Hiking in Western Crete – 8 of the best

Crete has much to offer outside the busy tourist resorts: there are remote beaches, rugged mountains, hidden gorges, remote villages, and ancient monuments to explore.

Crete has to be the number one Greek Island for hiking. There are countless well-marked spectacular walks, from easy strolls along deserted beaches to more arduous treks up to the peaks of the high white mountains, and everything in between.

We stayed for 2 weeks in September, and at the time our children were still quite young at 4 and 6 years old. The walks we did were all therefore fairly short and easy. They were all stunning though, and I would do them all again if we ever return to Crete.

When to go and where to stay

Temperatures are perfect for walking in the cooler spring and autumn months. The sea temperatures at these times are also fine for swimming. These hikes are all easily accessible from the Chania area with the use of a hire car. There are numerous budget package deals available to Chania.

1. Agia Irini Gorge walk

This is a one-way walk from the top of the Gorge down to the small village of Sougia. The last few 4km are along a quiet road that leads to the village. There are regular buses that will take you back up to the car park at the top of the Gorge.

There is a nice beach in Sougia, plus a couple of places to grab a drink and food. It is a lovely place to relax while you wait for the return bus.

2. Easy stroll to Balos Beach

This is a pretty easy stroll down to the stunning Balos Beach and back. We chose to do this walk in the late afternoon to avoid the crowds and the strong midday sun. There is no shade here, and the tourist-laden boats all leave in the late afternoon. When the sun starts to get low in the sky the light here is stunning. The water is warm in this shallow sheltered bay and perfect for a dip.

3. Easy stroll in Elafonisi

This is another easy stroll around a very pretty area, famous for the pink sand. There were a lot of other tourists visiting here when we visited.

4. Gouverneto

This is a moderate walk that leads from a monastery down a narrow Gorge to the sea. There are some old ruins in the gorge and a couple of small rock-cut chapels. You can swim in the sea before walking back the way you came.

5. Imbros Gorge walk

This is a fantastic walk down a spectacular Gorge, although the last couple of km’s are along an asphalt road that winds its way down to Sfakia. Sfakia is a small quaint fishing port that is famous for staging the evacuation of Allied troops from Crete in WW2. Boats arrive here bringing tourists back from the Samaria Gorge walk. You can catch a coach back up to the car park at the top of the Gorge, although you may have to wait: it won’t depart until the ferry arrives with tourists from Samaria Gorge.

6. Samaria Gorge walk

This is the most famous walk on Crete. We did not do it, as Reece was only 4 years old and we weren’t sure if he would enjoy a 12km walk. I include it in this list for the sake of completion. Numerous tour companies will arrange this tour for you, and it is probably easiest if you do it this way.

7. Sfakia to Loutro

This is a lovely hike along the coast to the small pretty fishing village of Loutro. The trail is a bit narrow in places where it is cut high into a cliff face, so keep an eye on the kids. Loutro has no road access, its isolation makes for a charming and peaceful visit. You can return to Sfakia either by walking or by catching a small water taxi. We chose the water taxi.

8. Sougia to Ancient Lissos

Lissos is an ancient Greek and Roman settlement nestled in a beautiful bay, accessible only by foot or boat. It is a fairly easy walk there through a narrow Gorge and up over a hill. You can easily spend a few hours here exploring the rock-cut tombs and admiring the mosaic floor of the Temple of Asklepios. Return to Sougia is either by a coastal path as shown, or via water taxi from the ancient ruined harbour. The ancient harbour is now 2-3m higher than it was in antiquity due to earthquakes causing the land to rise.