CRETE

Crete Coastal Walking - October 2008

Outline of Walking Holiday -Coastal walking holiday including the famous Samaria Gorge. Isolated coastal villages only accessible by boat. 8 days Tuesday to Tuesday.
Travel-We flew with First choice from Manchester to Hania. A few noisy infants on the 4 hour flight but no alternative.

Hotels-Stayed first and last nights at Hotel Porto Veneziana on harbour front at Hania - very comfortable and atmospheric with good breakfast. 1 night Omalos - Hotel Exari - very friendly with good food. 2 nights - Agia Roumeli - Hotel Farangi - and 2 nights Loutro - Hotel Faros. Loutro is the most idyllic setting in total isolation with access only by boat.

Walking - 2 hour taxi transfer to Omalos Platau. Day walk up towards Psilafi (1984m) - Good climb over scree paths with fine views down into Samaria Gorge.
Samaria Gorge very busy with coach trips who need to leave early and catch boats back from Agia Roumeli. As we were staying at Agia, we left about 10:45 and had the gorge to ourselves. Fantastic walk downhill all the way for 16 km (10 miles), dropping 1227 metres (4000 feet) - the longest in Europe. Squeeze through spectacular steep sided mountains to exit with the river. Good track, quite rocky and potentially slippy.
Next 4 days walking along the coast and visiting other gorges. Aradena gorge near Lutro was a fantastic day walk down from Aradina Faragi with Lammergeier vultures and eagles flying overhead. A bit of a scramble over huge boulders but well worth the effort.
Costings
Flight: First Choice -Ł240 pp.
Holiday package: Headwater - Ł704pp Hania Harbour View into Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge exit Scrambling in Aradina Gorge

Local transport 13C St Paul's chapel

Agia Roumeli Loutro

Crete Coastal Walking - October 2008
Outline of Walking Holiday -Coastal walking holiday including the famous Samaria Gorge. Isolated coastal villages only accessible by boat. 8 days Tuesday to Tuesday. Travel-We flew with First choice from Manchester to Hania. A few noisy infants on the 4 hour flight but no alternative. Hotels-Stayed first and last nights at Hotel Porto Veneziana on harbour front at Hania - very comfortable and atmospheric with good breakfast. 1 night Omalos - Hotel Exari - very friendly with good food. 2 nights - Agia Roumeli - Hotel Farangi - and 2 nights Loutro - Hotel Faros. Loutro is the most idyllic setting in total isolation with access only by boat. Walking - 2 hour taxi transfer to Omalos Platau. Day walk up towards Psilafi (1984m) - Good climb over scree paths with fine views down into Samaria Gorge. Samaria Gorge very busy with coach trips who need to leave early and catch boats back from Agia Roumeli. As we were staying at Agia, we left about 10:45 and had the gorge to ourselves. Fantastic walk downhill all the way for 16 km (10 miles), dropping 1227 metres (4000 feet) - the longest in Europe. Squeeze through spectacular steep sided mountains to exit with the river. Good track, quite rocky and potentially slippy. Next 4 days walking along the coast and visiting other gorges. Aradena gorge near Lutro was a fantastic day walk down from Aradina Faragi with Lammergeier vultures and eagles flying overhead. A bit of a scramble over huge boulders but well worth the effort. Costings Flight: First Choice -Ł240 pp. Holiday package: Headwater - Ł704pp