (nice cruise). The boat transfer is 1 hour and we will walk up and down part of the gorge. It will save you from the very long descent from the top on rocky terrain and will get you quicker to most spectacular part of the Gorge which you will then have time to enjoy more. Both group will take the boat back to Sfakia and will return by bus to Chania. Long but fantastic day.
Note: Sometimes high water levels can mean that the Gorge is closed to tourists – in this situation alternative walks will be substituted.
Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner not included.
Day 5 Friday: Free day Chania
Free day to relax or explore Chania.
Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner not included.
Day 6 Saturday: Walk Akrotiri Peninsula
The 2 groups will take a short bus transfer (30 min) to the Akrotiri peninsula. The walks will explore many sites, the Monastery Katholiko (16th Century and still a working monastery), the cave of the Hermit John (It is a large chamber with a massive stalagmite in the middle resembling the shape of a bear. In antique times this cave was dedicated to the goddess Artemis) and Catolico Fiord. The A and B walk will walk on some technical terrain with loose stones. Both will enjoy magnificent sea views and will finish in Stavros, a great place for swimming. Return by bus.
Breakfast included. Lunch & dinner not included.
Day 7 Sunday: Agia Irini Gorges – Walks around Sougia
Transfer in the morning to the entrance of Agia Irini Gorges (1 h 15 min) or Sougia for the whole group. Many options are possible today. We can walk the gorges or a coastal walk or half of a coastal walk and return by boat.
After a transfer to the small village of Agia Irini, located in a valley along the winding road that leads from Chania to Sougia in south-west Crete, we will walk down the Agia Irini gorge. The gorge is a deep cut along the western edge of the White Mountains which will take you all the way down to the shores of the Libyan Sea to the small village of Sougia.
We can also a walk from Lissos to Sougia a beautiful and peaceful place with interesting remains of ancient civilization (extension possible). Transfer by bus back to Chania in the afternoon (1h15 min).
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 8: Farewell!!
Enjoy the morning in Chania at your own pace, before your transfer to Chania airport to match Ryanair flight Chania to Dublin