Help with Itineray

have you already booked the other travel arrangements? if not how about making crete your final island destination instead?
that way you can fly into heraklion and then out of chania to athens?
i find that both airports are similar to fly into, but chania a far more pleasant experience to fly out of (heraklion can be quite chaotic at times).

Haven't booked and yes that's possible, just was recommended to travel the way I have it.
It would mean still getting from Istanbul to Naxos to start then though

Without changing the order of the islands you're visiting, your only two options in my opinion, are either to take a flight from Istanbul to Chania with a connection in Athens or Thessaloniki.

Or, if you keep the direct flight from Istanbul to Heraklion, you could take a bus from Heraklion to Chania or rent a car for that leg of the journey.

There are also two ferries a week from Rethymno to Santorini, but I don't think that will solve your problem.

Thanks

I saw those ferries and agree no help

Robyn, I can feel your frustration. But remember that it’s only about a 2 hour drive (or bus ride) from Heraklion to Chania. And it’s a good highway with pretty ocean views much of the time. Nobody likes to backtrack but sometimes it just works that way.

After seeing Chania I hope you’ll get down to the villages on the southwest coast — my favorite part of Crete. Then up to Rethymnon & back to Heraklion for your next adventure.

Do you suggest staying there or just day trip ?
What are your favourites?

About 45 minutes south of Rethmnon there is a village called Plakias. There are several really good beaches within 3km of Plakaias. Plakias has a good beach as well. The setting is sea, beaches and mountains.
Here is what it is like
Plakias https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157665045541263

There are other coastal village on the south coast as well but Plakias is the closest on the way back to the National highway for your return flight.
Crete Libyan Sea villages https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157645487373222

I would suggest at least an overnight stay in a village, not day trips. We've enjoyed stays in Plakias, Loutro, and Paleochora, but our favorite village is Sougia. It's a great place to spend a couple of days. You didn't mention hiking, but if you wanted to hike a piece of the Samaria Gorge (from the bottom) you can take a ferry from Sougia to Agia Roumeli, do your hike, then return to Sougia on the ferry afterward.

Here's a trip report from another RS forum poster that you might find useful. She used a combination of bus and car rental, which might also work for you. I've only used public transportation on Crete.

Trip report

Thank you for all the advice. One nire question, I have read Naxos is windy in June and Paros maybe better, is that correct? Had decided on Naxos but am now having doubts. We are meeting my daughter and partner so want to make sure we chose well, they in 30s we 60

NO, do not switch to Paros, stick with Naxos. I hate those "I heard" things... from whom? I have been to both islands in May-June many tmes ... no there is NOT usually wind in June... the wind comes mid-july. And in from TH North / North-east. On Naxos the long beach strand , nearly 10 miles, runs along West-S West, so is more sheltered. In Paros, many of the beaches are on EAST, thus more windy in many months. In July-Aug its so windy on E. Paros beaches they have parasailing contests.

LOL Facebook
Will stick with Naxos! Will do 8-9 nights, thinking Agios Prokopios or Plaka as my daughter and partner would probably prefer the beach to town, depends on cost where we stay as well. They are living in Austria so missing the beach. Any suggestions on this appreciated. Can get a car if we have to.

Have taken on board suggestions on Crete and now have the plan. Could add on one more night possibly here or Naxos
5 nights Chania
4 nights Plakias
3 nights Arhanes

Also doing 3 nights Santorini and 5 Amorgos

Thanks .

If avoiding wind is important to you maybe 4 nights in Plakias is not the right choice? Plakias can get very windy. I am not saying that it will be but it's definitely a possibility.

The meltemi, a wind that blows mainly in summer from the north, gains strength in the narrow funnel-shaped area of ​​about 3 nautical miles between Paros and Naxos.

So, whether you're on the east coast of Paros or the west coast of Naxos, if there's wind, it will blow just as strongly in both. That's why there are some kitesurfing and windsurfing clubs, and you'll have to deal with it. I know more spots in Paros than in Naxos that are a bit more sheltered from the wind, but it's not worth changing your plans just for that.

In Naxos, if you have a car, you can drive for miles along sandy beaches further south than Plaka, from Mikri Vigla Beach almost to the southern tip of Naxos (our favorite beaches as we're allergic to crowds).

Some places to see and things to do in Naxos:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1d7GZMjFODUlB8lf7EPSXQRwu-YXaKxw&usp=sharing

The wind is generally less strong in the evening. In fact, you might be glad to have a bit of a breeze when it's very hot.

...and 5 Amorgos

Excellent idea! But be careful with the ferry routes and don't forget that Amorgos has 2 ports: Katapola and Aegiali.

Thanks. Looks like we can ferry between Santorini and I will watch the ports.
Then to Naxos from there

The daily Seajets ferries from Santorini go to the port of Katapola and from Amorgos to Naxos, there are quite a few options from Katapola or Aegiali, depending on the day of the week.

For a stay in Amorgos, I recommend Aegiali more than Katapola. There's a nice beach, and you can visit the villages overlooking Aegiali.

If you're looking for someone to guide you through traditional Amorgos, see what Semeni can offer, she's in Langada, one of the villages above Aegiali.

https://www.findingreece.com/

Also, at 31:30 in this video about the inhabitants of Amorgos:

https://youtu.be/Vw5FbNAv3Vw

I must share JeanCrete’s caution about Plakias. We visited Plakias twice in September, so perhaps June may be better — and maybe we were just unlucky —but 3 of our 4 days in Plakias each visit were extremely windy.

Thanks for Amorgos recommendations

Any other paces than Plakias anyone would suggest?

Originally had Rethmyo but then thought would go south instead and thought that looked a good option

Loutro and Hora Sfakion will not be affected by north winds. Or if looking for a larger village Paleochora might be an option. It can be windy there too but with beaches (and sea front) facing several directions it is easier to avoid.
Of course if you have a car you could play it by year. June is not at all peak season so it would be OK not to make advance reservations and just find something on the spot where it suits you (but book if you want to go to Loutro at the weekend)

If you want to settle in one spot for 4 days, Paleochora would be a good option. Lots of hotels & restaurants and a long sandy beach plus a couple of smaller ones. It’s a bit larger than the other villages and is well situated for day trips. There are a couple of travel agencies near the port that offer trips to the famous pink sand beach at Elafonissi by boat if you don’t want to drive. Or to Loutro, a lovely white village only accessible by sea (no roads lead to Loutro). And/or you could visit Sougia one day by car or ferry. Sougia is my favorite village — we go for weeks at a time, but we’re retired and this has become our wellness retreat! So many options.

We have been to Plakias several times.
One of the advantages of staying there is there are several different beaches each within 3km from the village.
On one of our visits a Cyclone swept by and closed several of the beaches however one beach is situated in a different direction and we and a hundred other tourists were able to swim that day. It was windy and waivey but the surfers loved that.
Even with the cyclone still blowing in the evening the taverns in the central area were all open and full.