Typically, days range between 7-20km and involve significant ascent and descent over rugged terrain.
The season for this holiday is:
26 April 2025 - 21 June 2025
01 September 2025 - 29 October 2025
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| °C | 15 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 25 | 21 | 17 |
| mm | 88 | 90 | 68 | 29 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 45 | 63 | 104 |
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
7 nights: 26 April 2025 - 21 June 2025 & 01 September 2025 - 29 October 2025
Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above
| Starting | Price | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr - 14 May 2025 n/a | £945 | £335 |
| 15 May - 14 Jun 2025 n/a | £1010 | £360 |
| 1 - 30 Sep 2025 n/a | £1060 | £390 |
| 1 - 22 Oct 2025 n/a | £900 | £335 |
| 3rd & 4th person discount | £0 | |
| Single traveller supplement | £0 |
Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.
Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room
| Syia Hotel Apartments, Souyia (B&B) | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr - 21 Jun 2025 | £71 | £142 |
| 01 Sep - 29 Oct 2025 | £71 | £142 |
Travelling from the UK
If you are flying from outside Europe, we recommend Athens. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Birmingham - Chania | jet2, Ryanair, TUI |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Bristol - Chania | jet2, TUI |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Nottingham East Midlands - Chania | Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Leeds Bradford - Chania | jet2, Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Gatwick - Chania | easyJet, TUI |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Heathrow - Chania | British Airways |
| Heathrow - Chania (via Athens) | Aegean Airlines |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Luton - Chania | easyJet |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Stansted - Chania | jet2, Ryanair |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Manchester - Chania | easyJet, jet2, Ryanair, TUI |
If you are flying from outside Europe, we recommend Athens. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.
This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.
Connecting travel options - flying via Chania
| Outward route | Price per person |
Latest flight arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| direct taxi airport to hotel (1h30) | £46-£48 | flexible |
| Homeward route | Price per person |
Earliest flight departure time |
|---|---|---|
| direct taxi hotel to airport (2h) | £33-£34 | flexible |
If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?
We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >
We felt this was a very relaxed walking holiday, the walks are not too difficult although the heat was challenging but there were lots of opportuntity to take a dip in the sea to cool down. We went early October and the temperatures were still mid to high 20's. We were pleased to still get a glimpse of the sea daffodils on our first walk.
On the "Around Paleochora walk", my suggestion would be to take a taxi from the bottom of the Anidri gorge, Paralia Gialiskari, rather than walk back on the coastal road. This gives you time to have a beer in the taverna or a swim in the sea and you do the same coastal road in reverse the following day. We mentioned this to our taxi driver in the morning and he was expecting our call later in the day to collect us.
For Samaria Gorge we took a taxi at 9.15 and started the walk at 10am, we got down around 3.30/4pm ish, enough time for a drink and a quick swim before the ferry back to Sougia.
The taxi driver was due to take us to Samaria gorge on the Sunday but it was shut so we went on the Monday instead, you can check this yourself as well by going on the website for the gorge, they seem to be pretty good at updating it when they do shut the gorge and the taxi drivers are on the ball as well.
The holiday was outstanding, it was interesting and the walking would have been quite easy had it not been for the weather which was incredibly hot (35c-40c). It was so hot that the authorities closed all the more famous walks such as the Samaria Gorge. However it was great to walk and if you were hot and sweaty you just strip off and dive into that fabulous blue sea to cool off.
Inntravel select brilliant walks, but it is the friendliness and professionalism of the people they work with which makes the whole experience so pleasantly memorable.
INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walks Traditions & History of Crete and Crete’s South-West Coast
We felt this was a very relaxed walking holiday, the walks are not too difficult although the heat was challenging but there were lots of opportuntity to take a dip in the sea to cool down. We went early October and the temperatures were still mid to high 20's. We were pleased to still get a glimpse of the sea daffodils on our first walk.
On the "Around Paleochora walk", my suggestion would be to take a taxi from the bottom of the Anidri gorge, Paralia Gialiskari, rather than walk back on the coastal road. This gives you time to have a beer in the taverna or a swim in the sea and you do the same coastal road in reverse the following day. We mentioned this to our taxi driver in the morning and he was expecting our call later in the day to collect us.
For Samaria Gorge we took a taxi at 9.15 and started the walk at 10am, we got down around 3.30/4pm ish, enough time for a drink and a quick swim before the ferry back to Sougia.
The taxi driver was due to take us to Samaria gorge on the Sunday but it was shut so we went on the Monday instead, you can check this yourself as well by going on the website for the gorge, they seem to be pretty good at updating it when they do shut the gorge and the taxi drivers are on the ball as well.
The holiday was outstanding, it was interesting and the walking would have been quite easy had it not been for the weather which was incredibly hot (35c-40c). It was so hot that the authorities closed all the more famous walks such as the Samaria Gorge. However it was great to walk and if you were hot and sweaty you just strip off and dive into that fabulous blue sea to cool off.
Inntravel select brilliant walks, but it is the friendliness and professionalism of the people they work with which makes the whole experience so pleasantly memorable.
INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walks Traditions & History of Crete and Crete’s South-West Coast
Inntravel came up with a wonderful holiday yet again. (I've lost count how many we have done with Inntravel, but over the years it’s about 15 holidays - all have been well organised and enjoyable.)
Our highlights:
Hotel Glykeria - delightful in every way including the staff, rooms and food.
Irini Gorge - excellent, relatively relaxed walk in beautiful scenery without the crowds.
Our tips:
Do not underestimate the time taken to cover the distances and climbs - due to the uneven terrain, the pace is slower than in the UK (times in the walk notes are roughly correct).
On the day 1 walk to Elafonosi, you definitely need to remove boots to wade across the water - and more likely your trousers! Everyone was doing so, thus no embarrassment and well worth the effort. Leave the hotel by 10:00 to avoid the worst of the crowds on your return to the mainland, particularly at weekends. Panorama Restaurant for lunch has a good view and okay food.
Souyia - laidback and worth an extra night or two.
Irini Gorge. We left the hotel at 09:15 in a shared taxi and were able to enjoy the peace of the gorge before others arrived. The taverna at the far end of the gorge is recommended for a relaxed lunch before the return walk to village.
In Souyia we enjoyed the food and service at the Rebetiko and Anchorage restaurants and made repeat visits to both - the first has the best setting, the second possibly better food. Tzatziki on the beachfront was good for coffee or lunch.
Inntravel's organisation, choice of hotels and walking routes, including alternative choices, were superb. We thoroughly enjoyed an excellent holiday.
A fantastic trip for someone who loves challenging and scenic hiking and charming local hotels in friendly towns!
This is a great holiday if you like hiking. The highlights:
Elaphonisi beach is beautiful (although the walk along the road to the monastery was our least liked hike of the trip).
The Glykeria hotel has great views, and is a really friendly place to relax. And the food is terrific.... no need to go elsewhere.
The hike to Paleochora along the coast is beautiful with lovely bays to swim in.
In Paleochora, try the Third Eye vegetarian restaurant. One of the best meals we've had in a long time.
The Anidri gorge walk is lovely and quiet. You may want to cut off either the start (an additional 7km) or book a taxi to pick you up from Anidri beach. Each lunch at the Anidri restaurant.... its excellent.
In Sougia, the Syia hotel is terrific and very friendly and helpful owners. Try the Anchorage or To Tzitziki restaurants. Both excellent.
We did the Irini gorge and Samaria gorge walks. Irini was far preferred and has a terrific taverna at the end to enjoy lunch.
Improvement suggestions:
For the Paleochora to Sougia coast walk, book a taxi to take you to Anidri beach for the start.
The Samaria gorge is beautiful, but be prepared for crowds. We far preferred the other two gorge walks.
This is our fifth walking holiday with Inntravel which tells you all you need to know. This trip did not disappoint and we would recommend the tour to anyone who loves Greece and its Islands. Travelling in late April, early May was an ideal time as it was never too hot, just right for walking. It had been some time since we had been to Greece last and we were reminded how wonderful a place it is. A warm welcome wherever you go and a laid-back atmosphere that helps you relax and enjoy your time there.
Our week in Crete was one of the best holidays we've ever had. Full of the most beautiful nature, remote adventure and wonderful walking. Everything was thoughtfully planned so that we didn't have to worry about anything. Inntravel provide a excellent, careful and thoughtful service at every step. We simply cannot wait to book our next one!
An excellent and interesting walking tour through the history and dramatic scenery of Crete. The hike down Samaria Gorge, while busy, is not to be missed, nor is the ferry ride back to Sougia. We would definitely recommend an extra night (or more) at Sougia.
loved the family owned hotels with their personal service
the scenery was spectacular
A great trip - good walking, fine scenery and super food.
Take a taxi from Paleochora to the Anidri Beach - saves a boring 4k on the road.
Take a taxi from Sougia to the top of the Samaria Gorge and don't aim to start at 7:00 unless you want to wait at Agia Roumeli for 5 hours. We started at 10:00, which was fine.
The walking was generally scenic and manageable, the difficulty is the lack of shade. The Samaria gorge is well worth doing and offers plenty of shade and water refills.
Stunning gorges, empty beaches, a beautiful coastal walk. Comfortable accommodation in laid back villages far from the tourist crowd and lots of good food.
On day one it was fun wading in the sea in order to get to the beautiful nature reserve island with its colourful unusual flora and the pleasing views from the top. Once back ashore we enjoyed the gentle walk back to the hotel through olive groves, an intense agricultural area and the visit to the monastery with its museums. All the other walks in this holiday were more demanding and required much scrambling on rocky, stony paths and tracks, clambering over large boulders, spotting the next waymark and crossing streams. The scenery around us was always stunningly rewarding and the sky above a consistent beautiful azure blue. Because we had added on several days we managed to do all the suggested walks and an additional one as well as having a rest day. We liked the dramatic narrowing gorges and the flora within, such as the pink oleander contrasting with the colours of the steep walls and sky. We even encountered an ibex. We enjoyed watching the sunset or sunrise from our various hotel balconies and soaked up the ambience of the restaurants and tavernas. In conclusion this well organised holiday has been amazing.
I would strongly recommend eating the 'dish of the day' and drinking house wine. We made a mistake ordering from the wine menu, paying 3x the price for an inferior wine.
The Anchorage restaurant at Sougia is highly recommended. Service was slower (which we prefer!), food the best we tasted, and great staff. In most locations we tried a different restaurant every night, but Anchorage was so good we eat there 3 nights out of 4.
The Glykeria restaurant was equally good (after day 1 we ordered the main course after we had finished our starter - we like to linger over our meals). Although there are other restaurants a km away, Glykeria is so good there is no need to try anywhere else.
Overall, it was a great itinerary and holiday.
The Irini gorge was particularly memorable (in a good way!), and the day around Anidri--excellent lunch venue.
Pleased we did the Samaria Gorge, but (as you warned) so, so many people.
Some of the best coastal walking we have done! The 1st half of the walk from Elafonisi to Paleochora was excellent with wonderful secluded sandy beaches to explore along the way. The walk from Paleochora to Sougia was challenging at times (especially the hot climb out of the Lissos archaelogical site), but also a highlight. Finally both the Irini and the Samaria Gorge walks were very enjoyable, with the Samaria Gorge being the best gorge walk we have done 👌. The team at the Glykeria (Nikos, Maria, Yanis) were brilliant. As was Markos and his wife at the Syia Hotel in Sougia. Sougia was our favourite... it's a lovely little coastal community
Wonderful swimming in a cold but beautiful sea. A great variety of habitats, views, terrain. Food was disappointing and not as we expected.
Was a great holiday. Walking was tougher than we thought but we enjoyed. Highlight I think was the day from Glykeria hotel to Paleochora on the E4. The beaches we walked passed and swam in were just beautiful.
We loved Crete, its landscapes, flowers and especially the Cretans.
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