7 hours
Daily Tour
6 people
English, Greek
Most people visiting Crete think of beautiful beaches and bright sun waiting in this beautiful corner of the Mediterranean. But are you aware that the true soul of Crete is hidden in the mountains? Here’s your chance to explore the mainland of Crete and to visit unique picturesque destinations, not accessible by rentals. The local drivers – escorts will pick you up from your hotel/villa and will drive you through dirt roads to the authentic part of Crete. Just a few minutes from Chania city you will begin to get a sense of the Cretan landscape and to enjoy yourselves close to olive, lemon, orange, and avocado groves. High mountain tops stand stately in endless blue sky and may appear rough and unfriendly, but in the mountains an ancient tradition is passed from generation to generation for over thousands of years. You will discover where the shepherd’s live, and what challenges they face. Feel the warmth and the friendly environment of the most popular mountain refuge in White Mountains, named ” Kallergis Refuge”. Let your look, sail South from Samaria gorge to the Libyan Sea and North to the Aegean Sea. Take photos at Samaria National Park entrance, enjoy a Cretan snack accompanied with a cup of local mountain tea with honey, or a cup of coffee. Your delicious lunch will consist of a traditional Cretan flavor with Cretan salad, wine and dessert.
Chania – Omalos: Driving through olive, lemon, orange and avocado grooves to Omalos Plateau at 1000m altitude, quickly we leave behind us the urban landscape and as we reach “Lakkoi” village the view becomes more wild. Minute per minute we are closer at high mountain summits. There are 52 summits with more than 2000m (6600ft) altitude and you will see enough of them.
Lakkoi – Kallergis Refuge: We offer you an off road Jeep Safari adventure which requires demanding driving and a chance to try our jeeps power! Adrenaline rises. Goats and sheep live free to the countryside in summertime and the shepherds feed them once per day. Driving on the rough road we have the chance quick and on comfortable conditions to visit unique destinations and to enjoy the view from above.
Kallergis Refuge: You are now at an altitude of 1680m. Feel the warmth and the friendly environment of the most popular mountain refuge in White Mountains, named ” Kallergis Refuge”. Let your look, sail South from Samaria gorge to the Libyan Sea and North to the Aegean Sea. The view of the surrounding peaks is breathtaking. The refuge built in 1971, and it’s location is the best one. Will serve you local mountain tea with honey and local snacks.
Xiloskalo: After an off road route you will be at the entrance point of one of the longest ravines in Europe, the Samaria gorge, at 1200m (3900ft) altitude. It is time for some commemorative photos, using the beauty of the White Mountain, as background. Samaria Gorge is a National park in Greece from 1962 and a world’s Biosphere Reserve, from UNESCO.
Cretan Villages: Depending from the period of the year that you join the tour, we choose a different restaurant and we follow different routes driving downhill. However, you will see enough small Cretan villages where the last years the 80-90% from the locals are old people. From the forest with cypress trees at Omalos plateau, in a short distance we are to the valley with lemon, orange, avocado and olive trees.
Restaurant: Your delicious lunch will consist of traditional Cretan flavors with season salad, wine, beer and dessert.
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