There are many places to go hiking, climbing, and mountaineering, depending on the season. The places listed here are located in Chania prefecture. There are many more places to go and see in the rest of Crete. George (the manager of the hotel) organizes himself hiking excursions to different destinations, depending on participation, the weather and his spare time! Excursions are organised on a first come, first served basis, as we usually use a car and seldom a bus. For most excursions there is a small contribution to pay for fuel (divided by the participants), or for excursions on demand there are separate charges. Whatever your taste, don’t hesitate to ask George, he will be happy to give information on hikes and places of natural interest.

Regarding the equipment, you must have good mountain shoes, although in some cases sandals are fine, hat for the sun, plenty of water, and be well informed about the hike, as some parts of the European Hiking Path E4 are very badly signed and you can get lost!

North:

• Menies (north, first peninsula after Chania, dirt road need a jeep, 45 minute drive from Rodopou at the end of paved road, depend on speed, there are ancient ruins and beach, last bit of track is best, 1-8 hours depending on distance. There is the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios).
• Agios Pavlos beach (on the way to Menies, turn left, there are different paths, nice quiet beach with pebbles, 1-3 hours depending on distance).

North-East:

• Akrotiri (north-east, where airport is, 2 beautiful historic monasteries, Gouverneto and Tzagarolon).
• Gouverneto-Katholiko (north-east, from Gouverneto monastery 1.5 hour towards the old monastery and sea, reach Katholico first where old monastery was and the cave of Saint John, accessible, need light and non-slippery shoes. The saint stayed there for a while).
• Likotinara – Argyromouri (north-west of Georgioupoli, 1 hour hike).
• Kournas lake (south of Georgioupoli, hiking in the surrounding area, there are many birds, 1-2 hours depending on distance).
• Ai Giorgis gorge (south of Chania, start from villages of Aletrouvari or Agios Georgios, 2-4 hours hike).
• Krapi – Kournas (south-west of Georgioupoli, from Krapi village, 5 hours hike).

North-West:

• Balos (north-west, second peninsula after Chania. By boat 30 minutes, visit Gramvousa castle on island. By car dirt road for 30 minutes after Kissamos, then walk 20 minutes down, prettier view but can’t visit Gramvousa island).
• Falassarna (north-west, ancient city and 20km long sandy beach).

Central:

• Theriso, (south of Chania, drive or walk through a gorge, return through Zourba or explore around area, different hours depends on distance).
• Gourgouthes (north of Theriso, many springs, 1-5 hours depending on distance).
• Samaria gorge (south of Omalos, very touristic, take as early bus as possible from Chania, around 6 in morning, arrive at Omalos, walk for 6 hours average, reach Agia Roumeli, take boat to Sfakia, 3 boats at morning, midday and afternoon. When boat arrives to Chania, catch bus to return straight to Chania. There are many springs with drinkable water in the gorge).
• Omalos (1300m) –Gigilos peak (2000m) – Volakias peak (2116m) – Psilafi peak (1984m) (west of Omalos, start in Omalos plateau, after Xyloskalo and the entrance of Samaria gorge, above the taverna, 3-5 hours hike, beautiful scenery in Samaria gorge).
• Omalos (1300m) – Kalergi refuge (1600m) – Koukoule peak (1631m) – Melindaou peak (2133m) – Katsiveli or Svourihti refuge (2000m) – Svourihti peak (2355m) – Pahnes peak (2453m, the highest peak of the Lefka Ori mountains) – Kaloros peak (1926m) – Mavri peak (2070m) – Psari peak (1673m) – Ornia peak (2100m) – Spathi peak (2048m) - Agio Pnevma peak (2262m) – Grias Soros peak (2331m) – Tavri refuge (1200m). (east of Omalos, difficult routes, have to be fit and experienced, with plenty of water, need 2-3 days depending on distance, 8 hours hike every day, sleep in refuge. Time and distance vary between destinations, average hike between 3-6 hours).
• 3 mountains refuges Kalergi, Volika, Katsiveli or Svourihti, Tavris (central, need to make arrangements with EOS, the Greek Mountaineering Club, big branch in Chania, pay for guide and accommodation, need big group).

Central-East:

• Vrysses (east, nice area surrounded by nature).
• Apokoronas area (east, walk or drive around there).

Central-West:

• Polyrinia or Tsichliano gorge (central-west, close to Kissamos town, walk from Sirikari to Polyrinia, 1.5 hours). In Polyrinia there is an interesting ancient Roman town.
• Vavouledo gorge (central-west, from Palia Roumata village to Vavouledo village, 1 hour).
• Sebronas gorge (central-west, from Sebronas village to Ano Kefala village, 5 hours on a dirt road).
• Sasalos gorge or Halases or Porfyrofarago (central-west, walk from Sasalos to Makronas 4 hours).
• Mesavlia gorge (walk or drive on dirt road from Mesavlia village, to Deliana, 3-4 hours walk).
• Perivolia – Agios Dikeos peak (1181m) – Elos (on the road towards Elafonisi, 6 hours hike).
• Aerinos –Koutroulis peak (1070m) (on the road towards Elafonisi, 1.5 hours hike).
• Gorges: Hondriano, Bouali, Kousakiotiko, Thergi (small gorges). There are many big and small gorges in the central mountains of Chania prefecture. Unfortunately not all of them are accessible, at least up to a point. Most gorges are ok for hiking for 1-3 hours.
• Beaches (from north to the south): Balos, Falasarna (22km of sandy beach), Kokina Gremna (pebble beach), Sfinari, Afrotolaki (pebble beach), Aspri Limni, Elafonisi, Kedrodasos. There are also 3-4 small beaches, without a name. Most beaches of west and south Crete have pebbles. In Falasarna you can do Paragliding and Parapende.

South:

• Samaria gorge (south of Omalos, very touristic, take as early bus as possible from Chania, around 6 in morning, arrive at Omalos, walk for 6 hours average, reach Agia Roumeli, take boat to Sfakia, 3 boats at morning, midday and afternoon. When boat arrives to Chania, catch bus to return straight to Chania. There are many springs with drinkable water in the gorge).
• Eligia gorge (east of Samaria gorge, north entrance from Katsiveli refuge, south entrance from Agia Roumeli, 7 hours hike).
• Klados gorge (west of Samaria gorge, entrance from Domata beach, 2-3 hours hike).
• Trypiti gorge (between Samaria and Sougia, north entrance from Volakias, south entrance from Agios Nikolaos beach, 6 hours hike).
• Keratida gorge (east of Sougia, start from Sougia along E4, then continue north to Koustogerako village, 8 hours in total).
• Sougia (south, small village with a free camping spot on the left).
• Agia Irini gorge (south, the exit of the gorge is in Sougia, 3-4 hours walk)
• Hike along European Hiking Path E4, (south-east-west, average 5-6 hours each hike between each place: Elafonisi, Paliohora, Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Sfakia. Need strong legs, stamina, hat and plenty of water. Sougia – Agia Roumeli the most difficult hike, 8 hours, the easiest is Paliohora – Sougia, 5-6 hours).
• Best beaches from west to east are: Elafonisi, Kedrodassos, Kountoura, Grammeno, Paliohora, Gyaliskari, Lissos (with ancient town), Sougia, Agios Nikolaos, Domata, Agia Roumeli, Agios Pavlos, Marmara, Loutro, Glyka Nera, Sfakia, Fragocastelo, Rodakino, Plakia.

South-East (Sfakia region):

• Kormokopos cave (from Agios Ioannis village, west of Sfakia, 2 hours hike, walking into a pine forest, the cave is not spectacular, but the scenery is).
• Glyka Nera beach (west of Sfakia, 15 minutes by car plus 1 hour hike, sweet water comes out from the stones next to the beach).
• Aradena gorge (west of Sfakia, start from Aradena, walk for 4 hours, come out in Marmara bay, can walk back, take boat to Sfakia or hike along E4 to Loutro). In Aradena is the highest Bungee Jumping in the Balkans, 123 meters high, jumping off a bridge.
• Ammoudari – Tavri refuge (north of Sfakia, 3 hours walk). From Tavri refuge there are many possible excursions. Along E4 you can cross the Lefka Ori mountains, but this is only for fit and well equipped hikers.
• Imbros gorge (east of Sfakia, before you reach Sfakia, 4 hours walk).
• Fragocastelo (south-east, close to Rethymno prefecture, nice beach and small castle).
• Asfentou – Askyfou (east on the way to Sfakia, before you arrive there, 4 hours hike in old path, return through same route).
• Asfendou – Agios Nektarios (east of Sfakia, north of Fragocastelo, 4 hours hike in old path, through a gorge).
• Kalikratis gorge (east of Sfakia, north of Fragocastelo, 4 hours hike in gorge, reach Kalikratis village).
• Anything east of Sfakia (along E4 hiking path).

South-West:

• Elafonisi (south-west, very touristic but beautiful).
• Kedrodassos (south-west, most beautiful spot in Chania, best for free camping, beach covered with cedar trees, 1km east of Elafonisi, before the first tavernas of Elafonisi turn left, on dirt road, try to go parallel to the sea and mountains, reach a small cliff, walk down 15 minutes a bit to the left).
• Paliohora (south-west, bigger village, go to Gialiskari beach at east, after camping ground).
• Dihalomata river and gorge (east of Paliohora, 1.5 hour hike from Anydri village to Paliohora)
• Anything west of Paliohora.
• From Elafonisi to the east continues the European Hiking Path, or E4, crossing Elafonisi, Kedrodassos, Kountoura, Grammeno, Paliohora, Gyaliskari, Lissos (with ancient town), Sougia, Agios Nikolaos, Domata, Agia Roumeli, Agios Pavlos, Marmara, Loutro, Glyka Nera, Sfakia, Fragocastelo, Rodakino, Plakia, towards the other end of Crete.

South of Crete:

• Gavdos island (south of Sfakia and Paliohora, is magical, covered with cedar trees, pristine beaches and lots of small 3-4 hour hikes).

There are many interesting places to hike south of Rethymno, Heraklio, Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra, (particularly around Plakias, Lendas, Psiloritis, Lasithi Plateau, Hrysi and Zakros), either in the central mountains of Crete, or along the south and eastern coastline, but need a book to write down everything! Briefly, the places to visit are the following.

Rethymno prefecture:

• Around Rodakino, Plakias, Prebeli, Agios Pavlos, Psiloritis mountains, Chromonastiri, Arkadi monastery, Thronos, Anogia, Zoniana, Axo, Kolita gorge (in Kato Poros).

Heraklio prefecture:

• Around Archanes, Lenda, Tsoutsouros, Agiofarago gorge, Roubas gorge.

Lasithi prefecture:

• Around Lasithi plateau, Kabousi, Zakro, Ziro.
• Hrysi island (south of Ierapetra, is similar with Gavdos island, but much smaller in size).