# Crete Crete's dramatic gorges, coastal lagoons and mountain landscapes offer some of the Mediterranean region's most varied terrain for walkers. Crete moves in layers. Mountain ranges drop suddenly into deep ravines, coastal cliffs meet cave systems, and highland plateaus give way to terraced olive groves. For walkers, this means the terrain can shift significantly within a single day's route. ## The Gorges The island is threaded with deep ravines. The most celebrated runs through limestone walls that close in tightly enough to block direct sunlight for long stretches. Water flows along the floor in cooler months, leaving polished stones and small pools. Ibex were once common here; the terrain still suits them. Smaller ravines offer quieter passages through shaded bends and boulder fields. ## Coasts and Lagoons Crete's northern coast tends toward pebbly shores and wind-battered headlands. The southern coast has sheltered bays and stretches of fine pale sand that can appear almost pink in certain light, where a lagoon of shallow, warm water meets the sea. Tide and season affect how far wading is possible across to smaller islands. Sea caves cut into the cliffs are visible from boat routes along this stretch, their dark mouths opening above the waterline. ## Mountains and High uplands The island's interior rises to bare limestone peaks, their grey stone and sparse scrub contrasting with the green of the valleys below. In the west, a mountain range forms a long high barrier. Cave systems honeycomb both the coastal cliffs and the mountain massifs. One of these sits within a protected area where the terrain levels into a plateau before falling away sharply toward the coast. ## Vegetation and Light The island's plant life responds sharply to altitude and exposure. Coastal palms mark a few eastern spots, forming dense low groves unusual for this latitude. Lower slopes carry thyme and sage-scented scrub. Higher up, the ground opens into rocky grasslands and bare summits where the light moves quickly and the wind can arrive without warning. ## Also around here - Knossos ## Tours that visit Crete No tours visit this place just yet. ## Before you book you should know ### Is this trip right for you? Our groups are capped at eight travellers, which is about a third of what the industry calls a small group. Eight people share one vehicle, one table at dinner and one guide's attention, and the day can change on the road without anybody being left behind. If you are looking for a coach, a fixed script and a microphone, this is not that. Most days involve real walking, often on ground that was laid two thousand years before walking shoes: marble worn smooth, cobbles, uneven steps and long site paths with little shade. Bring shoes you can spend a morning in. Some days move between regions and are largely a drive, with stops along the way. Summers are hot — well over 35°C inland — and winters are colder than most people expect, so layers, a hat and sunscreen earn their place in the bag whatever the month. How demanding a particular trip is, is written on the trip itself: the physical rating in the header, and the day-by-day itinerary above. ### Rooms, and travelling on your own Trip prices are per person, sharing a twin room. Each traveller picks their own room while booking, so a party can mix the three: - **Twin share** — two single beds, shared with someone you are travelling with or with a traveller of the same gender. - **Travelling as a couple** — one double room. - **Individual room** — a room of your own, for a single supplement on top of the trip price. Availability is limited, and the supplement for a given date is shown next to the option when you book. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and most of our groups have one or two aboard. ### Accommodation The hotels named in an itinerary are a guideline rather than a guarantee. Where one is full, or has dropped below the standard we booked it for, we substitute a property of a similar standard in the same area — we would rather change the hotel than the trip. Check-in is usually mid-afternoon. If you arrive early we will ask for the room, but no hotel can promise one before its own check-in time; luggage can normally be left at reception in the meantime. If you want the room from the night before, ask us and we will add the extra night to your booking. ### Passports, visas and insurance Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change without much notice, so the only reliable source is the official one: the government of the country you are travelling to, and your own foreign ministry's travel advice. Check both before you book a flight. Many countries ask for a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, and for blank pages. It is worth looking at yours now rather than at the airport. We ask every traveller to carry travel insurance covering medical treatment and repatriation, and we would strongly encourage cover for cancellation and for your luggage as well. ### Your departure is guaranteed — the day can change Once a departure is on the calendar it runs. We do not cancel a trip for want of a minimum number of bookings, so a booked date is one you can plan flights and leave around. What can move is the shape of a day. Museums and archaeological sites change their hours, roads close, weather turns, a local holiday lands in the middle of the week. Where that happens your guide reorders the day, or swaps a stop for one of the same weight, and tells you why. Changes to a booked itinerary are covered by our Booking Terms & Conditions. --- Full page: https://www.smallvoyage.com/destination/crete/