Kriti Coastline (trip)
Kriti Coastline
- Airport, Greece near Khania, Greece
- Culture & Nature
| from €1,675* per person | 8 Days | Year-round |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Aegean Adventures | 24 people max | |
in Europe. On a clear day from nearby Gavdos island
(Homer called it Calypso) you can see North
Africa! On this trip you hike Crete's southwestern
coastal footpaths on an E4 path (Europe's trail network)
that hugs the Libyan Sea. Several of the
coastal villages are inaccessible to cars and only
reached by foot or boat.
Gorges are a major geographical feature of western
Crete and three are included on this itinerary. You
have an opportunity to hike to an ancient Asclepio
ruin, known as Lissos, a healing site with a natural
spring. There are 15th to 17th century fortresses
from the days of the Venetian occupation that you
can explore.
The best part of Crete is the warm hospitality of the Cretan
people. They will insist on sharing a carafe of raki with you
— even if it is only ten in the morning! Cretan food is a specialty
in Greek cuisine with certain dishes (like dakos) imitated
by other Greeks but only made perfect in Crete.
Cretan folk music is also a precious genre that is admired
throughout Greece. special only to Cretan folks.
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Locations visited/nearby
Greece, Europe
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Aegean Adventures:
-
Reviewer: Francie Johnston
located in
San Francisco,
California
USA
Our tour [on the Cyclades islands] was meticulously planned and executed -- the islands, towns where we stayed, cycling routes, sag support, etc. were terrific. It was logistically very complicated because we always had to be back at a port at the correct time to catch the ferry to the next island, but we never seemed rushed or anything cut short.
-
Reviewer: Louise Taylor
located in
Olympia,
Washington
USA
Thank you for another wonderful trip [hiking in Crete], I think the very best. I will miss the whole group, and of course Greece.
[her third trip with us] -
Reviewer: Marcia Migay
located in
Thunder Bay,
Ontario
Canada
What a fabulous trip! 3 of the women I train with are excited about the possibility of travelling to cycle Greece together next year with your company. I'll let you know as we discuss plans more! Thank-you once again for a fantastic trip. Your attention to detail was so appreciated. You just spoiled everyone. And I appreciated the opportunity to see a side of Greece most people will never experience.
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
- Self-guided (includes hotels, maps, luggage transfer, etc but no guide).
Itinerary
Day 1: OmalosFrom Hania’s pretty harbor, you transfer to Laki, a mountain
village with an old path that goes to Omalos Plateau. Only a
few generations ago this trail was well-trod, but now with a
north-south highway to Omalos, hikers have the route all to
themselves. 4 hour walk.
Day 2: Sougia
Hike the famous Samaria Gorge, considered to be Europe’s
longest gorge. Eleven miles, all downhill, starting out on a steep
staircase. Samaria’s is Greece’s most beloved national park
with wild kri-kris, narrow slot passages and rivers. 8 hours
Moderate: full day hikes, 4 to 6 hours, some steep
trails, Samaria Gorge is about 8 hours walking downhil
Day 3: Sougia
Hike to Lissos, an ancient Asclepio healing site that is in pristine
nature, no residents nearby. There were some 200 “Cults of
Asclepio” in ancient Greece, but only two existed in Crete. A
Roman necropolis with scores of tombs from about 50AD can
also be found at Lissos. 3 hours walk
Day 4: Loutro
Boat transfer from Sougia to Agia Roumeli from where you head
eastward for Loutro. Stop at Agio Pavlos church where St. Paul
is said to have washed ashore in a shipwreck and followers
erected this lovely church on the beach to his memory. Swim
there, jumping from the huge boulder. 5 hours walk
Day 5: Loutro
Hike the Aradena Gorge up to the abandoned Aradena village. If
you’re brave enough, try bungee jumping from the Aradena
Bridge. You are deep in Sfakia territory, the most rebellious in
Crete. The Sfakians fought the Turks bitterly and held out for
years against he occupation. 5.5 hours walk
Day 6: Asfikou
Following the magnificent coastal road dig a hole in the beach at
Sweetwater and drinking water emerges. From Hora Sfakia, vehicle
transfer to Askifou Plateau with a detour side trip to
Frankocastello Castle, whose ghosts of Cretan souls are said to
speak on May 18, 1828. Afternoon hike down the easy, 8 kilometer
Imbros Gorge. 2.5 hour morning walk
Day 7: Askifou
Vehicle transfer to Plakias for fabulous river walking. Hike
around boulders and past palm trees to reach an inviting beach
for a full day of swimming at Preveli Beach. 3 hour river walking
Day 8: Departure
Daily flights from Hania to Athens International Airport.
More information from Aegean Adventures:
- View trip on provider's website
www.aegeaadventures.com/pdfs/KritiCoastline.pdf… - Company profile, experience, and history
- View all of their trips
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