The original trip idea was Cairo to Crete, but all flights from CAI go through Athens. I'm thinking of an itinerary where we do a day or two in Athens (have been previously) and take a car down through the Peloponnese for a few days. THEN go down to Crete, without having to drive all the way back up to Athens and then take another flight or a ferry. Looking at the map, this seems like it should be very doable via ferry, but I'm not seeing any ferry ports anywhere on the peninsula. Is this the case?
Posted by
1230 posts
It looks like you could take a ferry from Kalamata (looking at Rome2Rio). But no flight from anywhere but Athens, and thats the fastest thing to do. We took a night ferry from Piraeus. Departed at 9p and arrived in Chania at 6a. That was an experience. I'd just rent the car in Athens, go see the Peloponnese, or the parts you're interested in - it's big and would take awhile to see a lot - and then drop the car at the airport and fly.
Posted by
11569 posts
Take a ferry from the Peloponnesean Pen, Kalamata on the south coast directly to Chania, Crete.
Posted by
France Southwest
2319 posts
Hello,
There is a possibility once a week (on Wednesdays) with the Aqua Jewels (Seajets ferries) departing from the port of Gythio.
The ferry arrives in Crete at the port of Kissamos.
The crossing takes more than 6 hours.
Posted by
Athens
37 posts
You can get the ferry from Gythio to Kissamos (a seaside town 36 km east of Chania)
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8050 posts
To paraphrase an old saying: "All routes lead through Athens" seems to be the Greek mantra. There are other connections by ferry, or involving a change somewhere, but they can be infrequent, and probably more subject to the weather. Bus, Ferry, and Air routes are most frequent and efficient to and from Athens, heck even islands you can see on the horizon are best reached by going back to Athens, then to that island.
My preference would be to do a loop in the Peloponnese, returning to Athens and then a flight to either Chania or Heraklion. It is a very long ferry, OK I suppose as an overnight one if you spring for a cabin.