Thinking of an outstanding hiking safari in your holidays? Look no further than Chania, Crete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you in for a hiking safari in Chania, Crete? Year after year, more and more visitors to Chania want (not to say “are keen”) to hike during their holidays.

The great weather of Crete, the place where sun is always shining, is only one of the reasons that hiking safaris in Chania are so popular. The main reason that hiking is such a rewarding activity in Chania has to do with the place: Being home to some of the best beaches in Europe, some of the most scenic mountains in the Mediterranean, and some of the most impressive gorges in the world at the same time, Chania, Crete offers exceptional hiking experiences that are by themselves a reason to travel to this magnificent place.

Hiking safaris in Chania, Crete – Walk by the beach

There are numerous beaches and small coastal villages in Chania that offer excellent hiking routes and opportunities. Among them, two particular places stand out.

The first is the gorgeous Falassarna beach  in the northwest edge of the island. Falassarna is an excellent beach with fine white sand and crystal-clear water that spans for kilometres. It is considered one of the best beaches in Greece.

But what really set this beach apart, is the dramatic mountain that rises above the beach. When reaching Falassarna by car or bus, it’s difficult not to be impressed by this unique combination of beach and mountain, in such close vicinity.

This particularity of Falassarna is what makes the place a perfect spot in Chania, Crete for a hiking safari. You can hike all around the scenic mountain and explore some of the best views Crete has to offer. What’s more, you can also visit the ancient city of Falassarna, one of the prominent cities during the Minoan and the ancient years, which is a true hidden gem for history lovers. All in all, Falassarna is one of the greatest places in Crete for hiking.

A second beach that is great for hiking, is the beach of Sougia, located in the picturesque village of the same name. Sougia is a laid-back, relatively remote destination, which is the best place if you want to get-away-from-it-all, but also have some basic travellers’ amenities at the same time.

All around the beach and the village, there are elevated hiking paths, that can offer you one of the best hiking safari experiences in Chania, Crete. And when you are tired from hiking, do like the locals do when they’re tired: Spend some lazy time on the beach and socialize with other people.

Hiking safaris in Chania, Crete – Explore some of the most stunning gorges in Europe

The region of Chania is also called “the land of gorges”, as it can boast for its numerous scenic gorges that cut through the land in the area of the White Mountains of Crete. Among all this great gorges, the greatest of all, and the longest gorge in the whole of Europe, is the famous Samaria Gorge.

Samaria Gorge offers an once-in-a-lifetime hiking experience of 16 kilometres in length, which starts in an altitude of more than 1200 metres and ends by the beach in the village of Agia Roumeli. As this is a 4-to-5- hours hiking safari on a terrain that is rocky, pebbly or uneven at times, you should be adequately prepared, especially in the hiking shoes department.

Although Samaria is the flagship gorge of Chania, there are other magnificent gorges, most of which are generally easy to hike. Possibly the three most known of them are Agia Irini Gorge, Imvros Gorge and Deliana Gorge (please note that “Deliana” is a different location from the village of “Douliana”, where Douliana Villas are located).

It is not extravagant to say that Chania, Crete is one of the best places in the world for a hiking safari. As it is the land of the stunning beaches, and the land of the dramatic gorges at the same time, it can reward travellers with very different hiking preferences.

So, if you love hiking, and if you believe that your holidays would not be complete without an outstanding hiking safari, than Chania, Crete and Douliana Villas are waiting for you.