Daily itinerary 10 days
Walking tour EAST CRETE
Day 1. Arrival at Heraklion airport, by
18.00 at the latest. Transfer to our first hotel near
Gouves, a little to the east of Heraklion.
Day 2. A walk high above the
Lassithi plateau. We start at the ruins of old windmills, which used to grind the grain. We pass places where once Minoans used to live, among others the high-altitude town of Karfi.
From here a beautiful descent, using an ancient foot path, to the village of Tzermiado. In the afternoon a visit to the village of Krasi, with its centuries-old plane tree and wells.
Day 3. A gorge walk is on the programme. From an inland village we walk and clamber through a beautiful, stony gorge, slowly downhill till we have reached the beach at the north coast.
Can we see vultures drifting high above us?
Nature is very green and varied and the walk is mainly in the shade.
Day 4. Today we transfer to the far east for our next stay, a hotel
in
Palekastro. On our way we have a circular walk through the wonderfully green Richtis gorge, close to Exo Moulia.
One imagines oneself in a subtropical jungle paradise with all around us the sounds of frogs and falling and running water.
The walk ends at sea, where there's time for a quick dip.
Day 5. We start this walk through the famous "
valley of death", close to the village Kato Zakros, at sea-level. Through the gorge, we walk uphill to the village of Zakros. After refreshments we continue via a beautiful but demanding route, downhill towards the sea again. There is the possibility of visiting the excavations of the Minoan palace.
Day 6. Day off. Possibility to walk the Chouchaklies gorge up and down to the beach at Karoumes.
Day 7. Transfer day again, this time to our last hotel in
Agios Nikolaos. Before we leave, we walk from the hotel, all the way along the coast (including up- and downhill!), to the famous
palm beach of Vai, where unique Cretan palm trees offer us shadow.
After refreshments we drive on to Agios Nikolaos.
Day 8. A transfer brings us to the village of Kritsa. We take time to visit one of Crete's most beautiful Byzantine churches, painted with frescoes.
The walk is through the short but wonderful gorge of Kritsa. Some clambering is involved!
Later, we visit the Dorian village of Lato, with stunning views on the
Mirabello Bay and Agios Nikolaos.
Day 9. Our last walking day brings us to the area of Elounda, the peninsula of Kolokithi and the leper island of Spinalonga.
There is a choice between different walks: either more inland or instead closer to the sea.
In both cases it will be a perfect conclusion to our walking week!
Day 10. After breakfast it is time to say goodbye and leave for the airport or other holiday destinations.
Date in 2020 Friday May 22 – Sunday May 31
Price 780 € per person; Single supplement 95 €.
Further information on 8-10 day walking tours.
