Overview
This is a 12-hour day trip to one of the most original parts of Chania Prefecture in Crete, a rural district where tradition is alive and time refuses to run fast.
The trip combines sea and mountain experiences and includes natural, cultural, and gastronomic experiences.
Itinerary
You will be picked up at the latest at 08:00 at your hotel in or around Chania City and enjoy a breathtaking 90-minute drive to the South, up and down the White Mountains.
This long drive will be eased by a 30-minute stop at the village of Askyfou for your first gastronomic experience at a local Kafeneeo. There, you will taste the famous Sfakiani Pita, a delicious cheese pie topped with honey, and the local refreshments made with mountain spring water.
We will reach the entrance of Imbros Gorge after a short drive. It is a low-difficulty and yet very beautiful gorge with a wonderful flora variety and spectacular narrow passages.
For a number of people (especially Australians and New Zealanders and to a lesser extent Brits) walking through the gorge of Imbros is almost a pilgrimage. Many people have had parents or grandparents who fought with the Allied troops in Crete and walked through the gorge in May 1941 in order to escape the island to Egypt.
You will need light hiking shoes or perfect sports shoes to cross it stress-free and safely in about 3 hours (1o km long, 600 meters descent). Bring plenty of water, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen oil or cream. You will trek at your own pace without a guide. The path requires medium fitness and there is no way you could lose track of it.
We will pick you up at the gorge’s end and take you by car to the Chora Sfakion village that faces the Libyan Sea and Africa.
At this point, various options for quality beach time will be offered. A boat adventure to more remote beaches is optional and can be booked on-site. Every remote beach has a tavern where you can optionally have lunch. For those not taking the boat trip, there are many options for an excellent traditional lunch in the fishing village of Chora Sfakion.
Before your drop-off departure, we will visit a bakery to taste their delicacies.
This is a no-rush full-day tour. Enjoy it!
Highlights
– a scenic drive up and down the White Mountains
– a beautiful and easy-to-cross gorge, full of natural wonders (Crete’s second most popular gorge)
– picturesque beaches to sunbathe and enjoy Southern Crete’s crystal clear waters
– two unique tasting experiences at a Kafeneeo and a bakery
– a boat adventure to one or more remote beaches (optional at an extra cost)
Available dates, duration, and inclusions
This 12-hour semi-custom private experience is available daily between May and October to any group of 2-7 people.
INCLUDED
– Hotel pickup and drop-off from/to any hotel in Chania or Rethymnon area
– Round-trip private transfer by air-conditioned car or minibus
– Private, semi-customizable itinerary operated by an in-person guide who is also the driver
– Snacks (including the delicacies at the tastings), refreshments, and bottled water
– All taxes
NOT INCLUDED
– Trekking guide leading the gorge crossing (available at an extra cost of EUR 200)
– Gorge entrance fee (EUR 3 per person)
– Meals and alcoholic drinks
– Travel Insurance
– Driver gratuities (optional)
HEALTH RESTRICTIONS
– Not recommended for travelers with back problems, heart problems or other serious medical conditions
– Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Price
from EUR 395,- per group of 2 persons
Add EUR 50,- for every additional person in the group
Ready to book?
This experience is instantly bookable via a flat EUR 195 deposit.
Deposit for the cultural day-trip: “Private Gorge Crossing and Beach Time in Southern Crete (with optional boat adventure)”
195,00 €
