Crete Island Grand Trail: Mount Ida, Samaria Gorge, Loutro
Spend a week hiking in Crete with local, certified guide, Akis. Climb to the top of Mount Ida, visit Samaria Gorge, Loutro Bay, Sfakia, and more!
Private
6 Days
May - Oct
High
Intermediate
Highlights
* Discover some of the most amazing spots in Crete.
* Enjoy seaside and mountain trails.
* Spend a week enjoying the Mediterranean culture and cuisine.
Description
Crete is a majestic island and the absolute Mediterranean destination, an ideal place to enjoy a hiking and cultural week.
On this one-week adventure, you will have the chance to explore some of the most amazing spots on the island. High mountains, magnificent gorges and canyons, and the extended trail network close to the Mediterranean Sea make this a unique trekking destination. Furthermore, the culture, history, food, unique flora, and fauna will perfectly complement and enrich your trip.
The hiking itinerary we will follow runs the south coastline of the island, one of the purest, most unspoiled, and isolated areas of South Europe. Some of the landmarks we will visit include the Mount Ida summit, Samaria Gorge, and Loutro, among others. You can find a detailed itinerary below.
Keep in mind that we will spend around 5 hours hiking each day. Therefore, you will need a good fitness level to join this adventure, however, you don’t need technical skills for this adventure.
So, are you ready to experience a unique 1-week trek in Crete? Then contact me today and let’s start planning your adventure. I look forward to guiding you!
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Transport during the trip
- Luggage transfer
- Mountain guide expenses
Price details
National Park entrance fees included
Breakfasts included
Snacks during the hike included
Boat ticket during the hike is included
Transfers during the trip
Not included :
Meals and drinks
Itinerary
Day 1: Heraklion City - Ascent the Very Top of Crete 2.456m
Meeting with the guests in Heraklion city in the morning and travel towards the Cretan country side at the foot hills of Mount Ida – The birth place of Zeus. Starting from Mygeros Plateau at an altitude of 1550m, the well-marked trail runs the north west side of the mountain and gives access to an impressive summit crest towards the Peak 2456m.
The summit view is stunning in every direction… the Aegean Sea islands to the North and the African coast line to the South are the highlights of this magnificent ascent.
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Vertical ascent: 1000m
Pick up the guests and travel towards Chania town where we will settle down in a hotel at the Old Venetian Harbor.
Briefing about the schedule – overnight.
Day 2: Hiking Samaria Gorge
Today we will hike one of the longest and most beautiful gorges in Europe: The famous Samaria Gorge.
A well-marked trail runs 16 km of unspoiled nature inside the gorge, and finally exits at the Mediterranean Sea.
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Vertical drop: 1250m
The hike ends at the seafront village Agia Roumeli. Rest, relaxation, swimming in crystal clear waters, Mediterranean food, and overnight stay at the village.
Day 3: Agia Roumeli – White Mountains – St. John Village
Breakfast at the guest house and start hiking.
The sea side trail runs the coast line through pine forest, and faces the Mediterranean Sea. Then, a steep but magnificent trail climbs the mountain towards our final destination, the St. John mountain village, too far away from the civilization and almost lost in time…
During our hike we can swim at the crystal sea waters and then continue towards the village.
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Vertical ascent: 900m
Settle down in a guest house – briefing about the next day’s schedule.
Overnight stay
Day 4: St. John – Aradaina Gorge – Loutro Bay
Breakfast at the guest house and transfer towards the entrance of Aradaina Gorge.
The trail runs the gorge through impressive rock formations, and during the hike we will experience the Cretan nature, smell the Mediterranean herbs and finally we will exit in a magnificent secret beach with crystal waters – The Marble Beach.
Duration: 4 hours
Relaxation & swimming
The same afternoon, transfer with a boat towards Loutro village, the most iconic and magnificent part of the south Crete. The small sea front village with magnificent Aegean architecture welcomes the hikers. Now, we are too far away from roads and vehicles, isolated at the very south end of Europe.
Settle down in a seafront hotel – overnight stay.
Day 5: Loutro Bay – Hiking the countryside round Loutro
After breakfast we will discover the unspoiled nature round Loutro Bay and the archeological site of the area. The Mediterranean Sea is always by our side and we will enjoy the crystal waters many times throughout the day. Early afternoon return to the village – overnight.
Duration: 5 hours
Day 6: Loutro Bay – Sfakia
Breakfast at the hotel and start hiking towards Sfakia.
We will cross the marvelous Sweet Waters beach and finally, we will access the historic Sfakia village, a place very tight connection with the 2nd WW history.
Duration: 3 hours
Short break at the picturesque Sfakia Bay and early afternoon transfer towards Heraklion city, where you will be dropped off.
End of trip
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Akis
4.80
(51)
Mountain Guide
I come from Greece and always remember myself as a kid in the mountains…
Now, I am a Certified Mountain Guide HMGA, member of the Hellenic Mountain Guides Association (License number A.N 867/37, Nr 19 FEK (A)621-999/28-11-07) also a Mountaineering – Ski Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, member of the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering & Climbing (H.F.M.C).
My passion for the mountains led me on numerous hikes, ski tours, and rock and ice climbs in Greece, the Alps, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Bulgaria, with many new routes under my signature.
The beautiful valleys at the foot of Mount Olympus – Greece are my home, and the flanks above are the playground to follow my mountain love, may it be ice-climbing, ski touring, hiking, or alpine climbing. For me, it is the perfect terrain to train, play and guide.
I teach mountaineering, rock climbing, and ski mountaineering in various Climbing Schools & Mountaineering Associations, and I spend a lot of wintertime as a ski instructor. I love to share my passion with guests and guide hikers, mountaineers, climbers, and ski tourers all year round.
I am married to Mariza and we have a daughter and two sons together.
I speak Greek, English, and French.
Languages
Greek | French | English
Certificates
HMGA
What people are saying about Akis
Kwie-Hoa
3.00
Gear list is incomplete. Sleeping bag, head lamp, clothing type etc lacking. Food, snacks?? No gear check. Day 1: 2 hour drive to trail head. At 4 pm arrived at refuge. Guide wasn't very interactive or explanatory about surroundings. Waking hours was akward and guide on phone most of the time. Day 2: poor weather. Excellent guiding! Cut trip short due to poor visibility. Arrived back in Litochoro around 5 pm. Guide helped me get settled in my motel. Day 3: I chose to hike E4 myself. Meals: boiled tortellini with grated cheese x 1. Breakfast (after asking): dry bread with chocolate spread. No hot beverage offered. If I knew, I could have brought my own stove and prep my own meals and hot tea. I only brought power bars and snacks for during hikes. Suggestions: better gear list, gear check, explanation and orientation of route and area, clarification of what can be or cannot be expected of meals. Akis is the best guide in a challenging situation when you can't talk or see because of a blizzard.
Rachel
5.00
My partner & I have just returned from a 2 day hike up Mount Olympus with Akis. The trip was fabulous. Akis is a brilliant guide and he had a great team to help him. Akis is very experienced & willing to help with anything you need, but his style is very un-instrusive so if you want a relaxed trip with someone who loves the mountains and inspires confidence that you are in safe hands, he is your man. Highly recommended.
Odelya
5.00
Akis was a wonderful guide. He cared a lot about the people and about the right pace for everyone. He made sure that we are safe and he was smiley and friendly. Climbing Olympus isn’t an easy one, but definitely something to be on your bucket list.
Cynthia
5.00
Akis and Bill are very professional, technically skilled, have vast knowledge of Mt. Olympus, gentlemen and have high emotional intelligence. They guided me all the way and understood my strength and weaknesses. Akis pushed me to my potential which I didn’t know I have. Bill was patient and accommodating. We finally made it to Mytikas; the highest peak of Mt. Olympus! I really enjoyed the scrambling going up and down. May childhood experience of climbing trees helped a lot 😊☺️. I found a new passion because of this trip - rock climbing. I would highly recommend this tour and the guides (Akis and Bill), you will be “in good hands” with them.😊 Caution: This tour is for fit people, been working out regularly, and have tenacity to walk at least 2-3hrs with 30L bag. Follow the instructions of Akis on what to bring. He knows the forest very well and can anticipate the weather. Good luck to all who are interested to join this climb. All the best. Cynthia C.
Nir
5.00
Great guide. Amazing road. Feels safe and nice. We climbed the mt myself and son 13 yo. Recommend without hesitation.
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