Daily itinerary 8 days
Trekking South-West Crete
Day 1. Arrival at Chania airport. You organise your own travel to
Chania town. The hotel is within walking distance of the bus station.
We meet at
18.00 hours in the hotel lobby. After an introductory chat, we head for Chania harbour for a meal.
Day 2. We take the bus to the village of Agia Irini, where today’s walk starts. We walk through the green and imposing
Irini gorge, mostly descending between steep cliffs. We walk partly along the riverbed, partly on a path high above.
After the gorge we continue to Sougia, where we have time for a refreshing swim in the Libyan sea.
At the end of the day we take the bus to
Omalos, where we stay for the next two days.
Walking time: 4.5 hrs - 650 m downhill
Day 3. Today we walk in between the high plateau of Omalos and the Irini gorge. We descend via the so-called '
Kings Road', part of a centuries-old footpath, to the beginning of the gorge, where we have a picnic. Afterwards we walk uphill through the very imposing Figou gorge. A “double gorge” walk: quite hard work but with beautiful views; very rewarding!
Walking time: 4 hrs - 550 m up and down
Day 4. A late start for the walk through the famous
Samaria gorge, to avoid the crowds and enjoy the late afternoon atmosphere.
At 18 km long it is the longest gorge of Europe. Beyond the end of the gorge we arrive at the village of
Agia Roumeli.
Walking time 4 - 5 hours - 1200 m downhill
Day 5. A coastal walk from Agia Roumeli to
Loutro.
We pass several small bays where we can swim. The path leads partly along the coast and partly inland. There are no great altitude differences. The walk passes the centuries-old
Agios Pavlos chapel and also leads through a beautiful pine forest. At
Marmara Beach there is the choice to continue either on foot or by boat.
Walking time 5 hours – 100 m up-and downhill – 15 km
Day 6. A varied walk through the Aradenna gorge to the village of
Anopolis.
From Loutro we follow an old, zig-zag donkey path to the village of Livadiana. From here we walk parallel to the
Aradena gorge, first high above it, then slowly descending onto the riverbed.
In the gorge some clambering is involved!
Via a beautiful “kalderimi” (an old donkey path) we arrive in the deserted village of Aradena. Another half hour brings us to the village of Anopolis.
Walking time 4,5 hours – 650 m uphill, 80 m downhill
Day 7. A beautiful descent towards the Libyan sea, followed by a coastal walk to Chora Sfakion.
After a visit to the chapel of Agia Ekaterini, built high on a hill, we descend to Loutro via an old footpath. We follow the coast and pass, amongst others, “
Sweet Water Beach”, where fresh water bubbles up. The next part of the path is sometimes rather demanding and some clambering is involved.
Our walk ends in
Chora Sfakion.
Walking time 4.30 hours - 100 m uphill, 680 m downhill
Day 8. Depending on the departure flights we take the 7 or 11 o'clock bus to Chania.
Please note: Your return flight should therefore not be earlier than 11:00 in the morning!
N.B.
• During this walking tour we use public transport and hotel
minibuses.
• You yourself organise the transfer from Chania airport to
the hotel (about 20 minutes driving).
Required for this tour
• good level of fitness and good health
• (some) experience of mountain walking
• no serious vertigo (fear of heights)
• (ankle-high) walking boots
Date in 2020 Saturday June 20 - Saturday June 27
Price 650 € per person; Single supplement 95 €
Further information on 8-10 day walking tours.
