Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday, walking north to south through the White Mountains. Starting in Vamos in the north and ending in Loutro on the south coast, which is only accessible on foot or by boat, this is an epic Cretan adventure. Staying in a mix of mostly locally-owned, small hotels and guesthouses, trekking highlights include Imbros Sfakia and Aradena Gorges, and endless White Mountain views. This is a trek through some of Crete’s most remote and stunning rambling terrain, where you need a good level of fitness and walking experience. Luggage transfers are included.
- Vamos
- Sfakia Gorge
- Aradena Gorge.
- Imbros Gorge
- Askifou Plain
- Loutro
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vamos
Arrival in Vamos by taxi (it can be arranged in advance) or public transport from Chania or Heraklion Airport. An afternoon stroll through the picturesque village of Vamos.
- Accommodation: Vamos Traditional Village
Day 2: Vamos circular walk | 11.5km
This circular walk starts and finishes in Vamos, linking the traditional villages of Gavalochori and Douliana. A varied and rewarding route, with plenty of interest along the way, including historic churches, quiet rural lanes and open views across Souda Bay towards the Drapanos peninsula. This is an excellent introduction to the agricultural heart of Apokoronas, offering a real sense of everyday village life. An optional extension leads down to the coast at Almyrida, adding approximately 4 km to the walk.
- Walking for the day: 11.5km, approx. 4 hrs, ↑270m ↓270m (additional 4km Almyrida loop)
- Accommodation: Vamos Traditional Village
- Meals: breakfast
Day 3: Circular walk from Nippos and travel to Askifou | 14km
Start the day with a round walk from the village of Nippos, embedded in the lush green area of Apokoronas. Cypress and olive groves cover this hilly area, with views of the Lefka Ori, covered with snow in winter and spring. After the walk, you are transferred to next accommodation on Askifou Plain, in the Lefka Ori (White Mountains).
- Walking for the day: 14km, approx. 4.5h, ↑400 m ↓400 m
- Accommodation: Hotel Panorama
- Meals: breakfast
Day 4: Lefka Ori mountain walk | 16km
Today a challenging walk in the mountains is planned. Walk up to 1,300m and admire 2,000m peaks, covered with snow in spring. There are no villages in this area; you may occasionally bump into a shepherd with his goats or sheep. The way back down to Askifou is via an old path through dense forest. Now and then enjoy great views of the Askifou plain.
- Walking for the day: 16km, approx. 6-7h, ↑700 m ↓700 m
- Accommodation: Hotel Panorama
- Meals: breakfast
Day 5: Imbros Gorge | 13km
Take a short transfer from the hotel to Imbros village to get some supplies in the mini-market before entering the second famous gorge of Crete: the Imbros gorge. You will be walking for about two hours along a rocky riverbed with loose stones and rocks alternated with easier sections. The landscapes here are other-worldly; at its narrowest point, the Imbros gorge is only 1.60m wide! At the end of the gorge, arrive at Komitades where you may relax and have lunch in one of the taverns. Continue through agricultural fields crossing Sfakia Gorge and reaching Chora Sfakion, located on the Libyan Sea coast. End your day with a refreshing swim.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 4h, ↑350 m ↓1,100 m
- Accommodation: Hotel Livikon
- Meals: breakfast
Day 6: Chora Sfakion to Loutro | 6.6km
Walk along the E4 coastal path to Loutro. The trail initially follows the road towards Kambia before descending to Glyka Nera (Fresh Water Beach), where freshwater springs rise from beneath the pebbles. After a swim, continue west along the shoreline, passing small coves and chapels, until reaching the village of Loutro. It is possible to extend the walk by continuing from Loutro to Finikas and Old Phoenix Bay, returning along the same trail.
- Walking for the day: 6.6km, 3h, ↑180m ↓240m
- Accommodation: Kyma Hotel
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 7: Loutro circular walk and Aradena Gorge | 16 or 9km
Via a steep zig-zag path climb up to the village Anopolis. From here walk further onto Ancient Aradena, located on the edge of the Aradena Gorge. Descent into the Aradena Gorge which you follow until reaching the coast. During the last part of today’s walk, follow a path along the coast back to Loutro. It is possible to make a shorter walk of four hours today via Livaniana (a tiny village) and then descend via the Aradena Gorge to the sea. Depending on your departure flight tomorrow, it may be necessary to travel today back to Chora Sfakion by ferry and on to Chania or Heraklion.
- Walking for the day (standard option): 16km, approx. 6-7h, ↑840 m ↓840 m
- Walking for the day (easy option): 9km, approx. 4h, ↑460 m ↓460 m
- Accommodation: Kyma Hotel
- Meals: breakfast
Day 8: Departure
Today you travel back to Chora Sfakion by ferry in the morning and, from there, by public transport or pre-booked transfer to Chania or Heraklion Airport.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days and one dinner on day six. Products for lunch are available in the local shops; at Askifou the shop is 1.5km from the accommodation, and you may ask for a packed lunch or shop in Imbros during the walk. In the evening you have a wide choice of tavernas at all locations, except in Askifou where you can only dine at the hotel itself.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for experienced walkers and requires a very good level of fitness, sure-footedness, and a head for heights (read more about difficulty grades). The day walks are through different landscapes, moderately graded and interspersed with more strenuous excursions. The walks should generally require 4-6h of walking. Some sections, in particular when descending into the Aradena gorge, will require some scrambling over 1.5 -2m rocks. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available between late March and late October. During summer months it can get too hot for hiking. The best months to visit are either springtime (when nature is at its best) or in the autumn (when seawater is still warm). Crete has a Mediterranean climate, with mild and rainy winters, and hot and sunny summers. The bulk of the rain falls from October to March; in summer it rarely rains. During winter, but also in spring, it can snow in the mountains. In the fine season, from mid-May to mid-September, the Meltemi (or Etesian) blows from the northwest. The southern coasts are more sheltered from this wind, especially in the coastal stretches located south of the mountains. The Meltemi, together with the lighter breezes which in any case blow on summer afternoons, has the merit of making the heat more bearable. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information, see our blog, Walking on Crete.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this holiday is Chania (CHQ). An alternative airport is Heraklion (HER).
By train or bus
- Transfer from Chania Airport to Vamos is possible by public bus, but it is not a good connection. You are advised to take a taxi from the airport to Vamos. The distance is about 30km, so a taxi is not too expensive.
- If you land in Heraklion, from the bus station in Heraklion city (6km from the airport, accessible by bus or taxi), there are direct buses to Chania (2h). The bus also stops in the village Vrysses, near Vamos, and a taxi transfer from Vrysses to Vamos is included in this package.
- You may also travel via Athens Airport and take the night ferry from Piraeus to Chania, leaving daily around 21.00 and arriving in Chania at 06.00 the next morning. There are cabins with comfortable berths on board, and all cabins are en-suite.
- From the last overnight location, Loutro, you travel by ferry to Chora Sfakion (20mins) and continue by public bus to Chania or Heraklion. In case your flight departs in the morning you have to either book an extra night in Chania or Heraklion or book a private taxi transfer from Chora Sfakion to the airport as to be on time. You can also take the daily overnight ferry from Chania back to Piraeus.
- For more detailed information, use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights en-suite accommodation
- 7 breakfasts and 1 dinner (day 6)
- Luggage transfers on walking days
- All car transfers on walking days where necessary: on day one (bus stop Vrysses-Vamos), two, three and five
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare, public transportation and ferry tickets
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights at any of the accommodations along the way as well as in Chania and Heraklion
- Private transfers from/to the airport
Reviews
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