GREECE
CRETE AND THE CYCLADES

Our tour starts in Chania in Crete, one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. Crete is the most southerly and largest Greek Island and provides an inexhaustible array of vivid impressions. A cradle of European civilisation, it has an unrivalled history and culture and is a paradise for the amateur archaeologists. The island was the seat of the great Minoan civilization, whose fascinating remains are one of the most impressive sights in the entire Mediterranean region.

Our walk passes through vineyards, orchards and olive groves and takes us to the superb White Mountains, jagged peaks which are sometimes snow-covered until early June. They epitomize the essence of Crete which is virile, proud and fiercely independent, like the Cretans themselves. We pass small isolated villages and follow the old footpaths created by shepherds and their animals. From the fertile valleys and isolated plains high in the mountains we have some spectacular views to the Libyan Sea.

On the southern side of the Omalos plateau, the Samaria National Park was established to protect the endemic flora and fauna of this fascinating region that encompasses Europe’s longest gorge and a number of smaller gorges. It is one of the two remaining habitats to the Cretan wild goat or Kri-Kri (Capra aegagrus cretica) that lives in secluded hollows on the mountainside. The Kri-Kri are usually seen in the afternoon but their shyness makes it unlikely to glimpse one.

The 18 km hike through the Samaria Gorge begins at Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau 1200 m high. A well-maintained path drops down to the bottom of the gorge through a fragrant forest of pine and cypress trees. Along the way, there are many species of flora, some of which are endemic to Crete and found only in this gorge. Wild herbs that grow profusely in the nooks and crannies of the cliffs, release their fragrance with only the slightest touch.

Santorini is one of the famous of the 39 islands in the Cyclades and a wonderful place to finish this tour. This old volcano - the most active in the Aegean Sea – has the greatest Caldera in the world. A caldera is a volcanic feature formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption. They are often confused with volcanic craters.

Our stunning walk passes along the edge of this dramatic caldera where we marvel at the azure blue Mediterranean directly below us. Even more breathtaking are our walks through the cliff top villages of Santorini – the white washed tephra houses seem to defy gravity as they cling to the rim of the crater.

OUR HOTELS & CUISINE

In Crete we stay in “the best of both worlds” – the dramatic mountain scenery and the charming coastal villages. Here we have chosen a variety of beautiful hotels, full of ambience and history.

On the island of Santorini we stay in the picturesque village of Oia. From here the view of the Calera at sunset is just breathtaking!

Food in Greece - like its wine - is highly regional. Lots of salads, fresh seafood and the favourite meat is lamb. The Greeks love their coffee and sweets and the streets are lined with small footpath cafes.