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Daily Itinerary
DAY 1, Saturday, September
26, 2009
We will rendezvous at
the airport of Chania and transfer to our Hotel. This day is free to
recover from your trip and to explore Chania. In the evening we will
have a brief meeting for introductions, orientation and a brief
presentation of the whole trip. Then we will have a get acquainted
dinner at a traditional tavern. Welcome to the gastronomic reality of
the authentic Cretan cuisine!
Overnight in Chania
DAY 2, Sunday, September
27, 2009
After breakfast we
depart for the village of Agia Irini in Chania area and we walk through
Agia Irini gorge to Sougia. This gorge provides a nice and quiet path
next to a stream. We will have our lunch while in the gorge. Sougia is
a beautiful village on the southern coast of Crete where we will have
the opportunity to enjoy a swim in the crystal clear waters of the
Mediterranean Sea.
Travel time: 4 – 5
hours walk
Overnight in Sougia
DAY 3, Monday, September
28, 2009
Starting from the
small port pf Sougia, we will cross the beautiful gorge of Selinou and
follow the European path E4. We reach the ancient city of Lissos, an
important center of hydrotherapy in ancient years which flourished in
the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine era. Here we visit a well
preserved temple with mosaic floor dedicated to the God of medicine,
Asklipios. We will have much to admire by making a small loop around
the city. We refresh ourselves in the cove and we return to Sougia.
Travel time: 3- 4
hours walk
Overnight in Sougia
DAY 4, Tuesday, September
29, 2009
Our mini-bus brings
us to the plateau of Omalos from where we climb Mount Gingilos (2080
m). This is where the wild goats of Crete (Kri-kri) live as well as
some of the most rare, highly threatened with extinction wild birds of
Europe, such as the griffon vulture and the Lammergier (Gypaetus
barbatus). Towards the peak there are some points that we may use our
hands to climb (easy scramble, nothing technical). The summit provides
spectacular views in all directions. We descend by the same route and
we spend the night at a family owned hotel in Omalos plateau.
Travel time: 5-6
hours walk
Overnight in Omalos
DAY 5, Wednesday,
September 30, 2009
A short minibus drive
takes us to Xiloscalo, the entrance to Samaria gorge, which is the
largest gorge in Europe and one of the most beautiful that nature can
provide. We walk on a good path in a shady pine forest and beside a
melodic stream. We reach the small village of Agia Roumeli, where we
can relax and enjoy a swim.
Travel time: 6 hours
walk
Overnight in Agia
Roumeli
DAY 6, Thursday, October
1, 2009
We continue on our
walk close to the Mediterranean Sea (coastal path). We pass the
picturesque St. Paul's Chapel, which was built on the sand next to the
sea. After a needed refreshing break at the “Marmara” beach, we arrive
at the small port of Loutro.
Travel time: 6 hours
walk
Overnight in Loutro
DAY 7, Friday, October 2,
2009
Ascend the ancient
path to Anopolis village, a historic area from where the revolution
against the Turks began in 1866. Here we see authentic Cretans with
their traditional costumes that “take us back in time, to other
centuries”. From Anopolis we will cross Aradena gorge which is very
beautiful and slightly more difficult than the previous gorges. On the
way back to Loutro, we can swim in the crystal clear waters of Marmara
beach.
Travel time: 6-7
hours walking
Overnight in Loutro
DAY 8, Saturday, October
3, 2009
For the last day there are two optional ways to reach the village of
Hora Sfakion or Sfakia, where our mini bus will return us back to
Chania. We can either hike 2 hours by taking the coastal path that
crosses “Sweet Water Beach” where there are many fresh water springs
coming out of the pebble beach, or we can take a 15 minute boat ride
from Loutro to Sfakia. Our trip ends at Chania and depending on the
departure time, we are free to shop and relax.
For more information including a detailed itinerary, contact Dick
Ernenwein, 845-565-3866, 4 Commonwealth Ave, Newburgh, NY 12550.
e-mail: rernenwein@msn.com
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