Walking Holidays in Crete: In the Footsteps of History

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Heraklion

  Once you land in Heraklion, a transfer will take you to our hotel in the heart of this port city, which is where you’ll meet your guide. We’ll have dinner together and prepare for the start of our Cretan adventure.

  Meals: Dinner
  Accommodation: Hotel in Heraklion

  
• Day 2: Heraklion — Argyroupoli — Plakias

  A 90-minute transfer will take us to Argyroupoli, where we’ll explore a rich Roman fortress, ancient Minoan, Greek, and Roman remains, and the beautiful historic center. The area surrounding Argyroupoli is full of things you wouldn’t expect to find in Crete, so we’ll often stop by springs, waterfalls, and windmills. We’ll stroll through chapels, sheepfolds, and authentic villages before a 40-minute transfer to Plakias, a charming seaside resort with a crescent-shaped bay and beautiful sandy beaches. If you’re up for it, we can walk along the Libyan Sea to Akra Kakomouri Cape and its caves before dinner at our hotel.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Hiking time: 2 hours
  Elevation: +200 m / +656 ft, -200 m / -656 ft
  Accommodation: Hotel in Plakias

  
• Day 3: Plakias — Preveli — Plakias

  We’ll start the day by boating to Preveli palm grove, then hiking to Piso Moni, a historic Greek Orthodox monastery overlooking the Libyan Sea. Making our way down through the gorge, we’ll reach Preveli beach, a unique spot where the river meets the sea. We’ll swim in the refreshing water and relax on the sandy shore before returning to Plakias by boat.

  In case boating isn’t possible, we’ll transfer from Plakias to the monastery of Piso Moni by bus (approx. 20 minutes), then hike to Preveli’s gorges and beach. To return, we’ll either boat back or take the bus after a 600-meter walk to another beach, the peaceful Drymiskiano Ammoudi.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours, depending on our route
  Elevation for option 1: +200 m / +656, -200 m / -656 ft
  Elevation for option 2: +450 m / +1476 ft, -450 m / -1476 ft
  Accommodation: Hotel in Plakias

  
• Day 4: Plakias — Loutro — Aradena Gorge

  Today we’re heading to the White Mountains, known for their striking white limestone. En route, we’ll stop at Frangokastello village for an hour to see its imposing Venetian fort. We’ll ferry from the coastal town of Chora Sfakion to Loutro, a seaside village accessible only on foot or by boat. A short hike takes us to Marmara Beach and our lunch spot. If you want to go the extra mile, we can hike through the oleander-lined walls of Aradena Gorge. We’ll return to Loutro either on foot along the marble beach or by taxi boat. Our day ends with dinner at our hotel in Loutro.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Hiking time: 2 hours (3.5 hours with the Aradena Gorge)
  Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
  Elevation: +80 m / + 262 ft, -90 m / -295 ft
  With the optional Aradena hike: 6.5 km / 4 miles distance, +210 m / + 689 ft, – 220 m / -722 ft elevation gain/loss
  Accommodation: Hotel in Loutro

  
• Day 5: The Samaria gorges

  We’ll start our day by boating along the coast to Agia Roumeli, a picturesque village situated at the mouth of a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the famous Samaria Gorge. Located in the heart of Crete’s only national park, the Samaria Gorge stretches 16 km (10 mi), making it Europe’s longest. Our hiking tour will take us through part of the gorge, known for its incredible biodiversity and endemic plant species. Starting from sea level, we’ll hike to Afentis Christοs, where we’ll stop for a picnic. After our break, we’ll retrace our steps back to Agia Roumeli. Finally, we’ll boat back to Loutro for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Hiking time: 3.5 hours
  Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
  Elevation: +450 m / + 1476 ft, – 450 m / – 1476 ft
  Accommodation: Hotel in Loutro

  
• Day 6: Loutro — Arkadi — Heraklion

  After breakfast, we’ll hike from Loutro to the pristine Glyka Nera beach. We’ll relax on this secluded shore before catching a taxi boat to Chora Sfakion. We’ll enjoy our lunch in the harbor, then take a 1.5-hour transfer to the historic Arkadi monastery below Mount Ida. The monastery is both an architectural gem and a powerful symbol of Cretan resistance against Ottoman occupation. We’ll learn all about its rich history during our 45-minute visit. Our day wraps up with a 1-hour and 15-minute transfer to Heraklion and dinner at our hotel.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  Hiking time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  Distance: 3.5 km / 2.2 miles
  Elevation: +30 m / + 98 ft, – 50 m / -164 ft
  Accommodation: Hotel in Heraklion

  
• Day 7: Heraklion — Knossos

  We’ll dedicate our last day of walking holidays in Crete to explore Heraklion’s rich heritage. We’ll begin with Knossos Palace, where we’ll learn all about its rich history from a cultural guide. If we’re up for more exploration, we can check out the on-site museum for an additional ticket fee. We’ll head back to Heraklion on a scheduled bus, then have some free time to explore the city. You might visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion to see its extensive collection of Minoan artifacts. Or explore other sights—Heraklion has plenty to offer, from historical landmarks to local markets and cafés.

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  Accommodation: Hotel in Heraklion

  
• Day 8: Departure

  We’ll gather for a farewell breakfast and reflect on our week together. There will be an organized transfer taking you to Heraklion Airport. Alternatively, feel free to stay longer and keep on exploring the area!

  Meals: Breakfast

  
• Important note

  The itinerary is subject to change based on trail conditions, weather, or group dynamics. Any tweaks are for your safety and to improve your experience. If Loutro lodging is unavailable, we’ll stay in Chora Sfakion.