WESTERN CRETE | Sunflower hiking guide

hiking guide

Strap on your boots and discover Western Crete on foot with the Sunflower Western Crete travel guide. And on the days when your feet may have had enough, enjoy some spectacular scenery on one of our legendary car tours. 

The Sunflower Western Crete guide is indispensable for hiking in Western Crete or seeing Western Crete by car. Mountains rearing straight up from the sea, deep wooded gorges, ravines and valleys ― and yet more glorious mountains, standing proud and acting as a magnet to the eye and the imagination ― that’s Western Crete, or real Crete, as some would say.

Its strong, dramatic scenery and colours create sweeping landscapes of harsh but beautiful countryside – countryside that has been the backdrop for heroic deeds, ancient civilisations and constant intrigue for thousands of years, and the home of obdurate, tough-spirited people – made so by their labours on the land and their experiences.

Getting to know Western Crete takes time. We hope we will lead you straight to the heart of the matter with this book, whether you are a first- or second-time visitor unsure about how best to get to know the island or, indeed, if you are someone who doesn’t need convincing but would like a reliable, thorough and different guide. We encourage you to explore to the full. Whatever your age or ability we’ve got some glorious walks and car tours to ensure you have a memorable holiday in Western Crete.

Inside the Sunflower Western Crete guide book you’ll find:

• 55 long and short walks for all ages and abilities – each walk is graded so you can easily match your ability to the level of walk
• Topographical walking maps – give you a clear sense of the surrounding terrain with a scale of 1:50 000
• Free downloadable gps tracks – for the techies
• Satnav guidance to walk starts for motorists 
• 8 car tours and fold-out touring map – for easy reference on your tour 
• Strolls to idyllic picnic spots – enjoy our recommendations for where to picnic along the way
• Timetables for public transport – ideal if you want to link two walks or avoid hiring a car on your holiday
• Online update service for the latest information 
• Includes Hania and Rethimnon town plans