Highlights: Chania to Omalos – Trek to Gigilos – Loutro – Chania
5 days / 4 nights
Day 1
From Chania to Omalos Samaria Gorge
Upon arrival to Chania airport, we transfer to the beautiful city of Chania, where we will spend time in the old town build by the Venetians in 1252. After lunch, we drive to our hotel in Omalos village, 40 km from Chania. Omalos at an altitude of 1050 m, is a small village built in a plateau of irregular shape and surrounded by steep mountains. A beautiful and very peaceful place for relaxation.
Day 2
Trek to Gigilos
On our second day we walk the last 900 m of mount Gigilos located at the beginning of Samaria gorge. Gigilos is the fearsome rock at 2080 m altitude, where goddess Gea hide her son Zeus from his father Cronos (he used to eat his newborn male children). For the last 300m of climbing we will have to use both our hands and feet.
Total walking time 4+ hours.
Day 3
Samaria Gorge
If there was only one place to walk, when in Crete, that would be the gorge of Samaria. The longest and one of the most beautiful gorges in Europe. A place of unfound beauty that will reward your innermost expectations. A strenuous 17 km walk that will take us from an altitude of 1250 m all the way down to the costal town off Agia Roumeli (ancient Tara) for a swim in the Libyan sea.
Total walking time 6 hr.
Day 4
Loutro
Imagine walking on a path next to the Libyan sea that people (goats too) have been walking for the last 4000 years. Making a stop in Agios Pavlos where Nikiforos Fokas (Byzantine emperor) built a chapel 1100 years ago. Swimming in Marmara beach with its crystal clear waters. Overnight in the picturesque village Loutro.
Total walking time 6 hr.
Day 5
Back to Chania
We return by boat from Loutro to the town of Sfakia (20 minutes), and then onwards by minibus to Chania.
This is a short program, guiding trekking enthusiasts in one of the most popular trails of Crete. We start with a challenging ascend to Gigilos peak at 2080 m, and we continue with the crossing of famous Samaria gorge, taking us from an altitude of 1250 m to the coastal town of Aghia Roumeli. Our last hiking day involves a very scenic hike along the Libyan sea, swimming in crystal clear waters and ending in the picturesque harbor of Loutro.
