Crete Island Travel Forum

We are off to Hersonissos for a week at the end of July and i am planning the sites we are going to see. We will be hiring a car for the 'out of the way' places and plan to use the public transport for the rest. Up to now our plans are:

Heraklion & Knossos via public bus. How long would you give to see Knossos and how much is entrance to the site. Can you buy guide books so you know what you are looking at?

Chania via public bus. Are there any must see things here and it is worth the trip from Hersonissos? Could we do something else that day?

Kato Zakros & Xerokambos via car. I have read that the beaches here are stunning and peaceful. We plan a nice drive along the coast via Agios Nikolaos & Sitia on the way there and back west along the south coast to Ierapetra then north back onto the same road we used on the way there.

Anogia, Nida Plateau & Ideon Caves via car. I hear the views up in the mountains are beautiful and well worth the trip.

We are also thinking of the Samaria Gorge but not sure which way is best, on our own or with a tour company. Does anyone know of travel agencies in Hersonissos running a trip, if so how much approx per person. I have looked at the ferry from Sfakia to Agia Roumeli (first one @ 10.30) and doing only part of the gorge as the last ferry back to Sfakia leaves @ 6pm. Allowing for ferry time we would have approx 6 hours in the gorge, so 3 hours in and 3 hours back. Is it still worth the effort and does anyone know the travel time by car from Hersonissos to Sfakia to catch the first ferry at 10.30?

Sorry its a long drawn out post but want to get as much info in as possible.

As we are only there for a week we want to see as much as possible but not run ourselves into the ground. If you have any other suggestions please let me know.

Thanks

Clare

http://www.bus-service-crete-ktel.com/timetabledet.php?line=13&lg=2

here are busschedules, hope they are helpfull.
As for Samaria, I walked it with a tour, they pick you up and arrange boattickets and the bus back to your hotel.We met rough wheater and the boat took another route...So with your own transport you would have trouble. Don't underestimate the gorge, also walking it down costs a lot of energy !! bring GOOD shoes !!
Chania is a very beautyful town with very pretty harbour.maria

That's one busy week. YOu've obviously done a lot of research, but I think that you could be worn out by the end of the holiday!


Can't comment on Knosos, it's on my "I'll get around to it one day" list!

Chania is wonderful, but it is 2.5 hours from Heraklion on the bus, so you're looking at 5 hours travel in all, plus walking round sightseeing. Why not consider combining it with Samaria, get the cheapest hotel you can find for overnight in Chania, enjoy your evening, then do the gorge by public bus the next day. The cost of the room against petrol/organisedtrip would probably even out.

Again, Kato Zakros is lovely, as is the journey. But you are looking at a very long drive. I think that when we went by bus, it was over 3 hours from Heralion to Sitia and another hour plus to Kato Zakros. If you spend an hour having lunch and a couple of hours in the gorge and the Palace, you will be looking at a 9 hour day at least. Probably worth it, but you're going to need a rest day or two at some point!

Can't comment on the other spots, cos they're still on my "to do" list (10 plus visits to Crete and still so much to do!)

Why not hire the car for the week and then you have the options of going where and when you please?

At the moment, this sounds like all travelling and no rest. Don't forget Crete is a very large island.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Yes it does sound hectic and maybe hiring a car for the full week would save us some time. We are early risers so we will be on the road by 9am and we are not ones for lingering at lunchtime, a quick bite then off we go which would give us a full day out.

Forgot to say that we are also planning Elounda & Spinalonga Island. Does anyone know how often the ferry leaves Elounda to Spinalonga and how much its costs.

Thanks again

Clare.

http://www.cretetravel.com/

maybe you will find answers on this site, maria

Kato Zackros is one of my favourist places in Crete and most people I have recommended it to end up staying overnight whether they palnned to or not! Have a lovely time