walking in crete
Walking in Crete - Paleohora
Walking in Crete: Sougia to Lissos:Take the ferry to Sougia. Stop for a short while in this lovely Crete Village (a Walking in Crete highlight) to sample a breakfast yoghurt at a taverna. Gather plenty of water and provisions for this Walking in Crete journey from one of the small supermarkets round the corner. Walk back along the front towards the Crete harbour but bear right and carry on walking up the gorge -like a miniature Crete Samaria Gorge. Follow the waymarks - Walking these take several forms and can be either: Signposts with a black E4 on a yellow background. Paint spots or arrows marked on rocks (red, blue or yellow). Piles (small pyramids) of stones. (Cairns). Take care towards the end of the gorge - look for and follow the track which zigzags up the left side of the gorge. When at the top follow a more gentle slope aross the crest following red markers and E4 posts. When you reach the other side of this hill you have a panoramic view of Lissos bay to the left and the ancient city in the valley below (a Walking in Crete highlight). There are two threshing circles clearly visible to the left. Carry on walking and follow the zig-zag path down to the valley floor. Towards the bottom you will pass close to the Crete Greco-Roman Temple where a health centre (Asklepilion) once flourished and part of this Crete 1st. c.A.D. Mosaic floor can be seen. This was the source of the Crete sacred medicinal water of this Crete village of Lissos. Carry on Walking the track towards the shingle beach. There is a 'house' in the middle of this Crete valley and it is possible to get a drink there from a pipe coming from the spring. On the gentler western crete slope of the valley there are a group of tomb like small stone huts with barrel - vaulted (curved) roofs. There is also a small ruined theatre and two 13th century Crete churches (a Walking in Crete highlight). The small Greece church at the back of the beach (to the east), has many re-used pieces of marble etc. originating from the earlier buildings. There are also lots of pot shreds and other objects around the area. Carry on walking, if you do not wish to re-trace your steps for this Crete Walk (climb the hill) to Sougia, there may be a workmen's boat which leaves here at 2:00 pm from Sougia, the cost is a few euros, but ask in Sougia if you plan to return this way! Walking both ways is (a Walking in Crete highlight). It should take about one and a half hours walking there and about one hours walking back. The ferry is nearly always late for the return to the Crete village of Paleochora but you should be at the harbour in good time just in case! Check ferry times in Sougia, as they vary throughout the Greek Islands season.
Paleochora to Anidri: A Walking in Crete highlight!From the harbour walk along this Crete seafront, past the stony beach and along tarmac road through olive groves. Pass by the campsite and follow road along the coast; it soon turns inland. Follow this road up the valley (Anidri gorge) (a Walking in Crete highlight). After walking acrossing the river bridge, the road changes to a rough track, concrete in places where it passes through the narrow, steep walled Crete gorge. There are some interesting caves on the left (a Walking in Crete highlight). Follow the main track throughout the olive groves, continually going upwards until you get to the village of Anidri. Anidiri is only a small Crete village, and it will take you very little time to have a good look around. There is a water tap on the left-hand side of the road, which continues through this Crete village. Look for the village church, on the south side of the village. It is worth looking inside as it is double - naved and has some fine Crete frescoes. Walking to here will take about one hour. If you are still feeling walking fit look to the south. You can see a Crete church on the top of a hill. Walking to this takes about 20 minutes. Go down hill from the Crete village church following the concrete path, then ccarry on walking the track through the olive groves always heading towards the church on the hill. At the bottom of the hill there are several goat tracks. Take the one straight ahead, over a couple of terraces. You should find a more distinct path bearing left - this is the beginning of the only zig-zag stone built path to the top. The views from the top are staggering (Walking in Crete highlight) and make the walking worthwhile even though the camera cannot do it justice. Return down the same path walking to Anidri village and Crete village of Paleochora. Instead of walking to Paleochora, in Anidri go down to the right of the Schoolhouse, which is now a Crete café, and past the Crete village church. Continue downwards on the track, walking past a house & through olive trees. Turn left downhill on a concrete track, descending, walking steeply to a house gate. Here keep right and follow a path & steps down into the river bed. Carry on walking and turn right and follow the riverbed to the sea. Look for the red dot waymarks. Some parts are a bit tricky and require some walking dexterity. It may take up to an hour walking to get to the Anidri beaches from the Crete village (a Walking in Crete highlight). To return to Crete village of Paleochora look for the E4 and red dot waymarks on the west side of the valley, or carry on walking, following the track around the base of the headland and on to Paleochora.
Walking in Crete: Paleochora to Anidri beaches:From the harbour, walking out of the Crete village of Paleochora along the seafront, past the stony beach and walking along tarmac road through olive groves. Pass the campsite and then the road turns sharply left inland; walking immediately after the bend turn right, down over a bridge & walk the dirt track along this Crete coast (a Walking in Crete highlight). At the far end, you can either follow the track around the headland, down into the river bed & across to the 3 beaches, or walking along you can take the original E4 route up the hillside & high over the cliff (possible problem for vertigo sufferers!). The view of the Crete beaches from here is great (a Walking in Crete highlight). These Crete beaches, also known as Gialiskari, have much finer pebbles. The ones to the right can be sheltered on a windy day. The far beach, is very fine shingle. Take a suitable container and tool to collect sea salt from the rock pools at the far end. It takes about one hour to reach the Anidiri beaches from Crete's Paleochora.
Paleochora to Sougia: A Walking in Crete early morning joy!This walking is best done in the cool of an early morning. Follow the above instructions for Anidri beaches then just follow the waymarks. Follow the long sweep of this Crete bay keeping the sea on your right. Eventually the track leaves the shore to climb over the peninsula and down to Lissos (a Walking in Crete highlight). Follow the track and waymarks up the zig-zag path, walking to the top, over the plateau and down to the gorge to Crete village of Sougia. Walking this may take up to five and a half hours so allow plenty of time to catch the boat back. Alternatively, take the morning boat to the Crete village of Sougia & do the walking in reverse – then there is no rush to catch a boat! Follow the description of walking (a) to get to Lissos. From there, care is needed to find the correct route for walking out of the valley & steeply up the hillside. It rises from the group of stone tombs & passes a small Crete church, before rising up the rocky hillside. You should be walking and heading inland, with the sea behind you. Walking the path you eventually reach a plateau before descending sharply to sea level, and then along the coast to Anidri beach & Paleochora (a Walking in Crete highlight). This is long & fairly strenuous walking with some steep uphill sections.
Paleochora to Koundoura Beach: Beach walking in Crete!Walking through the Crete village of Paleochora to the sandy beach. Go to the water’s edge and turn right towards the Crete mountain. With the sea on your left progress along the beach, walking past the last taverna on the right, then walking over the rocky foreshore. Eventually notice a small beach where it looks as if concrete has been laid at the water’s edge. This seems to be fine sandstone but the interesting thing about it is that many circular blocks (and some square ones) have been removed. There are some circles in the process of being cut. Any guesses as to what these were for - Circular stones for knife sharpening or just making circular troughs to collect salt? A little way further on and the rocks become much larger and eventually you must get on to the road. Notice the large some Crete sea caves to the right. Walking and following the road will take you past many small, but popular pebbly Crete beaches. Unfortunately the road can be very busy with vehicles speeding by. After reaching the Crete Tropicana taverna you can swim off the beach opposite and afterwards walking slowly back to the Crete village of Paleochora. To get to the Crete Tropicana taverna from Paleochora should take about one hour.
Walking in Crete: Paleochora Castle: (Castle Selino)Walking up High Street (Tin Polin Katharan), passing the very interesting Crete church with a tall bell tower outside. Follow the steps up, walking past a taverna on the left. Very soon you will be in the castle area. There is a WWII gun emplacement on the east of the plateau and also an electricity generating station. Little remains of this Crete castle (1279) itself except some stretches of fairly well preserved walls. There are signs that a few archaeological digs seem to have taken place. The views of the Crete town, the commercial harbour, and surrounding area are excellent (a Walking in Crete highlight).
Walking around the Crete Castle:
Walking is easiest described from the sandy beach side. Face sandy beach then turn left and walking up the road with the beach on your right. Follow this all around the Crete peninsular. You will pass the Crete town football pitch and the commercial docks. A little Walking diversion over the path of waste ground at the end may be interesting. Once past the farthest point the road passes through pretty, tightly packed cottages and back to the Crete town centre.
walking in crete, greek islands
Paleochora to Sougia:Walking in Crete early morning joy!
Greek Islands - Fine White Sandy Beaches - Panoramic Sea Views
Superb walking in crete holiday walks!
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