lmavolio

Hi All - I am considering doing an organized Crete countryside tour while staying in Chania.

There is one that sounds interesting to me offered through Dyktynna Travel - it visits Keramia, The Foothills of the White Mountains, Aptera, Drakona, Therisso, Zourva and Meskla. However, unfortunately it is only offered on 2 days of the week and I won't be in Crete on either of those days...

Does anyone know of a tour company which offers something similar? I have e-mailed the concierge of my hotel (Casa Delfino) - I believe they work with Dyktynna so they offered the same exact information and the tour is only offered on those 2 same dates.

Any suggestions? Or alternatives?

Thanks!!

travelerjan

Imavolio, didn't I respond to you on another forum???

I suggested going to Vamos from Chania (which you can do by bus), and they have a variety of regular daily walks. Are you looking at multi-day walks?

Apparently they cooperate wtih Faragi Walks. Did you check the link I gave you??
Here it is again:
http://www.vamossa.gr/content/view/15/12/lang,english/

Hre is also the Link to Faragi walks which gives great detail about 5 days of walks -- Sunday, monday, Tuesday, Wednesdy, Thursday.
There are also contact e-mails on both sites.

The Happy Walker also gives 1-day walks 6 days per week-- I think they work out of both Chania & Rethymnon.
http://www.happywalker.com/pages/daily_walks_e.php
I've heard good things aobut both companies, but I originally found the info just by Googling "cretan day hikes." What was your method of research? (just curious).

lmavolio

Hi Travelerjan - Yes, I did check out your links previously and have e-mailed Vamos and Faragi Tours.

However, from their web site, it appears the walks in which I am interested are not hosted on the dates I will be in Chania. For example, the Vamos walk is on Wed - I leave on Tues. The Apokoranos is on Friday, I don't arrive to Chania until Saturday.

They do offer a couple of alternatives to Samaria which I am considering, but I would rather do a tour which provides visits to a number of villages vs. one if possible.

I have been doing a TON of research - believe me...I also contacted the concierge of my hotel and google is my best friend. But I am running into dead ends based on the fact that I will only be in Chania for 3 1/2 days...

mcrankin

Hi, we stayed in Kolimbari which is in the northwestern part of Crete. The village is very sweet and small but has a small supermarket, bakery, travel agent, coffee place, produce stand, candy store, etc. It has a sweet hotel there which is very reasonable at 35 euros a night (Hotel Lefka and restaurant which is delicious. After every meal they give you a little raki, Greek liquor, complimentary). Within walking distance is the beach and many tavernas. A good walk from the tavernas is a centuries-old monastery which can be visited. A lot of locals and not too many tourists. There are other hotels there but I loved this one as it was simple but the food..OMG! Go to www.cretanvista.com and look up Rodopous Peninsula and you'll see what Kolimbari is like. We took an all day cruise on the ferry from Kolimbari harbor to Graveusa (spelling I am not sure of) a pristine island...you can even jump from the ferry and swim to the island and it only cost 20 euros for the day...simple and beautiful..you can get all the information from the travel agent there.

Or go to www.greektravel.com and click on islands and you'll get a lot of info on tours.

Have a great trip.

travelerjan

Is there any compelling reason why you cannot change the dates you will be in Chania or Crete? YOu have not given us the dates of your travel at all -- are you travelling very soon?
Is it because you've put money down on a Santorini hotel and cannot change? Or have only a week in GReece? WIth such time strictures, I do not expect you will find a tour. 3 1/2 days in Crete is a VERY short time... I just wish you had asked your questions before you carved your itinerary in stone.