WALKING - COMPLETE

8 days from £919 May, September & October
Crete - Coast & Mountains
Crete, the largest Greek island, offers a wide range of attractions: from sandy beaches to spectacular walks through
gorges and ravines - there is something here for everyone! The island’s history – from the Minoan civilisation of 2000BC
onwards - is remarkable. Crete has amazing landscapes, with opportunities for walks taking in some of the main historical
and natural sights, such as the Saint George Ravine and Spinalonga. This two-centre walking holiday will get you close to
the real heart of this wonderful island from the Gulf of Mirabello in the east, to the Botanical Park in the west.
• 3 nights hb Eastern Crete, 4 nights hb Western Crete • 3 varied guided walks • Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga
Island • Walking tour of Rethymnon
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Heraklion. 20-minute transfer to your hotel in Gouves Walk 3: Therisso and the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete. You travel
for three nights half board accommodation.
towards Chania in the west and then inland via the magnificent green
Day two: At leisure in Gouves, or you can take an optional excursion Therisso Gorge to the village itself and the starting point of the walk.
in the afternoon to see the ancient ruins of the Minoan Palace of Malia. With the famous White Mountains as a backdrop, the walk takes you
Day three: Walk 1. Kroustas and the Gulf of Mirabello. This is a full day through olive groves near the village of Meskla. 5 ½ miles with 100m
with a guided walk in the morning and guided tour of Spinalonga Island ascent and 300m descent. From here you have a short coach transfer to
in the afternoon. After a scenic drive through the spectacular ravine the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete. Here you can walk the peaceful
of Saint George, the walk starts in the narrow streets of the mountain trails along the hill slope with herbs, shrubs and trees from all over the
village of Kroustas. Leaving the village, you enter a cultivated area of world. But don’t be late for your included lunch in the beautiful restaurant
almond and olive trees. The route, which crosses the Kroustas valley with magnificent views across to the mountains! 106 miles coach travel
and has amazing views over the Mirabello Gulf, ends near Pirgos. This today.
is a downhill 4 ½ mile walk with 500m of descent and 50m ascent. At There is also the chance to take an optional excursion to Southern Crete.
the end of the walk, you transfer to the coastal village of Elounda, from You visit Phaestos, the second largest Minoan Palace in Crete, on a hill
where you take a 20-minute boat trip across to the Venetian fortress and overlooking the olive trees and greenhouses of the Messara Plain.
island of Spinalonga - a leper colony for the first half of the 20th century. Your lunch-time break is at the seaside village of Matala. It still retains
After a guided tour of the island you return to your hotel. 72 miles of the charm and character of a quiet fishing village, and the laid-back,
coach travel today.
hippy lifestyle of the 60’s and 70’s lives on. Here, you can have a dip in
Day four: Today you leave for Rethymnon in the west, for four nights the Libyan Sea and still have time for a leisurely Cretan lunch at a beach
half-board accommodation, with an included walk en-route.
tavern. On the way back to your hotel you stop in the mountain village of
Walk 2: Ancient Eleftherna. The walk starts near Eleftherna and ends Spili to see the Kefalovrisi, a series of 25 Venetian lions heads spraying
in the village of Margarites. Using dirt roads and paths in lush, green water from their mouths.
scenery, you can see the ruins of Ancient Eleftherna and an amazing Day eight: Free time until your departure for the airport, just over an
stone bridge well over 2000 years old and still in use. After some free time hour away. Depending on flight timings, there may be time for some lastminute
for lunch and to explore Margarites with its small ceramic workshops,
sightseeing en-route.
you continue to Rethymnon. The walk is 4 ½ miles with 180m ascent and
270m descent. 82 miles by coach today.
YOUR HOTELS
Rethymnon has a pleasant beach and resort area, but by contrast with ASTIR BEACH HHHH, Kato Gouves (three nights)
your first centre, is quite a large town, with 40000 inhabitants, including The description of the hotel is on page 26.
a sizeable student population. It has an impressive Venetian fortress and HOTEL THEARTEMIS PALACE HHHH, Rethymnon (four nights)
harbour, and some interesting museums.
The hotel is close to the town’s long sandy beach and boulevard,
Day five: Included morning walking tour of Rethymnon. Walk into town and 20 minutes on foot from the old town of Rethymnon. It
with your guide via the promenade through the charming old quarter consists of 245 well-appointed and recently renovated rooms.
to the Venetian harbour, and then through narrow streets and squares All the rooms are equipped with satellite tv, direct dial telephone,
with Turkish and Venetian architecture. During this pleasant walk you’ll refrigerator, safety deposit box, bath/shower, wc and hairdryer. The
see in a local workshop how the Cretan musical instrument, the ‘lyra’, restaurant offers a variety of Greek and international specialities.
(www.theartemis.gr)
is made and, at a pastry shop, how to make the wafer-thin phyllo dough
for traditional pastries.
If you have friends who are not walkers interested in this itinerary, it is
Days six and seven: In Rethymnon with an included walking excursion. featured in our Escorted Holidays brochure with a touring programme.
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
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