NATURE & ADVENTURE Experience the true beauty of Crete!
Easy Going Excursions
1. Easy Access Mountain Hiking
Come with us to the mountains of the Amari area. The mountains of the area, Psyloritis, Kedros, Soros and Samitos, are the perfect places to have a unique experience of climbing or hiking.
The Psyloritis Mountain (2456m), the highest mountain of Crete, the Kedros Mountain (1777m), the Soros Mountain (1264m) and the Samitos Mountain (1014m), all of them with stone- built churches on their summits and a unique variety of flora and fauna, offer a unique combination for mountaineers.
We can organize easy or difficult routes for all mountaineers or simple hikes. On any of our routes, you will enjoy the vast views of the Amari valley and the Libyan Sea and observe the wild life of the area (flora and fauna) but also its geological shapes.
A Certificated Mountain Guide from our office will lead you safely and help you know the unknown, for the most beautiful parts of Crete and its mountains.
Pregnant women and individuals with a recent surgery or serious health problems can participate in this tour. Children can participate, under your own supervision.
We can arrange a picnic or lunch in a traditional “taverna” in the area.
Necessary equipment:
We would recommend you to wear mountain boots and bring with you backpack, sun glasses, sun block lotion, water and dry food. A hat is not necessary – we’ll give you one as a gift. Don’t forget your camera or video camera.
2. Visits of archaeological interest
Come with us and visit the most important archaeological sites of the Amari area and enjoy together the panoramic view of the Amari valley and the mountains around it.
On the summit of 'Kefalas', the Hill of Thronos village, we will visit the ancient settlement of Sivritos village, where fossilized shells, ancient walls and silver coins were found.
At the settlement of the Monastiraki area, we will visit one of the most important and interesting palaces of the Minoan period in Crete.
Pregnant women and individuals with a recent surgery or serious health problems can participate in this tour. Children can participate, under your own supervision.
We can arrange a picnic or lunch in a traditional "taverna" in the area.
Necessary equipment:
We would recommend you to wear trainers and bring with you backpack, sun glasses, sun block lotion and water. A hat is not necessary, we'll give you one as a gift. Don't forget your camera or video camera.
On the same day we can visit places of local architectural interest such as stone built sheep folds ("Mitata"), stone built bridges and bell towers, ancient watermills, wine presses, oil presses and fortresses with a fantastic panoramic view of the Amari valley.
3. Visits of mythological interest
Are you interested in Ancient Greece? Are you fascinated by its legends and myths? If so, come with us to the Amari area, 35 km away from the town of Rethymnon.
Get to know the evergreen Plane tree, where Zeus met Hera. Get to know the place where Zeus was sitting on a throne, which the local people had made for him, so he could rest and watch the whole Amari valley (his “Amari grove”).
Come to know the river where Zeus used to bathe and Panas used its reeds to make his flutes.
Pregnant women and individuals with a recent surgery or serious health problems can participate in this tour. Children can participate, under your own supervision.
We can arrange a picnic or lunch in a traditional “taverna” in the area.
Necessary equipment:
We would recommend you to wear mountain boots or strong trainers and bring with you sun glasses, sun block lotion and water. A hat is not necessary – we’ll give you one as a gift. Don’t forget your camera or video camera.
4. Visiting of caves
Come and explore with us in the Amari area, caves of unique beauty and history. The Amari area is a huge valley, full of lush greenery, surrounded by Psyloritis, Kedros and Samitos Mountain.
On these mountains there are numerous caves and potholes of unique beauty and history. We will visit the “Margele” cave, where human remains of Prehistoric times were found, the cave of “Pana” which was devoted to the god “Pana” and was used as his cult centre, the cave “Hampathoura” where you can find marvelous stalagmites and stalactites, and the “Leska” cave where the creative imagination of nature will amaze you.
We can also visit the pothole of “Psarra” and the caves of “Psarra” and “Sardos”. A certificated Speleologist from our office will lead you safely and will initiate you into the secrets of the caves
Pregnant women and individuals with a recent surgery or serious health problems can participate in this tour. Children can participate, under your own supervision.
We can arrange a picnic or lunch in a traditional “taverna” in the area.
Necessary equipment:
We would recommend you to wear trainers and bring with you sun glasses, sun block lotion and water. Special equipment (a protective caving helmet and a torch) is provided by our office. Don’t forget your camera or video camera.
5. Bird watching
If you like “birding” you are going to love the Amari area. Bird watching in the Amari area is very interesting as it involves exploring one of the most beautiful areas of Crete.
We challenge you to find and identify with us the many different and rare bird species of Crete, such as migratory birds, Bearded Vultures, Golden Eagles, Bonelli's Eagles , Griffon Vultures, Falcons, Owls, Alpine Chough and blackbirds.
We will lead you through mountainous areas where you can admire our little flying friends and also the fascinating view.
Pregnant women and individuals with a recent surgery or serious health problems can participate in this tour. Children can participate, under your own supervision.
We can arrange a picnic or lunch in a traditional “taverna” in the area.
Necessary equipment:
We would recommend you to wear trainers and bring with you backpack, binoculars, sun glasses, sun block lotion, water and dry food. A hat is not necessary – we’ll give you one as a gift. Don’t forget your camera or video camera.
6. Botanical excursions
Greece is known worldwide for its herbs and plants. 268 of Greece’s endemic plants can be found in Crete. 196 of them are native only in Crete. On the mountains of the Amari area 76 endemic species can be found, including aromatic herbs such as the popular dictamo, oregano, thyme, sage and savory.
You can also admire extremely rare orchids, the Cretan tulip, violets of many different colours, three kinds of anemone and the alpine anemone.
The Amari area is also full of forest trees such as Kerm oaks, Cretan maple trees, Holm-oaks, Plane trees but also gui (houx or Viscum Album) cherry trees, apple trees, pear trees and olive trees thousands of years old. Each one constitutes a “monument” of nature and a perfect subject to take photographs of, due to their unique and incredible shapes.
On the same day, we can stop in suitable place to collect wild vegetables (chico, asparagus), that you can take with you, and aromatic herbs, as well, that can be used for culinary purposes (basil, spearmint, rosemary).
Pregnant women and individuals with a recent surgery or serious health problems can participate in this tour. Children can participate, under your own supervision.
We can arrange a picnic or lunch in a traditional “taverna” in the area.
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