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 olive oil at a farm. Of course, tracking plenty of coastal trails means we have time for refreshing dips in that inviting sparkly sea.
Activity Areas
Coastal Walks
Multi-Centre
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Walking & Trekking
Region & Country & City
Europe: Greece
Included in the Price
All accommodation: 4 Superior Comfort nights (hotels), 3 Comfort nights (hotels) - All breakfasts, four boxed lunches, five dinners - Immersive itinerary with all transport (private vehicle and local ferry) and listed activities - Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure and licensed archaeological guide in Aptera - Group arrival and departure transfers available - Entrance fees to ancient Aptera, Eleftherna and Samaria Gorge
Not Included In The Price
Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip, tourist taxes (paid locally) are not included.
Map
Itinerary
Day 1 Adventure starts in Chania
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.
Around 6pm, say yassou (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Greek welcome by arranging a group dinner.
Want to explore Chania further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Upgrade to a city-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Day 2 Visit Crete’s botanical gardens • Hike the Omalos Plateau
Leave Chania and transfer (40 minutes) into the foothills of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) to visit the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete. Following paths through fruit trees from around the world, aromatic herbs and medicinal plants, we see how the local microclimate supports this varied collection. A charred olive tree recalls the 2003 wildfire that devastated the land and inspired the gardens’ creation.
We then continue (30 minutes) to Omalos village, where our introductory hike takes us onto the plateau surrounded by the White Mountains. Leaving the paved road, we join a kalderimi (stone-paved path), once used by local people and their mules to travel through the hills.
A gentle climb brings us to our highest point of the day, with time to appreciate the peaks of the White Mountains. Then descend onto the plateau, finishing on flatter terrain. These mountain surroundings once provided more than fine views: the plateau served as a refuge for Cretan resistance fighters during Ottoman rule. We spend tonight in Omalos village.
Day 3 Hike 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 must 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 downhill route crosses a river several times (over wooden bridges or rock hopping) but it is not a technical or difficult hike, plus we stop for a boxed lunch. 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.
Day 4 Hike the coast to Marmara beach • Take a boat to Loutro
We leave Agia Roumeli on foot, following the E4 trail east along the southern coastline. Starting at the beach, we walk beside the sea to Agios Pavlos, where a small stone chapel stands close to the shore. Beyond here, the route passes through pine woodland before continuing over rockier terrain above the coast.
Our destination is Marmara beach, a pebble cove at the mouth of Aradena Gorge. Here, we finish our hike and gather for lunch at the taverna overlooking the sea – a rewarding setting to rest our legs.
After lunch, we board a local boat to Loutro (20-minute ride), approaching the village from the water for our first glimpse of whitewashed buildings curving around the sheltered bay, with rocky mountain slopes rising behind.
Day 5 Ferry to Chora Sfakion • Hike to the palm-backed Preveli Beach • Olive oil tour and tasting
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, 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.
After, we head to a local olive oil farm for a tour and tasting experience, before transferring to Rethymno, where we spend the next two nights.
Day 6 Visit the ancient Greek city of Eleftherna and archaeological museum • Pottery village of Margarites
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 Museum of Ancient Eleutherna .
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.
Journey back to Rethymno in the afternoon, where we have free time to relax and explore.
Day 7 Circular village walk • Visit the ancient ruins of Aptera • Return to Chania • Farewell dinner
Enjoy a circular village walk this morning – our last hike in Crete! Transferring (30 minutes) to Stylos, we set off on our adventure, visiting the pretty villages of Paidochori, Neo Chorio, Diktamo and Machairon.
After lunch, which can be taken at a traditional taverna, we head to the lesser-known archaeological site of Aptera, which was once one of the most significant city-states in Crete. Its inhabitants were skilful archers and fought as mercenaries to bring wealth to their land.
Return to Chania in the early evening for our farewell dinner, an excellent chance to swap numbers and toast our adventure.
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Day 8 Adventure ends 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. If you’d like more time in Chania, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
