Hello - my husband and I are planning a 9-day trip to Crete in September. We will probably spend 1 night + 1 day in Heraklion, but then would like to head out West to Chania and stay for 3 nights.
We would like to explore the south coast for the remaining days but it seems like travel can be challenging due to the mountain ranges. I would appreciate any road trip suggestions you may have. We really enjoy authentic experiences, coastal or inland, away from major tourist resort towns. Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1594 posts
Will you be renting a car?
If not the KTEL bus system is extensive and you can see lots of the island highlights using the bus. Indeed the drive across the white mountains can be amazing but the driver has to have eyes on the road ahead every second of the drive. Its not a hard drive but its mountainous and curvey.
You might consider a ferry trip along the south coast from the village of Sougia to Agia Roumeli to visit the bottom of the Samaria gorge.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Yes, we are renting a car and would like to spend 4-5 other nights in another location after Chania. Should we spend a couple of nights in Sougia or is it more of a day trip destination?
Posted by
Colorado
2268 posts
Are you flying out of Chania? If so, and if you want to keep the car the whole time, you could spend your 3 days exploring Chania and the area nearby, then drive to Paleochora, visiting the pink sand beach at Elafonissi and other sights along your way.
Spend a night in Paleochora and then drive to Sougia for 3 nights, then drive back to the Chania airport.
Or you could drop the car in Chania, bus to Paleochora, ferry to Sougia, then bus or taxi to Chania airport (depending on your flight time). You definitely wouldn’t need a car in Paleochora or Sougia.
For most people, 3 or 4 nights is good for Sougia. I don’t think a day trip would do it justice. It’s a place where you need to soak in the atmosphere. There are people (including me) who happily spend weeks there. It’s hard to define but Sougia is an incredibly peaceful place with fabulous restaurants, great little walks, welcoming people. I’m counting the days til we’re back in September.
Posted by
3156 posts
We spent 2 nights in Sougia but really wished we had 3.
It is hard to explain the charm of the town. It isn’t particularly cute or anything. It is just an unpretentious beach town that people return to again and again.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you so much, Charlene and Beth. We may spend a few nights in Sougia. From what you say and what I read, it seems like the place to get away from it all. Just what we're looking for! Much appreciated.
Posted by
Colorado
2268 posts
Exactly. Hope you enjoy. If you need a place to stay there, I recommend Oceanis. And you might enjoy a day trip via ferry to Agia Roumeli, to hike a portion of the Samaria Gorge, from the bottom up.
Posted by
New England
12041 posts
We spent two or three nights in Loutro on the south coast. It was a perfect place to spend a few days.
We stayed at the Hotel Porto Loutro Inn, right on the beach.