The White Mountains of Crete

A week set against the Lefka Ori, built around one of Europe's great gorge walks and ending in a village on the Libyan Sea that has no road at all.

1 · 2 nights
Chania
The Venetian harbour town, and the usual gateway to the White Mountains.
2 · A day here
Samaria gorge
A sixteen-kilometre descent through Greece's longest gorge, ending at the coast.
3 · 1 night
Agia Roumeli
A coastal village reachable only by the gorge trail or by boat.
4 · 2 nights
Loutro
A whitewashed village on the Libyan Sea with no road access.
5 · 1 night
Chora Sfakion
The main town of Sfakia and the ferry link back toward Chania.

Day by day

Day 1
Arrive in Chania
Sleep · Chania
Settle into the old Venetian harbour and walk the Splantzia quarter.
Day 2
Prepare and rest
Sleep · Chania
A day to rest and arrange transport to the Omalos plateau for the following morning.
Day 3
Samaria gorge
Sleep · Agia Roumeli
A full day's walk of some sixteen kilometres down to the coast.
Day 4
Boat along the coast
Sleep · Loutro
A small ferry runs the roadless south coast, with time to swim on arrival.
Day 5
Aradena gorge
Sleep · Loutro
A shorter walk up to the Aradena gorge and its abandoned village, crossed by a high bridge.
Day 6
On to Sfakia
Sleep · Chora Sfakion
A coastal boat or path east, with a swim at Sweetwater beach en route.
Day 7
Return and departure
Departure
A drive north over the mountains back to Chania for the flight home.