Introduction

ACTIVE CRETE's Walking Holiday offers you the opportunity to walk in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean, but also to have enough time for other relaxing activities you choose yourself (swimming in the sea, reading a book by the hotel pool etc).

The area of Kissamos in western Crete where our holiday takes place is part of the European Programme NATURA 2000 which aims to protect its rich natural heritage and to promote eco-tourism. Our walks leave only a  green footprint as there is no need for private transport. Also they are rich  in archaeological, historical, botanical and artistic features.

The accommodation of our guests is in several hotels (depending on the holiday dates), top rated by world famous hotel booking sites. They all have a swimming pool and a garden & they are very near or by the beach.

There are several tavernas near the hotels, top rated by international holiday rating sites, offering excellent local food at prices of 12-18 Euros per person including local wine. There are shops in the nearby Kissamos town.

This holiday week contains :

Five mornings of long walks of medium difficulty lasting approximately 4-6 hours including the stops. These will take place in the hills, the valleys, the beaches, the town of Kissamos and the surrounding area, as well as going through traditional villages and little known Ancient sites. They are particularly beautiful in the Spring and Autumn with the abundance of flowers and plants. Each expedition starts at 9:00 am at the hotel and ends between 14:00 and 15:00 pm at the hotel. Each walk has regular rest stops.

Dates, Prices and Accommodation

For details about the accommodation please click on its name

Price D : Price per person for two occupants in the twin bedded apartment/room
Price S : Price for a single occupant in the twin bedded apartment/room

25% of the price is payable on booking and the remaining 75% is due 30 days before the holiday.

Payment may also be made in GBP.

Prices include:

• Transfer from/to Chania airport (transfer from/to Heraklion airport can be arranged on request at an additional cost).
  
• 7 nights, shower/WC, hot water, fridge, electric cooker (Cormoranos Apts), balcony/terrace, wifi access
• 7 x Breakfast
• Dinner on the evening of arrival
• Walks with walking leaders

Prices do not include:

Flights, Meals (except dinner on the evening of arrival), tickets to sites or museums, bus tickets, travel insurance, air conditioning which can be used at an extra cost of 10 Euros/day (although usually not necessary in the months of the programme).

Special rates and tailor made holiday dates for group bookings above six people !

Walking Holiday Programme

Day 1 - Arrival - Welcome meal

Arrival day. Transfer from Chania airport. You will be met by our local taxi driver and taken to your family run hotel. To get to our destination on the following days, we usually walk or take the public bus, to keep our carbon footprint low and to enjoy being part of the reliable local transport system. On the first evening we offer you the chance to get to know everybody at the Welcome dinner.

Day 2 - Platanaki - Korfalonas - Kissamos

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-12:30 : From our hotel we walk to the sea and then along the beach to the Platanaki and Korfalonas areas. We cross the little river of Korfalonas and continue further until we cross the little river of Kissamos and reach Kissamos town, where we can visit the local archaeological museum and local traditional shops selling honey, wine, tsikoudia, herbs etc. We return either on foot or by the regular bus service.
  Duration: about 3.5 hours. Distance: 12 km. Elevation: 1m-20m.
• 12:30-13:30 : Optional visit to the Pnevmatikakis winery. We can choose to taste from more than 10 different wines and drinks made from Cretan grapes.
• Return at 13:30 to the hotel.
• 13:30-... : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 3 - Drapanias – Cherethiana - Potamida – Kaloudiana

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-14:00 : We go to the village of Drapanias and walk through its main square and then past a medieval Venetian communication tower and an old, abandoned olive press factory. Going uphill past a medieval well and through the olive groves we reach Cherethiana, which is a typical, small, picturesque Cretan Village at an altitude of 160 meters. We walk through the village and have a break for coffee if the local traditional kafenion is open. Now coming downhill we reach a cave chapel, Michael the Archangel, nestling under the shade of a plane tree from which the old church bell is hanging. From here we take the road to the tiny settlement of Demirtziana in order to see its medieval Venetian 3 arched bridge. We turn back towards the sea and arrive at Potamida in the valley, passing on our right the famous natural clay marls which tower above the fields. We will visit the watermill museum where we will have a break and then we walk further through the village. On the return to our hotel we might have a break for a beer or food in the village of Kaloudiana.
  Duration: about 5 hours. Distance: 13 km. Elevation: 5m-170m.
• Return at 14:00 to the hotel.
• 14:00-... : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 4 - Kolymbari - Astratigos - Afrata

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-15:00 : We go by public bus to Kolymbari and walk uphill to the west on the Rodopos peninsula in order to find the picturesque village of Astratigos: a very small village at an altitude of 210 metres without any shops but with beautiful views to Chania bay. We walk further to the north of the peninsula and arrive in Afrata, another small village with a tavern and a traditional Café. Time for a coffee break. From here on, during our whole way to the Gonia Monastery the views to the Chania bay are spectacular. The city of Chania and the island of Ag. Theodoroi are visible. Our next stop is at the famous Gonia Monastery which was built between 1618 and 1634 in its present location, with Venetian influences in its architectural design and adornment. The distinctive fountain in front of the monastery's entrance was built in 1708 and the belfry in 1849. The monastery was heavily damaged by Ottoman bombardments on many occasions throughout its history and finally in 1867 during the Great Cretan Revolution (1866–1869) against the Ottoman Empire, evidence of which can be seen today in the remaining cannonball lodged in the monastery wall. The monastery contains numerous Byzantine artifacts from the 15th and 17th century including Cretan icons by painters of the famous Cretan school of icon painting (which shaped El Greco). It also has numerous relics and other rare religious treasures from the Byzantine period and ancient inscriptions on the walls. In the village nearby there is a charming harbour with fishing caiques moored, cafes and tavernas for refreshments.
  Duration: about 5 hours. Distance: 12 km. Elevation: 5m-210m.
• Return at 15:00 to the hotel.
• 15:00-... : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 5 - Free day

A free day to rest or do further walking or sightseeing on your own. You could enjoy the many attractions of Chania, or visit the famous Balos beach by a short boat trip or hire a car to explore further a-field or …  even walk through the Samaria Gorge (detailed information provided on request).

Day 6 - Kotsiana - Rokka - Kera

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-15:00 : We skirt around the village of Drapanias. Going uphill we find an old track leading through the olive groves to the little chapel above us built into a cave, Michael the Archangel. We continue on this track over a small river bed and a magnificent mulberry tree until we reach a country road and more old tracks. At the sides of the path is a rare kind of mint and a lot of caper flowers amongst many other plants. We are in Ano Drapanias now and walk along the old road to the village of Kotsiana where we can have a stop at the traditional Kafenio for a coffee or juice before we carry on up a kalderimi (old stone road) passing an ancient wall, peach, plum and mulberry trees amongst the olives, finding the path leading to the giant rock which dominates the landscape. Just below its crown or dome as the locals call it, is the picturesque village of Rokka. Above the 18th/19th century houses is the site of the remains of an ancient village, whose rooms, streets, steps and tombs were cut into the stone. From there the views are stunning: South across the Rokka gorge and North to the blue sea in the distance. The gorge is rarely visited and often we can see griffon vultures flying over it. Near Rokka is the picturesque village of Kera where we can have a beer or juice in the local Kafenio before we return home.
  Duration: about 5.5 hours. Distance: 14 km. Elevation: 5m-225m.
• Return at 15:00 to the hotel.
• 15:00-... : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 7 - Nopigia – Panagia Myrtidiotisa – Agios Vasilios - Ravdouhas

• 7:30-9:00 : Breakfast.
• 9:00 : Meet at the hotel.
• 9:00-14:30 : Starting in Nopigia we will walk past the open air theater to the little chapel of Panagia Myrtidiotisa and then along a rough path over stones and rocks towards the little medieval chapel of Agios Vasilios on the Spatha peninsula. The blue sea is always beside us. We will encounter only a few sheep and goats and enjoy great views towards the Gramvousa peninsula across Kissamos bay, with the Spatha mountain on our right. After our little break at the chapel of Agios Vasilios we walk further to the outskirts of Ravdouhas over the top of an abandoned iron mine, enjoying fantastic views of the village. We walk past amazing rock formations and Nopigia beach to our hotel. 
  Duration: about 5 hours. Distance: 12 km. Elevation: 1m-120m.
• Return at 14:30 to the hotel.
• 14:30-... : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 8 - Departure

Departure day. Transfer to Chania airport.

What to bring with you

Swimming costume, sun glasses, sun hat, sun cream, strong walking shoes, small rucksack. 

Additional Information

There are a number of bikes at Cormoranos Apartments for hiring and exploring the surrounding area. They are road and mountain bikes made by IDEAL (www.idealbikes.net) and their rental cost is 5 Euros per day. We can provide instructions for self guided rides upon request at the time.