August 2013
Saturday 3rd – Sunday 4th
Elafonissi – Paleochora
Leader: Anna Papadaki • Hiking time: 5 hrs • Difficulty rating: 1
On Saturday afternoon we set off to Elafonissi with its sallow turquoise waters and white sand, where we spend the night in tents in the beautiful cedar forest. On Sunday we follow the E4 trail along the coast heading to the east. On our way we come across beautiful small beaches, where we enjoy short swims. Our hike ends in Kountoura, near Paleochora, where we take a long rest and enjoy swimming at Grammeno Beach. In the early evening we set off back to Heraklion.
Sunday 11th
Α. Tsoutsouras Gorge
Leader: Manoussos Poulinakis • Hiking time: 5.30 hrs • Difficulty rating: 1+
It’s an easy, impressive and quite narrow gorge full of short but continuous abseils, in total 13, the longest of which is 32m. We start hiking at a point on the road to Tsoutsouras village, first along a dirt road and later down along a path. The hike to the entrance of the gorge lasts about 30 minutes and the crossing about 5 hours. We come out of the gorge at Tsoutsouras beach.
Β. Tsoutsouras – Maridaki – Agios Nikitas
Leader: Fotini Volonaki • Hiking time: 4 hrs • Difficulty rating: 1
From the beach of Tsoutsouras we start hiking along a beautiful coastal trail until the settlement of Maridaki. Then we continue along a dirt road to Agios Nikitas Monastery and its wonderful beach, where we have a rest and swim. We return following the same track.
5-day trip; 18th – 24th
Anafi Island
Leader: Zoumboulia Volonaki
At the edge of the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea lies the small Island of Anafi, simple, sunny and salty, away from any modern lifestyle. We’ll get to know it by hiking across the whole of it, by swimming in its clear blue waters and by enjoying the famous hospitality of the people of the islands.
Sunday 25th
Imbros Gorge
Leader: Kitsa Vasiliadou • Hiking time: 3 hrs • Difficulty rating: 1
An easy pleasant hike crossing Imbros Gorge, Sfakia, starting from Imbros village, at 850m, and ending in Komitades village, at 200m. Then we go swimming at Frangokastello beach. The hike is suitable for new hikers and children accompanied by their parents.
5-day camping; 28th August – 1st September
Camping for children in
Agios Ioannis, Sfakia
Leader: The Mountaineering Club Board
This year the camping for children takes place in the hospitable Agios Ioannis, Sfakia in western Crete. Under olive, cypress and pine trees children can experience the forest and hike along local paths. They can also take part in team games and come into contact with the traditional way of life of the local people.
