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Dear traveler lovers,Highlights on the destination:
Crete island is the largest among all Greek islands with a rich historical and cultural background. It is a wonderful place with distinctive customs, daily life, and nature. Located on the southern side of Greece, Crete is surrounded by the Aegean Sea on the north and the Libyan Sea on the south, the weather is mild to warm in the spring and early summer seasons, ideal for swimming and hiking. The island is extremely mountainous which resulted in the formation of valleys, plateaus, caves, lakes, and many gorges. Among these, the famous Samaria Gorge, selected among the most beautiful hiking tracks in the world.
Our program will combine hiking in the most scenic tracks in West of Crete often ending in crystal clear sea, and sightseeing in the Old Town of Chania, the well-preserved medieval city of Rethymno and the charming town of Palaiochora. Overnights will be in different hotels between Chania Town, Palaiochora and Rethymno and the program will allow the group to have some relaxing and exciting times in the evenings and get many shopping opportunities all over our destinations.
Sightseeing Destinations:
- Chania Old Town
- Rethymno Medieval City
- Palaiochora Town
Beach Destinations:
- Pink sand beach of Elafonisi
- Balos Lagoon
- Falasarna beach
- Kedrosasos beach
- Preveli Beach
Additional Spots:
- Kourtaliotiko Gorge & Waterfalls
- Agia Roumeli isolated village
- Botanical Gardens of Crete
- Arkadi Monastery
Bring with you:
- Your hiking Accessories: Shoes, Sticks, Hats …
- Your beach Accessories (Towel, Sunbath creams, Swimsuit…)
- Your summer clothes: Shorts, dresses, sandals, sneakers … A light jacket if you are sensitive to the evening temperatures.
1- SUGGESTED FLIGHTS WITH AEGEAN AIRLINES (TENTATIVE DATES)
22 JUNE BEIRUT – ATHENS 04:00 – 06:00
22 JUNE ATHENS – CHANIA 07:50 – 08:40
28 JUNE CHANIA – ATHENS 19:35 – 20:30
29 JUNE ATHENS – BEIRUT 01:00 – 02:40
2- PROGRAM ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVAL – CHANIA OLD TOWN
- Airport pick up and transfer to Chania Town
- Guided tour in the Old Town
- Seated Lunch
- Hotel check-in and rest
- Meeting at the lobby and walking towards the harbor
- Boat trip to Lazareta Island at sunset and optional swim (Optional)
- Free time
- Overnight in Chania: Chania Old Town: Arkadi Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 2: EXPLORING BALOS LAGOON AND FALASARNA BEACH
- Morning Transfer to Kissamos village (50 min drive)
- 4x4 ride towards Balos Lagoon parking
- Walking towards Balos beach (30 min descent)
- Panoramic photos of Balos Lagoon spectacular landscape
- Swimming in crystal white and blue vivid warm water
- Return to Balos Parking slot and transfer by 4x4 to Kissamos village
- Transfer to Falasarna Beach, one of the most beautiful in Greece and Europe
- Sunset, drinks, taverns and watersports activities (Waterski, surf, wakeboard, towable, jet ski, flyboard…)
- Transfer to Chania Town and free time
- Overnight in Chania: Chania Old Town: Arkadi Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 3: HIKING IN SAMARIA GORGE (13 Km)
- Hotel check-out and transfer to Omalos Plateau (1hour drive)
- Drop off at the gate of Samaria Gorge (Bags to be transferred to destination by bus)
- Hiking the Samaria Gorge (Details below)
- Exit of the Gorge and meeting at the isolated village of Agia Roumeli
- Resting and optional swimming in blue crystal-clear waters
- Riding the boat and transfer to Palaiochora (less than 2hrs by boat)
- Dinner at Palaiochora Town and then transfer to hotel.
- Overnight in Palaiochora: Megim Beach Hotel
DAY 4: PALAIOCHORA – ELAFONISI BEACH (10 Km)
- Transfer to Kreos Gulf, starting point of our hike (10 min drive)
- Hiking towards Elafonisi beach, passing through Agios Ioannis church
- Break and possible swim at Kedrodassos Beach, the beach of Ancient Vienna full of Cedars trees.
- Hiking another hour towards Elafonisi beach, the unique pink sand beach, chilling and swimming
- Transfer to the hotel, swim or rest.
- Hotel Beach Party: Drinks, food, music and crazy dancing time.
- Overnight in Palaiochora: Megim Beach Hotel
DAY 5: EXPLORING TRADITIONAL OLIVE OIL FACTORY AND RETHYMNO TOWN
- Hotel check out and transfer to Kanakis Olive Oil, a modern, but a traditional family factory, dealing with the cultivation, production, and exportation of world-renowned extra virgin olive oil and other related agricultural authentic products: Oil, soaps, olives and honey… (2hrs drive)
- Lunch at Vryses village
- Transfer to Rethymno Town, the well-preserved medieval town, once a bastion of the Venetians, with intact historical buildings (35 min drive)
- Hotel Check in and rest
- Walking tour in Rethymno town
- Free time
- Overnight in Rethymno: Menta City Boutique Hotel
DAY 6: HIKING IN PREVELI AND EXPLORING KOURTALIOTIKO WATERFALLS
- Transfer to Preveli region, in the southern part of Rethymno (50 min drive)
- Hiking from the Old Stone Bridge to the exotic Preveli Palm Beach
- Swimming in the cool river waters or the turquoise Libyan Sea
- Transfer to the entrance of Kourtaliotiko canyon
- Walking towards the waterfalls, at the deepest and darkest spot of the canyon (30 min walk)
- Enjoying the breathtaking natural wonder, an unforgettable experience.
- Transfer back to Rethymno
- Free time
- Overnight in Rethymno: Menta City Boutique Hotel
DAY 7: EXPLORING ARKADI MONASTERY AND CLOSING THE CRETAN EXPERIENCE
- Hotel check out and bags loading in the bus
- Transfer to the Sacred Monastery of Arkadi (30 min drive), founded around the 11th century AD, one of the Orthodox monasteries that accentuate the catholic and ecumenical character of the Church.
- Visit of the Monastery’s Museum, that accommodates artworks inspired by the Holocaust of 1866, a pivotal tragic event in the Cretan revolt against the Ottoman rule.
- Transfer to Rethymno, lunch and short free time
- Early afternoon, transfer to Chania International Airport (1hr 15 min drive)
Inclusive of:
- Accommodation for 6 nights in 3 stars hotels/guesthouses (Double / Twin bedroom)
- Full program Transportation & Luggage transfer
- Board Basis: 6 breakfasts, Seated lunch on day 1/picnic lunches on Days 2,3,4 &6
- Hiking Guide for 3 days
- Guided tour in Chania Old Town with a local touristic guide
- Boat transfer fees from Agia Roumeli to Palaiochora Town on Day 3 (or alternative route)
- 4X4 Transfer to Balos Beach
- Municipality fees at Balos Beach
- Entrance fees to Samaria Gorge (Or Alternative Hiking trail of Agia Irini)
- Entrance fees to Arkadi Monastery and museum
- Entrance fees to Kourtaliotako Waterfalls
- Tour fees at Kanakis Olive Oil Factory
- 1 Tour Leader (En/Fr/Gr/Ar Speaking) for all days
- Assistance in Visa Application Form
Not inclusive of:
- Flight tickets to Crete via Athens
- Optional transfer from Samaria Gorge exit to Agia Roumeli (2€ per ticket in September 2025)
- Optional boat trip to Lazareta Island for sunset on Day 1 (15€ per person in June 2025)
- Lunches on Days 5 & 7 & Dinners (Many options with a wide range of prices are available)
- Laundry services in hotel (Existing laundromat in the town for self-wash & dry / around 5-6€)
- Personal expenses
- Travel Insurance
- Visa Fees at VFS Application center in Beirut
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