Suggestions for Walks

[shinaria]

Hallo wakefossil,
thank you for your  information. We stood right at the place you mentioned a two years ago but as our youngest son sat in his buggy then we didn't make the way down.
We will try it next time we're there...

shinaria

[harribobs]

We pre booked our apartment in Sougia which was superb in every way and run by very helpfull and friendly owners.

which apartments did you use in Sougia mate? i wouldnt mind making a note of them

[harribobs]

Sent you an email  with details, cant have this Plakias lot crowding out Sougia now can we
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3727\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

damn right!  ( they're a rough lot you know   )

[Rodger]

Anyone ever spent the night at Omalos before walking the Gorge?

I'm quite tempted to try it this year.  According to the Rough Guide accommodation should be plentiful and cheap, mostly due to the fact that hardly anyone stays there.

[harribobs]

Anyone ever spent the night at Omalos before walking the Gorge?

I'm quite tempted to try it this year.  According to the Rough Guide accommodation should be plentiful and cheap, mostly due to the fact that hardly anyone stays there.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3745\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

i've never stayed up there, it looked a little bleak when i passed by.

i think i'd prefer to go up on the early bus

[Rodger]

Anyone ever spent the night at Omalos before walking the Gorge?

I'm quite tempted to try it this year.  According to the Rough Guide accommodation should be plentiful and cheap, mostly due to the fact that hardly anyone stays there.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3745\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

We did originaly plan to stay at Omalos, but like Harribobs says we found the bus option better as we stayed in Sougia for several days.
Looked a bit of a dismal place compared to a good evening down in Sougia on the night before our trek  
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3751\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes, Sougia's a pleasant place to while away a few days - a bit low-key compared to Plakias but that's part of its charm.

I hadn't actually thought of starting from Sougia, I've always got the dawn bus from Chania in previous years.  Thanks for the tip.

[Rodger]

This year the cooler, breezier conditions made walking a bit easier . Here are a few suggestions based on our experiences.
First – arm yourself with a good local map. The Plakias Walker’s Map is fine but the Damnoni Area Map covers the same area with the same level of detail and is about 1.5 Euro cheaper. Available from a couple of the Supermarkets in Plakias.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2560\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Lance Chilton, author of the Plakias Walker's Map complains on his website that pirated copies of the map are on sale in Plakias and Damnoni under different names.  He doesn't name any pirated versions, but I'd say Lance deserves some support for his efforts and the 1.5 Euro difference hardly registers against the overall cost of your trip.  You can  order the map and two booklets direct from Lance before leaving the UK; see www.marengowalks.com.  You may be better off doing this as you can't rely on the Plakias supermarkets to carry the latest editions.

[Rodger]

I hadn't actually thought of starting from Sougia, I've always got the dawn bus from Chania in previous years. Thanks for the tip.

Bus leaves at 0700, get your ticket from the taxi driver who arrives 15 mins beforehand. There are some places open to get a bite to eat or drink if you up early enough before catching bus. In all a leisurely start to one hell of a good day out.
We were walking down the gorge by 0830 and arrived back in Sougia via the ferry by 1800 still leaving the evening to relax and eat. If you return back to Chania it makes for a very long day  
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3755\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes, Roxana's snack bar a little way up the main road is one place that opens early to cater for bus users.  The bus is a lot more punctual than on my previous visit in 1991, it actually left at 7.00 on the dot.

Having got the idea of Sougia as a base for the Samaria Gorge I ended up spending the second week of my holiday there.  A delightful place, like a mini-Plakias in some ways if you wind the clock back 20 years or so.  There are some good walks around Sougia itself though sturdy shoes are needed and there may be some scrambling.

[harribobs]

Lance Chilton, author of the Plakias Walker's Map complains on his website that pirated copies of the map are on sale in Plakias and Damnoni under different names.  He doesn't name any pirated versions, but I'd say Lance deserves some support for his efforts and the 1.5 Euro difference hardly registers against the overall cost of your trip.  You can  order the map and two booklets direct from Lance before leaving the UK; see www.marengowalks.com.  You may be better off doing this as you can't rely on the Plakias supermarkets to carry the latest editions.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3931\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

when i contacted marengo and asked for a copy of his map, he wanted £10 for it  

i decided against paying that...........

[Graham_and_Karen]

Yes definitely worth getting it in the supermarket in Plakias. Both booklets have been available in previous years.

[Mike G]

Lance Chilton, author of the Plakias Walker's Map complains on his website that pirated copies of the map are on sale in Plakias and Damnoni under different names.  He doesn't name any pirated versions, but I'd say Lance deserves some support for his efforts and the 1.5 Euro difference hardly registers against the overall cost of your trip.  You can  order the map and two booklets direct from Lance before leaving the UK; see www.marengowalks.com.  You may be better off doing this as you can't rely on the Plakias supermarkets to carry the latest editions.
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I agree with you Rodger. £10 (incl postage) buys two books with a total of 17 Plakias area walks plus a very decent map. They made my walking immeasurably more enjoyable than it otherwise would have been. They will suffice for future years as well. The research which went into them must have been significant. It is only by making a reasonable return that Lance will update them I suspect.

Click [a href=\"http://www.marengowalks.com/Plakias_bk.html]here[/url] for his website.

Mike

[harribobs]

if you fancied going a bit further afield...

Rother have published two guides  (West and East Crete)  

and we used 'Circular Walks and Gorges in East Crete' last year which i would highly reccomend

[harribobs]

it's still very early to be planning but thats a huge part of the holiday for us

we have decided to get further up into the mountains    ( my knees are aching from the thought of going down)

and first on the list for next year is.......

gingilos

looks like fun  

so has anyone done it?  i know Jean( forgot surname) does guided walks up there

[beachcombers]

Adny, is an 'enduro' a bike?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3151\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes, it's an offroad motorbike.

(excuse my ignorance)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3151\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

No problem. As I'm not a native speaker, I don't know which terms are commonplace and which aren't. I hope I'm understandable though.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3154\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This is what you mean?
Andy should try this one. It is seen in Matala!

[attachment=261:attachment]

[harribobs]

what's that?

V twin Harley Davidson??