DAY 1  CHANIA
We meet at Ghania airport in North West Crete where Dig and Maria will be waiting to welcome you. A 30 minute drive will bring us to the historic town of Chania where we will be based for the first 2 nights. Subject to flight schedules we would expect you to arrive in time to drop bags off, enjoy a light lunch and join us in exploring this enchanting old town. To understand much that we will encounter in the ensuing days this  introduction will be of great benefit. In the evening a Welcome dinner of Cretan delicacies and wine will ensure a good nights rest. Welcome dinner with wine included.  Night at Chania.

DAY 2  CHANIA & AKROTIRI PENINSULA
The centre piece of this trip is the exploration of Crete’s South West coast – the most dramatic and isolated part of the island. Before heading south though we spend our second day on the Akrotiri Peninsula. It will be a day of short hikes enabling us to acclimate. We shall visit the lovely old monastery of Agia Triada. The monastery is now served by a small and dwindling brotherhood who tend the gardens and olive groves in which the buildings stand. We shall return to Chania early enough for you enjoy a stroll by the Venetian harbor before dinner. Distance 4 miles with 700 feet of ascent. Dinner included. Night at Chania.

DAY 3 PALEOCHORA TO ELAFONISI
We leave the north and drive over the hills to the south coast where adventure begins.  Our first destination is the pretty village of Paleochora where we will be based and our first hike is to the west. A four hour hike will bring to the tiny island of Elafonisi where our boat will collect us for the sail back to Paleochora where we spend the night. Distance 7 miles with 1,000 feet of ascent. Dinner included. Night at Paleochora.

DAY 4 PALEOCHORA TO SOUGIA
We leave Paleochora by hiking east from our pension along the coast which becomes increasingly dramatic. Perhaps the most exciting section of this hike is the discovery of Lissos. Lissos today is a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity situated above the delightful little beach were we may enjoy a dip (On all coastal hikes there will be opportunities to cool off with a quick swim).  No one lives in the tiny valley now but in ancient times there was a large population and today the valley is an archaeological site of some importance. We will discover the Temple of Asklipos, 3^rd century BC with it’s mosaic floor. The valley is a fascinating place to wander about with much to discover. 

In 2005 Dig almost stumbled over a magnificently carved section of marble dating back to pre Roman times which was lying forgotten amongst the bushes. There is a spring where we can replenish water stocks before a short climb and decent into the pretty little gorge that leads to Sougia. The gorge is filled with wild herbs, pine trees and oleanders which will be in bloom. Sougia is perfect for anyone seeking peace and isolation with just a scattering of pensions and taverns by the beach. We have elected to spend 5 nights here as it is the ideal base for our hikes and we believe the charm of the village and it’s residents will please you.  We will dine together and enjoy the company of such local worthies as Dimitri, our friend Eptihis and of course Captain George and his famous Kri Kri ! Distance 10 miles with 1,500 feet of ascent. Dinner not included. Night at Sougia.

DAY 5 SOUGIA TO AGHIOS ANTONIOS
This will not be a hard days hike. We walk east from Sougia following the coast with wonderful views of the Lybian Sea. Our goal is the small creek of Aghios Antonios where we will swim and take lunch before return to Sougia by our boat. Distance 4 miles with 1,200 feet of ascent. Dinner not included. Night at Sougia.

DAY 6 SAMARIA GORGE
The Samaria which cuts it’s way through the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) from the Omalos Plateau to the Libyan Sea and is the longest gorge in Europe and certainly one of the natural wonders of Greece.  After an nearly morning drive to the plateau we descend  steeply on an excellent track that leads down through pine and cypress. High above us the tallest peaks are likely to be holding snow while in the gorge the temperature will rise as we drop towards the sea and the village of Agia Roumeli . The last residents of the gorge left in 1962 while the Turks who built the old fort departed long ago.  A short way before the village the gorge walls narrow to just 9 feet while above the rock walls tower for 2,000 feet above us. At Roumeli our boat will be waiting to sail us home to Sougia. Distance 11 miles 4,100 feet of descent. Dinner not included.  Night at Sougia.

DAY 7 AGIA IRINI GORGE
The Irini will provide an exciting but non too difficult hike after the Samaria.  This is an area closely associated with the struggles of the region right from the Turks to the Nazis. In the nearby village of Skines which had a population of just 600 the Nazis executed 40 residents in 1940 and a further 40 in 1943.  The nearby village of Livadas was totally destroyed in 1943. During the Turkish occupation gorges often served as sanctuaries for woman and children. Today the gorge is rather more peaceful as a nature reserve. Pine and Cypress fill the narrow valley floor while the walls echo to the occasional bleat of goats.  Our hike down the gorge will bring us home to Sougia. Distance 9 miles with 800 feet of descent. Dinner not included. Night at Sougia.

DAY 8 DOMATA
Our day starts with a journey east by boat (Not much use of mini buses on this trip).  We sail east to Domata Beach, a beautiful and isolated spot of curious geological interest. Captain George’s task, having sailed us there, will be to start making arrangements for our evening Al Fresco dinner while we hike the back country.  We would like you to explore one of the great caves here which overlook the Klados Gorge.  Our hiking will ensure we are ready to enjoy a dip in the ocean before Captain George summons us to the campfire and a true Greek dinner as we watch the sun set over the waves.  After dinner we sail back to Sougia. Distance 3 miles with 1,500 of ascent which can be extended. Dinner is included. Night at Sougia.

DAY 9 FROM SOUGIA TO  AGIA ROUMELI & LOUTRO
Today we say farewell to Sougia. We sail for Agia Roumeli from where we hike the European Coast path E4 to the tiny village of Loutro which can only be reached by foot, or boat.  Our hike will take us above and beside the sea and we shall enjoy a break at the isolated little church of Agios Pavlos. The path then climbs gently above cliffs before reaching Mamara Beach for lunch and a welcome swim. Late afternoon will see our arrival in Loutro (Population 81) where our bags will be waiting. Distance 7 mile with 1,500 feet of ascent.  Dinner not included. Night at Loutro.

DAY 10  LIVANIANA & ARADHENA GORGE
Today we make a loop back into the delightful country behind Loutro. We visit the tiny hamlet of Livaniana after hiking up through old terraced fields. We reach an altitude of 900 feet which will offer extensive views before starting down the Aradhena Gorge will bring us back to Marmara beach where we may again be tempted by the cool waters of the sea.  Having walked from here the previous day we will in fact be picked up by boat to sail back to Loutro. Distance 3 miles with 1,500 feet of ascent. Dinner not included.   Night at Loutro.

DAY 11  SFAKIA & CHANIA
While a boat will collect our luggage we continue to hike east along the coast path path.  Our destination is the village of Sfakia, an old village bordered by the tall peaks of the White Mountains.  When we arrive a mini bus will be waiting to return us to Chania and our lovely old hotel by the harbour.  On this night we will be together for our Farewell Feast in the old city however we very much hope that you will join Maria and Dig afterwards at an old tavern where Cretan musician gather on an informal basis to play, sing and dance.  Distance 3 miles 600 feet.  Dinner with wine provided. Night at Chania.

DAY 12
Transport to Chania Airport and connections to Athens.                                 

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
On some days the distance walked may not seem great.  It should be noted however that, while stunningly beautiful, the ground here often offers the hiker a challenge and it should not be compared with hiking trails elsewhere. 

COST
$3680. Single Supplement $675.
This hiking tour is 12 days and 11 nights duration.  This includes meals as described above (all breakfasts and 5 dinners), entries to all National Parks and historic sites. All transport from/to Chania and 2 Mountain Guides throughout the trip.

HOW TO GET TO CRETE
We recommend that you fly to Athens which allows you both time to acclimate and, should you wish, time to explore this great city. From Athens there are 8 flights a day to Chania which take 50 minutes. We would like you to arrive at about mid day when we will be waiting to meet you.

GUIDES
Leading the hike will be Dig Bulmer.  Dig will be accompanied by Maria who is also a fully qualified guide, a Cretan and a member of the top team of mountain guides led by George Antonakakis. 

ACCOMMODATIONS
The first two and final nights are spent in Chania.  We will stay at a delightful hotel that has been created by converting an old neo-classical mansion that overlooks the bay of Chania and is just a 10 minute stroll from the old Venetian city.  On the south coast we will stay in small villages where we will be in pensions.  Pension rooms have private facilities, most have balconies, A.C., and a fridge.  Room service is not every day.

MEALS
Not without reason people from all over Europe become students of the Cretan kitchen. (In Sougia where we are based for 5 nights short courses of instruction can be taken).  Thanks to a very healthy diet Cretans are the longest living people in Europe, their food is very tasty too.  Emphasis is on fresh produce indeed Crete is self sufficient in fruit, vegetables, fish and meat.  On this trip all breakfasts and 5 dinners are included.

TRANSPORT
All transport is provided throughout the trip and is a combination of mini buses and boats.

CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT
Hiking boots with a good sole, CamelBack for water, walking stick, rain jacket and pants (though rain is unlikely), gloves of the fingerless type are helpful when hiking in case of falls on sharp rocks, sun hat/glasses, hiking pants that zip off to make shorts, swim suit.

CLIMATE
Crete has a typically Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters.  In May the average maximum temperature is about 75F.

EXTRA COSTS
Lunches (Allow approximately $5 per day); 6 dinners (Allow approximately $15 for a good meal with wine).