Exploring Crete

From the airport make your own way by bus or taxi to our centrally located hotel. Enjoy the afternoon and evening exploring the town, with its old quarter, two harbours, museum, market, and waterfront. It is possible to swim off the town beach to the west of the promenade. There is a wide choice of places to dine on the waterfront and elsewhere in the old town. Accommodation: Your modern 2-star hotel is within a short walk of the Venetian harbour, 50m. from the bus station and famous covered market. The bright rooms are equipped with ensuite facilities, balcony, telephone and T.V. For your first evening meal there are plenty of places to choose from by the old harbour with its Venetian lighthouse.

Morning in Chania before late morning taxi transfer (included in the tour price) with your baggage to the beautiful Omalos Plateau (1050m) in the heart of the White Mountains. After lunch at your hotel you can either explore the plateau or, with the help of a lift from the hotel to Xiloscalo (1200m/4000 feet) (you may have to pay a small charge for this transport) at the head of the Samaria Gorge you can walk up to the Austrian-run Kallergi Mountain Hut (1689m/5540 feet) to enjoy a cool drink and admire the magnificent view before walking back down the track to Omalos in the early evening. Accommodation: Your accommodation for two nights is in a friendly and well-designed 2-star lodge-style hotel with spacious balconies and stone flag hallways. All rooms are ensuite. Dinner is included: the cuisine is local and traditional. Vegetarian dishes are available, including an excellent bean soup as a starter. Breakfast includes yoghurt with honey – both are local produce.

After early breakfast a short transfer to Xiloscalo at the head of the Samaria Gorge. (Transfer supplied by the hotel - there may be a small charge.) From here your way climbs among scattered cypress and thorny maple trees to the refreshing Linoselli Spring. The last part of the ascent to the summit of Mt. Gingilos, a rugged peak of 1975m/6480ft involves some scrambling and is above the grade of this tour, but the Linoselli saddle at about 1750m, half-way between the spring and the summit provides an enjoyable, if more leisurely walk with spectacular views in all directions. You return by the same route back down to the plateau, crossing it on farmers' tracks to return to the hotel.

You pack minimum requirements (including a towel for the beach) for two nights and leave your main luggage at Omalos to be sent round to Anopolis where you will pick up day 6. After catching the bus to Xiloscalo you start your walk down the full length of the Samaria Gorge. This is a popular walk and you are unlikely to be the only ones on the trail, but by starting a little later or a little earlier you can miss the crowds. The gorge, one of the finest in Europe, is designated a National Forest Park. The forest trees are mostly evergreens: pine, cypress and holly oak, with massive plane trees close to watercourses. 15 km long, the gorge walls rise in places to 600m. The flora of the gorge is particularly abundant in the spring. On the way down you pass the chapel of Ay. Nikolaos, surrounded by some of the largest and most ancient cypress trees in Crete, and later the old deserted village of Samaria, a nice spot for a picnic with tables, shade and water. Next, the gorge narrows towards the famous Iron Gates, which are at one point a mere two metres wide. You emerge finally at the village of Agia Roumeli where you can swim in the Libyan sea and enjoy well-earned drinks and dinner at "Tara", our recommended taverna at the water's edge. They offer a wide choice with freshly cooked traditional dishes and fresh fish available. Accommodation: You are staying for two nights in a small modern 2-star hotel, just behind the long beach of pebbly sand. All rooms have ensuite facilities and a balcony with unobstructed views of the sea and the mountains.

Today is a favourite for many people: a magnificent coastal walk, at first along the pebbly beach, then above low cliffs through fragrant woodland of Calabrian pine, dropping down at one point to the beach to visit the little church of Aghios Pavlos, where St Paul is said to have landed on his voyage to Rome; then across a bare and rocky hillside before descending to the oasis-like Marble Beach; after a break you continue along the cliffs to Loutro, from where you catch the afternoon boat back to Agia Roumeli. Remember to pack your towel and swimming costumes.

After an early start to catch the cool of the morning, you walk along the shore eastwards for an hour or so before turning inland to climb the 600m/2000 ft coastal escarpment, via the dramatic Sellouda mule track, which winds up through the cliffs. Hopefully you will reach the top just before the shade leaves the path to rest and refresh yourselves while admiring the panorama from this eerie-like spot high above the coast. After a break you continue on across a barren stony plateau and through pine forest to the almost deserted village of Aradaina perched on the edge of the awesomely deep Aradaina gorge. The village church is a scheduled ancient monument. You have the choice of crossing the bridge for memorable views down the gorge, or following the village mule track down to the bottom and up the other side, and you reach Anopolis by mid afternoon. If you have enough energy we recommend (either in the early evening or before breakfast) a walk up to the Agia Ekaterini (St Catherine) chapel on a hilltop with an incredible all-round view. This takes about 1 hour. Close to the chapel are the as yet unexcavated remains of the sizable Roman town of Anopolis. Accommodation: In the mountain village of Anopolis, where you are likely to see local men in traditional dress of baggy trousers and crocheted headgear, you get a feel of the old Crete of 40 years ago. We are using a 2-star guesthouse well located overlooking the village square of Anopolis. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Dinner is included, a selection of tasty Cretan specialities prepared by the hotel owner.

There are two alternative walks for today. Option 1: Our recommended walk is the traverse of the Imbros Gorge; perhaps the next-best known gorge in Crete after Samaria. You travel with the baggage (included) down the long winding road to Chora Sfakion, then after dropping the baggage off continue by bus (11am) or taxi (fares not included) to the village of Komitadhes at the lower end of the gorge. The traverse of the gorge up to Imbros village, moderate grade, takes about 3 hours. At Imbros there is a fairly basic taverna where you can get lunch before catching the afternoon bus back to Chora Sfakion which passes at around 3.30pm. 3 to 3.5 hours walking. Option 2: For those who would like another visit to the coast at Loutro you can return to the coast by walking down the remarkable zigzagging muletrack from Ay. Katerini chapel, with extremely fine views along the way, to arrive at Loutro. Here you can linger to enjoy the small pebbly beach and pleasant restaurants of this former fishing village now protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can then take the afternoon boat, or walk (2.5 hours, challenging grade, head for heights needed) along the coast to Chora Sfakion (the principal port of this rugged area of Crete, also known as Sfakia). Walking time 2.5 to 5 hours according to whether you walk from Loutro or catch the boat. Accommodation: Return to the coast where your room in this 3-star hotel is close enough to the sea front to hear the waves on the harbour wall. All rooms are ensuite.The hotel has its own taverna/restaurant alongside the harbour with a wide choice. It is also close to the bus station.

Arrangements end after breakfast. Catch the morning bus to Chania for your onward journey. Depart from Chora Sfakion. Direct buses to Chania; or via Vrisses for Heraklion, depart daily at approx. 7am and 11am. Journey time is 2/3 hours.