Take advantage of regular flights between France and Heraklion, the capital of Crete, for an 8-day getaway in total freedom. Enjoy an unforgettable vacation in Chania, with its beaches, nature outings and cultural visits! Farniente, sport, walking and history make up the magic quartet for a perfect holiday.
Region visited on this trip to Greece: Chania & Crete
N.B.: This trip to Greece is an individual, tailor-made tour, to be personalized with our specialist Greece advisors.
Étapes 1 & 3
Crete's capital hides magnificent beaches, stretches of olive groves, the palace of Knossos, an archaeological site dating back thousands of years, a hinterland dotted with small villages and monasteries, not forgetting the famous whitewashed houses.
Step 2
With its colorful Venetian harbor, charming old town streets and eclectic architectural heritage, Chania, the ancient capital of Crete, is an essential stopover on any Mediterranean trip.
Étapes 1 & 3
Crete's capital hides magnificent beaches, stretches of olive groves, the palace of Knossos, an archaeological site dating back thousands of years, a hinterland dotted with small villages and monasteries, not forgetting the famous whitewashed houses.
Pick up your rental car directly at Heraklion airport. It’s a 2-hour drive to Chania.
Halfway there, take a break in Réthymnon. Its 5-millennia-long history has forged its identity between Western (Roman, Venetian) and Eastern (Byzantine and Ottoman) influences. Today, the ancient Minoan city is a charming, colorful and exotic place. Stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, wander around its Venetian port. Discover its street markets and historic monuments, such as the Egyptian lighthouse and the Venetian loggia.
Drive the 60 kilometers back to Chania. Every night, you can choose to spend the night in Chania or Kolyvari. Chania is livelier, while inland Kolyvari is quieter.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Your choice: Overnight in Chania / Overnight in Kolyvari.
Like Rethymnon, Chania has seen many outside influences over its 4,000-year history. The result is a city that is unmistakably Cretan, with much of its architecture Venetian and dotted with colorful monuments. Stroll through its colorful, lively streets. Stop off at a café and browse the small stores. Round a bend and you’ll come across the Grand Arsenal, the Giali Tzamisi mosque or the Venetian fortress of Firkas. Chania is a constant source of wonder.
The 14th-century Venetian port is this jewel’s most astonishing site. Red, yellow, blue, ochre, green, all the colors come together in one of the most beautiful harbors in the Aegean. Don’t miss the Egyptian lighthouse, whose origins date back to the 17th century, or the 17 former shipyards of Neoria.
Finally, choose where you’d like to spend the night, between Chania and Kolyvari.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Your choice: Overnight in Chania / Overnight in Kolyvari.
Wake up early this morning to make the most of one of Crete’s most spectacular and epic hikes. You’ll hike 16 kilometers of trails through the most breathtaking limestone gorge in Europe. Accompanied by a specialist guide, you won’t miss a thing of this extraordinary masterpiece of nature. You pass through picturesque villages to the Omalos plateau. When you reach the foot of the gorge, indulge in a rejuvenating swim. Afterwards, you can enjoy lunch in a tavern, sampling local specialities. After around 6 hours’ walking, you reach the village of Agia Roumeli, only accessible on foot or by boat. Finally, you board a boat for a 1-hour cruise to the nearby port, where a transfer takes you to Chania.
Entrance to the gorge is charged on site (€5), as is the boat ticket from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia (€12.50). Transfers, however, are included.
As usual, choose where you’d like to spend the night (Chania or Kolyvari).
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Your choice: Overnight in Chania / Overnight in Kolyvari.
Spend the day on the gentle beach of Balos, 52 km from Chania, at the extreme tip of the Gramvoussa peninsula.
The Balos lagoon, with its turquoise waters and beautiful pink sand, gives you the feeling of being on vacation in the middle of the Pacific. Balos is a perfect beach, especially for children, who can marvel at the site in perfect safety thanks to the shallow waters and the protective perimeter provided by the islets of Gramvoussa and Agria Gramvoussa.
Several boats shuttle between Kissamos and Balos to let you discover this paradise lagoon.
Once again, you have the choice of spending the night in Chania or Kolyvari.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Your choice: Overnight in Chania / Overnight in Kolyvari.
Just 20 minutes from Chania, at the foot of the White Mountains, lies the Apokoronas region, home to some 30 small villages, all full of charm and beauty. The tiny village of Souri has preserved its ancient character, with just a handful of houses. Other, slightly larger villages (Armeni, Vamos, Xirosterni, Kefalas, Gavalohori, Aghios Pavlos) boast stores and restaurants serving authentic, delicious Cretan cuisine. Taste the local recipes concocted in these amazing restaurants: tsigariasto, boureki, kaltsounia, pilafi, dakos are among the best dishes of Mediterranean cuisine.
Once you’ve completed your journey through Apokronas, opt for the liveliness of Chania or the tranquility of Kolyvari.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Your choice: Overnight in Chania / Overnight in Kolyvari.
For a day of idleness and relaxation, 2 idyllic beaches await you. Falassarna is a 1-hour drive from Chania, while Elafonissi is a little further away (1h30 and 75 km).
Falassarna, with its white coral sands, is a true paradise on earth. Its dense, clear turquoise waters give the impression of swimming in a pool. The vast beach stretches for 3 km and is actually divided into 5 different beaches. To the north, you can see the remains of the ancient Roman colony of Falassarna. And before you reach the beach, make a detour to visit the other great local monument: the imposing Chrysoskalitissa monastery.
A little further on, Elafonissi is considered the most beautiful and pleasant beach in Crete, with its soft pink sand. Extremely romantic scenery for couples, shallow, warm waters for children: Elafonissi appeals to all travelers. And when the lagoon and sandy strip disappear beneath the water, the beach becomes an island again. All you have to do is walk on the water to reach Crete.
Take the extraordinary memories of these landscapes with you when you drive back to your accommodation in either Chania or Kolyvari.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Your choice: Overnight in Chania / Overnight in Kolyvari.
You leave Chania for Heraklion. The distance to the Cretan capital is 140 km, i.e. around 2 hours’ drive. Before arriving, you branch off to Knossos, the center of power of King Minos and the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete and arguably in Greece.
At Knossos, it’s hard to tell the difference between history and mythology. Greek myths are populated by the Minoan civilization that long dominated the Aegean world. In Knossos, Daedalus is said to have built his famous labyrinth, where every year King Minos delivered dozens of Greeks to the voracious appetite of the Minotaur. The Athenian Theseus finally slayed the monster, aided by Minos’ own daughter Ariadne.
Finally, head to Heraklion for an evening in the Cretan capital. The cradle of European civilization, Heraklion is today a thoroughly contemporary city, but has preserved vestiges of its glorious past. Visit its magnificent Venetian port, the impressive church of Aghios Titos, which dates back to the 10th century, the Armeria and the town hall. Visit Eleftherias Square, home to the island’s monumental prefecture, and the lively and beautiful Lions Square.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own.
Night in Heraklion.
Before returning to the airport, linger a while at Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum. With one of the richest collections in Europe, this museum gives you an insight into the history of Crete, from prehistory to Roman times, over a period of 5,500 years. Put yourself in the shoes of a Minoan or a classical Greek to observe world-famous masterpieces such as the Taurokathapsia fresco (jumping over the bull), the Phaistos Disc, the Prince of Lilies, the Saffron Gatherers, the Blue Bird, and more.
Finally, return your rental car to our partner agency and promise King Minos and the Minotaur that you’ll be back soon!
Return your rental car to the airport.
Breakfast included – Lunch and dinner on your own / included.
From 1630€
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