Crete Adventure: Rock Climbing, Hiking & Sea Kayaking Experience

$2,708
Duration
8 days
Type
Difficaulty
Reviews
(4)
4.5 /5
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About This Tour

It is organized to get the maximum from your visit. We will hike to the highest summit in Crete (2456 meters), sea kayak in the crystal clear water of the Mediterranean and enjoy a top-class rock climbing in limestone. We will overnight in tents or small apartments. The listed cost is for overnight in tents. For accommodation in small apartments please get in touch with us to discuss the best possible scenario.

Requirements

The trip involves many days of outdoor activities and therefore is wise to have previous experience in most of the sports that are involved.

For rock climbing it is not necessary to have experience, but for sea kayaking, it will be good to have some experience.

Depending on the group's abilities we might be able to exclude one of the listed sports from the program. Contact us if that is the case for you.

Regarding hiking, you should be able to hike up to 5 hours in rocky terrain. In any way, if you are not sure about your skills don't be disappointed, most of the time we are able to offer advice and maybe an alternative plan.

For a group of 4 or more, we can customize completely the trip to suit your needs. Below you will find a brief overview of the schedule for the week. The plan many times changes due to weather (especially for the sea kayak trips) but more or less you will get an idea of what to expect.

Destinations
Accessibility
Language
Max People
10

Inclusions

  • Experienced guide
  • Transfer from Heraklion
  • Transfer to the various destinations during the trip
  • Tents
  • Technical equipment for the activity

Exclusions

  • Food and drinks
  • Anything else that is not mentioned above
  • Museum Tickets

Tour Plan

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 nan

Our trip officially begins in the morning at the Heraklion city where our staff will meet you. The exact meeting time will be determined depending on the participants' flights. We can collect you from any place in Heraklio or elsewhere in Crete upon request. We will spend a relaxed morning discussing the preferences of the group and designing the activity week according to the weather, abilities and thoughts of everyone in the group. 
Once everybody is ready for departure we will enjoy a great drive across Heraklio prefecture until we reach Psiloritis mountain. This is one and a half, max two hours driving. Our target for the first day will be the highest summit of Crete, Timios Stavros summit at 2456 meters. The view from the top is outstanding. On a clear day you can see most of the island. The whole hike takes approximately 5 hours.

Day 2 nan

Time for some sea kayaking. We will choose the location based on the weather forecast and group abilities. Will try to visit one of the top paddling destinations in Crete. Caves, remote beaches, vertical cliffs will be all around the trip. Paddlers with no experience can get a tandem (double kayak) which is more stable and easier to paddle in wind. Experienced paddlers can enjoy any of our top sea kayaks from Nigel Dennis, Valley/Northshore, or P&H.

Day 3 nan

Time for some rock climbing today! We will spend the day at 800 meters in the Asterousia mountains doing various climbing routes in excellent limestone. There are routes for all levels (from 4a up to 7a). Our guides will lead the routes so you have nothing to worry about. Be sure that it will be very unlikely to find anyone else with knowledge of the island and it's mountains like us.

Day 4 nan

4th day is for hiking in the famous Lasithi plateau. Lassithi plateau had over 10000 windmills some years ago, used for pumping out water for the locals to water their fields (mainly for growing potatoes). You will have the chance to experience a small journey through mythology by visiting Dictaion Andro, the cave where Zeus was born! You will also have time for a short walk in the plateau to see the windmills. Optionally you can hike the Mt Karfi for viewing ancient settlement (Overnight in Lassithi). We will hike about 3 hours this day. Driving takes approximately 2 hours to reach the Lasithi plateau.

Day 5 nan

From Lassithi plateau, you will ascend the highest summit of mountain Dikti (2148m). During the ascent, you will have the opportunity to see some pairs of Eagles flying over the cliffs of the impressive west face of the mountain. The summit offers an unbelievable view of the Lassithi plateau and the east area of Crete. This depends on the weather as on the next day we will paddle in eastern Crete.

Day 6 nan

Paddling from Elounda to Spinalonga island will be our trip for the 6th day. The island was subsequently used as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. It is notable for being one of the last active leper colonies in Europe. The last inhabitant, a priest, left the island in 1962. This was to maintain the religious tradition of the Greek Orthodox church, in which a buried person has to be commemorated at following intervals of 40 days; 6 months; 1 year; 3 years; and 5 years, after their death. 
Other leper colonies that have survived Spinalonga include Tichilesti in Eastern Romania, Fontilles in Spain, and Talsi in Latvia. As of 2002, few lazarettos remain in Europe. The paddling distance is about 15km and can be extended if the group wants it.

Day 7 nan

One of the best climbing areas in Crete will be today's destination. Agiofarago is a gorge located in the south part of the Heraklion region (central Crete) and it has more than 200 routes already in place. Great limestone (sharp at some parts) with a wonderful beach for swimming and snorkeling. There are options for climbing, hiking, and swimming if you like.

Day 8 nan

We will depart for Heraklion in the morning giving time for a visit to the renowned Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Knossos. Knossos archaeological area holding remains of a Minoan city that thrived 3500 years ago and the famous palace dated 1700-1450 B.C., excavated by Sir Arthur Evans at the beginning of this century.

Meeting / Pickup

Meet on location or pick-up: Customers can come to our location or we can pick them up on request.

What to Bring

  • Contact business prior to the activity
  • Sun glasses
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Swimsuit
  • Hiking shoes
  • Jacket depending on the period

Cancellation Policy

  • We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event
  • We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 14 days or less before the event

Reviews

4.5/5
Wonderful
4 verified reviews
Location (4.5/5)
Amenities (4.25/5)
Services (4.25/5)
Price (4.75/5)
Rooms (4.75/5)

4 Comments

  1. 4.4

    • Location
    • Amenities
    • Services
    • Price
    • Rooms

    Our week in Crete exceeded all expectations; the mixture of climbing, hiking, and kayaking allowed us to experience the stunning landscapes in a way that felt both adventurous and rewarding. Each day brought a new highlight, but sharing meals filled with local flavors after a long day of exploring truly brought us together as a group. The only suggestion we have is to perhaps include a few more options for downtime, as we found ourselves wanting to soak in the beautiful sea views a bit longer.

  2. 4.8

    • Location
    • Amenities
    • Services
    • Price
    • Rooms

    We had an exhilarating time tackling rock faces and paddling through serene waters, which definitely broke up the usual business routine. The accommodations were cozy and offered a perfect blend of comfort after our adventures; however, a bit more variety in the breakfast options would be a nice touch.

  3. 4.2

    • Location
    • Amenities
    • Services
    • Price
    • Rooms

    Our family truly cherished the days spent rock climbing and sea kayaking, embracing the thrill of new challenges together. The accommodations were cozy and welcoming, but a little more variety in our dining options would have made the experience even better.

  4. 4.6

    • Location
    • Amenities
    • Services
    • Price
    • Rooms

    The diverse activities throughout the week provided an excellent blend of adventure and relaxation, making our days in Heraklion truly memorable. Each morning began with energizing hikes through stunning landscapes, often leading us to breathtaking views that seemed to stretch endlessly. We spent afternoons rock climbing on the impressive cliffs, where even beginners found their footing thanks to the supportive guides. Kayaking in the clear blue sea added a refreshing twist to our experience, allowing us to explore hidden coves and appreciate the coastline from a unique perspective. Our accommodations were comfortable, providing cozy spots to unwind after each day of adventure. One minor suggestion would be to include a few more local dining options in the itinerary to further immerse ourselves in the Cretan culture. Overall, this trip was an unforgettable mix of outdoor fun and cultural exploration.

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