Adventure Holidays, Greece Trekking Routes

CRETE HIKING ADVENTURE

CRETE HIKING ADVENTURE

Hiking in west Crete Chania - White mountain - Samaria gorge - picturesque fishing villages

Crete, the largest island in Greece, is a combination of crystal clear blue sea, rough but imposing mountains, impressive caves and the cradle of Europe’s earliest civilization, Minoan civilization. In this trip we’ll explore the southwest coast of Crete with the beautiful city of Chania, its spectacular White Mountains, the Europe’s largest gorge – Samaria gorge and coastal trails that lead us to charming fishing villages and quite beaches, accessible only by boat

TOUR DETAILS

  • Tour Code: HIkcre_01
  • Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
  • Season: April to October
  • Location: Greece, Crete island, Southwest region
  • Style: Trekking holidays – Hiking nature
  • Difficulty level: Moderate

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Walking tour at beautiful Chania town
  • Hike on the White mountains
  • Cross Samaria gorge the largest in Europe
  • Cross Ag. Irini gorge
  • Follow coastal trails along the Libyan sea to traditional fishing villages and quite beaches, accessible only by boat.

ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

The following activities are available in the area. They are not included in the package, can be included upon request.

  • Sea Kayak
  • SUP and snorkeling tour
  • Scuba diving

Included

  • All transfers with private minibus or minivan
  • Traditional guesthouses or 3* hotels or 4* hotels
  • Meals Foul Board (FB) – Lunch (L) = pic nick
  • Experienced En speaking mountain guide
  • Meet & Greet on the arrival at the airport
  • Walking tour at Chania town

Not Included

  • Flight tickets
  • Accommodation tax (0.5€ per day per room for guesthouses -1.5€ per day per room for 3* hotels – 3€ per day per room for 4* hotels) paid directly by the clients to hotel.

*All packages are flexible and dynamic for any changes according to any personal needs and desires upon request.

Note: The itinerary can be extended with hiking of two more days in the area of Loutro

                      Conduct us for more available packages in the area.

 

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Chania.(_,_,D)
Arrive at Chania Crete. Meet our staff at the airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon walk around in the city, Venetian castle, market  and will continue with a dinner at a traditional tavern with authentic Cretan cuisine.

Day 2: Ag Irini Gorge – Omalos Plateau (B,L,D)

After breakfast transfer (46 km – 1 hr) to the entrance of Agia Irini gorge for a hike to Sougia. This gorge provides a nice and quiet path next to a stream full of pines and chestnut trees. The gorge starts just by the road below the South end of Agia Irini village, at an altitude of 560 m. It is a deep cut along the western edge of the White Mountains and take you all the way down to the shores of the Libyan Sea at Sougia. Sougia is a beautiful village on the southern coast of Crete where we will have the opportunity to swim in the crystal-clear waters.
Then transfer to Omalos village (34km – 1 hr) for overnight.

Trekking time: 4 hours, 7,5 km, descent 500 m

Day 3: Mountain Gingilos (2080 m).
We start our hike from Omalos plateau. We will climb Mt. Gingilos, reaching the legendary 2.080 meter peak. To reach the summit a little easy scrambling is needed, but the spectacular views to all directions will take your breath away. This is where the wild goats of Crete (Kri-kri) live as well as the rare wild bearded vultures (Gypaetus), the biggest birds in Europe, We descend by the same route to Omalos village.

Trekking time: 6 hours, 9 km, ascent 1080 m, descent 1080m

Day 4:  The legend of Samaria gorge crossing (B,L,D)
Short drive to Xiloscalo (5km), the entrance of Samaria gorge the longest and more beauteful gorge in Europe. We will hike over trickling streams, through forests of scented pines and pass through the “Iron Gates”, the narrowest point, where the rocks on each side reach an altitude of 600 m, we reach the small village of Agia Roumeli, where we can relax and enjoy a swim in its fine pebble beach with the clear turquoise waters. Overnight at Agia Roumeli.

Trekking time: 6,5 hours, 16km.

Day 5: Ag. Roumeli – Marmara – Loutro (B,L,D)

Today we have a wonderful coastal walk. We start with an easy ascent path and walking next to Mediterranean sea we reach the picturesque chapel of St. Paul with its freshwater spring coming out of the pebble beach. After a refreshing swim we continue to Marmara where we have another refreshing swim before enjoying our lunch overlooking the open sea. We continue to small port of Loutro for overnight.

Trekking time: 6 hours, 11 km.

Day 6: Loutro – Chora Sfakion – Chania – Departure. (B,_,_)

Depending of departure time we have two alternative ways to reach the village of Hora Sfakion (or Sfakia), from where the transfer to Chania airport will take us 2 hours (70Km). Either 2,5 hours walk by the coastal path to “Sweet water beach”, where there are many fresh water springs, coming out of the pebble beach to Hora Sfakion , or a 15 minutes boat-ride from Loutro to Sfakia and then Chania and airport for your flight back home.