Walking inCrete, Greece2027

Walks & Treks

Solos Board

From
£1699

+approx. £12.39 in tourist taxes payable locally

7 nights in Crete

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No single supplements

Your own room guaranteed

Fly from local airports

100% solo travellers

What to expect on our Crete walking holiday

Five Guided Walks

Ancient paths, olive groves & valleys

Town & Village Charm

Explore Chania, Polyrrinia & Falasarna

Traditional Cuisine

Local taverna meals with new friends

Seafront Kissamos Hotel

Stay at family-run Elena Beach Hotel

About this trip...

Discover the rugged beauty and warm spirit of Crete on a sociable guided walking holiday designed for those who love exploring at an easy-going pace. Based in the charming coastal town of Kissamos, this rewarding week blends varied guided walks with plenty of time to unwind. You’ll hike ancient paths through olive groves, peaceful gorges and flower-studded hillsides, stopping to admire sweeping sea views that stretch towards the horizon. Explore the winding alleys of Chania, wander to the golden sands of Falasarna and follow the ancient mule paths of the Rodopou Peninsula. With delicious Cretan meals, welcoming tavernas and your own room to retreat to each night, it’s the perfect blend of fresh air, culture and great company—everything a refreshing Greek escape should be.

Our Crete walking holidays combine everything we love about Greece: by day we soak up the sun, sea, and stunning landscapes with our Solos group, and by evening you’re free to enjoy the local tavernas and a slice of Greek life.

Activity Level: Activity Level Rating

What's this?

What's included?

Flights & transfers
Airport taxes & charges
Sea-view room twin/double room for sole use with private facilities
Solos Board: Daily breakfast & two dinners
Snacks, fruit, local delicacies and mineral water on walking days
Welcome drink & information meeting
Five guided walks
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully financially protected

What's extra:

Insurance click here
Climate Crisis Resilience Tax – €5 per night, payable locally

Itinerary

Arrival Day
Ridge Route
Walking in the Platanias Hills & Chania
Falasarna Hike
Day at leisure
Ravdoucha–Kissamos
Sirikari–Polyrinnia
Departure Day

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrival Day

On arrival at Chania Airport, we'll transfer to our beachfront hotel in the charming coastal town of Kissamos. After time to settle into your room, meet your fellow solo travellers over a welcome drink before enjoying dinner together and an introduction to the exciting week of walking ahead.

Dinner included

Day Two: Ridge Route to Kissamos

After breakfast, we travel to the picturesque hilltop village of Polyrrinia, home to one of western Crete's most important archaeological sites. Enjoy time to discover its fascinating history before setting off on our first walk of the week. Following a short but steady ascent, the route gradually descends through fertile countryside, olive groves and peaceful rural landscapes, with panoramic views across the sea, mountains and valleys. It's easy to see why this location held such strategic importance throughout history.

We arrive back in Kissamos with free time to enjoy lunch at one of the local beachfront tavernas before spending the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Polyrrinia - Kissamos: 12 km ± 4 hrs ↑ 149 m ↓ 149 m
Breakfast included

Day Three: Walking in the Platanias Hills & Chania

After breakfast, we head to the traditional village of Kirtomados to begin today's walk through the peaceful hills surrounding Platanias. Following quiet paths lined with olive groves, we pass small chapels and traditional stone houses while enjoying beautiful views across the Cretan countryside. Wild herbs such as thyme and sage perfume the air as we make our way towards the coast.

After the walk, we continue to the historic city of Chania. One of Crete's most picturesque towns, Chania is renowned for its charming Venetian harbour, iconic lighthouse and maze of narrow streets, where you'll have free time to explore, browse the local shops or enjoy lunch at one of the many cafés and tavernas before returning to Kissamos.

Kirtomados – Platanias: 6 km ± 2.5 hrs ↑ 88 m ↓ 108 m
Breakfast included

Day Four: Hike to Falasarna

Today's walk is one of the highlights of the week as we make our way from our hotel to the spectacular sandy beach of Falassarna. Setting off from Kissamos, we tackle two hills, rewarded along the way with breathtaking panoramic views across Crete's dramatic west coast. Passing through a traditional village, olive groves and scenic coastal trails, we eventually arrive at the golden sands of Falassarna. There will be time to relax, enjoy a swim in the crystal-clear waters or purchase lunch at one of the beachfront tavernas before our transfer back to the hotel.

12 km ± 4 ½ hrs ↑ 492 m ↓ 492 m
Breakfast included

Day Five: Day at leisure

Today can be spent at leisure to rest at the hotel and enjoy the local resort.

Breakfast & dinner included

Day Six: Coastal path, along the gulf of Kissamos

The Rodopou Peninsula is an untouched gem, with dramatic cliffs, secluded beaches and ancient ruins. Its remoteness gives us a real sense of solitude, and we pass many churches and chapels along the way. We begin our hike near the hamlet of Ravdoucha. Today’s route follows part of the Kalderimi network — ancient mule paths that once connected rural communities with the rest of the island. The trail zigzags and meanders down to sea level, where we finish with a walk along the beach back to our hotel.

Ravdoucha – Kissamos: 12 km ± 3.5 hrs ↑ 35 m ↓ 202 m
Breakfast included

Day Seven: The Gorge of Tsichliano

We save one of the week's most rewarding walks until last as we travel into the heart of western Crete. Beginning near the mountain village of Sirikari, our route descends into the beautiful Tsichliano Gorge. The trail winds through a peaceful valley where towering cliffs provide welcome shade and create a haven for native flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for griffon vultures soaring high above as we follow the path through this unspoilt landscape. Although there are a few steeper sections, we'll take them at a comfortable pace. At the end of our walk, there will be time to enjoy lunch in the local area before returning to the hotel.

This evening, we come together for a farewell dinner to celebrate a wonderful week exploring western Crete.

Sirikari – Polyrrinia: 7 km ± 3 hrs ↑ 321 m ↓ 594 m
Breakfast & dinner included

Day Eight: Departure day

After breakfast, we check out and transfer to Chania Airport for our flight home.

Breakfast included

Accommodation

Elena Beach Hotel

The Elena Beach Hotel is a welcoming, family-run hotel in the charming coastal town of Kissamos, ideally situated on the sandy shores of Mavros Molos Beach. Its beachfront location provides a relaxing base for exploring western Crete, while the town's cafés, traditional tavernas and local shops are all within easy walking distance. The hotel also features an on-site restaurant serving a selection of local and international dishes.

Rooms are bright and comfortable, each with a private balcony, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, safe and hairdryer.

Dates & Prices

Departure	Return	Nights	Price from	Other Info	Regional flights
11 May 2027	18 May 2027	7	£1795 +approx. £12.39 local fees		Book regional flights online
5 Oct 2027	12 Oct 2027	7	£1699 +approx. £12.39 local fees		Book regional flights online

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Essential Information

Walking Programme

Guided walks are included as part of this holiday. Your dedicated walking guide will brief you in resort on the daily walking programme.

The walking programme is graded by difficulty, and you can expect to walk varying distances with a range of ascents and descents. Some walks may be challenging, with uneven or rough terrain underfoot and sections at higher altitude. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for full details of each walk.

A good level of physical fitness is required to fully enjoy this holiday.

It is important that you consider whether your chosen holiday is suitable for your level of fitness, mobility and any medical conditions or additional needs. If you are unsure, please contact our team before booking. We will be happy to discuss the holiday requirements and your individual circumstances to help you decide whether the holiday is suitable for you.

We are committed to treating all customers fairly and will consider any reasonable adjustments where possible. Please let us know before booking if you have a disability, medical condition or any additional requirements that may affect your holiday. This allows us to assess whether we can safely and appropriately accommodate your needs and to ensure you have the best possible holiday experience.

Care should be taken at all times, particularly on uneven or wet terrain. If you normally use walking poles, we recommend bringing them with you. Sturdy walking boots or walking shoes are essential.

Please note that the route and content of the walking programme may need to change during the holiday, at the discretion of the specialist walking guide or local organiser, if local conditions require.

If you have any concerns during your trip, please speak to your specialist walking guide or Solos Tour Leader.

For further information, please refer to our website Terms and Conditions https://www.solosholidays.com/uk/terms-and-conditions/

Gratuities

We suggest a Group Collection to cover guides, transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €35.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % add on.

Walking programme

Five guided walks are included in the programme. The walking programme is graded moderate and you can expect to walk between 6-12 km per day with some ascents/descents, rough underfoot terrain and high altitudes involved Below are the distances for each walk, however please bear in mind these are approximate and subject to change due to local conditions

Ridge Route: Polyrrinia - Kissamos 12 km ± 4 hrs ↑ 149 m ↓ 149 m

Kirtomados – Platanias: 6 km ± 2 ½ hrs ↑ 88 m ↓ 108 m

Kissamos – Falassarna: 12 km ± 4 ½ hrs ↑ 492 m ↓ 492 m

Ravdoucha–Kissamos: 12 km ± 3 ½ hrs ↑ 35 m ↓ 202 m

Sirikari–Polyrinnia: 7 km ± 3 hrs ↑ 321 m ↓ 594 m

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking. You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet.

If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require.

Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.

Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements Greece

To enter Greece mainland or the Greek Islands your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.

Visa Information

A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday

All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Greece Foreign Advice

If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.

From the 12th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.

Health requirements

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Greece

Currency Greece

Euros

Time difference

Greece is 2 hours ahead of the UK

What to Wear - Walking Days

It is important that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. The weather, even in summer, can be unpredictable. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:

Walking boots with good ankle support
Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
Walking socks – several pairs
Lightweight fleece or jumper
Hat & gloves
Daysack/rucksack for walking
Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellent, etc
Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.