Just back from a week in Crete with my brother who lives in California.
This wasn't a hiking break as such but I was impressed by the E4 route which crosses Crete in several alternative sections east to west (or vice versa, obviously). It crosses each of Crete's three big (2000m+) mountain massifs as well as following sections of coast and would make a great expedition with plentiful accommodation, natural and archaeological sites/sights. We hiked up the Rouvas Gorge to the high country where the E4 proper joins from the lovely mountain village of Zaros, where most of Crete's bottled water seems to come from. The Rouvas hike is pretty straightforward, but still possible to get lost (as always!); didn't see much birdlife but did see a nice slowworm. A monk at the St Nicholas monastery on the return gave us a look at their frescos and the best Raki to be had in Crete!
This wasn't a hiking break as such but I was impressed by the E4 route which crosses Crete in several alternative sections east to west (or vice versa, obviously). It crosses each of Crete's three big (2000m+) mountain massifs as well as following sections of coast and would make a great expedition with plentiful accommodation, natural and archaeological sites/sights. We hiked up the Rouvas Gorge to the high country where the E4 proper joins from the lovely mountain village of Zaros, where most of Crete's bottled water seems to come from. The Rouvas hike is pretty straightforward, but still possible to get lost (as always!); didn't see much birdlife but did see a nice slowworm. A monk at the St Nicholas monastery on the return gave us a look at their frescos and the best Raki to be had in Crete!
Another day we walked down the very short (20 mins) Trachoulas gorge to an almost-deserted beach near Lendas on the southern coast). The mountains here, south of the Messara plain, are very dry and inhospitable. Apparently good for birds of prey, though we didn't see any.