Revive in Crete – Yoga and Walking

SUMMARY

Dates: Sunday 2nd October to Saturday 8th October 6 nights/5 days walking

Guide: Local english speaking guides with our local partner

Walking Grade: Goat 1 as these are leisurely walks lasting 1.5 to 4 hours along beaches and in hills and valleys. Not difficult walks.

Base: Sunny Bay Hotel directly on the beach of Kissamos Bay with clean blue sea. It is top rated and has a swimming pool and a garden.

Price: £900 per person per holiday. Price includes:

• Transfer from/to Chania airport (transfer from/to Heraklion airport can be arranged on request at an additional cost).
• 6 nights, shower/WC, hot water, fridge, balcony/terrace, free wi fi access
• 6 x Breakfast
• Dinner on the evening of arrival
• Yoga workshops with yoga teacher
• Walks with walking Leaders

Price does not include:
Flights, Meals (except dinner on the evening of arrival), tickets to sites or museums, bus tickets, travel insurance, air conditioning which can be used at an extra cost of 7 Euros/day (although usually not necessary in the months of the programme) and the cost of the safe (in case you need to use it) of 10 Euros for your whole stay.

If you want a holiday in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean with lots of yoga & walking this is for you. The week is pure relaxation with time together as a group but also time for YOU.

This area of Kissamos in western Crete is part of the European Programme NATURA 2000 which aims to protect its rich natural heritage and to promote eco-tourism. Our walks leave only a green footprint as there is no need for private transport. Also they are rich in archaeological, historical, botanical and artistic features.

There are several tavernas near the hotel offering excellent local food at prices of 10-15 Euros per person including local wine. There are shops in the nearby Kissamos town.

DETAILS

This holiday week contains :

Five mornings and five evenings of yoga and meditation sessions.

Four leisurely paced walks of light to medium difficulty lasting from 1.5 to 4 hours. These will take place along the beaches, in the hills, the valleys, the town of Kissamos and the surrounding area, as well as going through traditional villages and little-known Ancient site

There is always the freedom to opt out of any of the walks or the yoga and meditation

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU

Swimming costume, sun glasses, sun hat, sun cream, strong walking shoes, small rucksack.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

You don’t need to bring any yoga materials with you; we provide everything that is necessary (yoga mats, blocks, belts and blankets).

ITINERARY

Detailed Programme

Day 1:

• Transfer from Chania airport and check in. You will be met by our local taxi driver and taken to your family run hotel in Kissamos by the sea. To get to our destination on the following days, we usually walk or take the public bus, to keep our carbon footprint low and to enjoy being part of the reliable local transport system.
• 18:00-19:30 : Yoga and meditation.
• 20:30-22:00 : Welcome dinner at a traditional beach taverna. On the first evening we offer you the chance to get to know everybody at the Welcome dinner.

Day 2:

• 7:30-9:00 : Yoga and meditation
• 9:00-10:00 : Breakfast.
• 10:30-14:00 : From our hotel we walk eastwards along the beach of Kissamos bay to Korfalonas and Platanaki. We make a stop for coffee at a beachside taverna and walk further to the seaside village of Nopigia where we stop for a swim in the clear blue waters of the Cretan sea. There is the option to have lunch in a local traditional seaside taverna or walk further to ancient Mythimna’s archaeological site and the medieval church of Agios Georgios, which was built on the ruins of ancient Roman baths still visible today. We return to our hotel by public bus.
• 14:00-18:00 : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming.
• 18:00-19:30 : Yoga and meditation.
• 19:30 – … : Free time for enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 3:

• 08:00-9:00 : Breakfast.

• 9:00-15:00 : We go by public bus to the village of Koleni. Walking through the village we find the old soil road towards the beautiful old settlement of Mesonisi which leads to the dramatic Rokka gorge. We can carry on under the shade of its giant, rocky sides and spreading trees to the part of the gorge called “ the Gates”. On our return we have lunch in a traditional local taverna and catch the bus back to Kissamos.
• 15:00-18:00 : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming.
• 18:00-19:30 : Yoga and meditation.
• 19:30 – … Free time for enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

DAY 4

• 7:30-9:00 : Yoga and meditation.
• 9:00-10:00 : Breakfast.
• 10:00 – … a free day to rest or do further walking or sightseeing on your own. You could enjoy the many attractions of Chania, or visit famous Balos beach by a short boat trip or hire a car to explore further a-field or …

DAY 5

• 7:30-9:00 : Yoga and meditation
• 9:00-10:00 : Breakfast.
• 10:00-16:15 : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming.
• 16:15-21:00 : We go by public bus to the village of Drapanias which we walk through. We find the way uphill into the olive groves and reach Cherethiana which is a typical, small, picturesque Cretan village at an altitude of 160 meters. We walk through the village and have a break for a coffee if the local Cafe is open. Then going downhill we reach the cave chapel of Michael the Archangel, nestling under the shade of a plane tree from which the old church bell is hanging. From here we take the road to Potamida in the valley and turn back towards the sea, passing the famous natural clay marls on our right which tower above the fields. We visit next the mill museum where we will have a break and then walk further to the village of Kaloudiana, where we can have dinner at one of the local tavernas before we take the public bus back to Kissamos town.

DAY 6

• 7.30-9:00 : Yoga and meditation.
• 9:00-10:00 : Breakfast.
• 10:00-14:00 : We will go by public bus to Nopigia. We walk past the open air theater to the little chapel of Panagia Myrtidiotisa and then along a rough path over stones and rocks towards the little medieval chapel of Agios Vasilios on the Spatha peninsula. The blue sea is always beside us. We will encounter only a few sheep and goats and enjoy great views towards the Gramvousa peninsula across Kissamos bay, with the Spatha mountain on our right. On returning to Nopigia there is the opportunity to stop for a delicious meal at a seaside taverna before getting the bus back.
• 14:00-18:00 : Free time for lunch, relaxing, enjoying the beach and/or swimming.
• 18:00-19:30 : Yoga and meditation.
• 19:30 – … : Free time for enjoying the evening in the nearby tavernas.

Day 7:

• 7:30-9:00 : Yoga and meditation.
• 9:00-10:00 : Breakfast.
• Check out and transfer to Chania airport.