Crete's Villages & Coastline

Arrive into Crete's Heraklion airport and transfer to the resort town of Agios Nikolaos. Depending on your arrival time, there may be the opportunity for swim or orientation walk before dinner.

Walking in Eastern Crete is characterised by the rolling uplands shielding the coastal strip centred on  Aygios Nikolaos.  There are no severe gradients and uphill stretches are not prolonged.   If you combine that with the picturesque coastline and villages; olive groves and orchards; tavernas offering traditional cuisine; then this is a great holiday.  It will be thoroughly appreciated by travellers who already know Greece or who want to get to know this stunning country.  The following information gives a clear idea of what to expect during your time in Eastern Crete. There will also be a free day where you can relax on the beach or explore the area

Walks

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 3.00 hours

Ascent: 140

Descent: 300

Kritsa-Lato-Flamouriana: This a lovely walk along ancient paths and through olive groves that  finishes in the village square of Flamouriana where you can take refreshment  at a typical village café.  En route there will be the opportunity to visit the archeological site of the ancient city of Lato. If any walk is typical of the nature of the local countryside it is this one. miles

Distance: 6 miles

Time: 3.20 hours

Ascent: 160

Descent: 160

The Spinalonga Peninsula: You begin the walk in the resort village of Elounda and cross a manmade causeway which created the peninsula from the island of Kalydon.  It is uninhabited apart from seasonal workers and there are two churches which can be visited.  When crossing from one side to the other across a low range of hills and out of sight of the sea there is a wonderful sense of remoteness and isolation.  This is despite being only a short distance from Elounda to where you return for some well earned refreshment. miles

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 2 hours

Ascent: 150

Descent: 100

Tzermiado – The Lasithi Plateau – Psychro and the Diktaean Cave: An interesting walk through an agricultural plateau situated over 900m above sea level.  It is surrounded on all sides by mountains Before mechanical pumps were introduced windmills were widely scattered across the plateau and used to pump water up from aquifers for irrigation. Look out for walnuts, vegetables and apple trees. Lunch can be taken in the village of Psychro. miles

Distance: 6.8 miles

Time: 4 hours

Ascent: 350

Descent: 350

Agios Ioannis Point: Offering amazing views towards Spinalonga and the bay this walk is the longest of the tour with the the opportunity of a swim in Plaka and the chance to visit the Venetian Island fortress of Spinalonga. miles

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 3 hours

Ascent: 260

Descent: 260

Elounda-Kato Pines-Plaka:Starting in the resort town of Elounda, this walk takes you up above the town through some traditional villages on mule paths (kalderimi). You walk through the little village of Kato Pines with some magnificent views en route. Coming down to the coast we finish at the village of Plaka where there is time to swim, have lunch and take the ferry over to the uninhabited island of Spinalonga. Once a Venetian fortress, occupied by the Ottomans and finally a leper colony which closed in 1957. If you have read the book The Island, written by Victoria Hislop, Spinalonga will seem very familiar to you. miles

After breakfast, you leave for Heraklion airport to fly back to the UK.