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Active Crete Walking Holiday
Overview
Introduction
Our Active Crete’s Walking Holiday offers you the opportunity to walk in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean but also to have enough time for other relaxing activities you choose yourself (swimming in the sea, reading a book by the hotel pool etc).
The 7 night itinerary consists of five mornings of long walks of medium difficulty lasting approximately 4.5-5.5 hours. These will take place in the hills, the valleys, the beaches, the town of Kissamos and the surrounding area, as well as going through traditional villages and little known Ancient sites. They are particularly beautiful in the Spring and Autumn with the abundance of flowers and plants. Each expedition starts at 9:00 am at the hotel and ends between 14:00 and 15:00 pm at the hotel. Each walk has regular rest stops.
You will stay at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments during your holiday or at the Sunny Bay Hotel near Kissamos, a few kilometres from Nopigia. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change if decided by the tour leader due to local conditions. Air Conditioning is charged locally at 7 euros per apartment per day if required.
Dates for 2025:
- 29 April - 06 May
- 13 - 20 May
- 20 - 27 May
Agenda
Day 1 - Arrival and Welcome dinner
Morning flight from the UK and transfer from Chania airport. You will be met by our local taxi driver and taken to your family run hotel.
On the first evening we offer you the chance to get to know everybody at the Welcome dinner.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Cormoranos Hotel Apartments, Crete
Day 2 - PLATANAKI - KORFALONAS - KISSAMOS
09:00-13:30 : From our hotel we walk to the sea and then along the beach to the Platanaki and Korfalonas areas. We cross the little river of Korfalonas and continue further until we cross the little river of Kissamos and reach Kissamos town, where we can visit the local archaeological museum and local traditional shops selling honey, wine, tsikoudia, herbs etc. We return either on foot or by the regular bus service. Duration: about 4.5 hours. Distance : 12 km. Elevation: 1m-20m.
14:00: Return to the hotel. Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Kissamos
Day 3 - DRAPANIAS – CHERETHIANA - POTAMIDA – KALOUDIANA
09:00-15:00 : After a 30 minute walk from our hotel, we reach the village of Drapanias, uphill we find an old track leading through the olive groves to the little chapel above us built into a cave... Michael the Archangel. Cherethiana is a small typical, picturesque Cretan Village at an altitude of 160 meters. We walk through the village and have a break for a coffee. From here we take the road to Potamida in the valley and turn back towards the sea. We will visit the mill museum where we will have a break and then we walk further through the village. On the return to our hotel we have a break for a beer or food in the village Kaloudiana. Duration: about 5.5 hours. Distance : 13km. Elevation: 5m-170m
15:00: Return to the hotel. Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Olive groves, Drapanias
Day 4 - KOLYMBARI - ASTRATIGOS - AFRATA
09:00-15:00: We go by public bus to Kolymbari and walk uphill to find the picturesque village of Astratigos: a very small village at an altitude of 210 metres without any shops but with beautiful views to Chania bay. We walk further to the north of the peninsula and arrive in Afrata, another small village with a tavern and a traditional Café. Our next stop is at the famous Gonia Monastery which was built between 1618 and 1634 in its present location. The distinctive fountain in front of the monastery's entrance was built in 1708 and the belfry in 1849. It also has numerous relics and other rare religious treasures from the Byzantine period. In the village nearby there is a charming harbour with fishing caiques moored, cafes and tavernas for refreshments. Duration: about 5 hours. Distance: 12km. Elevation: 5m-210m.
15:00: Return to the hotel. Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Chania, Crete
Day 5 - Day at leisure
A free day to rest or do further walking or sightseeing on your own. You could enjoy the many attractions of Chania, or visit the famous Balos beach by a short boat trip or hire a car to explore further a-field.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Balos Bay
Day 6 - KOLENI - MESONISI - ROKKA - KOTSIANA
09:00-15:00: We go by road to the village of Koleni. Walking through the village we find the old soil road towards the beautiful old settlement of Mesonisi. We wander through the gorge which is rarely visited and encounter wild goats and buzzards and if we are lucky we might see a golden eagle. Just below its crown or dome as the locals call it is the picturesque village of Rokka. Above the 18th/19th century houses is the site of the remains of an ancient village, whose rooms, streets, steps and tombs were cut into the stone. From there the views are staggering. We return home down a kalderimi (old stone road) passing an ancient wall, peach, plum and mulberry trees amongst the olives. We walk through the countryside to Kotsiana and break for a coffee in the traditional Kafenio of the village. Our path leads us to Ano Drapanias where we walk past a medieval Venetian tower and then through the village before we return to our hotel. Duration: about 5.5 hours. Distance: 14km. Elevation: 5m-225m
15:00: Return to the hotel. Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoy the evening in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Walking through Rokka Gorge, Crete
Day 7 - NOPIGIA – PANAGIA MYRTIDIOTISA – AGIOS VASILIOS - RAVDOUHAS
09:00-14:30 : Starting from the hotel we will walk past the open air theater to the little chapel of Panagia Myrtidiotisa in Nopigia and then along a rough path over stones and rocks towards the little medieval chapel of Agios Vasilios on the Spatha peninsula. The blue sea is always beside us. We will encounter only a few sheep and goats and enjoy great views towards the Gramvousa peninsula across Kissamos bay. After our little break at the chapel of Agios Vasilios we walk further to the outskirts of Ravdouhas, enjoying fantastic views of the village. We walk past amazing rock formations and Nopigia beach to our hotel. Duration: about 5 hours. Distance: 12 km. Elevation: 1m-120m.
14:30: Return to the hotel. Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming, enjoy the evening in the nearby tavernas.
Overnight at the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments
Church of St Panteleimonos, Nopigia
Day 8 - Day of departure
Transfer to Chania airport for your return flight to the UK or to any other Crete resort to continue your holiday.
Accommodation
Cormoranos Hotel Apartments - Night 1 to 7
The Cormoranos Hotel Apartments are located just 150m from the beach in the hamlet of Nopigia, 7 kms east of the main town of Kissamos (aka Kastelli).
The Cormoranos Hotel Apartments are located just 150m from the beach in the hamlet of Nopigia, 7 kms east of the main town of Kissamos (aka Kastelli).
The 10 apartments here comprise a living room with kitchen area (2 cooking rings, fridge) and pull-out extra bed(s), a twin bedroom, shower room and spacious covered balcony or terrace with fine views to the surrounding countryside (some to the sea) and of the pool and gardens. All apartments possess air conditioning, hairdryer, room safe and free WiFi.
Although equipped for self catering, a good breakfast can be provided with some Cretan specialities and home made treats included (local charge - included in our Painting and Walking holidays).
To the front the Cormoranos Hotel Apartments has lush gardens and a beautiful pool (12m x 7m, depth 0.80m-2.40m) with sunbeds on the grass. There is a small fitness room (free), sauna (local charge) and a few bicycles for guests' use (free).
It is a two minute walk to the pebble beach (sandy and gently shelving in the water). Nopigia has a pair of traditional tavernas and a beach cafe (seasonal - sunbeds available at a local charge). Another two tavernas and a mini-market can be found a 15 minute walk away - for a wider choice there is an hourly bus service to Kissamos from the top of the road that takes 15 minutes. A baker's van visits Nopigia most days selling freshly baked bread.
This is a beautiful area of Crete with untouched countryside and little development.
Note: The Cormoranos Hotel Apartments, together with the Sunny Bay Hotel close to Kissamos, are the bases for our 7 night Crete activity itineraries.
Active Crete Walking and Painting Holiday Itinerary
These Itineraries include breakfast but air-conditioning is at a local charge of 7 euros per day.