FMC Travel Club A subsidiary of Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand (Inc.) www.fmc.org.nz Club Convenor : John Dobbs Travel Smart Napier Civic Court, Dickens Street, Napier 4110 P : 06 8352222 E : John@tsnapier.co.nz 23 rd September to 21 st October 2017, 29 days $9995 ex Athens (est as at April 2016) Leader : Keith Hitchcock Based on a minimum of 7 people and subject to currency fluctuations Any payments by visa or mastercard adds $200 A comprehensive tramping programme and exploration of cultural aspects and ancient sites across the mainland and Crete, the largest Greek island PRICE INCLUDES : Accommodation 3 star hotels, guest houses, village pensions (twin share) Transport by minivan / minibus, bag transfers, flights from Athens to Chania and Heraklion to Athens All breakfasts and all dinners Kiwi trip leader throughout supported by Cretan Adventures English speaking guide Entry fees to places of interest as included in the itinerary, such as museums, archaeological sites and monasteries Licenced local guides for sites such as Akropolis and Akropolis Museum in Athens, monasteries in Meteora, Delphi, Knossos Palace and Archaeological Museum of Heraklion Greece VAT, payment to FMC PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE : Flights to and from Athens Lunches Personal spend outside the itinerary inclusions Travel insurance (mandatory)
Trip Leader It is a pleasure to introduce Keith Hitchcock. As a former restaurateur, Keith and his wife Judy have considerable hospitality experience and have also been invited by a travel company in their area to lead a walking tour to Greece. Following their recent retirement they have continued their tramping and travels, working for DOC and running a guesthouse in the Canadian Rockies. Keith has a love for Greece, so I m delighted that he is available to lead this trip our first to cover the central mainland and Crete. Keith welcomes your interest and may be contacted at judy.keith@xtra.co.nz About Cretan Adventures Cretan Adventures is the inspiration and initiative of two brothers, Fondas and Manolis Spinthakis, who share their passion, experience, knowledge and love for Cretan nature and active holidays with people looking for the real Crete Fondas is a mountaineering and rock climbing instructor of the Greek Mountaineering Federation. With more than 20 years of experience in the mountains, he has worked as programme coordinator in adventure camps for children and has worked with adventure companies and has 10 years of professional guiding in Crete and the mainland. Manolis has similar skills and experience with Fondas, and works in sports management. Their family dates back many generations, all native Cretans. They really know Greece and are supported by a group of expert Cretan hiking guides that have been selected for their character, knowledge and experience. Together they form a wonderful team providing excellent services. Cretan Adventures programmes on Crete and mainland Greece are thorough and well put together. Our itinerary is oversighted by Cretan Adventures and is a combination of sections led by them and other sections where Keith will lead. There are numerous testimonials on the website : www.cretanadventures.gr Greece : the mainland Greece is the birthplace of drama and democracy, of western science and medicine. The thousands of years of civilization here is still visually evident in the incredible architecture and monuments to religion and other sites liberally sprinkled. Add to that a dramatically varied landscape of mountains and hills and literally hundreds of islands all with their own charms. The Greek mainland is the southern portion of the Slavic peninsula and shares its northern borders with Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. The itinerary takes us to several central regions offering some of the most satisfying tramping opportunities in the country (apart from Crete of course!). This largely centres on two main areas the sometimes overlooked Zagoria villages around Vikos Gorge and the surrounding mountains, stunning and other-worldly Meteora; and the delightfully green walking mecca of the Pelion Peninsula. These regions are all quite different yet complementary. The effort required is rated as medium and the greatest height attained is less than 2000m We have included some of the significant sites of antiquity as we travel through the landscape, such as visiting ancient Delphi on the journey from Athens. Wonderful, vibrant and sometimes chaotic Athens is a capital of many charms and spans the ancient and modern all at once. It could be well worth arriving earlier or staying on after the core trip. Trip timing slots into the period after the summer heat and crowds. Expect warm to very warm temperatures near the coast and cooler in the mountains - a pleasant time of year to be in Greece. Greece : Crete Crete is perhaps the culmination of the Greek experience. Its hospitable, spirited people maintain a proud sense of separateness - evident in everything from their haunting traditional music to their hearty, homegrown food and drink. Everything about Crete is larger than life. Millions of olive trees produce some of the finest olive oil in the world. The island is the mythical birthplace of Zeus and site of the legendary Minoan civilization. Crete bursts with the relics of past cultures, from the prehistoric through Minoan, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman eras. While the north has the major population centres and beach resorts, it is easy to escape the crowds and head into the hills and mountains. The rugged interior holds some of Crete s most authentic and down to earth villages, where a warm welcome from black-clad locals await and the best locally produced food and beverage can be found.
Spectacular mountain ranges and gorges spill into the sea to the south and enclose often deserted beaches. Our programme focuses on the interior of Crete, the mountains and gorges, the remote beaches and authentic villages. We climb several important peaks and attain our greatest height on the trip at Mt Psilorisis (2456m). Visits to significant historic sites along with sites of World War 11 are woven in. Our route begins in the west at Chania and we continue through central then eastern regions to Heraklion. Itinerary Day 1. Sat 23 rd Sep. Athens Arrival day. Transfer to the hotel in central Athens where you will meet up with Keith and your fellow travellers. Keith will give a brief intro and rundown before you head out for a getting to know you dinner. D. Day 2. Sun 24 th Sep. Athens A cultural intro to Athens with Keith and a licenced guide for archaeological sites who will bring alive the Parthenon symbol of ancient Greece, the Acropolis Museum and Plaka. B. D. Day 3. Mon 25 th Sep. Athens to Delphi Today we travel west to Delphi to visit the archaeological site that had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece and was regarded as the centre of the world! This World Heritage site includes two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athens, and other buildings, mostly intended for sports. An optional evening walk. We overnight in Itea, the port of Delphi 18kms to the south. B. D. Walking distance 9 10kms / 3-4 hours / 400m ascent Day 4. Tue 26 th Sep. Delphi to Ioannena Continuing west to Ioannena, a major town and gateway to the Zagoria region where we will spend the next few days. About 50kms from Delphi, we will stop at the pretty circular walled harbour town of Nafpaktos, with its well preserved fortress and Venetian castle. We will also admire the very impressive bridge across the Gulf of Corinth that connects central Greece to the Peloponesse Peninsula. Ioannena sits beside a lake and its old town lanes are full of interest to walk around. B. D. Day 5. Wed 27 th Sep. Ioannena to Zagoria About 40kms to the north lies the Zagoria region - a fairy tale land of 44 picturesque villages in the mountains that have developed a high degree of autonomy over the centuries. An outstanding feature is the architecture with houses built entirely from local slate, with winding cobbled streets and terrific views. Some villages are depopulated while others, like Monodendri where we stay tonight are beginning to thrive as more tourists come to explore this fascinating area. The Vikos Aoos National Park encompasses much of the area with a number of peaks over 2000m. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty with thick forests, semi-nomadic shepherds and animals such as bears, wolves, wild boars, wild cats and wild goats that roam the mountains. Our walk connecting several of the villages nearby will give a good intro to this beautiful mountain region. B.D. Walking distance 7kms / up to 3 hours / 200m ascent, 450m descent Day 6. Thu 28 th Sep. Zagoria the Vikos Gorge A focal point of the region is the stunning 10kms long Vikos Gorge, extending northwards from Monodendri. After the Samaria Gorge on Crete (coming up later on), this is the most popular gorge walk in Greece. The depth ranges from 450m to 1600m and a width ranging from 400m to only a few meters at its narrowest part. Vikos is also a site of major scientific interest since it is almost in virgin condition and accommodates many endangered species and varied ecosystems. We walk north to the end of the gorge and overnight in Aristi Village just west of the gorge. B. D. Walking distance 12kms / 4 5 hours / 750m ascent, 1060m descent Day 7. Fri 29 th Sep. Zagoria Voidomatis River Our route follows the Voidomatis River, one of the cleanest in Europe and spanned by a number of arched stone bridges. Also visit the villages of Megalo and Mikro Papingo to further soak up the beauty of this area. Another night in Aristi Village. B. D. Walking distance 12 kms / 4 5 hours / 600m ascent, 750m descent
Day 8. Sat 30 th Sep. Zagoria to Meteora Meteora is an extraordinary place, and one of the most visited in all of Greece. The massive pinnacles of smooth rock are ancient yet could be the setting for a futuristic science fiction tale. The monasteries atop them add to this strange and beautiful landscape. These monasteries date from the 11 th century and today Meteora is a World Heritage site favoured by European rock climbers. The little village of Kastraki that we stay in tonight is right under the rocks, the views are impressive and the feeling otherworldly. B. D. Walking distance 7ms / 3 hours / 450m ascent, 450m descent Day 9. Sun 1 st Oct. Meteora exploration, then to Pelion Follow paths of the ancient monks winding their way amongst the tall rock-towers and up to several of the cliff top monasteries. After lunch we drive east to the Pelion Peninsula to begin the next phase of our trip. The proximity of mountains and sea in the Pelion is especially appealing. According to legend, Jason and the Argonauts set sail form nearby Volos in search of the Golden Fleece, in a boat made from timbers from the Pelion forests. Today, a network of cobbled paths connect the mountain and coastal villages on the peninsula. The Pelion is also the mythical home to a race of centaurs creatures half-man and half-horse who roamed the countryside at will. Tonight we stay in Portaria, a village on the flanks of the mountains. B. D. Walking distance 5kms / 2 hrs / 350m ascent, 350m descent Day 10. Mon 2 nd Oct. Pelion region Chania to Tsagarada The highest point is Mt. Pliassidi at 1651m. The largely inaccessible eastern side of the peninsula consists of high cliffs that plunge dramatically into the sea. The gentler western flank coils around the calm sea of the Pagasitic Gulf. The interior is a green wonderland of wild olive groves and other fruit amid forests of chestnut, oak, walnut, eucalyptus and beech trees. The Pelion is a walking mecca with many options available. Today we will set out from Hania to Tsangarada villages with lots of magnificent views along the way. We overnight in Tsangarada, noteworthy that the plane tree in the village square is reputedly the largest and oldest in Greece at 1500 years old. B. D. Walking distance 16kms / 7 8 hrs / 550m ascent, 1350m descent. Day 11. Tue 3 rd Oct. Pelion region coastal trails Descend from Tsangarada to the coast and follow coastal trails visiting some beautiful beaches and villages. Return to Tsangarada for the night. B. D. Walking distance 8kms / 3.5 hrs / 500m descent Day 12. Wed 4 th Oct. Pelion region Tsangarada to Milies The route today brings us back into the mountains and is a really impressive walk with much forest cover to little Millies Village. In 1903, a railway line connected Millies to Volos and the town became a prosperous centre of commerce. The steam train was retired but a diesel loco is now used on this very popular short tourist line. We are transferred back to Tsangarada for our final night there. B. D. Walking distance 12kms / 4 5 hrs / 420m ascent and 550m descent Day 13. Thu 5 th Oct. Transfer to Athens, fly to Crete Today we have a fairly long day travel from the Pelion to Athens Airport, and connecting with our flight down to Chania, Crete. The beautiful, crumbling Venetian quarter of Chania that surrounds the old harbour is one of Crete s best attractions. The magnificent covered food market is something to behold it makes all other food markets look like stalls at a church bazaar. Explore the Splantzia quarter too a delightful tangle of narrow streets and little squares. B.D. Day 14. Fri 6 th Oct. Explore Chania and visit Souda A day to explore the delights of Chania and to absorb some of the WW11 monuments like the allies cemetery at Souda Bay, the German cemetery at Maleme and cultural sites like the monastery of Agia Triada. B.D. Day 15. Sat 7 th Oct. Agia Irini Gorge Today a beautiful gorge walk that is full of pines and chestnut trees that descends to the south coast of Crete at the delightful little village of Sougia. The sandy beach would be very inviting for a swim in the Med before the overnight stop here. Walking distance 13kms / 3.5 hrs / 480m descent
Day 16. Sun 8 th Oct. Walk to the ancient town of Lissos A cultural walk through the beautiful gorge of Selinou, with brilliant pink oleanders and carob trees, to the ancient city of Lissos. Lissos was an important centre of hydrotherapy, which flourished in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine era. Here we will visit a well preserved temple with mosaic floor dedicated to Asklipios the God of medicine. Plenty of time for a swim in the bay before returning to Sougia. B.D. Walking distance 7kms / 3 hrs / 240m ascent and 240m descent Day 17. Mon 9 th Oct. Ascent of Mt Gigilos (2080m) Today we transfer to the mountain village of Omalos from where we will climb up Mt Gigilos. This area is quite rugged and borders the Samaria Gorge National Park and is the home of some rare and threatened bird species, such as the griffon vulture and the lammergeyer. The unique wild goats of Crete (Kri-kri) also inhabit these mountains. The summit provides spectacular views in all directions, including towards the actual Samaria Gorge which we will traverse, tomorrow. We descend via the same route and overnight at a small family run hotel in Omalos. B.D. Walking distance 10kms / 6 7 hrs / 890m ascent and 890m descent Day 18. Tue 10 th Oct. Samaria Gorge The Samaria Gorge is the largest gorge in Europe and a very popular day tramp and quite a slog. The route follows the valley floor and has plenty of tree cover. On reaching the south coast once again, we arrive at Agia Roumeli, a tiny village seemingly cut off from the outside world. Relax and enjoy a well earned swim in the Med. Overnight in Agia Roumeli. B.D. Walking distance 17kms / 6hrs 1100m descent Day 19. Wed 11 th Oct. The coastal route to Loutro Our bags will be taken by boat eastwards around the coast to Loutro, while we follow the lovely coastal route that alternates between sand and stones not more than 50m above sea level. Along the way we pass the picturesque St Paul s chapel. Loutro is a small but developing fishing village and has many pretty white and blue houses. Overnight in Loutro. B.D. Walking distance 15kms / 5 hrs 150m ascent and descent Day 20. Thu 12 th Oct. To Anopolis and a longer option A steep path leads up from Loutro to Anopolis with many little chapels in and around the village. This is a very authentic village with locals in costumes of the past. Rest up at Anopolis s square and enjoy coffee or ouzo with the locals! The village is very proud and is where the revolution against the Turks began in 1866. Either return the same way or continue on through the Arathena gorge that ends on the coast again at Marmara Beach and return again to Loutro along the coast path. The big loop will give you an unforgettable picture alternating between mountain trail, spectacular gorge and coastal path. Overnight in Loutro. B.D. Walking distance 16kms (long version) / 6 7 hrs 690m ascent and descent Day 21. Fri 13 th Oct. Coastal walk to Sfakia and transfer to Plakias Another superb coastal walk this morning heading east to Chora Sfakion. There are a number of freshwater springs along this section of the coast. Meanwhile bags will be taken by boat so if you did not want a morning walk you could also go by boat. After lunch we drive east to the coastal village of Plakias. We are now about midway along the south coast of Crete. B.D. Walking distance 7kms / 2.5 hrs / 150m ascent and descent Day 22. Sat 14 th Oct. River trek and Preveli Beach A combination of a riverside gorge trek, a palm beach, a Venetian bridge, abandoned olive oil mill and Moni Piso Prevelli monastery. The exit of the gorge and the river comes out in the sea through a forest of palm trees. Return to Plakias for another night. B.D. Walking distance 5kms / 2.5 hrs / 150m descent Day 23. Sun 15 th Oct. Ascent of Mt Psiloritis (2456m) An early start with our minibus bringing us to the roadend and the mountain hut. From here it is all uphill for 3.5 hours to the summit, where in clear conditions you can see much of Crete. The Aegean Sea to the north, the Mediterranean to the south and the mountain ranges of the island. Return by the same route followed by a drive to Sivas, a traditional village inland from the south coast and 62 kms south of Iraklion. With a history exceeding 1000 years and well preserved houses, it is a delight to wander around the village where we spend several nights. B.D.
Walking distance 8 9kms / 5 6 hours / 900m ascent and descent Day 24. Mon 16 th Oct. Agiofarago Gorge An easier walk today. A short distance to the south is this lovely gorge which means Gorge of Saints a remote and beautiful place that leads to a fine swimming beach on the south coast. There are many caves that homed many monks including a local here during the revolution of 1866. Also impressive is the natural lagoon connected underground with the sea. Return to Sivas. B.D. Walking distance 4kms each way / no significant elevation variance Day 25. Tue 17 th Oct. Drive to Lassithi Plateau and optional ascent of Mt Karfi South east of Heraklion lies the mountain fringed Lasithi Plateau, laid out like an immense patchwork quilt and very picturesque. The plateau is 900m above sea level and is a vast expanse of apple and pear orchards, almond trees and fields of crops, dotted by some 7000 windmills. There are not conventional stone windmills, but slender metal constructions with white canvas sails. They were built in the 17 th century to irrigate the rich farmland but few of the windmills are now in service. Most have been replaced by less attractive mechanical pumps. There are 20 villages dotted around the periphery of the plateau. We also pick up several important places here. Mt Karfi is a minor peak on the north side of the plateau which offers the remains of a Minoan settlement and panoramic views to the north coast. We will also visit Dikteon Cave near Pshyro Village. The cave is where Zeus was born according to mythology. We spend a couple of nights on the Lassithi plateau at Pshyro Village. B.D. Walking distance 5kms / 3 hours / 300m ascent and descent Day 26. Wed 18 th Oct. Ascent of Mt Dikti (2148m) To the south of the Lassithi is the Dikti Massif with Mt Dikti itself the highest point. A good solid climb where we are likely to see eagles soaring over the cliffs of the impressive west face of the mountain. The summit offers an unbelievable view of the Lassithi plateau and eastern Crete. Return to our village accommodation. B.D. Walking distance 14kms / 7 hours / 1000m ascent and descent Day 27. Thu 19 th Oct. Spinalonga Island Heading northeast we reach the Gulf of Mirabello and little port of Plaka form where we take a short boat trip across to visit one of Crete s most fascinating sites the beautiful island of Spinalonga. The island s massive fortress was built by the Venetians in 1579 to protect Eloundra Bay and the Gulf of Mirabello. It withstood Turkish sieges for longer than any other Cretan stronghold, finally surrendering in 1715, some 30 years after the rest of Crete. The Turks used the island as a base for smuggling. Following the reunion of Crete with Greece, Spinalonga Island became a leper colony. The last leper died in 1953 and the island has been uninhabited ever since. The island is a fascinating place to explore, with an aura that is both macabre and poignant. Following our visit we will drive west to Heraklion, the biggest city on Crete for our final night on Crete. Heraklion (also known as Iraklio and Iraklion) is a bustling, modern city. The nearby Minoan ruins of Knossos are a major drawcard, which we will see tomorrow. B.D. Day 28. Fri 20 th Oct. Knossos and fly to Athens Today we will visit Knossos, to enjoy the magnificent archaeological area holding remains of a Minoan city that thrived 3500 years ago and the famous palace dated 170 1450 BC, excavated by Sir Arthur Evans in 1900. Knossos was in fact the capital of Minoan Crete and is a fascinating place with many frescoes, mighty columns, passageways and courts. Then to the Archaeological Museum, where we can experience the cultural birth of Europe in the exhibition of artifacts of the Minoan period. Take in the impressions of the gracious charm and elegance of the finds form the palaces of Knossos, Malia, Phaestos and Kato Zakros. Then a later flight on to Athens for our final night in Greece. B.D. Day 29. Sat 21 st Oct. Departure day The trip finishes after breakfast and a transfer to the airport, or maybe you are staying on in Greece a bit longer. B.
Booking Conditions : FMC Travel Club and Travel Smart Napier 1. The FMC Travel Club (FMC) offers this small group trip in conjunction with Travel Smart Napier (TSN). All travel arrangements for the operation of the core trip are made with TSN. Participants agree to all terms and conditions by signing the Registration Form. 2. FMC and TSN are not responsible or liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may arise from weather, defect in any vehicle, vessel or aircraft, of through the acts or default of any person or company engaged in carrying out any of the arrangements of the trip. 3. We reserve the right to cancel the trip if minimum numbers don t eventuate. In such an event, all monies paid will be fully refunded. We also reserve the right to make any modifications that may be essential, or to offer a modified trip to a smaller number of people. 4. The trip includes a payment to FMC. 5. Registrations are accepted in good faith on a first comers basis on receipt of the Registration Form. The deposit is $3500 per person and will be invoiced once a core minimum number of registrations have been received. Registrations close by 31 st March 2017 (or earlier if the trip fills) and final balance is due by 30 th June 2017. All payments may be made by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, internet banking, visa or mastercard to the offices of TSN. All or any payments by Visa or Mastercard adds $200 to the final trip price. Our preferred method of payment is internet banking. Please use : 010685 0151601 00 at ANZ Napier. Heerlen Ltd T/A Travel Smart Napier (with a covering email). Cheques must be payable to Travel Smart Napier. 6. Events beyond our control such as currency fluctuations or any unforeseen additional costs may affect the overall trip price. We cannot guarantee the price until such times as full payment has been received. Upon full payment, the trip price is guaranteed. 7. Cancellations. If you need to cancel your registration for any reason, you must advise TSN in writing as soon as possible. An email is acceptable, a phone call alone is not. Travel insurance will cover you for unforeseen circumstances but will not cover you for changing your mind after committing to the trip. Cancellation fees apply as follows : Cancellations received from 1 st April to 30 th June 2017 incur a fee of $3500 (the deposit) Cancellations received from 1 st July 2017 onwards incur a fee of 100% of trip costs. 8. Travel insurance is mandatory. We recommend QBE Travel Insurance and a brochure/application by email or post is available any time, just ask. You will receive a special FMC discount on the premium. Details of any travel insurance other than QBE must be provided before departure. For your own protection, travel insurance should be effective from 31 st March 2017, the date that trip deposits become non-refundable.
Registration Form Greece 2017 Complete and send to John Dobbs at TSN with a passport copy. Registrations ideally close by 31 st March 2017 (or earlier if the trip fills). So your earliest commitment is appreciated. All or any payments by Visa or Mastercard adds $200 to the final trip price. Our preferred payment method is internet banking into : 010685 0151601 00 at ANZ Napier (with covering email please). Do not send the deposit initially, this will be requested once a core minimum number of participants have registered. Your full name(s) as per passport(s) and please underline or highlight your preferred first name(s)... Mailing address. Day phone.night phone Mobile.. Email.Date(s) of birth.. What are your recent tramping experiences? How often do you tramp? Please extend your answers overleaf or on separate paper, or by email. Specify any dietary requirements, allergies or medical conditions. Contact person in NZ for any emergencies : name, address, contact phone numbers, email and the relationship to you. In the event of any emergency, this is the sole person you are authorizing us to liaise with I/We have read the full trip dossier and I / We agree to pay all trip costs by due date, as advised by invoice. I / We understand that the final trip price is subject to minimum numbers and other cost impacts as detailed under the Booking Conditions section; therefore the final trip price cannot be guaranteed until such times as full payment has been made..signed and dated by each person registering Send to : John Dobbs, FMC Travel Club Convenor Travel Smart Napier. Civic Court, Dickens Street, Napier 4110. P : 06 8352222 E : john@tsnapier.co.nz