Eastern Crete – a Greek Easter

SUMMARY

Dates: Tuesday 27th April  to Tuesday 4th May  2027   – 7 nights with 5 days hiking and time to explore this unspoilt part of Crete.

Guide: Angela ( Goat 1) and Lisa (Goat 2)  – 2 Guides to offer a mix of Goat 1 and 2 walks and Greek Easter cultural experiences.

Walking Grade: Goats 1 and Goat 2 .  You may want to bring a partner/family/ friend who doesn’t want to walk so much. There is a full itinerary for each level .You will need to let us know if you are Goat 1 or 2 when you book – add it to the note.

Max elevation: 500m on one day on Goat 2 walks. 300m maximum on Goat 1 walks.

Terrain: Good paths – some rocky

Max distance: on Goat 2 walks 15km/10 miles . Goat 1 walks up to 8km/5 miles

Base: We have changed accommodation to be in a hotel with a swimming pool. Our new Mirtos home Villa Kastro  Breakfasts are served in the hotel each morning.

Arrivals: The nearest airport is Heraklion and we will provide two group transfers  in the afternoon around 16.00 and early evening around 18.00. We will gather arrival times and put women together at the most appropriate time. We would like to have everyone in Mirtos for a briefing and evening meal together .

The transfer is approx 1 hour 20 minutes.

Guests will be flying in from various different airports and we know arrival times are very varied. We can arrange additional transfers for an extra cost of approx 110 euros for the taxi (up to 4 people) for a one way transfer.

Departures: The transfer will leave after breakfast so book afternoon flights, leaving after 14:00.

Price: £1,700 per person for a solo occupancy room inclusive of :

• Ensuite solo occupancy room
• Access to the hotel swimming pool
• Breakfast provided for you each morning
• Evening meals in local restaurants on 6 nights to give you the true flavour of Crete (one evening you have free time)
• Expert local walking guides
• Airport transfer to and from Heraklion
• All local transport required for walks

If you bring a partner/friend and share a room there is  £200 discount per person. Price per person £1500. We will adjust your invoice once you have booked and paid your deposit.

Not included:

• Lunches can be bought from the local shops or cafes ( some are provided as part of the activities)
• Additional drinks
• Airport transfer outside the time & location stated
• Any excursions not on the itinerary

DETAILS

Our guide Angela speaks German, Greek, Dutch and English and is a highly experienced mountain guide.

We base ourselves in Mirtos, a friendly rural village on the Libyan sea in Eastern Crete. It is one of the sunniest places in Europe. It is full of Cretan traditions and customs and prides itself on remaining unspoilt and not being full of hectic crowds.

Mirtos attracts those interested in hiking with its impressive flora and fauna which we will certainly see the best of in Spring. We will walk through mountain villages and hike where we see ocean vistas. Being able to start and end your days with a dip in the sea is wonderful.

This is Greek Easter so you will be able to join in some of the village events with music and perhaps dancing!

ITINERARY

The itinerary may change depending on the weather and at the discretion of your guide. Rest assured you will be guided on your  hikes,and other options,  to show you the best that Eastern Crete has to offer. Your day’s activities will be discussed with you each day. There will be options of Goat 1 ( Angela ) and Goat 2 (Lisa)

Tuesday : Arrival and settle in

18.00 Welcome meeting with Angela and Lisa in Villa Kastro

19.00 Welcome dinner in a taverna in Mirtos

Wednesday:

08am Breakfast ( Goat 1 ) 08.30 Breakfast (Goat 2) in your hotel

10.00 Departure

Goat 1: Let’s Cook Together – a gentle local walk ( max 1 hour) around Mirtos and a visit to Angela’s Garden. Or perhaps a swim in the Libyan Sea.

In the afternoon you will doing a cookery class with Popi the owner of Hotel Esperides. You will cook your evening meal and learn about the secrets of Cretan cooking.

Goat 2: Mirsini – Mesa Mouliana – Villages

A beautiful circular walk on dirt tracks from village to village along an old vineyard hill with fantastic views of the north coast and the Cretan Sea. Ideal for to arrive on the island!

Walking time: approx. 3 h – Difference in altitude: approx. 250 m. Driving time to the start: 60 min. Path: easy dirt tracks along the abandoned vineyard hill

19.00 Dinner in a taverna in Mirtos

Thursday:

08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Departure

Goat 1: Cretan Wines – an ancient story with a walk around Pirgos, a real local farm village. Taste organic wines and hear about the history of Cretan wines. We walk around this real farm village and stop for a lunch at the house of Manolis. We have lunch together made from the land.

Goat 2 Pefki Gorge – village life

We start in the picturesque mountain village of Pefki. An old path leads us along the scenic Pefki Gorge with great crowd of the south coast. We end in a village where we can be spoiled with local stables to nourish us.

Evening free

Friday:

08.30 Breakfast
09.15 Depature

Goat 1: The making of Phillo dough 

You walk from the mountain village Gdochia to Teresa, a coastal settlement -a  surprise awaits!

Goat 2 : Selakano – In the forest

The circular walk starts in the valley of Selakano, a summer settlement in about 1000 m altitude. On old beautiful paths we cross the large forest region with impressive trees and a beautiful landscape, surrounded by more than 2000 m high peaks of the Dikti mountain range. There are moments where you feel like you are in a fairytale place.

Walking time: approx. 4 h – Difference in altitude: approx. 300 m
Driving time to the start: approx. 45 min
Path: a smooth forest path, sometimes little bit stony, several times up and down hill

19.00 Dinner in a taverna in Mirtos

Saturday: FREE DAY

Breakfast

Today it is your time to spend some time at the beach in Mirtos, just a few minutes on foot from the accommodation. Another option is to go to Ierapetra to visit the weekly farmers market and to explore a bit the southernmost town of Europe.

Angela can arrange a taxi for visits and show you local hiking trails, for those who would like an extra walk.

Sunday: Easter Sunday 

08.30Breakfast
09.00 Departure

Goat 1: Wild herbs – we walk from the mountain village Lastros through remote landscape down to the coast. In the dry riverbed we will find lots of wild herbs and we have an introduction in using herbs in your diet and for health.

Late lunch/early dinner in Mochlos at the seaside.

Goat 2: Kavousi-Thripti – Monastiraki-Old Paths

This is the longest hike of the trip. An old donkey trail that zig zags up from the village of Kavousi to the summer settlement of Thripti. We stop in a traditional Greek coffee house then carry on to experience the impresssive Cha Gorge – the views are stunning.

Walking time is approx 6 hours with a difference in altitude of approx 750m.

Monday:

08.30Breakfast
09.45 Departure

Goat 1: We start in Anatoli and walk through the picturesque landscapes with fantastic views to North and South coasts. We visit a local man making products from natural honey, herbs and olive oil.

Goat 2: Anatoli – Flowers and Views

This walk in the region of Anatoli, a mountain village above Mirtos, leads through a beautiful landscape with special rock formations and great views of both sides of the island. In spring we can find several rare species of wild orchids and other flowers.

Walking time: approx. 3 ½ h – Difference in altitude: approx. 300 m. Driving time to the start: 40 min

Path: dirt roads and in between about one hour to the peak of the Estavromenos an easy mountain path uphill

19.00 Finale Dinner in a taverna in Mirtos

Tuesday: Departure

Breakfast  – transfers leaving at 10am or early afternoon for later flights . We provide 2 return transfers and timings will be finalised once we know morning and afternoon flight times.