This programme is great for those who wish to visit Athens the home of the Olympic Games 2004 and trek in Europe’s longest gorge (18km). Your holiday begins with a visit of the capital of Greece, Athens where you see the main sights of the city, complete with a guided tour of the Acropolis. You then fly to Crete (Chania Airport) where your Cretan adventure commences. Crete is the largest and most mountainous of the Greek islands, it boasts an incredible variety of scenery and vegetation, and an amazing history dating back to the 4000 year old Minoan civilization. At the island’s western end rise the spectacular White Mountains, reaching almost 2500. The peaks towers above a coastline of sheer cliffs cut by deep ravines running down the sea. Our tour alternates between coastal walks, magnificent gorges and peak ascents. Highlights along the way include the famous Samaria gorge, the longest in Europe, and last refuge of the “kri-kri’ mountain goats.
Trip Summary:
Day 1 - Arrival in Athens:
Meet at the airport with your English speaking Trekking Hellas guide. There is one major transfer from the airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” to the hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of Athens. Settle to the hotel. In the evening meet with your guide for a short walking tour of Athens and enjoy dinner in a traditional Greek tavern in the old part of Athens, in Plaka, overlooking the Acropolis. Mode of transportation: Private A/C motor coach, walking.
Day 2 - Chania Crete:
After breakfast, half day sightseeing tour of Athens, the hostess of the next Olympic Games in 2004. Visit Acropolis, the Parthenon and Panathinaikon Stadium, the stadium where the first Olympic games were held in 1896, and the 2004 Olympic Games. Lunch in a tavern.
Early in the afternoon, transfer to the airport to catch the flight Athens-Chania. Arrival in Chania, and transfer to the hotel in the old part of Chania. In the evening, we have dinner altogether at a tavern close to the old picturesque harbour, tasting for the first time the delicious regional Cretan cuisine. Mode of transportation: Private A/C motor coach, flight, walking.
Day 3 - Chania-Sougia (4-5 hours):
After breakfast, we leave by private A/C bus (or taxi) to Agia Irini while our bags will continue to Sougia; we rejoin them in the evening. From St. Irini village, we walk through the St. Irini gorge to Sougia (the gorge is 7 km long and 4 more km. on road to Sougia, approximately 4,5 hours easy walk). This is a lesser-known gorge than Samaria, but rivals its neighbour for beauty and spectacle. Mode of transportation: Private A/C motor coach, walking.
Day 4 - Around Sougia (3-4 hours):
For those who are interested in the Greek history, today’s walk will be a rewarding one with the visit of the ancient site of Lissos, a spa in Roman times with a mosaic floor as highlight. Picnic in the deserted Lissos bay where we also have the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters. Overnight in Sougia. (Easy walk) Mode of transportation: walking.
Day 5 - Sougia–Omalos–Gingilos:
By private A/C bus we arrive after an hour’s drive to Xiloskala. This is where our trekking starts to Gingilos. After an hour and a half moderate to strenuous walk, we make our first stop at Linoselli spring. Then we carry towards the top of the mountain. (4 hours moderate walk) We spend the night back to Omalos (Omalos means smooth), where we can taste home made recipes and enjoy a quiet night. Mode of transportation: Private A/C motor coach, walking.
Day 6 - Samaria Gorge to Agia Roumeli:
An early local car brings us to the head of the Samaria gorge, Europe's longest and certainly one of its most spectacular. The descent begins on a good path in shady pine forest, dropping steeply and crossing the river before reaching the deserted village of Samaria. Soon the path is in the riverbed itself before we climb away again at the point where the (underground) river re-emerges. Now the path criss-crosses the river before bringing us out to the village of Agia (St.) Roumeli and the sea. After a swim and/or drinks, we settle into our rooms. (Moderate walk, 17 kilometres, between 5-6 hours.) Mode of transportation: walking.
Day 7 - Agia Roumeli to Loutro (5 hours):
We make an early start in the cool of the morning, walking on sand and shingle next to the sea to the picturesque chapel of St. Pavlos (Paul), said to mark the place where Saint Paul landed on Crete. Next to the chapel is a freshwater spring coming out of the pebble beach. We make a short stop for swimming. After 5 hours moderate walk the silhouette of the blue and white washed houses of Loutro village appears. Overnight in a beach hotel overlooking the Libyan Sea. Mode of transportation: walking.
Day 8 - Loutro:
Today we walk to Anopolis village, where we see the most “authentic” of the village communities in full swing - men in headdress and local costume, will visit St. Catherine’s chapel (enjoy the beautiful view of Loutro area and the blue sea of the Libyan sea) and descend from the same path to Loutro. (5 hours). Mode of transportation: walking.
Day 9 - Loutro to Chora Sfakion and return to Chania:
We follow the coastal path to Chora Sfakion this morning, stopping for a swim at Freshwater Beach. This 2-hour stretch has some fine path building on a steep rock face overlooking the deep blue sea. From Chora Sfakion our private A/C bus brings us to Chania. Or we may follow an alternative route, take the boat from Loutro to Sfakia (15-20 minutes ride) and then from Sfakia take the bus and go to Chania airport to catch the flight back to Athens. End of services. Mode of transportation: Private A/C motor coach, flight, walking.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
€1250 for 12-16 persons;
€1350 for 9-11 persons;
€1400 for 6-8 persons;
€1500 for 4-5 persons.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Greece
Hiking & Trekking
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