Current as of: April 30, 2024 - 03:34
Walking in Crete Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures
- Destination: Greece
- Programmes: Walking & Trekking
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Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
- 8 Days: Flight Inclusive
- 8 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: TFD
Trip Overview
Trek trails on the largest island in Greece, where the magical Mediterranean meets ancient empires
Twinkling Mediterranean waters, a rugged interior and millennia-old civilisations make Crete a must for any hike-loving adventurer. See it for yourself on this highlight-heavy walking getaway, which includes a never-forgotten journey down the dramatic chasm of Samaria Gorge and a stop at the peaceful sugarcube village of Loutro. We also dig deep into the local history and culture, admiring ancient ruins of long-gone empires, discovering ancient pottery traditions and sampling the popular local wine at a vineyard. Of course, tracking plenty of coastal trails means we have time for refreshing dips in that inviting sparkly sea.
At a Glance
- Seven nights in two- to three-star hotels
- Six days of walking
- Between four and six hours of walking per day
Highlights
- Walk the Unesco-listed Samaria Gorge
- Stay overnight in the all-white coastal village of Loutro
- End a gorgeous hike with sea swims at the palm-backed Preveli Beach
- Soak up the history of the once-powerful ancient Greek city of Eleftherna
- Tour one of the most popular wineries in Crete and taste their produce
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with six days of walking. For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
It offers the chance to experience the magnificent mountain scenery of Crete. Routes have been chosen to showcase the best of the natural and historic sites on the island. Terrain will include footpaths and mountain terrain, which can be rocky and loose in places with sloped ascents and descents. The walks require a good level of fitness and all are optional.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Chania
- End City: Chania
Land Only Itinerary
Start Chania; optional orientation tour; welcome briefing and optional dinner
The adventure begins in Chania, a historic port city with a 14th-century Venetian harbour and atmospheric old town. If there’s time, we can enjoy orientation tour, visiting the old harbour to see the Venetian lighthouse; the renovated Grand Arsenal, an ancient shipyard in honey-coloured stone; the Splanzia ruins; and Kum Kapi beach.
There’s a welcome briefing this evening followed by an optional dinner together (if the flight timings permit), a great chance to get to know each other a little better.
Accommodation: Three-star hotel in Chania
Start Chania; optional orientation tour; welcome briefing and optional dinner
The adventure begins in Chania, a historic port city with a 14th-century Venetian harbour and atmospheric old town. If there’s time, we can enjoy an orientation tour, visiting the old harbour to see the Venetian lighthouse; the renovated Grand Arsenal, an ancient shipyard in honey-coloured stone; the Splanzia ruins; and Kum Kapi beach.
There’s a welcome briefing this evening followed by an optional dinner together (if the flight timings permit), a great chance to get to know each other a little better.
Accommodation: Three-star hotel in Chania
Transfer to Paleochora; coastal walk to Sougia
We transfer (1hr 30min) to the coastal town of Paleochora, where we begin our first hike. Our adventure takes us east along a seaside route – part of the European E4 trail – to the village of Sougia, initially tracking a paved path before taking us to Anydri beach after a few minutes.
We ease into things with a gentle first half of the hike; after around 5mi (8km), we begin an ascent to the ancient city of Lissos, once a hydrotherapy hub that bloomed in the Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine eras. Here we visit a well-preserved temple with a floor mosaic dedicated to Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, and take a small loop around the city.
We enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea and lunch, before our final ascent to Sougia beach. We then catch a transfer to our hotel for the night, where we have dinner and put our feet up.
Accommodation: Neos Omalos Hotel (or similar)
Hike the Unesco-listed Samaria Gorge
Today we tackle the Unesco-listed Samaria Gorge, a 10mi (16km) long chasm running through the White Mountains to the Libyan Sea. We begin with a 10-minute transfer to the starting point, before setting out on what has to be one of the most spectacular walks in Greece.
Along the way, we navigate pine, cypress and holly forests, pass 22 freshwater springs, and cut through abandoned villages and churches. The sheer gorge walls expand and contract as we go, stretching to 490ft (150m) at their widest but squeezing to just 10ft (3m) in the tightest sections.
Our route is downhill and we cross a river several times (over wooden bridges or rock hopping) but it is not a technical or difficult hike. Our goal is Agia Roumeli beach, where we stay the night – our luggage is transferred to the hotel for us. Upon arrival and after check-in, we have time to relax and enjoy a sea swim before a group dinner.
Accommodation: Calypso Hotel (or similar)
Hike to the white-washed village of Loutro
Post breakfast, we check out and begin today’s walk from Agia Roumeli beach, which takes us along the southern coastline. Our goal is the tiny seaside village of Loutro, an all-white bundle of buildings backed by rocky mountains and a contender for the most beautiful settlement in Crete.
Our route takes us along the coast, through the beach, past the 10th-century Byzantine chapel of Agios Pavlos and to Marmara beach. It’s then a 2mi (3.5km) hike to Loutro, though you can hop in a private boat taxi (additional cost) if you’d prefer.
Accommodation: Hotel in Loutro
Ferry to Chora Sfakion; hike to the palm-backed Preveli Beach
We bid a fond farewell to Loutro this morning, hopping on an approximately 20-minute ferry to Chora Sfakion, where we jump into a transfer (1hr 30min) to our starting point for today’s hike: the 18th-century Preveli Bridge. From here, we walk through olive groves to the renovated ruins of Preveli Monastery, before following a trail towards Preveli Beach, enjoying views of the Megalopotamos river and the mighty cliffs of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge as we go.
After around 2.5mi (4km), we reach the palm-forested beach. The hike is a little hilly and includes 450 steps down to the shore, followed by a steep climb. We have time to recuperate after, perhaps with a swim in the Libyan Sea.
We return to Preveli Bridge taking a route on the other side of the gorge before a transfer to our hotel for the night.
Accommodation: Hotel in Rethymno
Visit the ancient Greek city of Eleftherna; pottery village of Margarites; winery tour and tasting
Our hike today is a culture-soaked adventure. It starts in the once-powerful ancient Greek city of Eleftherna, now a small village, where we admire the Byzantine tower at the city entrance, the Roman reservoirs and tunnels, the acropolis, and the Hellenic bridge, before visiting the archaeological museum.
Then, after a countryside walk, we visit the pottery village of Margarites, where we can visit ceramic workshops and learn about a pottery tradition stretching to the Minoan period. We also enjoy a traditional taverna lunch here and visit the nearby Arkadi Monastery.
In the afternoon, we journey back to Rethymno, visiting one of the most popular wineries in Crete along the way for a tour and tasting.
Accommodation: Hotel in Rethymno
Circular village walk; return to Chania; farewell dinner
This morning, we continue our cultural immersion with a visit to the lesser-known archaeological site of Aptera, a city-state during the ancient Greek period and, with a spot between the two port cities of Minoa (now Marathi) and Kisamo (Kalives), a one-time commercial hub.
It’s then time for our final hike of the trip, a near 5.5mi (9km) loop that takes in the traditional villages of Stylos, Paidochori and Neo Chorio. We return to Chania in the afternoon with free time to relax, explore the city and pick up any last-minute souvenirs.
In the evening, we enjoy our farewell dinner, an excellent chance to swap numbers and toast our adventure.
Accommodation: Arkadi Hotel (or similar)
End in Chania
Our trip ends today after breakfast. Depending on when you wake up, you may have time for one last wander around the beautiful city of Chania before you begin your return journey home.
End in Chania
Our trip ends today after breakfast. Depending on when you wake up, you may have time for one last wander around the beautiful city of Chania before you begin your return journey home.
Ascents, descents and distances
All ascents, descents and distances listed above have been measured by our local partners or tour leaders, in many cases with satellite-based mapping software. Please note, different GPS measuring devices can give differing results, particularly on winding paths or in mountainous terrain. Measurements stated throughout these trips notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter. Timings stated will vary depending on the pace of your group.
Accommodation
Hotels
We stay at small two- and three-star family-run hotels where possible, choosing comfortable, traditional accommodations that highlight the local architecture of each destination. Most offer free wifi.
Single accommodation is available on this trip for a supplement; see dates and prices.
Single supplement from £ 360
Food & Drink
All breakfasts, four picnic lunches and four dinners are included.
The buffet breakfasts include fresh bread, butter, jam, fresh juice, milk, local yoghurt, honey and wild cherry syrup, porridge, eggs, ham and cheese, cereal, muesli, cake and cookies, honey, coffee/tea, chocolate and lots of fresh seasonal fruit.
A dining experience in Greece isn’t the same without spending evenings in a taverna – a small, family-run Greek restaurant – and on this trip we visit many of them.
Dishes to try in the evenings include homemade filo pastry pies, moussaka, stuffed vegetables plus a variety of other vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh salads, crunchy bread, cheeses and locally caught fish and seafood. Also try the local meat, such as lamb, pork, chicken and beef.
Transport
We will be using a mixture of private transport and local ferries.
Weather & Seasonality
February to March and November/December: Daytime temperatures of 10C-18C (50F-64F); nights of 5C-9C (41F- 48F); rain and chances of snow on high mountains.
April, May and October: Daytime temperatures of 17C-27C (63F-81F); nights of 8C-13C (46F-55F); chances of rain.
June and September: Daytime temperatures of 20C-30C (68F-86F), nights of 14C-19C (57F-66F); very dry and warm, ideal for swimming.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Chania Airport (CHQ)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Chania
Location end: Chania
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Two/three-season jacket for April, May and October departures
- Warm jacket for February, March, November and December departures
- Light waterproof jacket
- Sunhat
- Water bottle (water is drinkable almost everywhere on this itinerary, and you can refill your bottles from the tap at restaurants and the hotel)
- Lightweight but sturdy boots with ankle support
- Backpack
- Swimwear
- Sandals or old trainers (sneakers) for swimming
- Comfortable shoes or trainers (sneakers) for sightseeing outside of the day walks
- Walking poles
Practical Information
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Visa
Greece
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Greece. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/greece
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/greece
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Greece.html
Vaccinations and Health
Greece
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks here.
If you’re a UK citizen, please note that your UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are still valid and offer the same cover as the Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC) in the EU. This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and in some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. Once your EHIC has expired, replace it with a GHIC.
Local Time
Greece's time zone: Europe/Athens (UTC +03:00)
Electricity
Greece's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins, European standard) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Greece's currency: Euros (EUR)
ATM Availability
There are several ATMs that take Visa/Mastercard or Switch. Major credit cards are accepted in most places.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
Allow approximately €150-€200 for food and drinks not included. A typical three-course meal with alcohol costs between €15 and €20.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work; however, most travellers wish to tip their guides in appreciation of their help and friendliness. This is not compulsory and depends on the service received. If you feel you would like to leave a tip, we suggest approximately €30-€50 per person for the leader. It is also customary to leave a tip for any additional local staff who support your holiday – for example, drivers, cooks and hotel staff. This can be handed to your leader at the end of the week to distribute accordingly. We recommend approximately €10 per person per week for the leader to distribute to all relevant staff.
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
- Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
- This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
- Read more about our other initiatives here.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
- By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
- We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
- We rewild 1,074sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
- Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
- Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
- Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
- Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
- Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
- Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.
Important Information
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.