Crete - 15N

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Island Info

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Flights

Tours

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Itinerary -

Chania 3N -

(Explore the Old Town) 3N (Via Rethimno's Old Quarter / Heraklion Archaeoligical Museum and Knossos Palace) -

Malia 2N - Hire car for 5 or 6 days to be picked up and dropped off in Chania

(Do a quad bike trip) - (Morning smoko at Sisi then go to Spinalonga Island on the way to)

2 hrs 30 mins / 175 km

Agios Nikolaos 2N -

(Go to Sitia for lunch and Vai Beach) - (Head up to the quant fishing village of Plaka for a seafood meal)

4 hrs / 200 km

Agia Galini 1N -

3 hrs / 165 km

Chania 1N - Drop the car off

(Via Priveli Monastery and Beach and remote Hora Sfakion - lunch - to)

3 hrs 45 mins / 160 km

Sougia 2N - Take a day pack for 6 nights

Walk through the Samaria Gorge (take the bus there) then take the ferry to Sougia.

Palaiochora 2N - Another ferry

Kissamoss / Maria Beach 2N -

(Go to Balos Beach or Elafonsi Beach the Pink Beach an hour south)

- Straight to airport or ferry pier in Chania

TOTAL = 15N

Islands -

CRETE - is the largest and most populous Greek Island 260 km x 56 km and the capital is Heraklion. It is made up of 4 regions from east to west

Visa -

Greece is one of the Schengen countries so most people will get 90 days on arrival here. Check with your Embassy

Budget -

Should be able to keep close to budget sharing rooms and car rental.

Population -

670,000 very hospitable people

AKA -

Candia / Creta / Kirid / Kríti / Krete

About -

Fly in and out

of Chania or you could fly in to Athens spend a couple of dayds in Plaka checking out the Acropolis and catch the ferry. Spend a few of nights here then rent a car. Find out where the bus to the gorge leaves from while you're in town.

See the sights of Heraklion on the way to Malia where you have 2 nights.

Stop in at the old Leper Colony island on your way to the amazing Agios Nikolaos for 2N. Lunch at Sitia and a swim at Vai Beach. -

Next is Agia Naglini and then back to Chania.

Leave most of your luggage here and you'll have to survive out of a day pack for the next 5 days. Remember you'll be carrying it for 5 - 7 hours and 16 kms. Next day take the bus then walk the Samaria Gorge (see below) then a ferry to Sougia for a couple of nights. Don't forget your bathers.

Another ferry will see you in Palaiochora for 2 nights. Hire a scooter / taxi or take public transport in these last two towns. See the Pink Beach.

Then take a bus up to the beaches of Kissamoss for 2 nights. Back to Chania, pick up your main luggage and out to the Airport to fly out

Go -

The Samaria Gorge is open from May to October so to do this trip you'll need to come in these months. Otherwise skip the gorge walk and continue on to Kissamoss by car.

From late March to early November the weather is ok for sightseeing

The larger cities stay open all year round

Shoulder season is April, May and October and prices are much cheaper

July to early September is Peak season

Low season is Late October to April

Airports -

Athens International Airport (ATH) -

Has 158 direct flights to destinations in 54 countries and is probably the easiest airport to connect up to if you are coming from outside Europe.

Heraklion International Airport (HER) -

Has flights all over Europe as well as Tel Aviv

Chania International Airport (CHQ) -

Has flights all over Europe as well as tel Aviv

Sitia Public Airport (JSH) -

a small community airport with flights back to Athens

There are direct flights from most major European airports between April to November and via Athens outside tourist season

A new airport will be built in Kastelli and when this comes on line Heraklion will close

Ferries -

From Piraeus (Athens) to Crete

takes 9 hours and goes to multiple ports and has 14 sailings per week

There is an internal ferry which goes along south west Crete

as there are no roads here

Stay -

Chania 3N -

Ku mba at Koum Kapi -

Excellent location on the waterfront 100m from the Old Town, in-house bar- restaurant on the ground floor, very good breakfast included, you wont need parking while you are here

Malia 2N -

Pleasure Beach Hotel

Close to the beach, outdoorswimming pool, free onsite parking, free continental breakfast on the beach, restaurant, close to supermarket, restaurants and bars but away from the noisy main action area

Agios Nikolaos 2N -

Hotel Port 7 -

Excellent location on the waterfront and close to everything, free parking 100m from the hotel, bar, restaurant, cafe

Perla Appartments -

Excellent location on the waterfront and close to everything, free parking nearby, cafe and minimart next door

Agia Galini 1N -

Palazzo Greco **** -

Excellent location close to the beach and the town, outdoor swimming pool with a breath taking panorama, free onsite parking, spectacular sea views, cafe-bar, very good breakfast included

Astoria Hotel ** -

Great location between the town and the beach, rooftop terrace with amazing views, recently refurbished, bar, free parking, cafe

Galini Mare ** -

Excellent location between the town and the beach, free parking, bar, BBQ

Chania 1N -

Kumba at Koum Kapi -

Excellent location on the waterfront 100m from the Old Town, in-house bar- restaurant on the ground floor, very good breakfast included, you wont need parking while you are here

Sougia 2N -

Santa Irene ** -

Perfect location on the beach and close to the ferry, snack bar, terrace, bar, close to minimarts and taverns, kitchenettes

Palaiochora 2N -

Oriental Bay -

Excellent location on the beachfront with a terrace, free parking, exeptional breakfast included, snack bar

Scorpios Family Rooms -

Perfect location beachfront and close to the bars, free parking, snacks, bar, Libyan sea views

Maria Beach / Kissamoss 2N -

Maria Beach Hotel **

Excellent location on the beachfront with beach service and free sun loungers and umbrellas, beachfront restaurant, bar, sea view terrace for breakfast buffet, close to town, free parking

If you want to stay closer to the action try

Argo Rooms Papadakis

Perfect location by the sea and the promenade, terrace, free parking

Features -

Developed north, Undeveloped south / Incredible beaches, towns, mountains, history, food - something for everyone

History -

By 3,000 BC the Minoan civilization was emerging. Their power peaked around 1600 BC. Around 1450 BC a massive earthquake destroyed Knossos and other centres.

Being at the crossroads of important trading routes made this sought after real estate. After the Minoans came the Mycenaeans, the Dorians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Crusaders, the Venetians, the Ottomans and finally the Greeks in 1913

· See -

The Palace of Knossos -

Europe's oldest city

The Abduction of Europe

Spinalonga Island -

Old Leper Colony

Stavros Beach -

Where Zorba was filmed

· Do -

Ottoman Bath House -

Chania

Hike the Samaria Gorge -

the longest in Europe. You could take public transport - see details in the website. It will mean catching certain buses depending on the time of the year then making your way by bus to Agia Roumeli then catching the ferry at the pier to Sougia where you will be staying for a couple of nights. Check the logistics with a travel agent in Chania. You may decide it's easier to do it with a tour company.

Quad bikes / 4 x 4 Offroading -

Agios Nikolaos

Ancient Wreck Diving

Horse Riding - at Kournas Lake -

east of Chania

Mountain biking

Fishing

Sailing

Traditional Cretan Cooking Class -

Chania