Stay : Crete, from Heraklion to the gorge of Samaria

After visiting Heraklion and the Palace of Knossos, head west! Direction Rethymnon, then the gorges of Samaria in particular. It's not the whole island, but it already gives you the opportunity to see a lot of the attractions of the destination and to get a taste of the sweetness of life and the wild side that exhales this land of character.

Summary of the stay

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Suggested by Petit Futé

7 days

€€ - Charm and comfort

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Culture / Heritage
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Detail of the stay : Crete, from Heraklion to the gorge of Samaria - 7 days

  • Héraklion
  • Héraklion
  • Héraklion
  • Cnossos
  • Archanes
  • Gerani
  • Gerani
  • Anogia
  • Rethymnon
  • Arkadi
  • Sitia
  • Sitia
  • Agia
  • Samaria
  • Rethymnon
  • Zaros
  • Kalamaki
  • Mont Psiloritis
  • Amari
  • Phaestos
  • Agia Triada
  • Kalamaki
  • Matala
  • Sitia
  • Sitia

Day 1: 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.

Day 2: The Palace of Knossos

Steps: Cnossos, Archanes, Gerani, 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

Day 3: Directorate Rethymnon

Steps: Rethymnon, 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.

Day 4: The Samaria Gorge

Steps: Sitia, Agia, Samaria, 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

Day 5: Zaros

Steps: Zaros, Kalamaki, Mont Psiloritis, 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.

Day 6: Minoan and idleness sites

Steps: Phaestos, Agia Triada, Kalamaki, Matala, 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

Day 7: Roman site and return to Heraklion

Visit the Roman site of Gortyne before returning to Heraklion where you are Waiting for Your Plane or ferry.

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