TOUR CODE: 15150 GRADE 6 OCTOBER 2016 04 October - 11 October 1 week duration PALEOHÓRA Walking from a pretty village on Crete s south west coast
HOLIDAY INFORMATION TOUR DESCRIPTION This information is in addition to our General Information Booklet, which is enclosed. The lovely village of Paleohóra lies on a small peninsula, between two picturesque bays, on the south west coast of Crete. It s accessible only with a winding drive through the mountains or a boat trip, which adds to its charm. Here the sandy beaches are lapped by the Lybian Sea and the white washed houses are beautifully draped with colourful oleander and bougainvillea. Being favoured by artists since the 1960s, Paleohóra has a laid back atmosphere with many colourful cafes and restaurants lining the promenade leading to narrow streets and tiny, quiet squares. The town regularly holds art exhibitions and there are many artists in situ. Whether you are gazing out to sea or to the mountains behind, the magnificent scenery appears to envelop the town. This holiday offers some challenging but definitely rewarding walking in the rugged south west corner of Greece s largest island. Dramatic gorge walks, with one descending into the spectacular Samaria Gorge, returning to Paleohóra by boat; lush green valleys and steep sided coves and bays. We ll follow spectacular coastal trails, including part of the E4 Path, and discover the beauty of Elafonisi lagoon, one of the island s most beautiful beaches. Paleohóra and its surrounding countryside comes alive in spring with colourful flora. We spend our last evening in the vibrant town of Chania, famed for its Venetian harbour, with time to explore the market, visit one of its interesting museums or perhaps take a seat at a waterfront café and watch the world go by.
ITINERARY Day: Overnight accommodation: Daily itinerary: Meals: 1: Paleohóra Arrive at Chania airport and transfer by road to Paleohóra, where we stay for six nights accommodation. Dinners on this holiday will be taken at local tavernas, giving the opportunity to taste the wonderful local cuisine. D 2-6: 7: Chania 8: We ll spend time walking from Paleohóra, enjoying coastal paths, local beaches and hiking the Samaria Gorge. We transfer by coach to the north coast of the island to Chania, where we stay for one night. We ll have the opportunity to explore the vibrant Venitian harbour and have dinner at one of the local tavernas. Transfer to Chania airport for check-in and return flight to London Gatwick or Manchester. B, D B D (Dinner) B (Breakfast) The hiking of the Samaria Gorge depends on water levels. If they are too high, the Gorge is closed to visitors. Should this be an issue, an alternative gorge walk will be offered. HOLIDAY GRADE & WALKING PROGRAMME This holiday is graded 6. We ll walk both inland and along the coast following mule paths & mountain trails, rough tracks and dirt roads and we ll walk through the famous Samaria gorge. There are some steep and rough sections on some of the walks and you need to be sure footed. A considerable amount of effort is often required to reach Crete s wild places, but the rewards are sensational. Some of the path offers minimal shade. We haven t included a free day in the itinerary, but if you wish to take a day off from walking, you are free to do so. An example of some of the walks we may include in our programme (dependent on weather conditions and the ability of the group) are as follows: Paleohora to Sougia and Lissos. A moderately strenuous walk. Most of the climbing is before lunch. There is an interesting Minoan site at Lissos to explore. We travel out by ferry and return on foot. Ascent / descent 400m; 16km; 4.75 hours
Azogires village - Anidri gorge - Ianniscara beach Paleohora. A morning walk from the village of Azogires, stopping at a taverna for lunch, before walking down thr Anidri Gorge, whoch involves the odd bit of scrambling. There is the opportunity of a swim at the end of the Gorge. Ascent 60m / descent 320m; 16km; 6 hours Krios - Elafonisi Beach. Following the magnificent coastline along the E4 route, with the chance of a delightful swim at Elafonisi Beach before catching a boat to Paleohóra Ascent 350m / descent 360m; 10km; 5 hours We do not include local transport costs or entrance fees in conjunction with the walks programme on this holiday. This is due to walks being weather dependent and also takes into account the group ability and your personal choice (you may choose to take a day off from the group arrangements), and this way you only pay for the activities that you take part in. Local transport costs for this holiday should not exceed 50 for the week (approx. 60, payable locally in euro). You may also wish to budget 6-10 for entrance fees to one or two of the interesting museums that Chania has to offer such as the Archaeological Museum, Naval Museum and the Folklore Museum. Please note that the estimation of local costs relating to this holiday is based on currency exchange rates valid at the time of the publication of our winter 2016/spring 2017 brochure and this Holiday Information sheet. Any fluctuations in exchange rates may impact on this estimation of local costs. Please check with your bank or foreign currency provider prior to your holiday to enable you to plan your spending. Each evening, the leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. Should you not wish to join the party, please discuss it with the leader. TRAVEL INFORMATION We fly from London Gatwick to Chania and vice versa by charter flight. Manchester departures may be available. Please contact us for details. Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent approximately 10 days prior to departure. As the transfer time to Paleohora is approximately 2.5-3 hours, the transfer vehicle may wait until flights from both Gatwick and Manchester have landed before departing. Travel on Crete will be by road, ferry and on foot. If you are joining and leaving abroad, it is assumed, unless you have advised us otherwise, that you will meet the party at Chania airport and leave from the Hotel Kriti in Chania. If this is not your plan, please let us know in writing, at least 5 weeks before departure. Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.
PASSPORTS & VISAS Please refer to Section 2 of the enclosed General Information Booklet. For British passport holders, for stays in Greece of up to three months your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to the UK. Passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel LOCAL CURRENCY Please refer to Section 2 of our General Information Booklet for details. The currency in Greece is the euro. Banks and ATM facilities are available in Paleohóra. We suggest you may wish to take some euro in cash with you in addition to using ATMs. ACCOMMODATION & MEALS We stay in twin and single with shower and wc at the traditional Hotel Pal Beach in Paleohóra and the Hotel Kriti in Chania. The Hotel Pal Beach is located in front of the beautiful Pachia Ammos beach in Paleohóra, on Crete s south west coast. The hotel s bedrooms all have a balcony and a side sea view. All rooms are en suite with a shower and have a/c (operational from 1400-2400 daily), ceiling fans, mini-fridge, radio and telephone. The hotel has a safe at the reception, which is free of charges and is accessible 24hrs a day. There is free wi-fi in the reception and snack bar areas, but not in the rooms. Hairdryers are sometimes available to use from the reception, but we suggest you may wish to bring your own. The contemporary Hotel Kriti is centrally located on the very edge of Chania s Venetian Harbour and offers easy access to the town s restaurants, museums, market and shops. All rooms are en suite with a hairdryer, TV, A/C, free wi-fi, balcony and mini-bar. The hotel has a swimming pool, bar, snack bar and breakfast room, where they serve a buffet breakfast each morning. Hotel Pal Beach Paleochora, Chania Creta 73001, Greece Tel: Web: 0030 28230 41512 www.palbeach.gr
Hotel Kriti Nikiforou Foka, 73001 Chania, Greece Tel: Web: 0030 28210 51881 www.kriti-hotel.gr Buffet breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday charge. Dinners will be taken in tavernas, providing an opportunity to enjoy local dishes. Lunches are not included in the holiday cost. Picnics can be bought from local shops/supermarkets or a day s walking may include lunch at a taverna. The meals on this holiday are a wonderful addition to the walking, and the menus are chosen so that you are able to sample a wide variety of the Greek cuisine. The locally produced Cretan wines are an excellent accompaniment to the meals. RESORT INFORMATION In Paleohóra and Chania, we will be able to find: Local shops Supermarkets Restaurants & Bars Medical facilities Banks and ATMs CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT The island of Crete has a temperate Mediterranean climate. It experiences hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Crete has the mildest climate in Greece due to its southerly location and surrounding waters. The central mountains, stretching from east to west, create a natural barrier to the north-westerly prevailing winds and result in great regional variation in weather conditions. Northern Crete is similar to most other European Mediterranean resorts, while southern Crete is hotter, drier and sunnier and resembles coastal regions of North Africa in its heat and aridity. May and October are good times to visit southern Crete, to avoid the height of the summer, not only in visitor numbers, but also temperature. Daytime temperatures average in the mid to high 20 Cs, usually with little rain, but you should still come prepared for the possible shower. For cooler days and in the evenings we suggest you bring a light jacket or fleece. When visiting churches, please note that shoulders should be covered and the wearing of shorts may cause offence. Lightweight trousers are useful on some walks for protection against thorn bushes. You may also find useful a small rucksack, torch, penknife (packed in your luggage), some polythene bags, and a small first aid kit. We suggest you take insect repellent, sunscreen, sun hat or umbrella (some of the walks have little shade), sun glasses, light waterproofs, a swimsuit and a beach towel. Beach shoes can be used as protection on stony beaches and against sea urchins. A universal sink plug may also be useful. Walking boots with good ankle support are essential for this holiday, as paths can be hard, rough and stony. It is essential to wear the correct footwear, as any injury caused by insufficient ankle support can spoil the enjoyment of your holiday.
We recommend that you wear your walking boots or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as, in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the first day s walking programme. It is essential that you carry plenty of liquids on all walks. It may be possible to top up your water en route but not always your Leader will advise you. You should therefore be prepared to carry at least 2 litres of liquid per person per day. Some rehydration salts may also be useful to carry as some of the walks may be exposed to the full sun. TRAVELLING LIGHT You should be able to lift and carry your own luggage. At the hotels, there may be some long walks between the rooms and entrance area that may include some steps there is no lift at the Hotel Pal Beach. INSURANCE Please make sure that your insurance for this holiday covers you for guided walking below 2000m. Please also take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you at all times - it will help in the event of an emergency. Please note that the EHIC has an expiry date, so you need to ensure that it is valid for all dates of your holiday. See section 1 of our General Information Booklet for further details. MAPS & SUGGESTED READING Maps and books about Crete may be obtained before departure from specialist map sellers such as: The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn, Worcs. WR8 0HJ Tel : 01684 593146 Fax : 01684 594559 Website: www.themapshop.co.uk Maps of the area are also widely available locally. Further information can be found on the last page of our General Information Booklet. Suggested reading: Insight Guides `Crete' by Gerhard Sasse - Published by APA Publications. Crete, Its Past, Present and People by Adam Hopkins - Published by Faber and Faber. The Villa Ariadne by Dilys Powell - Published by Hodder and Stoughton. Travellers Guide to Crete by John Bowman - Published by Jonathan Cape, London. The Companion Guide to the Greek Islands by Ernle Bradford - Published by Collins, London. The King Must Die by Mary Renault - Published by Sceptre/Hodder. Under Mount Ida A journey into Crete by Oliver Burch - Published by Ashford, Southampton.
Many local libraries now stock a selection of travel guides/books which may offer you more information regarding the Island of Crete, and you may find the following websites useful in planning your trip: Greek National Tourist Office Visit Greece Visit West Crete Samaria Gorge www.gnto.gr www.visitgreece.com www.west-crete.com www.samariagorge.com PLEASE QUOTE YOUR HOLIDAY CODE AND BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE. WE WISH YOU AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY AND WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS UPON YOUR RETURN. Revisions to this Holiday Information sheet Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases any revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will be unchanged. Should we need to make a major change to the holiday arrangements between the time of booking and your date of travel we will contact you. You may wish to review the latest version of the Holiday Information sheet online prior to travel.