Daily itinerary 8 days
FLOWER walking tour East Crete
Day 1. Arrival at Heraklion airport.
We drive by minibus to our first residence this week in
Mochos, 40 km. east of Heraklion. Mochos is a mountain village which still has a very traditional character. The lively village square invites us for a drink!
Day 2. Our first walk starts at the village Krassi.
There we will see one of the oldest plane trees of Crete! After an hour’s walk we arrive at the Monastery of Panagia Kera. From there a short drive to the highest and most well known place of the Lassithi Plateau where windmills used to do their work.
Here our second walk starts, first some steep climbing with breathtaking views all around, than slowly downhill over ancient footpaths ending at the Lassithi Plateau itself.
Day 3. On this day we will change hotels and drive to the south.
Our first stop will be at the excavation of the Minoan Palace of Malia. We will also take time to look at the typical coastal vegetation which has an abundance of flowers in early spring! We drive on to the village Kalo Chorio, where we will make a relatively easy round walk.
First it goes uphill along an old donkey path. We will have our picnic at a small chapel under pine trees and surrounded by orchids. The second part of the walk is downhill on country roads with beautiful views over the Mirabello Bay, Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga.
At the end of the day we will arrive in
Mirtos where we stay the next two days.
Day 4. Today we drive uphill into the interior of Crete along a beautiful scenic route. Kalamafka is the start for our round walk, along gravel and dirt roads. It looks as if big rocks have been scattered all over the landscape. Pine trees give a green shade to this rugged and impressive scenery. Today we have time to enjoy and photograph all this beauty as well as doing some botanizing. We will notice remarkable differences between the flora in the north and here in the south. Driving down to the hotel again, we will stop several times to enjoy the views.
Day 5. Today we will go back to the north.
We walk and drive in one of the highest areas of Crete, the Thripti mountain, well known for its endemic orchids and other flowers.
We walk today both high in the mountains and at the foot of these mountains in order to see as much variety of flowers as possible.
We will also visit the imposing gorge of Ha, first we see it from above, later very close by from underneath! We continue our drive to
Kritsa/Agios Nikolaos, our next overnight stay.
Day 6. Today we walk in the surroundings of the village Kritsa.
First we walk to the church Panagia Kera with possibly the finest collection of frescoes in Crete. Than we will arrive at the excavations of the Dorian city of Lato, with superb views over Agios Nikolaos and the Mirabello Bay. Walking on we arrive at the Kritsa gorge, where we can either walk alongside or in the gorge for about one hour.
Day 7. Literally one of the highlights of our walking trip will be the walk on the Katharo Plateau at 1100 meters.
It is famous for its large variety of flowers. While driving slowly up through a very old forest of Kermes Oak trees we see parts of the old footpath. We may also see the famous Cretan Arum.
On the high plateau we will walk along the river and higher up, in order to see as many species as possible!
Day 8. After breakfast it is time to say goodbye and leave for the airport.
Date in 2012
» Sunday April 1 - Sunday April 8
Price
» 540 € per person
» additional charge single room 75 €
Further information on 8-10 day walking tours.
Click here for pictures of the flora of Crete.
