Walking in Crete

The adventure begins in Chania, a historic port city with a 14th-century Venetian harbour and atmospheric old town. If there’s time, we can enjoy an orientation tour, visiting the old harbour to see the Venetian lighthouse; the renovated Grand Arsenal, an ancient shipyard in honey-coloured stone; the Splanzia ruins; and Kum Kapi beach. There’s a welcome briefing this evening followed by an optional dinner together (if the flight timings permit), a great chance to get to know each other a little better. Stay: Three-star hotel in Chania.

We transfer (1hr 30min) to the coastal town of Paleochora, where we begin our first hike. Our adventure takes us east along a seaside route – part of the European E4 trail – to the village of Sougia, initially tracking a paved path before taking us to Anydri beach after a few minutes. We ease into things with a gentle first half of the hike; after around 5mi (8km), we begin an ascent to the ancient city of Lissos, once a hydrotherapy hub that bloomed in the Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine eras.

Here we visit a well-preserved temple with a floor mosaic dedicated to Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, and take a small loop around the city. We enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea and lunch, before our final ascent to Sougia beach. We then catch a transfer to our hotel for the night, where we have dinner and put our feet up. Stay: Neos Omalos Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).

Today we tackle the Unesco-listed Samaria Gorge, a 10mi (16km) long chasm running through the White Mountains to the Libyan Sea. We begin with a 10-minute transfer to the starting point, before setting out on what has to be one of the most spectacular walks in Greece. Along the way, we navigate pine, cypress and holly forests, pass 22 freshwater springs, and cut through abandoned villages and churches.

The sheer gorge walls expand and contract as we go, stretching to 490ft (150m) at their widest but squeezing to just 10ft (3m) in the tightest sections. Our route is downhill and we cross a river several times (over wooden bridges or rock hopping) but it is not a technical or difficult hike. Our goal is Agia Roumeli beach, where we stay the night – our luggage is transferred to the hotel for us.

Upon arrival and after check-in, we have time to relax and enjoy a sea swim before a group dinner. Stay: Calypso Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).

Post breakfast, we check out and begin today's walk from Agia Roumeli beach, which takes us along the southern coastline. Our goal is the tiny seaside village of Loutro, an all-white bundle of buildings backed by rocky mountains and a contender for the most beautiful settlement in Crete. Our route takes us along the coast, through the beach, past the 10th-century Byzantine chapel of Agios Pavlos and to Marmara beach. It's then a 2mi (3. 5km) hike to Loutro, though you can hop in a private boat taxi (additional cost) if you'd prefer. Stay: Hotel in Loutro (B/L/D).

We bid a fond farewell to Loutro this morning, hopping on an approximately 20-minute ferry to Chora Sfakion, where we jump into a transfer (1hr 30min) to our starting point for today's hike: the 18th-century Preveli Bridge. From here, we walk through olive groves to the renovated ruins of Preveli Monastery, before following a trail towards Preveli Beach, enjoying views of the Megalopotamos river and the mighty cliffs of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge as we go. After around 2. 5mi (4km), we reach the palm-forested beach.

The hike is a little hilly and includes 450 steps down to the shore, followed by a steep climb. We have time to recuperate after, perhaps with a swim in the Libyan Sea. We return to Preveli Bridge taking a route on the other side of the gorge before a transfer to our hotel for the night. Stay: Hotel in Rethymno (B/L).

Our hike today is a culture-soaked adventure. It starts in the once-powerful ancient Greek city of Eleftherna, now a small village, where we admire the Byzantine tower at the city entrance, the Roman reservoirs and tunnels, the acropolis, and the Hellenic bridge, before visiting the archaeological museum. Then, after a countryside walk, we visit the pottery village of Margarites, where we can visit ceramic workshops and learn about a pottery tradition stretching to the Minoan period. We also enjoy a traditional taverna lunch here and visit the nearby Arkadi Monastery.

In the afternoon, we journey back to Rethymno, visiting one of the most popular wineries in Crete along the way for a tour and tasting. Stay: Hotel in Rethymno (B).

This morning, we continue our cultural immersion with a visit to the lesser-known archaeological site of Aptera, a city-state during the ancient Greek period and, with a spot between the two port cities of Minoa (now Marathi) and Kisamo (Kalives), a one-time commercial hub. It's then time for our final hike of the trip, a near 5. 5mi (9km) loop that takes in the traditional villages of Stylos, Paidochori and Neo Chorio. We return to Chania in the afternoon with free time to relax, explore the city and pick up any last-minute souvenirs.

In the evening, we enjoy our farewell dinner, an excellent chance to swap numbers and toast our adventure. Stay: Arkadi Hotel (or similar) (B/D).

Our trip ends today after breakfast. Depending on when you wake up, you may have time for one last wander around the beautiful city of Chania before you begin your return journey home (B).