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ITINERARY:
Day 1: ATHENS / CRETE (CHANIA)
Arrival in Athens. Connecting flight to
Chania in Crete. Upon arrival in
Chania airport you will be transferred to your hotel,
situated by the Venetian port of Chania. After your check
in, our assistant will be at your disposal to go through the
week’s program in details. In the late afternoon we will
join a small group walking tour around the old town to visit
its main sites but also plenty of hidden spots off the
beaten track, which reflect the mix of influences that has
given Chania its very unique atmosphere. Dinner will follow,
at a picturesque and cosy local restaurant. Overnight in
Chania.
Day 2: CHANIA
In the morning you will have a
car rental delivered at your hotel for the day, so you have
the flexibility to take it as you please, from a day at
leisure by a nearby beach to a full day tour to Knossos
Palace in the east. What we suggest - presented in details
by our assistant upon arrival - for the day is the short
drive towards the Akrotiri peninsula, for a good combination
of scenery, culture, hiking and beach. Your first stop will
be the Monastery of Agia Triada. Built in the 17th century,
with a majestic cruciform church, it is set on a wonderfully
overgrown landscape of olive groves and cypress trees. The
monastery is still flourishing and is well known for its
intensive agricultural activity. Their produce includes
wine, award-winning organic olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and
green soap, which you could buy at the store in premises.
Driving further into the hills on a narrow and winding road
you will reach the smaller and older Monastery of
Gouverneto, that resembles to a castle. From here you can
set off for a nice hike. This can be as short as the 1 /2
hour footpath for you to only visit the Bear’s cave – named
after a stalagmite that looks like a crouching bear – and
the abandoned chapel of Katholiko. Or you can continue
further through the Avlaki gorge, in a wild and beautiful
landscape, till you reach a tiny, deep cove with aquamarine
waters. You can end your day with a swim at the beautiful
sandy beach of Marathi, and a delicious sea food lunch at
its waterfront taverna. If you do not feel like driving, you
have the option to organize the day with mini bus transfers
instead, and could also add a private guide. Overnight in
Chania.
Day 3: CHANIA / KISSAMOS DAY TOUR
You will meet your guide and
driver in the morning and depart the hotel for an
exploration of Kissamos, the westernmost part of the island.
Our first visit will be at an olive oil producing estate. It
is an ecological prototype farm cultivated by 5th generation
owners that promote the traditional way of organic olive oil
production – the olive oil is stone milled and cold pressed.
We will be guided around premises and have an olive-oil
tasting. We then will get our bikes and helmets and start
our cycling through scenic countryside, with olive fields
and picturesque villages. The route is easy, on asphalt
road, addressed to anyone with biking experience. The biking
part lasts approximately 1 ˝ hr and a support vehicle is
following you. Our mini bus will then take us to the
original hamlet of Milia, a retreat of traditional stone
structures, carefully restored to naturally blend in with
the surrounding environment and ecosystem. We will be guided
around the premises and then enjoy our well earned lunch,
prepared by the resident family with fresh local produce.
Late afternoon return at the hotel. Evening free. Overnight
in Chania.
Day 4: SAMARIA GORGE HIKE / LOUTRO
Early morning departure for
Omalos plateau, to hike the spectacular Samaria Gorge,
stretching from the White Mountains down to the Libyan Sea.
Samaria Gorge is the largest gorge in Europe and one of the
most beautiful ones. You will join a small group tour,
escorted by a qualified hiking guide. The walk is on a well
maintained path, through an impressively changing scenery.
After a 18km walk in total, we reach the small coastal
village of Agia Roumeli, where we can relax and enjoy a swim
before catching the evening boat to Loutro. This 45min sail
along the coastline offers some great views of rugged
beaches. Your luggage will have arrived in Loutro in the
early afternoon. Overnight in Loutro.
Day 5: LOUTRO
Today you will paddle,
snorkel, swim and relax. Kayaking is indeed the best way to
enjoy the glassy, aquamarine waters, soak up the dazzling
scenery, the idyllic little coves that are backed by steep
hills. Your exact program will be adjusted to your
requirements, but generally the day consists of 1 hour of
briefing and set-up – no previous experience is needed – 2-3
hours of paddling and 2 hours by the beach. Rest of the day
free. Overnight in Loutro.
Day 6: DAY TOUR / SFAKIA / MAHERI
We depart Loutro in the
morning, for an exploration of the sparsely populated region
province of Sfakia, to take in its rugged and unforgiving
landscape lying from the south to the north, where places
seem untouched by time and life continues in the traditional
old ways. Our route will take us the ghost village of
Aradena, abandoned in the 40’s because of a vendetta, with
notable examples of Cretan architecture, then to the fertile
plateau of Askifou, and the gorge of Imbros, through which
in May 1941 stumbled the exhausted soldiers of the Allied
armies, on a desperate retreat to the port of Sfakia. In the
early afternoon we will reach our hotel for the next two
nights, located in the heart of the small preserved village
of Maheri, in Apokoronas province. Kamares is a traditional
retreat of restored Venetian houses whose exemplary and
long restoration was carried out with respect and love for
traditional and environmental values The luxury of harmony
and simplicity, the opportunity to sample authentic Cretan
village life with your five senses, the chance to get in
touch with nature are the keynotes of Kamares. A car will be
delivered at the hotel, to be at your disposal for the rest
of this and the coming day. Overnight in Maheri.
Day 7: MAHERI
In the morning you can explore
the surrounding countryside and villages. Your stops can
include the archaeological site of Aptera to explore the
exciting Achaean and Roman ruins, set on an impressive
position with great vistas, the Byzantine chapel of Agios
Nikolaos in Kyriakoselia, with its remarkable frescoes, the
beautiful Gavalohori village with its charming folk museum.
In the afternoon, we will have a fun garden-to-table cooking
class in our small inn, preparing a number of typical dishes
and learning a list of delicious recipes to bring back home.
Dinner will follow. Overnight in Maheri.
Day 8: MAHERI /
CHANIA AIRPORT
Transfer to Chania airport for your
flight to Athens |
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INCLUDES:
- Air tickets Athens - Chania (Crete) -
Athens
- 8 days / 7 nights in the
selected or similar hotels ( 2 bedroom suite in Pandora
Suites, 2 adjoining double rooms at Porto Loutro, 2 bedroom
apartment in Kamares Retreat)
- Private transfer from Chania
airport to Chania town on Day 1
- Orientation welcome at your
hotel upon arrival
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome & farewell dinners
- Small Group Walking tour of
Chania on Day 1
- 1 day car rental group B
(Nissan Micra or similar) for the full Day 2
- Chauffeured mini bus and
guide on Day 3
- Biking tour with all
equipment required, as a part of Day 3
- Lunch on Day 3, at Milia
- Small Group tour to Samaria
Gorge on Day 4
- Entrance ticket to Samaria
gorge
- Boat tickets from Agia
Roumeli to Loutro
- Kayaking half day trip, with
all equipment required, on Day 5
- Boat tickets from Loutro to
Sfakia on Day 6
- Chauffeured mini bus and
guide on Day 6
- Cooking class on Day 7
- 1 day car rental group B
(Nissan Micra or similar) from pm on Day 6 to pm on Day 7
- Private transfer from Maheri
village to Chania airport |
