What to expect
Seafront Hotel
Stay at the friendly Sunny Bay Hotel
Yoga
Enjoy five included yoga sessions
Guided Walks
Experience Crete's stunning scenery
About this trip...
Feel invigorated and refreshed as you not only revitalize your body, but your mind and soul too. Along with its scenic surroundings, western Crete offers a warm and friendly welcome. Our hosts, walking guide and yoga teacher will help us recover from the stresses of everyday life with a mixture of gentle activities during the course of the week.
Activity Level:
What's this?What's Included
Return flights & transfers-
Airport taxes & charges
Twin/double room for single use with private facilities
Solos Board: Breakfast daily, 3 taverna dinners & 3 lunches
Welcome drink & information meeting
5 evening yoga sessions-
3 guided walks
-
Guided tour of Polyrinnia
-
Guided tour of the south coast
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully financially protected
What's extra:
- Full sea view room supplement
- Insurance - see here
- Climate Crisis Resilience Tax – €5 per night, payable locally
Itinerary
- Arrival Day
- Polyrinnia to Sikari Gorge
- West Crete & Tradition
- Kissamos & Kaliviani
- Day at leisure
- Walking the Gorges
- Crete's South Coast
- Departure Day
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrival Day
After arriving in Crete, we transfer to our hotel. This evening, we get together for our welcome drink and information meeting, outlining our fantastic week of yoga and walking, followed by dinner at a local tavern - The Cellar.
- Dinner Included
Day Two: Polyrinnia
Today we have a fascinating guided tour around the picturesque and sleepy village of Polyrinnia discovering the culture and history of this important archaeological area. The views are stunning with a panoramic vista down to the sea and over to the magnificent White mountains, and in the spring time the wild flowers are in abundance. Our tour is followed by a delicious lunch at a local restaurant at Kissamos City.
In the afternoon, we have free time to explore the town of Kissamos and visit the local archaeological museum which is well worth a visit (entry fee EUR 4.00).
Easy/medium walk around the village of approx. 2km.
Evening yoga session at the hotel.
- Breakfast & Lunch Included
Day Three: West Crete & Tradition
Today we visit a wine factory with wine tasting, followed by cheese and honey producers, before moving on to an olive oil factory/museum. Here, we will learn more about the cultivation and production of wine, raki, cheese and oil which all play such a big part in Cretan life, its culture and economy. Then we will make a visit to a typical village house where a Cretan welcome awaits you and where you will be regaled with tales of Cretan life, past and present. We enjoy lunch at a local café boasting amazing balcony views.
Evening yoga session at the hotel.
- Breakfast & Lunch Included
Day Four: Kissamos & Kaliviani
Today we walk from the charming village of Kaliviani, heading west ascending on a path that takes us up to the ridge overlooking the glorious beach of Falassarna. At the top, we soak up the most amazing views. At the end of the walk, there is time for a swim in the crystal-clear sea. We also have a yoga session in the afternoon.
The walk is easy/medium and approx. 5km.
Dinner is at local tavern - The Cellar.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Five: Day at leisure
Today is a day at leisure to do as you please. Perhaps relax by the pool or take an excursion on the Gramvousa Boat Trip (approx €27). Lunch and dinner is not included today so you are free to discover a local Taverna of your choice.
- Breakfast Included
Day Six: Walking the Gorges
After breakfast, we walk the Sirikari Gorge. another beautiful gorge walk that is pretty and peaceful, ending up in the village of Polyrinnia where we enjoy lunch in a local tavern. This region boats stunning scenery and is home to many nesting Griffon vultures. There is an option to extend this walk by 6 km.
Easy to Medium approx 7km
Evening yoga session at the hotel.
- Breakfast & Lunch Included
Day Seven: Crete's South Coast
Our final day of walking takes us down to the South coast of Crete visiting the beautiful old monastery of Chryssoskalitissa and the stunning beach of Elafonissi - a lagoon and protected area of outstanding natural beauty.
Evening yoga session at the hotel followed by farewell dinner at the Cellar taverna.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Eight: Departure Day
After breakfast, we check-out and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
- Breakfast Included
Accommodation
Three-star Sunny Bay Hotel
We stay at the comfortable family-run Sunny Bay Hotel, situated directly on a shingle beach and a short stroll to a seafront taverna.
Facilities include
Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and delightful terrace area, pool/snack-bar open all day and into the evening, breakfast room and a small mini market.
Room includes
All rooms have satellite TV, a hairdryer, safe, air-conditioning (both at extra charge), fridge and balcony or terrace with a partial sea view.
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
Transfer Time
The transfer time from from Chania Airport to the hotel takes approximately 45 minutes, depending on weather and traffic.
Tourist Tax
- Climate Crisis Resilience Tax – €5 per night, payable locally
Passport & Visa
A full 10-year passport is required, valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport.
For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Greece Foreign Advice If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
Included Programme
Listed below are the inclusions in your programme: Can be subject to change due to local conditions and guides recommendations
- Guided tour around the picturesque and sleepy village of Polyrinnia including a taverna lunch
- 2 guided walks to cultural and scenic places of interest of approx 5-6km
- Visit to the wine factory with wine tasting, followed by cheese and honey producers then onto an olive oil factory/ museum
- 5 evening yoga sessions
- Guided tour of the south coast of Crete including the beautiful monastery of Chryssoskalitissa and the stunning Elafonissi Beach
Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
Walking Notes
- Grade: Easy
- Distance: 5 to 6km per day
- Walking boots: Recommended
Optional Excursions*
- Gramvousa Boat Trip - A full day excursion to this island where you can see the ruins of an ancient fortress and swim in the crystal clear waters of the wonderful lagoon of Balos. Approximate cost: €29.00
- Chania - You can visit this beautiful Venetian harbour town that has excellent restaurants, shops and a great atmosphere by the local regular bus service. The journey takes approx. 1 hour. Approximate cost: €10.00 per return bus ticket*subject to availability
What to wear / take
The emphasis is on comfortable, casual clothes throughout the week, with something warm to wear for the evenings if venturing outside. Appropriate comfortable shoes are a must whilst dressing in layers allows for changes in temperature. All specialist clothing and equipment will be provided for the included activities, however we would recommend you take:
- Good trainers/walking boots
- Comfortable sandals
- Waterproof jacket
- Shirts or t-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Daysack/rucksack
- Swimwear
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
- Mosquito repellent
- ....your camera – the scenery is wonderful!
Currency
Euro
Gratuities
We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €25.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % add on.
