Crete, from Heraklion to the gorge of Samaria
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Discovery, Adventure / Sports & Leisure, Free time, Relaxation / Well-being.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté, Automne.
Where to stay - Héraklion ?
The map of your stay "Crete, from Heraklion to the gorge of Samaria"
Detail of the stay : Crete, from Heraklion to the gorge of Samaria
How to get there - Héraklion
Arrival in Heraklion
Steps: Héraklion
Arrival at Nikos-Kazantzakis airport or Heraklion port. Stroll through the city centre up 25-Avgoustou Street, past the Morosini Fountain (Venizelou Square), and on to the market in Odos-1866 Street. In the afternoon, visit the archaeological museum of Heraklion. At the end of the day, you can walk along the Venetian city walls, see the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis for literature lovers, and finish with a walk along the harbour towards the Koulès fortress as the sun is waning. Later in the evening, if you want to enjoy the nightlife, go for a drink in one of the bars in the Korai district or on Milatou Street.
Places of interest : MUSÉE ARCHÉOLOGIQUE FONTAINE MOROSINI
The Palace of Knossos
Steps: Anogia
Visit to the Palace of Knossos, 15 minutes from Heraklion by road. This palace of King Minos is one of the most famous Greek archaeological sites. It is best to visit it early in the morning, then have lunch in Archanes, a village famous for its wine. In the afternoon, you can go to the beautiful plateau of Nida to see the cave of Ideon Andron where, according to legend, Zeus was raised. You can also discover the picturesque mountain village ofAnogia, famous for its musical and weaving lineages, spend the evening with traditional music after tasting the local lamb and sleep there. There you can appreciate the Cretan soul.
Places of interest : GROTTE DE GERANI
Directorate Rethymnon
Steps: Arkadi
Direction Rethymnon by the monastery of Arkadi, 20 km south of the city and stop swimming before visiting the historic Venetian quarter. Evening in Rethymnon, with dinner in one of the restaurants of the old town, then raki in one of the many lively bars in the neighborhood.
The Samaria Gorge
Steps: Rethymnon
Excursion to the Samaria Gorge. The departure is from Omalos (early in the morning a bus links Rethymnon to Hania, then Omalos). After 16 km of a superb but sustained walk (downhill), you can reach the small beach of Agia Roumeli for a well-deserved swim. Return by boat to Hora Sfakion, then bus to Chania. Evening in the old town of Hania.
Places of interest : PLAGE
Zaros
Steps: Amari
The following day, a picturesque road leads you to Zaros by the beautiful Amari Valley at the foot of Psiloritis Mountain. In Zaros you can enjoy trout on the lake before you reach the pleasant village of Kalamaki, where you can take a room facing the sea and enjoy swordfish.
Minoan and idleness sites
Steps: Sitia
In the morning, visit the Minoan sites of Phaestos and Agia Triada and relax on the long beach of Komos, where the sea turtles Caretta caretta come to bury their eggs. Evening in Matala, a pretty little seaside resort that still claims to be a hippie, known for its caves that Bob Dylan would have squatted for a while. Return to Kalamaki for the night.
Places of interest : PLAGE
