July 2025
Friday 4th – Sunday 13th
Albanian Alps
Leader: Fanis Mamos
Ten days in the enchanting Albanian Alps.
With a direct flight from Heraklion to Tirana and internal transfers by bus, we stay in Valbona, hike through the lush landscapes of the northern Albanian mountains, and ascend their peaks. Return is by flight via Athens. A limited number of participants.
Sunday 6th
Spinalonga
Leader: Grigoris Kokolakis • Hiking duration: 6 hours • Difficulty level: 2 • Distance: 14 km • Altitude difference: 270 m
A summer excursion with swimming stops at unique beaches. The route is designed to avoid tourist crowds and the noise pollution of excursion boats. Starting from Elounda, we hike on the Spinalonga (or Kolokytha) peninsula, following old trails and passing by the beautiful beach of Armou Vathy. We also pass by the beaches of Armou Skourgeto and Pelekiti, and then, following a southeastern direction, we return to Elounda.
Sunday 13th
Mt Vrysinas – Myli Gorge
Leader: Grigoris Karandinakis • Hiking duration: 6 hours • Difficulty level: 2
We hike up a dirt road and trail to the small chapel of the Holy Spirit (Agio Pnevma) at the summit of Vrysinas (858 m), located south of Rethymno. We then descend into the Mili Gorge, where we come across the old and now deserted village of Mili, with the remains of about 30 old watermills—one of which has been restored. The hike ends at Xiro Chorio (100 m). A swim at a nearby beach follows.
Wednesday 16th
Starlit Night on the Beach
Leader: The Board of the Club
Once again this warm summer, the Heraklion Mountaineering Club leaves the mountains behind for a while to enjoy the harmony of the sea’s sound. So, dear friends and members, get ready for an evening swim and music under the starlight.
Friday 18th – Monday 21st
83rd Panhellenic Mountaineering Event – Grevena
Leader: Eleni Arnopoulou
Every year, mountaineers from all over Greece gather on a mountain peak on the weekend closest to the feast day of our patron, Prophet Elias, in July. This year, the meeting is organized by the Grevena Ski and Mountaineering Club under the auspices of the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing. It will take place at the welcoming mountain refuge of Vasilitsa, located at an altitude of 1,850 m in Northwestern Greece.
Sunday 20th
Diktamos Gorge
Leader: Nontas Giouzelis • Hiking duration: 5 hours • Difficulty level: 1 • Distance: 9 km
We begin our hike from Kato Chorio (299 m) in Rethymno and enter the Diktamos Gorge. The gorge is lush and beautiful, filled with towering plane trees and oleanders. On its steep vertical cliffs grows diktamos, the endemic herb of Crete. The trail is well-marked with red signs, but in some sections, a few difficult passages require extra caution. We finish at the village of Stylos (40 m), where our bus picks us up and takes us to a nearby beach.
Sunday 27th
Afrathias – Matala
Leader: Nikos Apostolakis • Hiking duration: 4 hours • Difficulty level: 1
A hike along the beach. Starting from Afrathias Beach, we head to the settlement of Kalamaki, where we make our first stop and swim. We continue to the small forest and Kommos Beach for our second stop and swim, then move eastward and finish at the well-known beach of Matala. Optionally, we visit the Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos).
