Pearls of Southern Crete Greece - HOTEL & BIKE - Inselhüpfen

HOTEL & BIKE

Pearls of Southern Crete · Greece

Route
from Paleochora / to Paleochora

Duration
7 days / 6 nights

Distance
80 km by bike & 27 km on foot

Level 1 (E-Bike)

Discover Southern Crete by boat, ebike/bike and on foot

The south coast of Crete is a place of exceptional beauty and varied landscapes.
Untouched nature, archaeological highlights, crystal clear blue sea and sandy
beaches wait to be explored. Experience the mountainous world of the Island of
Minos by e-bike or bike, hike through the world-famous Samaria Gorge and enjoy a
boat trip to the Elafonisi National Park. A further unforgettable cruise takes us from
Sougia to Paleochora. Here we have great bathing spots and vibrant sunsets to look
forward to. And what would Greece be without its delicious, local cuisine
accompanied by traditional drinks, music, and Greek dance? After all, Crete is the
birthplace of the well-known Syrtaki!

Itinerary

1st Day Paleochora (Arrival) (D)

Arrival at Chania whether by plane or car is to be organized individually. However, a transfer from Chania airport or the
ferry port to Paleochora can be arranged on request (for a fee). Check in at the Relax Hotel is possible from 3pm
onwards. Should you arrive in the afternoon take the opportunity to enjoy a walk through Paleochora, have a swim or
simply sunbath at the nearby beach. In the evening there will be a lavish dinner where everyone has the opportunity to
get to know each other. Afterwards, the tour guides give an overview of the week to come and all the planned activities.

2nd Day Anydroi Schlucht (aprx. 11 mi./18 km by bike & 4 mi./6.5 km on foot) (B, L)

After breakfast transfer to the village of Azogyres, from where we will make a nice round trip by bike. After the ride we
visit the 99 Holy Fathers Monastery and hear the story of St. John the hermit and the Holy Fathers. Later on our hike of
approximately one hour begins. Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy beautiful panoramic views.
When we reach the village of Anydroi we enjoy delicious Cretan dishes for lunch. Afterwards we continue our hike
through the Anydroi Gorge until we reach a secluded sandy beach. Here the blue seas lure us in for a swim before we
head back to the hotel by transfer bus. In the evening, our tour guide invites us to join a guided tour through
Paleochora. Here you can end an eventful day with an individual dinner in town.

3rd Day Ancient Lissos (aprx. 17 mi./28 km by bike & 2.8 mi/4.5 km on foot) (B, L)

Today’s tour is a wonderful combination of biking, hiking and boating. An incredible nature experience awaits us on this
cycling tour through the mountains of Paleochora. We start today’s tour again from Paleochora and cycle up to the
mountain villages of Prodromi and Temenia. Here, we take a well-deserved break for lunch at a great mountain tavern,
which serves traditional Cretan cuisine including a very tasty specialty: a homemade chestnut stew. A relaxed descent is
then followed to the starting point known E-4 track to the ancient city of Lissos, where the incredibly well-preserved
sanctuary of the god of healing, Asklepios and a newly excavated amphitheater. Following our visit to this
archaeological site, we board a charter boat sail to a cave. Here we will have the opportunity to take a dip in the
shimmering waters before returning to the port of Paleochora, where dinner is on an individual base.

4th Day Samaria Gorge (aprx. 10 mi./16 km on foot) (B, L)

A trip to Crete without visiting the famous Samaria Gorge is unimaginable. A walk through this gorge allows for an
unbelievable nature experience and also gives us a physical challenge. There are approximately 1,200 meters of
elevation along the hike and the walk itself lasts around 6.5 hours. In the morning, we take a transfer bus to the starting
point of the hike at the top end of the Samaria Gorge. On the way we enjoy a picnic in the canyon to restore our energy
levels. The village of Agia Roumeli lies at the lower end of the Samaria Gorge where we enjoy a late lunch in a traditional
tavern. There is also time for a swim before we board the exclusive charter boat which takes us back Paleochora, where
you later may go for an individual dinner.

5th Day Voytas – Paleochora – boat trip to Elafonisi (aprx. 10.5 mi./17 km by bike) (B, L)

Another day full of adventure! After a late breakfast, a transfer shuttle takes us to Sklavopoula where we visit a small
church from the 13th century. This church is incredibly well preserved and even the frescos, picturing the torments of
hell, are still visible. From there we cycle on through picturesque landscapes with a relaxed midday break before
heading back towards Paleochora. After lunch we take a privately chartered boat to visit the natural paradise of

Elafonisi, a dreamy place in the middle of the Mediterranean. The exotic, white sand beaches and the turquoise waters
found on both sides of the peninsular are reminiscent of the Caribbean. The island is strewn with dunes, water lilies
and junipers. Various rare species, such as the endangered Caretta Caretta turtles are able to live here, their nests
under official protection. These are more than enough good reasons to spend some time in Elafonisi to swim and enjoy
a coffee or a cool drink. Dinner is to be arranged individually.

6th Day Sougia (aprx. 9 mi./15 km by bike & boat excursion) (B, L, D)

Today we can look forward to a very relaxed program after the efforts of the previous day. The program includes a
transfer to the mountain top village of Prodromi, followed by a downhill bike tour to Sougia. Here our charter boat is
waiting and will take us to a wonderful bay. On land we will enjoy a BBQ for lunch at a hidden spot in the forest.
Afterwards we will have plenty of opportunity to swim before the boat takes us back to Paleochora. Here we can relax
for a while before experiencing a true Greek evening with Cretan delicacies and live music.

7th Day Paleochora (Departure) (B)

After breakfast, it is time to check out from the hotel and return home or extend the holiday on Crete. Transfers to
Chania airport or ferry port can be arranged on request.

Dates, Prices & Services

Included services

       7-day hotel, bike, and hiking tour
       6 nights in a double room with shower and toilet at the Relax Hotel in Paleochora
       6 x breakfast, 5 x lunch, 2 x dinner (as in itinerary)
       Bottled mineral water and soft drinks during activities described
       Guided cycling tours and hikes as in program
       Maps with an overview of bike tours
       Escort vehicle on all bike tours
       All minibus transfers during the trip (as in itinerary)
       Private boat charter on 4 days
       Greek evening with dinner with live music
       Entrance for group visits to museums and archaeological sites
       English speaking tour guide

Not included in the basic tour price

       Journey to Crete
       Meals other than those included in the itinerary
       All alcoholic beverages
       Entrance for individually visited sights
       Beach towel (if required) - please bring your own
       Tips for tour guides and staff

Prices for Additional Optional Services 2023

Single room surcharge                                          300 euro/week

Rental bike                                                    hybrid bike 60 euro/week
                                                               E-bike (subject to availability): 150 euro/week

Insurance against theft and damage of the rental bike          hybrid bike 10 euro/week
 (Not insured: grossly negligent damages)                      E-bike 20 euro/week

Collective transfers between Chania Airport or ferry port and Price on request
Paleochora (only available on the day of official arrival or  Additional fees may apply for the transfer of private bicycles
departure)

Exclusive transfers                                            Price on request

Additional nights on Crete                                     Price on request

Discounts

Returning Islandhopper's are rewarded: as of the third tour booked directly via Islandhopping you will receive our 5% SEA-
you-Again discount for bookings placed before the 31.12. (The SEA-YOU-Again discount applies to all tours in our program
which are booked directly via Islandhopping given that the previous bookings actually took place).

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As this tour is operated by a third party partner, not all regular Islandhopping discount offers apply.

Dates

Date                      Accommodation       Start City   End City     Base
                                                                        Price

03.06.2023 – 09.06.2023   Kreta Hotel & Rad   Paleochora   Paleochora   1.690,00 €

04.05.2024 – 10.05.2024   Kreta Hotel & Rad   Herakleion   Chania       2.099,00 €

25.05.2024 – 31.05.2024   Kreta Hotel & Rad   Herakleion   Chania       2.099,00 €

15.06.2024 – 21.06.2024   Kreta Hotel & Rad   Herakleion   Chania       2.299,00 €

07.09.2024 – 13.09.2024   Kreta Hotel & Rad   Herakleion   Chania       2.299,00 €

21.09.2024 – 27.09.2024   Kreta Hotel & Rad   Herakleion   Chania       2.299,00 €

Arrival

Arrival by plane

This tour starts and ends in Paleochora on Crete. Arrival by plane is the fastest,
cheapest and most comfortable way to travel.

The nearest airport is Chania Airport (CHQ), approx. 75km away from Paleochora.

When booking your flights, please choose a return flight that leaves no earlier than
midday, if possible, to ensure a stress-free journey home.

Arrival by ferry

Of course, it is also possible to take a ferry to Crete. Ferries to/from Crete run
from/to Athens, from/to the island of Kythira in the south of the Peloponnese and
from/to numerous islands of the Cyclades. The nearest ferry port is in Chania, about
75 km from Paleochora. For information about all domestic ferry connections please
visit www.greekferries.gr

Transfer Options

To get to your hotel in Paleochora, you either can book an exclusive transfer (prices
and availability on request) or a collective transfer from Chania Port or from the
Chania Airport to your hotel and back (only available on the official arrival and
departure days). For all transfers, please make a reservation with our office team,
indicating your exact flight details and hotel address.

Transfer prices can be found under ‘Additional Optional Services’.

Anreise mit dem Pkw

Address for navigation system:

Relax Hotel, Pachia Ammos, Palaiochóra 730 01

Travelling to Crete by car can take an extremely long time and can be fairly costly.
Therefore, we would suggest only driving to Crete if you are planning on spending a
longer time either on Crete or in other Greek regions. Ferries to/from Crete run
from/to Athens, from/to the island of Kythira in the south of the Peloponnese and
from/to a number of the Cyclades islands.

Parking Options

Should you travel by car, free parking is available at the Relax Hotel in Paleochora.

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