1 independent reviews for Crete self-guided walking holiday, Greece
Reviews for Crete self-guided walking holiday, Greece
Amanda Powell review 14 May 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The entire vacation was very memorable. We loved being in a wild part of Crete - the gorges were amazing, the walks along the coast were simply beautiful and we finished the trip off with a day in beautiful Chania. The Samaria Gorge was incredible and it was great to miss most of the 'traffic' by walking up it rather than the usual way down.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Crete is a beautiful island, and the people were friendly and helpful throughout without being pushy. This is the first trip we have done which is self-guided moving from place to place and we were unsure as to how well it would work especially as the baggage went separately. However, it was extremely well run and organised and Emmanouela from the tour operator could not have been more supportive. Our only tips would be to consider the time of year to go. We were lucky as the Samaria Gorge had just opened but we knew it was a risk as we went so early in the season but it would be extremely hot in mid-summer. We started in Heraklion and the trip can either finish there or Chania, but the latter is a prettier city and we enjoyed traversing Crete from point to point.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely. We stayed in hotels and other accommodation throughout, all of which was clearly run by local people (with the exception of the cities). Local buses, taxis and ferries were used to transport us and our baggage (as some of the destinations could not be reached by road). The food was locally sourced including the fruit, honey and jam, and the evening meals provided were at local restaurants - excellent! We chatted to the people who owned the accommodation and all were from families who had lived in the area for many years, which was lovely. They had a real pride in their country and were keen to conserve the environment. Also, we had the support throughout from the excellent tour operator who are based in Crete.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Literally, it was an amazing vacation. We went with our adult children (plus one) and they were equally entranced with Crete. We all loved the fact that we travelled across the country and saw such a variety of scenery, from gorges, to mountains, to the sea and finished in the beautiful city of Chania. We walked along three gorges, all of which were different in character, and along the coast which was spectacular; the small village of Loutro, in particular, was magical. The food was very tasty and locally sourced both in the accommodation and in local restaurants, the locals were really friendly and the tour operator was simply excellent, especially Emmanouela. It is a really well put together and organised itinerary.Holiday Reviews
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