Walking in Crete
| country: | Greece |
| location: | Crete |
| price: | From €700 - €1250 (8 days) excluding flights based on 2 sharing. Single supplement €150. Self guided or tailor-made escorted holidays available 1 May - 31 Oct. Small group departures: 29 April, 20 May, 14 Oct, 21 Oct |
description
Our walking tours are an introduction to Crete’s natural beauty and culture that goes beyond the usual. Carefully designed, they present Crete’s sights, scents and atmosphere in a way that an ordinary holiday could never do. They are high quality holidays for small flexible groups, with trails that lead to scenic countryside, traditional villages & secluded beaches.
Eating and drinking is a very important aspect of these special tours and we take great care in choosing food that is freshly made from local produce, prepared traditionally, is varied and tastes good. We have chosen comfortable hotels with a warm welcome.
Our certified hiking guides are like well-connected friends, with an array of talents, expertise and the enthusiasm to share all they love about Crete with the group. The suggested tours are graded as ‘easy to moderate’ and ‘moderate’ walking holidays, with typically 4-6 hours walking per day, mainly on paths. The pace is generally relaxed and right for all travellers, as long as they are reasonably fit and have some walking experience.
Crete on Foot, at your own pace - 8 day self-guided walking - any week 1 May - 31 Oct
€700 per person HB based on 2 sharing, excluding flights
Walk in the foothills of the White mountains and admire the magnificent view. Take in beautiful walks including Samaria gorge, one of the finest in Europe, which is designated a National Forest Park, and fragrant woodlands of Calabrian pine, perfect for picnics, with plenty of time to swim, relax in the sun in one of the many idyllic little coves, hire a canoe and even do some shopping.
On this walk we take in the ruined Turkish fortress of Loutro, a beautiful Byzantine chapel, the famous Iron Gates, and the little church of Agios Pavlos where St Paul is said to have landed on his voyage to Rome. We travel along the most remote part of the Cretan coastline, visiting orange groves, crystal clear turquoise pools, a fishing village, and the idyllic Sweetwater Beach. We also journey to the beautiful Omalos Plateau (1050m) and Kallergi Mountain Hut (1689m), as well as the dramatic Aradena gorge. 4-6 hours walking per day.
Cretan splendour - 8 day trip (6 days easy walking) - 29 April 2008, 21 Oct 2008. Private groups of 4 or more any week from 1 May - 31 Oct
€1250 per person HB based on 2 sharing, excluding flights (single room supplement €170)
Highlights include insights into the local culture, nature and history, quality hotels and the very best of Cretan cooking. We visit the ancient site of Aptera, the archaeological site of Eleftherna and frescoed chapels in the Amari valley. We explore the local culture by visiting a folklore museum, pottery workshops and a glassblower’s workshop and our walk takes you to the spectacular Samaria Gorge, the rugged south coast and picturesque small villages. Along the way we will prepare a traditional Cretan meal, sail along the coastline to Loutro and enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by Cretan music. 2-5 hours walking per day.
The Two Seas Tour - 8 day trip (6 days easy to moderate walking) - 20 May 2008, 14 Oct 2008. For private groups of 4 or more any week from 1 May - 31 Oct
€1100 per person HB based on 2 sharing, excluding flights (single room supplement €150)
A two-centre holiday, based in western Crete. We spend three nights in Sfakia, a small picturesque port on the south coast, looking out across the Libyan sea followed by four nights in Chania, on the north coast. By moving from the south to the north coast, you can visit more places with less driving than is otherwise possible. The days on the south coast gives us the chance to walk in some of the wildest parts of the island. On our doorstep are at least 30 gorges, 50 kilometres of coastal paths, easy access to the high mountains and to the Samarian Gorge. The days on the north coast allows us to get to know Chania’s rich history and culture, as well as Roman ruins, monasteries, diverse farming areas and a variety of terrains within a short drive from the town. 4-6 hours walking per day.
Eating and drinking is a very important aspect of these special tours and we take great care in choosing food that is freshly made from local produce, prepared traditionally, is varied and tastes good. We have chosen comfortable hotels with a warm welcome.
Our certified hiking guides are like well-connected friends, with an array of talents, expertise and the enthusiasm to share all they love about Crete with the group. The suggested tours are graded as ‘easy to moderate’ and ‘moderate’ walking holidays, with typically 4-6 hours walking per day, mainly on paths. The pace is generally relaxed and right for all travellers, as long as they are reasonably fit and have some walking experience.
Crete on Foot, at your own pace - 8 day self-guided walking - any week 1 May - 31 Oct
€700 per person HB based on 2 sharing, excluding flights
Walk in the foothills of the White mountains and admire the magnificent view. Take in beautiful walks including Samaria gorge, one of the finest in Europe, which is designated a National Forest Park, and fragrant woodlands of Calabrian pine, perfect for picnics, with plenty of time to swim, relax in the sun in one of the many idyllic little coves, hire a canoe and even do some shopping.
On this walk we take in the ruined Turkish fortress of Loutro, a beautiful Byzantine chapel, the famous Iron Gates, and the little church of Agios Pavlos where St Paul is said to have landed on his voyage to Rome. We travel along the most remote part of the Cretan coastline, visiting orange groves, crystal clear turquoise pools, a fishing village, and the idyllic Sweetwater Beach. We also journey to the beautiful Omalos Plateau (1050m) and Kallergi Mountain Hut (1689m), as well as the dramatic Aradena gorge. 4-6 hours walking per day.Cretan splendour - 8 day trip (6 days easy walking) - 29 April 2008, 21 Oct 2008. Private groups of 4 or more any week from 1 May - 31 Oct
€1250 per person HB based on 2 sharing, excluding flights (single room supplement €170)
Highlights include insights into the local culture, nature and history, quality hotels and the very best of Cretan cooking. We visit the ancient site of Aptera, the archaeological site of Eleftherna and frescoed chapels in the Amari valley. We explore the local culture by visiting a folklore museum, pottery workshops and a glassblower’s workshop and our walk takes you to the spectacular Samaria Gorge, the rugged south coast and picturesque small villages. Along the way we will prepare a traditional Cretan meal, sail along the coastline to Loutro and enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by Cretan music. 2-5 hours walking per day. The Two Seas Tour - 8 day trip (6 days easy to moderate walking) - 20 May 2008, 14 Oct 2008. For private groups of 4 or more any week from 1 May - 31 Oct
€1100 per person HB based on 2 sharing, excluding flights (single room supplement €150)
A two-centre holiday, based in western Crete. We spend three nights in Sfakia, a small picturesque port on the south coast, looking out across the Libyan sea followed by four nights in Chania, on the north coast. By moving from the south to the north coast, you can visit more places with less driving than is otherwise possible. The days on the south coast gives us the chance to walk in some of the wildest parts of the island. On our doorstep are at least 30 gorges, 50 kilometres of coastal paths, easy access to the high mountains and to the Samarian Gorge. The days on the north coast allows us to get to know Chania’s rich history and culture, as well as Roman ruins, monasteries, diverse farming areas and a variety of terrains within a short drive from the town. 4-6 hours walking per day.
how this holiday makes a difference
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As a small local company we can’t help but care not only how our island is today but most importantly how it will be tomorrow. In every aspect, our business is committed to both the promotion and protection of the local culture and the protection of the environment. Our trips are designed to allow an economic benefit to local life and the small size of all our groups (no more than 15 people) ensures there is a little impact on both the environment and the communities of the areas we visit.
We use guides that are knowledgeable, certified and trained to practice the company’s policies. The fact that they are local gives participants a greater opportunity for cross- cultural understanding and local interaction. The hotels we book are small and family-run and we go to typical restaurants that offer authentic Cretan cuisine, with use of local, fresh ingredients. Our itineraries include visits to local artisans and craftsmen, so our guests can value their activities and support them in sustaining their traditions, often threatened of extinction. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |