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Crete 12 Days by Car

Crete 12 Days by Car - East and West

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Bob from USA said

"I've been reading the incredible information on your website as I plan a 12 day trip to Crete. I must say I am a bit overwhelmed. I did read the 12 day itinerary and was surprised that Chania was given 1 day. We are flying in from Athens and will return to Athens. So now I am really confused. I need some help with planning a 12 day trip to Crete with combination of relaxation and fun for a couple.

We would like to visit both sides of the island. Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymnon and Chania have been the regions I have explored and seem to get the most attention for planning but I am opened to branch out further East and west to experience Elafonissi, Balos and Vai Beach.

We are interested in hiking the Samaria gorge. Although we are intrigued with a lot of the out of the way places in your books - we also want to have time to just hang out and not spend our entire trip traveling in the car. Any feedback on places to stay that are near the beach or have a pool would be helpful. No need for fancy resort however we do prefer a nice place to stay. Also - when planning - is it best to start west (Chania) and go east or start more central (Heraklion) and explore the east first. Need some help with the logistics of renting a car and dropping off?"

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Crete 12 Days by Car

Crete 12 Days by Car - East and West

Yiasas Bob

Your trip to Crete sounds exciting and it is our pleasure to offer a few suggestions below.

You said that you are arriving into Heraklion on 18 June and fly out to Athens on 29 June, giving time to visit Crete for around 12 days. In Crete you would hire a car and want to stay in 2 locations in homes with a pool and use these as a base for exploring, but not moving around too much.

With a love of relaxing at the beach, enjoying good food, and exploring a great deal, this will be a varied trip around Crete.

Your 'wish list' of destinations in Crete is:

• Agios Nikolaos
• Elounda
• Sitia
• Vai Beach
• Knossos + Archaeological Museum
• Heraklion
• Rethymnon
• Chania
• Samaria or Imbros Gorge
• Perhaps Platanias Beach
• Balos Lagoon
• Elafonisi Beach

See our suggestions below, of course all final bookings are your decision and these are provided for your interest. Information pages are also included below.

Accommodation
We have made suggestions for 2 locations in Crete so that you can use these as your bases for exploring each region.

June
This is a good month to visit Greece, as the weather is still warm but not crazily hot. Minimum temperatures are 18°C and maximum average is 28°C. and the water temperatures are great for swimming. Summer tourists have not yet arrived. More space for you and easier to explore. We would recommend booking in early, however, for your accommodation in late June.

Crete
We suggest arriving into Heraklion Airport HER and departing via Chania Airport CHQ. This will prevent doubling back too much. In the east we have suggested staying 5 nights on Ammoudara Beach just 5 km from Agios Nikolaos.

We have included 1 night in Chania Old Town because you said you wanted to perhaps stay at a nearby beach. We do love Chania town, so if you want to stay longer, it would be most enjoyable.

We have included 5 nights in the west of the island close to Chania. We have suggested Agia Marina Beach which is only 10 km from town, so you could easily visit the town for dinner. We have measured distances from Agia Marina. From here you can depart via Chania Airport.

Each self-drive day trip is just a suggestion, you can take a rest day, do a partial or a full day trip; the choice is yours. If you do follow our suggestions, you will see all the places on your wish list.

Insurance
Please arrange your most important travel insurance for door to door coverage, see insurance information here.

 

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Crete 12 Days by Car

Your Personalised Itinerary

Crete 12 Days by Car - East and West

Day One - Tues 18 June
Arrive Heraklion Airport
Pick up your rental car
Drive east to Agios Nikolaos 67 km
Stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel
Stock up on food from Agios Nikolaos, for upcoming day trips

Day Two - Wed 19 June
Relax by the pool or visit nearby beaches of Mochlos, Pachia Ammos and Istron 60 km round trip
or self-drive day trip to Sitia, Toplou Monastery & Winery and Vai Beach
143 km round trip
Stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel

Day Three - Thurs 20 June
Self-drive and boat trip
Take a boat to either Chrissi Island or Spinalonga Island
Drive to Elounda 60 km round trip then boat to Spinalonga
Drive to Ierapetra 30 km round trip then boat to Chrissi
Stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel

Day Four - Fri 21 June
Self-drive day trip to Zakros Gorge, Zakros Palace and Kato Zakros Beach
180 km round trip
Stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel

Day Five - Sat 22 June
Rest day
Dinner at a taverna on Mochlos Beach
or stroll and dine in Agios Nikolaos
Stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel

Day Six - Sun 23 June
Self-drive across to the west
Drive to Knossos Archaeological Site
Visit early to avoid the crowds
Get a 'Skip the Line' ticket with local guide
Drive on to Heraklion centre to visit the Archaeological Museum
Then on through Rethymnon to Chania town
Direct route would be 210 km
Visit some beaches along the way, Agia Pelagia, Panormos, Bali
Stay within the walls of the Old Town
Stay at Fagotto Art Residences or Casa Delfino

Day Seven - Mon 24 June
Explore the old town of Chania
Lunch by the harbour
Museums, local cuisine and wine and historic old town in the afternoon
Stock up on snacks and food for lunches for day trips
Drive on to Agia Marina Beach 10 km
Stay at Vergina Beach Hotel

Day Eight - Tues 25 June
Day trip self-drive and boat
Balos Lagoon
30 km each way to Kissamos town
Boat trips leave from the harbour
Dinner at a seaside taverna on Kissamos Bay
Stay at Agia Marina Beach
Stay at Vergina Beach Hotel

Day Nine - Wed 26 June
Rest day
or Drive to Georgioupolis Beach 92 km
Visit inland Lake Kournas 5 km and Argiroupolis Village
92 km round trip
Dinner at Horiatiko paradosiaki taverna
Stay at Agia Marina Beach
Stay at Vergina Beach Hotel

Day Ten - Thurs 27 June
Take an organised day tour to Samaria Gorge
or a self-drive hike to Agia Irini Gorge
Drive to Agia Irini Village 88 km round trip
Hike Agia Irini Gorge 7 or 12 km
Lunch in Sougia Village by the sea
Taxi back to your car
Lunch by the seaside at Sougia village
Stay at Agia Marina Beach
Stay at Vergina Beach Hotel

Day Eleven - Fri 28 June
Self-drive day tour to Elafonisi Beach
126 km round trip
Stay at Agia Marina Beach
Stay at Vergina Beach Hotel

Day Twelve - Sat 29 June
Drive from Agia Marina to Chania Airport 30 km
Drop off your hire car at Chania Airport
Depart for Athens - flight duration 1 hour
Fly Olympic Airlines or Aegean Airlines Chania code is CHQ
Stay at Sofitel Athens Airport to rest before long haul flight

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Local Food

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Map of your Holiday

Your Trip to Crete - East and West - here is the outline of your trip through Crete, showing the route from the airport to each location in blue and day trip ideas in purple.

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Your Trip to Crete
Information Pages for Your Trip

Your Trip to Crete - East and West - contacts in case you need them.

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Crete 12 Days by Car
Your Holiday in Pictures

Your Trip to Crete - East and West - experience the journey and plan your trip

Eastern Crete

Central and Western Crete

Enjoy the romance of the old town of Chania.

Samaria Gorge is best visited on an organised day tour. It is quite a challenging walk and you need good moderate fitness. There are quite a few boulders to cross over.

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Crete 12 Days by Car
Contacts

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About the Team

Yiásas!
Anastasi, Apostoli & Katia are the
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We just love sharing our passion for Crete, Greece and travel
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