We will be doing the RS Best of Greece tour in May 2026 but want to spend some time in the islands prior to the tour. The more I see about Crete, the more interesting it looks; and as charming as Santorini, Mykonos etc look, Naxos really appeals. I'm considering Chania/Rethymno/Heraklion on Crete (about 2 nights each) and then 3 or 4 nights on Naxos before joining up with the tour in Athens.
Hiking the Imbros Gorge appeals, and of course the archeological museum and palace of Knossos in Heraklion.
We're active seniors.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5814 posts
Chania and Rethymno are pretty close together. I think you could pick one to stay and just visit the other.
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Ontario
96 posts
Thanks, Emily. Something to consider.
Posted by
Colorado
2269 posts
Six nights is really not enough for Crete. I’d suggest either spend the whole 10 days on Crete or combine Naxos with either Paros or Amorgos. Both are a short ferry ride from Naxos. Paros is being “discovered”, so Amorgos would be quieter and probably better hiking. Both are beautiful.
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Ontario
96 posts
Something else to think about. Thanks!
Posted by
3156 posts
My thought is that you are spreading yourself a little thin by trying to go to Naxos and Crete in time you have. You will lose most of day moving between them.
I wonder if you might be better off spending all your time on Crete. It is huge and quite varied. Or Naxos and a closer by smaller island.
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Ontario
96 posts
Thanks, that is something to think about.
Posted by
London
554 posts
If it were me, I would spend the whole time on Crete. Crete is huge and there is so much to do. We once did eight days- 5 in Chania, 2 in Rethymno, and 1 in Heraklion- and that was a good split for us, tho our holiday was quite beach-focussed. I've not done Imbros Gorge but Samaria Gorge is amazing. The archeological museum that you mention is excellent, and probably the best place there is to learn about the Minoan civilisation (which is even older than classical-era Greece). If you like wine, there's also a great wine growing region just outside of Heraklion, and we had one of our best-ever meals in Greece in one of the restaurants there. Good luck deciding.