Hike Mount Olympus, the legendary Home of the Gods, kayak through Santorini’s turquoise waters, and explore Crete’s golden beaches, the largest and most captivating of the Greek Islands. This is the ultimate Greece hiking adventure, where you’ll savor local cuisine and wine, stay in authentic accommodations, and uncover the rich history and warm spirit of ancient Greece.
Start - End: Chania - Thessaloniki
Total trip: 11 days
Average group size: 12 people
Level: 4
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Join us on an unforgettable journey through Greece’s most iconic landscapes and islands. This 11-day hiking tour blends ancient culture with breathtaking scenery, from the rugged White Mountains of Crete to the volcanic cliffs of Santorini and the mythic peaks of Mount Olympus.
Trek sections of the famed E4 Trail, savor authentic Greek cuisine at local tavernas, explore coastal tracks and ancient ruins, and sea kayak the sparkling Aegean. Each day reveals another side of Greece’s beauty, culminating with a summit hike to the legendary home of the Greek Gods.
Discover what each day entails on your epic adventure of Crete, Santorini, and then hiking the Home of the Greek Gods, Mount Olympus.
We’ll meet in the lobby of our hotel early in the evening in Chania, on the west part of the island of Crete. Our adventure begins with an orientation evening stroll around charming old Chania town before stopping for dinner at a traditional Cretan tavern.
Accommodation: Kriti Hotel or similar, Chania
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, we'll transfer to the entrance of today's hike, Agia Irini Gorge, a scenic canyon in western Crete known for its lush vegetation, dramatic cliffs, and tranquil atmosphere. Humid, shaded areas support a rich variety of plant life, and enormous ancient plane trees adorn a large clearing halfway up the trail. Our hike ends in the village of Agia Irini, where we can enjoy lunch! Then, return to Chania for a free afternoon.
Accommodation: Hotel Neos Omalos or similar, Chania
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 4.7 miles (7.5 kilometers), 3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1.650 feet (500 meters) descent
“Kalimera!” Enjoy a traditional Cretan breakfast, and set off to hike the longest gorge in Europe, the Samaria Gorge. Hiking through forests of scented pines, we reach the narrowest point, the "Iron Gates", where the rocks on each side reach an altitude of 1,969 feet (600 meters).
After our descent, we’ll reach the welcoming seaside resort of Agia Roumeli on the South Coast, with its fine pebble beach and sparkling turquoise sea - perfect for a refreshing dip!
Accommodation: Gigilos Hotel or similar, Agia Roumeli
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 9.9 miles (16 kilometers), 6.5 hours
A wonderful coastal hike awaits us! After an early rise, we leave the peaceful village in the cool morning breeze, walking on sand and shingle up to the picturesque chapel of St Pavlos (Paul), said to mark the place Saint Paul landed on Crete. A freshwater spring flows out of the pebbles right next to the chapel!
We will pause for a refreshing swim before hiking on to the mesmerizing Marmara Beach. Here we will take another dip in the clear blue water before enjoying a superb lunch at a local taverna overlooking the azure sea.
After lunch we will continue hiking to the tiny and remote seaside settlement of Loutro.
Accommodation: Kyma Hotel or similar, Loutro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 9.3 miles (15 kilometers), 4-5 hours
Today we will follow the coastal path to Chora Sfakion, stopping for a swim at quite possibly Crete’s best beach, Freshwater Beach. Also known as Sweetwater Beach, its water is impossibly deep blue due to the clear freshwater springs flowing through the small pebbles and into the sea. From Chora Sfakion we will drive to the port city of Heraklion, the capital of Crete.
In the evening we’ll explore this historic city by foot before a dinner of delicious Greek cuisine.
Accommodation: Marine Dream Hotel or similar, Heraklion
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 4.1 miles (6.6 kilometers), 3 hours
It’s just a 2-hour ferry ride to arrive in Santorini. We will drop our luggage at the hotel and set off for a wander around the streets of Fira. After lunch our expert local guide will show us around the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, where the Minoan empire flourished. Their frescos and architectural styles are astonishing even today.
Hikers across the globe dub this popular hiking trail as the Earth’s most beautiful hike and for good reasons. While walking along the rim of the volcanic Caldera, you’ll experience the breathtaking, panoramic views of the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean islands and whitewashed, blue-topped Cycladic chapels. Your epic Caldera Trail hike will start with a hotel pickup. Enjoy a scenic ride with your guide to the old mule path that connects Santorini’s capital city of Fira to the coastal village of Oia.
The path takes you past the village of Imerovigli, which features Cycladic-built homes and structures and the monastery of St. Nicholas–the Firostefani. Then you’ll take a break in the square of Imerovigli with your group, to enjoy a delicious light lunch. Continue your tour passing the iconic Prophet Elias chapel–an Orthodox chapel that sits atop a mountain and offers picturesque views of the surrounding villages and skyline. Continue your hike down the path and get your camera ready for Insta-worthy pictures of the views of Thirasia island afar as you approach Oia. Soak up the 360-degree views of the nearby villages, seaside, and more as you watch the spectacular sunset from the hilltop.
Accommodation: Nissos Thira Hotel or similar, Santorini
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 6.4 miles (10.5 kilometers), 4 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,614 feet (492 meters) ascent, 2,020 feet (619 meters) descent
This morning you’ll have time to explore Santorini in your own, before lunch and a drive to Mesa Pigadia where we’ll view Santorini from a different perspective – by sea kayak!
We’ll paddle past beautiful cave houses carved into the coastal rock and explore amazing sea caves. To the east we’ll kayak past the aptly named White Beach, with its dazzling white rock cliffs, before reaching the vivid russet rock formations of Red Beach (also aptly named!) We will take time out at Kampia Beach to snorkel and explore the marine life of the crystalline Aegean Sea.
Our epic day will end with a delicious meal of traditional Greek fare in a local taverna.
Accommodation: Nissos Thira Hotel or similar, Santorini
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kayaking: 5 hours
Today, we leave the islands and fly to Thessaloniki on mainland Greece. From here, we will drive through picturesque vineyards, stopping for some wine tasting and to enjoy lunch among the vines. After checking into our guesthouse at the foothills of Mt Olympus, we’ll take an orientation walk around quaint Litochoro and enjoy dinner at a local taverna.
Accommodation: Papanikolaou Guesthouse or similar, Litochoro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we’ll transfer to Prionia at an altitude of 3,609 feet (1,100 meters), from where we begin our hike up to the ‘Home of the Gods’. The route from Prionia to the Spilios Agapitos mountain hut is the most widely used hiking trail on Mount Olympus and part of the E4 European Path. For the most part we’ll be hiking through thick forests of pine, beech and fir trees. We continue to climb and make our way up to reach the mountain hut to overnight at Spilios Agapitos at an altitude of 6,890 feet (2,100 meters).
Accommodation: Refuge A or similar, Spilios Agapitos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3.1 miles (5 kilometers), 4 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) ascent
After an early morning rise and breakfast, we follow the European path E4 until we reach Skala Peak at 9,403 feet (2,866 meters). We will then hike to reach Skolio at 9,551 feet (2,911 meters), the second highest peak in Greece (only 26 feet (8 meters) less than Mytikas). This is 4-5 hours hiking (and/or scramble!) on narrow paths with an altitude gain of 800 meters.
After summitting we’ll head back, following the same path towards the Agapitos Mountain Hut, and transfer back to the village of Litochoro for our well-earned farewell feast.
Accommodation: Papanikolaou Guesthouse or similar, Litochoro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 6.8 miles (11 kilometers), 9 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,660 feet (811 meters) ascent, 2,660 feet (811 meters) descent
After a mighty Mediterranean breakfast, and a “Greek” coffee, we’ll travel back to the center of the lively city of Thessaloniki to say goodbye “Adio”!
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast
On the first day of the trip we’ll meet you at Kriti Hotel in Chania at 6pm. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Chania, though you must make your own way to Kriti Hotel at the pre-designated time.
Your trip ends after breakfast and we can drop you off at Thessaloniki City Center around 10:30am, or the Thessaloniki Airport around 11am, in time for flights below.
Arrival: We recommend arriving in Chania by 4pm. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.
Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, you can depart from Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia any time after 2pm.
We have selected the accommodation on your trip for the stunning settings, unique character and adventuresome feel – it’s not designed as a tour of the fanciest hotels in Greece. In Greece we stay in a wide variety of accommodations, from family run B&B’s brimming with hospitality, decadent hotels, with unforgettable pools, to dreamlike seaside villas with sea views. While there are laundry facilities at some locations, they may not be convenient or there may only be one machine to service your entire group. We recommend bringing enough clothing to only have to do laundry a once during your trip and the best time being during your free time on Santorini.
You’ll need a solid level of fitness for this trip, with daily hikes typically ranging from four to six hours. While peak physical condition isn’t required, you should be accustomed to regular aerobic exercise—ideally including hills, stairs, and carrying a backpack. The more preparation you do before your adventure, the more you'll enjoy the active, outdoor experience once you're on the trail.
Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!
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By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance - you can find details here.
*Terms and conditions apply - read more here.
Our passion for exploration is rooted in a strong connection to the natural beauty of our home, New Zealand, and the drive to venture beyond its shores to discover a world different to our own.
We believe the best journeys don’t just take you places, they inspire you and ignite your spirit. Our unique and thoughtfully designed itineraries ensure you'll experience the very best of each destination.
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