Crete Sea to Summit

A Mountain in the Sea
Crete is the largest of Greece’s thousands of islands. Despite its rich history over several millennia, much of Crete is still wild, untrodden and unexplored. Once you traverse this legendary land, you’ll never again consider it as just a Mediterranean island, but instead as a mountain in the sea.

We start in Chania, one of the most beautiful small cities in Europe, with its ancient, coved harbor marked by a Venetian lighthouse. Chania bustles with small shops and restaurants and it’s a great place for a couple pre-tour days of relaxation and sightseeing, before taking off into the high country.

White Mountain Traverse
The backbone of Crete is the Lefka Ori range (Λευκά Όρη, meaning 'White Mountains') and we ascend Pachnes, the highest peak in the range at 8048 ft (2453m), and enjoy commanding views to many of the 40 surrounding summits that rise to over 2000m in elevation. During uprisings against the Venetian and Ottoman rulers, as well as during the WWII German occupation, Cretan rebels sought refuge in the White Mountains. The peaks of the White Mountains are snow covered in winter, but get their name from their perennial exposed white limestone flanks. While in the White Mountains we’ll also ascend Gigolos, a dramatic-looking peak with an elevation of 6,824 ft (2028m).

The gorges that descend below the White Mountains offer some of the best hiking in Crete. We’ll ascend the most famous of those gorges, Samaria Gorge, which at 9.9 miles is the longest hikable gorge in Europe.

Sheltered Coves, Quiet Beaches
The southern coast of Crete is famous for sheltered coves and quiet beaches. We’ll conclude at the seaside village of Sougia, a peaceful haven on the Libyan Sea. With a relaxed atmosphere, beachfront cafes, and nearby walks and hikes, you’ll be tempted to spend a few extra days here after the tour.