This is a full tour around the region of Chania, in the West. It is divided in 8 days and covers most of the region.
Day 1 - The city of Chania, the old town. Preferably done in the morning as it tends to be less crowded, the museums are open, the light is bright and beautiful. Short stop at the 2,500 year-old olive tree in the countryside. On to spectacular Balos, then Falassarna which isn't that far away. End the day with a dinner at Thalassino Ageri. Of course you don't have to do everything in one day. This itinerary is best enjoyed at your own pace.
Day 2 - Drive towards the Southwest. On the way, your first stop is the traditional and very interesting olive wood shop which is right by the side of the road. It should be still around morning - noon time so it's a great time to visit the monastery of Chryssoskalitissa with its breathtaking views to the sea. Then, on to nearby Stomio taverna for lunch. The food is unreal there! And your next stop, Elafonissi lagoon, is a mere 10 minutes drive away. I know what you're thinking: why on Earth would I go to the sea right after lunch? Well, the waters at Elafonissi are quite shallow. You need to walk far towards the deep sea. I mean it can't just happen by accident that you will suddenly find yourself in deep waters. Which means it's ideal for families and for chilling on the pink sand.
Day3 - The day begins in the mainland, around the lush green Nature of Chania, trying the amazing wines at Dourakis winery. Spending an entire morning there and having early lunch isn't a bad idea either. If you wish to bathe in crystal clear waters, the pretty beachfront town of Almyrida isn't but a short drive away. Close to that is the traditional village of Vryses, with the rivers flowing under the bridges and the swans and ducks keeping you company as you unwind under the shade of the huge plane trees. After that, Lake Kournas is nearby. A beautiful freshwater lake with a distinct green-turqoise colour, audacious ducks and a beautiful mountainous surrounding.
Day 4 - Now this day is full of adventure. I'm giving you the full adventurous version of the day first, and then at the end a less adventurous version. You'll be seeing the same things in both. The first one involves hiking the E4 trail, from Loutro to Agia Roumeli. This will take you to some of the most spectacular trails you'll do in Crete, in extremely quiet and remote spots, next to the sea. It's an all-day hiking route, so I suggest you begin early in the morning. Ideally, you should begin your day already in Loutro. How you get there? The simplest way is to take the ferry from nearby Sfakia. There are daily ferry rides from Sfakia to Loutro, Agia Roumeli and Paleochora, operated by ANENDYK Ferries. You can then spend the night at Agia Roumeli and continue your journey to either Gavdos island (south) or Paleochora (west). But before that, you will get to see the wild gorge of Aradena, swim in the caves of Marmara, walk on the steep sandy hills of Agios Pavlos and into the thick pine forests. Alternatively, this is plan B: If you don't feel like hiking, you can hop from spot to spot by ferry. Start at Sfakia and make your way to Agia Roumeli. You can take it even slower, by spending a night in Loutro and continuing to Aradena/Marmara and Agia Roumeli the next day. See the timetable here: https://anendyk.gr/routes/
Day 5, 6, 7: I have dedicated at least 3 days in Gavdos for this 1-week itinerary. Of course, you could change this to 4, 5 days or even a week just for this unique island south of Crete. You get there from Sfakia, Loutro, Agia Roumeli and Paleochora. Check out the "Gavdos" things to do in order to get ideas and recommendations for the island and how to spend your days there.
