Foreign Trip – Crete
Tuesday 5th - Tuesday 12th May 2026

An early flight from Gatwick took 16 club members to the beautiful Greek island of Crete.  From Chania airport we travelled to our accommodation across the mountains to the village of Paleochora.  Our accommodation in the apartments at Zygos, just across from the sandy beach, provided a comfortable base to return to after strenuous days of walking.  There were plenty of tavernas nearby, serving good quality Greek food and local wine in the evenings where we could reminisce about the days walk.

Thanks to Richard W and Michael, a great walking plan was in place.  Day 1 was an acclimatisation walk of about 11Km from Krisos beach to Elafonisi island.  Day 2 saw the start of some mountain walking, from the plane of Omalos on a marked path southeast to Koukoule summit some 1629m.  From the summit we joined the E4 path and turn west to the Kallergi refuge for our overnight stay. On the second day we indertook the White mountain circuit, with our descent from the mountains taking us from Gingilos to Xiloskala.  

Crete has many gorges on this coast, so on day 5 we enjoyed the Katsomatados to Malia-Topolia gorge walk.  On our final day of walking, we ambled up the gorge to Anidri village from Palechora, where we had a long relaxed lunch of typical local food and wine before we waddled back down yet another gorge and along the beach to our base in Palechora.

Fine wine, delicious food, and fabulous walking but most of all great company on yet another great club trip.  

Debbie Hibberd, Trip organiser.