the walks

Walking with FaragiTours

Walking with FaragiTours
Walking in Western Crete and especially in Apokoronas is a great experience. Like in most places in Greece it's difficult to find nice walking paths on your own, because good maps are not available. With the guided walks of FaragiTours we bring you to places that are really off the beaten track! Walking with FaragiTours means: small international groups, good prices, a flexible programme and a lot of fun!

For the season 2008 we offer the following walks:

- The Diktamos Gorge
- A Country walk around Vamos
- The Imbros Gorge and Frankokastello
- Authentic Apokoronas
- Along rivers and through Orange Groves

General information:
- Prices are per person and include transfer to and from the walk. Children under 15 years half price.
The main pickup places are: Geourgioupolis, Kavros, Vamos, Almyrida en Kalyves.
- Depending on the walk, a Cretan picnic or a coffee/tea is included.
- Guide speaks English, Dutch and German.
- At the end of the walk we have a 'Meze' (Greek tapas) and/or a drink (not included). 

Individual Walks

Do you like to walk at your own pace and discover the Cretan landscapes yourself? FaragiTours has made several walk descriptions, mainly in the area of Vamos.

Other Walks!
During the season of 2008 I will be guiding twice a week in the region of Rethymno for the Happy Walker. One walk starts at the famous monastery of Arkadi and the other in the ceramic village of Margarites. If you are staying in the region of Apokoronas and you would like to join in these walks, you can book them through FaragiTours as well. We can also arrange your transfer. Click on the walks below for more information.

- Arkadi Monastery: a symbol of freedom

- Ceramics and old stone-built wells

 

Diktamos Gorge

Through the riverbed of the Diktamos Gorge
Through the riverbed of the Diktamos Gorge

A quiet, very green and shady gorge! Some small parts are a bit of a scramble but the combination of high rocky walls with beautiful shady vegetation of plane-trees is perfect! On the way we have a tasty Cretan picnic (included). The walk ends in the small village of Katohori where we can have a cold drink (not included). A spectacular walk, also suitable for the summer!

Information

Start/End Stilos/Katohori
Distance 11 kilometers
Walking time 4 hours
Season 20 April - 1 November
Day Sunday
Price € 25, per person
Extra picnic included

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A countrywalk around Vamos

Old path outside Vamos
Old path outside Vamos

After walking around the village of Vamos, we go towards an old monastery. On the way there are wonderful views on the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). Along an old village, an old Turkish settlement and through forest tracks we walk to a hidden church with beautiful fresco's. Here we enjoy a Cretan picnic and after we walk through olive groves and an ancient path back to Vamos. An easy and relaxing walk!

Information

Start/End Vamos
Distance 10 kilometers
Walking time 3,5 hours
Season 1 april - 1 november
Day Wednesday
Price € 25,- per person
Extra picnic included

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Imbros Gorge and FrankoKastello

Natural gate in the gorge
Natural gate in the gorge

First a drive via the beautiful Askyfou plateau to the village of Imbros. From here the spectacular walk through the Imbros Gorge starts. At some points the gorge is extremely narrow! It is not a very long and difficult walk, suitable for children as well. At the village Komitades, where the walk ends, we have a transfer to FrankoKastello a Venetian fort from the 14th century. There is a beautiful sandy beach where you can go for a dive in the Lybian Sea or have some food and drinks in one of the taverns. Note! This walk is not guided!


Information

Start/End Imbros/Komitades
Distance 8 kilometers
Walking time 3 hours
Season 1 April - 1 November
Day On request
Price € 25,- per person
Extra entrance fee Imbros
not included! (ca € 2,-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Authentic Apokoronas

An old stone path towards a chapel
An old stone path towards a chapel

This walk has really a lot to offer! We walk through four very traditional villages of the Apokoronas area. Situated at the edge of the White Mountains, the views and landscapes here are unspoiled and breathtaking! We walk through forests, along very old chapels (with fresco's 700 hundred years old) and old mule-paths. In the distance we can see the sea and with clear weather even the city of Rethymno and the Psiloritis, the highest mountain of Crete! Halfway we enjoy a coffee or tea in one of the traditional 'kafenia'. We end the walk with some 'meze' (Greek tapas) in a local tavern (not included). This walk is a beauty!

Information

Start/End Nippos
Distance 13 kilometers
Walking time 5 hours
Season 1 April - 1 November
Day Friday
Price € 25,- per person
Extra coffee/tea included

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Along Rivers and through Orange Groves

River Koiliaris
River Koiliaris

We walk along a river and cross many olive and orange groves. We visit a 13th century Byzantine church and pass from the imposing entrance of the Diktamos Gorge. In a traditional village, which is famous for it's springs, we enjoy a coffee/tea (not included). Along easy dirt roads we walk along oranges, olive and avocado groves back to the start. Hidden in the fields there are many old stone-built wells. At the end of the walk we enjoy a Cretan picnic in the yard of an old church (included). One of the easier walks with very few up- and downhill!

Information

Start/End Kalyves
Distance 12 kilometers
Walking time 4 hours
Season 1 April - 20 June
15 September - 1 November
Day Tuesday
Price € 25,- per person
Extra coffee/tea included

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Arkadi Monastery, a symbol of Freedom

The Arkadi Monastery
The Arkadi Monastery

In the Rethymno area..
The walk begins at the Arkadi monastery, a historical symbol of the Cretan fight for freedom against Turkish domination. Passing under big umbrella pines, we continue along goat paths, field tracks and cross-country. We see some chapels, one of them still has remains of frescoes. Following a riverbed we end up in the traditional village of Pikris with its beautifully restored Venetian archway.

Information

Start/End Arkadi/Pikris
Distance ca. 12 kilometers
Walking time 4,5 hours
Season 1 April - 1 November
Day Every Monday
Price € 30, per person
Extra coffee/tea included










Ceramics and old stone-built wells

Ceramics and old stone-built wells

In the Rethymno area..
Five different villages are part of this interesting walk. The walk starts in Margarites, known as a pottery village since old times. Walking along a beautiful green river valley we come across interesting old wells. The valley has been used for agriculture; now it is mainly overgrown. We see the oldest bridge of Crete (circa 450 B.C.) and Roman burial caves, cut into the rocks. We are in woody surroundings with beautiful views of the IDA mountains.

Information

Start/End Margarites
Distance ca. 13 kilometers
Walking time 4,5 hours
Season 1 April - 15 June
15 September - end oktober
Day Every Thursday
Price € 30, per person
Extra coffee/tea included