Crete in October - active and adventurous

Day 1
We arrive in Chania, the largest city in Crete. On a winding and picturesque road under the mountains and above the sea, between tall cypresses and colorful oleanders, we get in the mood for this divine island. We spend the night in the picturesque village of Spilia, at the Spilia Village Hotel & Villas, our base camp for the next few days. Upon arrival, we enjoy a welcome drink and a fantastic dinner. You don’t yet know what to expect, but you are curious and very excited about new experiences.

Day 2
We start this day with a morning fitness and running workout. You run under the olive trees for the first time, past the vineyards. Here you pause for a moment. You look out over the nearby sea. The sound of a church bell will reach you from a distance and as you breathe in, the scent of oranges will fill your nose. And on the way back you will pick one from the tree. 
After breakfast, we go to the beach. Here we enjoy the wonderfully clear sea and the beautiful beach. 
And we spend the evening doing power yoga on the beach, meditating and visualizing the next day. What will it be like?

Day 3
Early in the morning we drive to the village of Xyloskalo in the Lefka Ori Mountains, also known as the Cretan Alps. And here we will spend a day full of beauty and wonder! A full-day hike through the 18 km long Samaria Gorge awaits us. It is one of the most impressive and picturesque areas of the island.
The gorge cuts through rock faces that are between 200 and 2,300 meters high. Here we will be able to admire the most beautiful Cretan cypresses. Here we meet the last wild goats, called Agrimi or Kri-Kri by the Cretans. We pass the deserted village of Samaria, where there is a church dating back to the 14th century. We reach the coastal village of Agia Rouméli, where we swim in the beautiful waters of the Libyan Sea. We return to the bus by boat, and in the evening, over dinner or while relaxing by the pool, we will remember the beautiful day with a smile on our faces.

Day 4
Today we will do another morning fitness and running workout. This will include dynamic stretching exercises and popular exercises for the core and pelvic floor. After breakfast, we head to the beach to enjoy a beautiful Cretan sunny day. 
We end the day with power yoga on the beach with a view of the sea and the setting sun, breathing techniques and meditation to prepare for the next hike.

Day 5
Today we will spend the day in the mountains. The Imbross Gorge is supposedly more beautiful than Samaria! Is it really? The gorge originally connected Chania and Sfakia and was the scene of various battles during the Turkish occupation in 1821 and 1867. Along the way, we will be able to admire cypresses, oaks and Cretan maple trees. But also the red-colored rock arch, the Xepitira Arch. In the evening we will have dinner. And what will you do then? Go to a local taverna in the square, perhaps with live Greek music, or to a taverna under the plane trees. It’s up to you!

Day 6
Agia Irini is wild and rugged, but “Irini” means tranquillity. And that is exactly the tranquillity we are looking for on this day. We explore the gorge where almost nobody goes. Here we will cross the rocks and lift our heads to the high walls, where we may discover a cave.
In a local taverna, a smiling Greek prepares souvlaki, a delicious salad and a hearty soup. A real Greek lunch that we will enjoy under the olive trees. Did you know that there are more than a million olive trees on Crete? 
Before dinner, we explore the village of Frangokastelo with its romantic ruins of a Venetian fortress dating back to 1371. Here, between the massive walls, we will hear the voices of the mysterious knights who are said to appear every year on May 17 shortly after sunrise. In the nearby village of Sougia, we can enjoy the sight of the dark waves of the Libyan Sea.

Day 7
In the morning, we wake up again to the sound of birdsong, tie the laces of our sneakers and walk between the olive and orange trees. Once again we meet local farmers who call out “kalimera” to us. Once again we will feel the wind in our hair and the freedom in our hearts.
We will spend this day relaxing on the beach with a big smile on our faces. We feel better and better. You don’t know what it is, but it’s true. And you like it.  
We’ll do power yoga on the beach and meditation, relax by the pool and have endless conversations over a glass of delicious Greek wine before dinner.

Day 8
Last morning fitness and running workout, last stop on a hill between olive trees overlooking the sea. 
After breakfast, we pack our bags and head to Chania to stroll through the romantic alleys and soak up the atmosphere of this divine island a little longer. How do you feel? Fantastic! Would you like to come back? Definitely!