Far West of Crete Private Tour
Discover the “authentic Crete” that most tourists don’t see by joining us on an amazing road trip to Sfakia, Crete’s most remote and rugged region, home to the impressive White Mountains.
Experience an 8-hour epic Crete tour, full of activities for the whole family, including hiking in deep gorges, sampling local products, amazing storytelling and towering mountains, and endless blue sea views of unparalleled beauty.
Hike, Learn, Eat, Drink and swim on the south coast of Crete for a day!
Highlights:
• Experience an adventure amongst stunning mountains, gorges, and endless wild landscapes
• Hike through stunning Imbros Gorge, once the hidden pathway for ANZAC soldiers
• Learn about the Cretan herbs’ therapeutic qualities and try some of their concoctions
• Enjoy a Cretan lunch of traditional dishes from farm-to-table at a remote village
• Relax on the pristine sandy beach of Fragokastello, soaking up the Mediterranean sun and enjoying the stunning views of the Libyan Sea.
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Municipal Market of Chania, Pl. Agoras, Chania Town, Crete 731 32 Greece
Leaving behind us Chania and its Venetian port, we’ll drive you deep into the southern part of the island, the Sfakia region with its memorable scenic routes and the endless wild landscapes.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Sfakia, Sfakia, Chania Prefecture, Crete
Sfakia is the land of the massive Lefka Ori, also known as the White Mountains, famous for Pachnes, its highest peak as well, the numerous gorges, and the endless views to the Libyan Sea. Aside from this astonishing beauty, the land of Sfakia has a million tales to tell you, such as stories about the turbulent but heroic past of brave rebel Sfakians, who fought for freedom.
The first stop of your day tour will be at a family-owned cheese & yogurt small-scale factory, where you’ll take a local breakfast. Learn all about the traditional way of local dairy production by the expert cheesemonger and sample the best local-favorite yogurt on the island!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Askifou, Askifou, Chania Prefecture, Crete
After this light breakfast, you’ll head to Askifou Plateau at an altitude of 730 metres, a natural picture-pretty valley surrounded by the White Mountains. From here, you’ll start your hike into the Imbros Gorge, an outstanding 8-kilometer gorge.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Imbros Gorge, close to Chora Sfakia Start in Impros or Komitades, Crete Greece
During the 2,5 hours approximately easy hike, you’ll have the opportunity to admire amazing geological formations of very narrow passages, capture your best photos with your family and learn about the fauna and flora that you’ll encounter along the way.
Especially for Australian, New Zealander, British, or WWII story lovers, walking through the gorge is almost a pilgrimage, as this gorge was the only escape route in May 1941 by fleeing ANZACs who fought with the allied troops in Crete, and finally, they succeeded in sailing to Egypt. Your guide will have many breathtaking stories to share with you.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: White Mountains (Lefka Ori), Sfakia, Crete Greece
Next, you’ll visit the off-the-beaten-track Kallikratis village, a mountainous village of semi-abandoned settlements located among gorges, ravines, and plateaus, and with a fascinating story to tell. Hear stories about this land that never lived under permanent foreign rule due to its brave residents.
Then, you’ll experience local gastronomy and culture by participating in a hands-on cooking class. Learn about the secrets of Cretan cuisine as you join a Cretan lunch of traditional dishes and local wine from farm to table.
After lunch, learn about the Cretan herbs’ therapeutic qualities, well-known since ancient times, in a ‘herbal sanctuary”. In a little café, meet the owners who distill Cretan herbs and make natural products in a traditional way, giving advice and secrets on how to use Cretan herbs (over 1,800 plant species) while cooking so you give their special taste to your dishes. And yes, you’re going to try some of their concoctions in their shop!
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Stop At: Frangokastelo beach, Sfakia, Greece
Moving onto our last stop now, you’ll discover a unique local cellar in one of the best wineries on Crete.
Duration: 1 hour
Informacion Adicional
"Infants must sit on laps"
"No heart problems or other serious medical conditions"
"Service animals allowed"
"Near public transportation"
"Most travelers can participate"
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Alcoholic beverages are allowed to participants age 18 or older because of the national alcohol restrictions. Participants under the age 18 are provided non-alcoholic beverages."
"Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen, and a bottle of water."
"We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests."
"All our tour guides and team members are fully vaccinated."
"How you help the local community by joining this tour: - You visit villages far from mass tourism and collaborate with the locals, supporting these small communities financially. - By sampling products that originate from the Cretan countryside, you promote 100% local, family-owned businesses such as a local cheese monger and a local botanist. - You visit a local family in their home where you learn about local products and traditional cooking techniques as you participate in a hands-on cooking class."
"If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour."
"This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund"
"This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"
Start Time:
08:00 AM
Duration: 8 Hours
Start location: Kydon, The Heart City Hotel, Πλατεία Σοφ. Βενιζέλου &, Staratigoy Tzanakaki 2, Chania 731 34, Greece
Traveler pickup is offered
Traveler pickup is offered. The pick-up time is adjustable upon your request. We will meet you at your hotel lobby or the cruise port. Our guide will be holding a sign with your name.
Please call us the previous day to confirm the exact pick-up time and location at our WhatsApp +306980679166
Airports- Souda Airport, Chania Town, Crete Greece
Ports- Port of Souda, Ormos Soudas, Chania 731 34, Greece
Cancellations and refunds:
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Portugues
Español
English
