Western Crete is truly a land of contrasts. The first part of this journey
takes in the elegant old port of Chania with its cafes, restaurants,
tranquil olive and citrus groves, cypress clad hillsides and wild dramatic
limestone peaks. From these high peaks of The White Mountains (Levka Ori)
surging floodwaters have gouged awesome gorges through the rock, forming a
landscape in stark contrast with the gentle attractions of the picturesque
ports along the southern coast.
Having spent your first night in Chania you are transferred to the fertile
plains of Omalos. A delightful plateau encircled by rugged mountains where
you spend two nights. The first day allows time to walk to the Kallergi
mountain hut at 1685m for the views and a well deserved beer. More time on
the following day provides the opportunity to walk up to the pass of
Linoselli, just below the rocky peak of Gingilos (1975m) from where there
are magnificent views right across the island.
The journey
continues with the highlight of the trip, walking down the entire length
of the Samaria Gorge, one of the most spectacular in Europe, with walls up
to 600m high and at the point of the famous Iron Gates, narrowing to a
mere two metres. The gorge walk attracts numerous day visitors. You emerge
from the gorge at Agia Roumeli in time for a swim in the warm waters of
the Libyan Sea. By contrast your next day is a magnificent coastal walk
through pine woods and along cliffs to Loutro. Next it is inland again via
the dramatic Sellouda mule track up the coastal escarpment and on through
pine forest and across a stony plateau to Anopolis. Those with enough
energy should continue walking on up to St Catherine’s Chapel where the
views are truly stunning.
For your final day
of walking we recommend joining the transfer to Chora Sfakion with your
bags. Then hop on a bus or take a taxi to the start of the traverse up
the magnificent Imbros Gorge to the village of Imbros. Return to your
hotel by bus. If you want an easier day you can choose to walk to Loutro
via a remarkable mule track. The trip ends in Chora Sfakion.
7 nights/8 days
- The standard of accommodation in Crete, as in other parts of
Greece, has improved radically in recent years, and we can now
normally guarantee modern accommodation with fully ensuite
facilities. In Chania (night 1) your 3* hotel is within a
short walk of the Venetian harbour. At Omalos (nights 2 and
3) your accommodation is normally in a well-designed lodge-style
hotel with spacious balconies and stone flag hallways. At Agia
Roumeli (nights 4 and 5) your small modern hotel is just behind
the long beach. At the mountain village of Anopolis (night 6)
you get a taste of the old Crete of 40 years ago, in a small pension
where the rooms have private shower and w.c. On night 7 you return
to the coast at Chora Sfakion where your hotel is close
enough to the sea front to hear the waves on the harbour wall.
Sherpa Notes
Waymarking
The trails are well used and defined but only occasionally signposted or
waymarked.
Accommodation and Meals
Dinner, bed and breakfast 3 nights, B&B 4 nights in modern hotels and pensions with ensuite facilities.
Start and End of Tour
If arrival in Chania short taxi ride to the hotel.
If arrival in Heraklion bus to Chania approx 1.5 hrs. (transfers not included).
Your return bus or taxi journey to Chania is approx 2 hrs from Chora Sfakion (costs approx. €12 pp).
If returning from Heraklion take a 3 hour bus journey (approx €14 pp) from Chora Sfakion then taxi to the airport.
