Advice for drive from Chora Sfakion to Heraklion

I've done the trip from Chania to the South, then up to Heraklion at least 4 times .... and to discuss my thoughts on this, here's my favorite online map https://www.explorecrete.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Crete-eot.png (click & it gets huuuuge -- you navigate around using side-slides)

IF attempted in one day would be an exhausting drive. And tho its not clear, it sounds as tho you plan a hike UP Imbros, which I do not recommend. One work-around would be to do Imbros AND Loutro as a (recently instituted wonderful option) day trip on small (12 psgr) mini-bus through a great mother-daughter tour outfit out of Chania called Wanderlust https://wanderlustchania.gr -- the tour is called Summer Blue. A good friend of mine and top RS contributor "Stanbr" & his wife did this last year and RAVED -- Here's an album that includes some of the sites in that day-trip. They stayed in the bus going down Imbros gorge rimside road, because "Stanbr" has a bum knee, but I believe there's the option of walking down the Gorge & reuniting with group at the bottom. I did walk the gorge at age 68 with a trick knee, but quite easy to do, in about 3.5 hours, with a picnic llunch stop halfway. IF you have a (foldable) trekking stick for balance.

IF you did that tour, then you would have more options about getting from Chania to Heraklion ... Trying to Drive to Heraklion from Hora Sfakion is a Bear ... my friend was a Le Mans type mountain driver, and getting up from Coast to 97 was Whew! we got as far a Matala & stayed for the night. If you can book that "Summer Blue" day trip I would recommend cancelling Hora Sfakion (surely you don't book with a no-cancellation clause). And nothing involving a drive south & then North should ateempt a visit to Knossos in same day.
If instead, you'd do the north-shore road for day of transit Chania/Heraklion on North shore there are a couple of memorable stops I can recommend -- including the unforgettable Melidoni Cave.

Can discuss options at length but not by keyboarding, tedious and slow. I'm sending you a PM

Janet forgot to post the photos of the wanderlust tours we did last year.
Wanderlust tours Chania https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720318394812

Thanks for the reply @janet. We are hiking down Imbros on the drive down from Chania to Chora Sfakion. Not really looking for tour suggestions, but instead any advice about stops on the way from Sfakia to Heraklion. Thank you.

if on that 3rd day, you plan to leave Chora Sfakion And see Knossos before dinner... I would advise you to take that Wiggly road UP to rte 97 (see map I provided), then go NORTH toward Rethymnon (do NOT exit to Rethymnon -- instead, find an on-ramp to the North Shore Highway & head EAST). If you feel lilke lunch before reaching the north shore, there are a couple of Villages on 97, not touristy, where you could stop at a cafe & eat with the Locals.

It takes I think, about 1.5 hours from Rethymnon area (bypass Heraklion, to Knossos exit) to the time you park in KNOSSOS lot. There are many parking lots, only 2 of them free, drve slow & spot them. After Knossos, I assume you have a hotel IN Heraklion. Grit your teeth & prepare for Driving Hell... one-way streets, heavy traffic, confusion.. NOTE: when your agency delivers rental car in CHANIA, make the driver Draw you on map, the streets to use to reach your hotel (make this clear via email upon renting). When you reach hotel, if you are not totally exhausted, drop your bags & walk to the FAB Museum... that's where the great Minoan Treasures are. Then check in, collapse, have dinner, & get ready to move on early AM on ferry. You should be able to have agency pick up your car by hotel, as almost no hotels have parking. This needs to be discussed at time of rental... Many agencies ask you to drop hotel in designated lot on pier near ferry dock.

As you can see, this is not simple... if you try to "wing it" you'll end up exhausted & lost. BTW, the highways do not have any numbers signs -- you just have to look for Destinations. Good luck!

THANK YOU! - this is so helpful and exactly the kind of info I needed. I really appreciate the time you took to get back to me.
Best regards, bb

Glad it was helpful. BTW, for the gorge walk (AND For clmbing hills in Naxos & and the Acropolis etc), your mom will love the light & foldable "EARTH TREK" trekking stick available on Amazon for $27 or $29. It's tubular sections linked with central bungee cord, they "socket" into each other... fold like a W into 12", size of a book, in a case, easy to pack in luggage or backpack or in daybag. Two sizes, one adjustable 48=53" and for shorties, 36- 48" I think. I recommend this to Everyone. Oldies hike the rockies with these -- a stick is SO important in Imbros, because path mainly Rocks, size of softballs/baseballs, keeping balance is heck on knees.