Chania, Crete day trips
 

Hi all,
One week to go! I'll be on Crete a week from tomorrow for 6 nights!

We'll have 4 nights/3 full days in Chania, then traveling to Matala (stopping to see Phaistos), then ending in Iraklion (see Knossos), before ferrying to Santorini.

I'm planning one full day in Chania (Saturday). We'll go to Elafonissi Beach on Sunday, doing the circular route (coastal, inland), maybe stopping at Falasarna.

I'm wondering about the 3rd day. Originally I planned to walk the Imbros Gorge. However, since DH has some foot problems (he CAN walk, I'm just trying to cut down long walks/hikes), and am looking into alternatives. I like the idea of Aptera, and was wondering what I should combine it with. Akrotiri Peninsula?

I really like the idea of some smaller, Cretan villages that are inland, but manageable from Aptera. Is there a suggested route to include Aptera?

Thanks again for all your help!

Paule

i would skip Aptera, and do the following route :

Chania - Kournas Lake ( near Georgioupolis)the only natural lake of Crete- Rethymnon, with it's beautiful old city ( which i personally like better than Chania)- then go to Adele, Margarites, Arkadi monastery and on your way back visit Atsipopoulo, and drive till Roustika. These are some of the last venetian villages of Crete with an old part.
Especially the Atsipopoulo-Roustika tour is not touristy at all... We enjoyed walking in the old villages, taking pictures of some amazing old houses, and drinking greek coffee in the traditional small cafes among cretans....

You can have a lunch breat in Rethymno, in that case i recommend the restaurant Avli, an amazing restaurant with a very nice garden and great food. It is located in the old part of the city. www.avli.gr

Clauser sounds like a great tour. If time permits you can still do the walk around Aptera as I believe walking was the intent of this day.
Then continue east and pick up the areas Clauser suggested.
I too liked Rethymno but prefer Chania. You could easily spend the day just in Rethymno. The Venetian Fortezza is well worth a walk around. It is well preserved.
Here are some pictures of Rethymno.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/571201262gkttqw

Margarites has many interesting pottery shops and
Arkadi was very interesting.
For a village nearer to Chania , drive up to Vamos for lunch and also see Douliana.

Many thanks! These are places I hadn't considered before and exactly the kind of suggestions I was looking for.
Paule