Itinerary
- Day 1
Crete
You'll arrive in Crete and get settled at your hotel, then meet your ASI hiking guide at 7 p.m. for an informal welcome gathering to go over the week ahead.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Crete
Starting from Lefkogia, you'll hike up to Timios Stavros (433m) on dirt roads and narrow paths heading uphill. Once at the summit, the chapel sits with views across the bay of Plakias and toward the White Mountains. The descent takes you through a village and olive groves back where you started, so it's a good loop for the first full day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hiking tour to Timios Stavros summit (433m)
- Hike through olive groves and village on descent
Landmarks Timios Stavros Bay of Plakias White Mountains - Day 3
Crete
You'll drive a few kilometers past Rethymnon, then trek through hilly terrain on dirt tracks with oak groves providing shade along the way. There's a restored Orthodox chapel to see, and you'll reach an 800-year-old castle ruin sitting on a hill that overlooks a 100m-deep valley. The hike ends at a tavern where you can rest and eat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hiking tour through oak groves and hilly terrain
- Visit to restored Orthodox chapel
- Visit to 800-year-old castle ruin
Landmarks Orthodox Chapel Castle Ruin - Day 4
Crete
The Apokoronas region takes you through terrain dominated by olive groves and citrus plantations, so it's quite green with water running through it. You'll walk through small villages scattered across the landscape with the White Mountains as a backdrop the whole time. This day's got varied terrain and it's rural enough that you'll likely come across locals to chat with.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hiking tour through Apokoronas villages
- Hike through olive groves and citrus plantations
Landmarks White Mountains Apokoronas region - Day 5
Crete
Faragi Imbros is one of Crete's well-known gorges and you'll walk through its dried-up riverbed partly along old mule tracks, with high rock faces on either side creating a narrow passage. The valley widens toward the end and most of the hike stays shaded with a gradual slope downward. You'll finish in Imbros village for lunch at a local taverna.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a typical local taverna in Imbros), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hiking tour through Farángi Imbros gorge
- Lunch at local taverna in Imbros
Landmarks Farángi Imbros - Day 6
Crete
You'll spend time in Chania, a harbor town in western Crete with winding alleyways, a market hall, and numerous churches throughout. From there, you head to the Akrotiri peninsula to visit the Agia Triada monastery, which locals rebuilt in 1830 after the Turks destroyed it years before.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Chania harbor town
- Exploration of Chania's winding alleyways and market hall
- Visit to churches in Chania
- Guided visit to Agia Triada monastery on Akrotiri peninsula
Landmarks Chania Agia Triada Monastery Akrotiri Peninsula 
- Day 7
Crete
You'll drive to the south coast and walk along the Megalopotamos stream, which flows year-round and has reeds and oleanders lining its banks. The water course takes you through a small gorge and down to a lagoon that sits between a seawall and the sea, where Cretan date palms grow in the area. Swimming is an option if you want it, and you'll also visit the Preveli monastery nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hiking tour along Megalopotamos stream
- Visit to Preveli monastery
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the sea
Landmarks Megalopotamos stream Preveli Monastery - Day 8
Return Flight Home
This morning you'll have breakfast included before heading to the airport for your flight home. Pack up your belongings and make sure you've got everything from your room. The drive to the airport takes about an hour depending on traffic, so plan to leave with enough time to check in and get through security without rushing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
