Guided Hiking West Crete
Our 8-day trip, explores the southwest coast of Crete, with its spectacular White Mountains, the deep gorges and coastal trails that lead us to charming fishing villages and quite beaches, accessible only by boat.
Cretan Adventures organizes outdoor activities and excursions (from daily to 15-day programs) that include all land services and facilities, covering the most interesting and beautiful routes and areas of Crete and other islands and areas in Greece.
Our 8-day trip, explores the southwest coast of Crete, with its spectacular White Mountains, the deep gorges and coastal trails that lead us to charming fishing villages and quite beaches, accessible only by boat.
Arrive in Chania. Explore the old “Venetian style” city of Chania with its picturesque harbor.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the entrance of Agia Irini gorge, for your first hike. Ag.Irini gorge leads to the village of Sougia and provides a nice and quiet path next to a stream, full of pines and chestnut trees. Sougia is a beautiful village on the southern coast of Crete where you will have the opportunity to enjoy a swim in the crystal-clear waters of Mediterranean Sea. (Estimated walking time: 4 hours ) (Distance: 12.5klm) Overnight Sougia Read more
Cultural walk through the beautiful gorge of Selinou, thick with brilliant pink oleanders and carob trees, to the ancient city of Lissos. Lissos was an important center of hydrotherapy in ancient years, which flourished in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine era. Here you will visit a well-preserved temple with mosaic floor dedicated to the God of medicine Asklipios and you will have much to admire by making a small loop around the city. Refresh yourselves in the cove and return to Sougia. Estimated Walking Time: approx. 3 hours) (Distance 7 km) Overnight in Sougia Read more
Leave your luggage at the hotel’s lobby to be transferred by boat to Ag. Roumeli village; which is located at the foot of Samaria gorge. Either by bus or by using a taxi you will reach the entrance of Samaria gorge at Omalos plateau, from where you will climb up mountain Gigilos. This is where the wild goats of Crete (Kri-kri) live as well as some of the rarest and highly threatened with extinction wild birds of Europe, such as the griffon vulture and the lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus). Towards the peak there are some points that you may use your hands to climb (easy scramble, nothing technical). The summit provides spectacular views in all directions. You descend by the same route and you spend the night at a family owned hotel in Omalos plateau. (Estimated walking time: 6 hours) (Distance: 10klm.) Overnight in Omalos Read more
A short drive from the hotel will take you at the entrance of Samaria gorge. Samaria is the largest gorge in Europe and one of the most beautiful that nature can provide. You walk on a good path in shady pine forest and beside a melodic stream. This is where you may see the wild goats of Crete (Kri-kri). You reach the small village of Agia Roumeli, where you can relax and enjoy a swim. (Estimated walking time: 6 hours) (Distance: 16 klm.) Overnight in Agia Roumeli Read more
Leave your luggage at hotel’s lobby to be transferred by boat to Loutro. A beautiful sea walk (coastal path) close the Mediterranean Sea. Today’s walk alternates on sand and shingles next to the sea and about 50m above the sea level in pine forest and bushy areas. On the way to Loutro you pass the picturesque St Paul's chapel, which was built on the sand next to the sea. After a needed-refreshing break at "Marmara" beach, you arrive at the small port of Loutro with its magnificent village decorated with the blue and white houses. (Estimated walking time: 6 hours) (Distance: 14klm) Overnight in Loutro Read more
Ascend the ancient path until Anopolis village, a historic area from where the revolution against the Turks began in 1866. Here we see "authentic" Cretans with their traditional costumes that “take us back in time, to other centuries”. From Agia Ekaterini’s church, just over Anopolis, you have the chance to enjoy the wonderful view to the Libyan Sea and the south coast of Crete. Visit Anopoli’s square, relax at the coffee shop with the locals and return the same way back. For the strong hikers, we propose to continue and cross Aradena’s gorge that ends at “Marmara” beach and return back to Loutro by following the E4 path. This big loop may give an unforgettable picture that alternates between mountain trail, spectacular gorge and coastal path. (Estimated walking time: 4 hours or 7 hours) (Distance: 9klm or 16klm) Overnight in Loutro Read more
For the last day, there are two optional ways to reach the village of Hora Sfakion, from where you return back to Chania. Either 2 hours hike by following the coastal path that crosses "Sweet water beach" (there are many fresh water springs, coming out of the pebble beach), or a 15 minutes boat-ride from Loutro to Sfakia. The trip ends at Chania where you will find really interesting a small walk in Chania’s market. If you choose to hike to Hora Sfakion, leave your luggage to the owners of the hotel to put them in the boat and start the hike early in order collect your luggage from the boat at Hora Sfakion. Read more
We arrived home earlier this week and we wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had on the trip. Everything went very smoothly, we loved our accommodations, all the transportations links were so easy, and best of all, the hikes were incredible. We couldn’t have had a better experience!
We had a wonderful time in Greece. The arrangements were excellent. The hiking trips were fantastic and the food was some of the best that I had ever had. Truly an awesome adventure that I would recommend to anyone.
We enjoyed our holidays in Crete so much that we are already planning to return next year
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