Greece · Crete
Crete and the south Aegean
Seven nights from Chania — Balos, the roadless south coast and the crossing towards the Cyclades.
7 nights · Round trip from Chania
Crete is not a Greek island so much as a country that happens to be one, and the half of it worth reaching is the half with no road to it. The south coast is served by ferry or by boat and by nothing else, which is why a chartered week here goes somewhere a hire car cannot.
The route, day by day
Day 1
Chania
Board in the Venetian harbour, which is the best-preserved on the island, and take the short run west along the Rodopou peninsula.
Day 2
Balos
The lagoon at the north-west tip: a sandbar between the mainland and Gramvousa, with the Venetian fortress above it. Early, before the tripper boats from Kissamos.
Day 3
Elafonisi
Round the western corner. Pink sand from crushed shell, shallow water for a long way out, and an island you can walk to when the level drops.
Day 4
Loutro
On to the south coast, which has no road along it at all. Loutro is reachable by boat or on foot and by nothing else — white houses round a bay, and no cars because there is nowhere for them to go.
Day 5
Agia Roumeli
Where the Samaria gorge comes out at the sea. The walk down takes most of a day if anyone wants it; the anchorage takes none.
Day 6
Gavdos
The southernmost point of Europe, four hours offshore, with more goats than people. Weather permitting — and when it does not, the south coast has plenty left.
Day 7
Chania
Back round the west end and into the harbour, with a last stop at Menies or Diktynna on the way.
Worth knowing
- Two yachts are based in Greece; the rest are positioned from the eastern Mediterranean for your dates
- The south coast has no road: Loutro, Agia Roumeli and Gavdos are reachable by sea or on foot only
- Gavdos is an open crossing and depends on the forecast — the week is built so it can be dropped
- Chania and Heraklion airports both serve the island; Chania is much closer to the base
- May and October work here in a way they do not further north — Crete's season is longer
Where this route goes
Yachts that sail this route
Itineraries
Sail this route
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