Roadtrip Crete Day 8 Chania to Heraklion
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 12-02-2021
Route Summary Motorcycling in Crete is a real pleasure, this island has many beautiful winding roads with thousands of bends, idyllic villages, beautiful views of the sea, bays, beautiful passes and ravines.
The locals are very hospitable. The roads are decent, but it is recommended to rent an All- or Off Road motorcycle, as there are also many bad roads with potholes and unpaved areas.
On the very tourist island there are many hotels, especially along the coast, there are also B&B and a number of campsites. In this tour we will assume camping accommodation.
The routes can be driven by motorcycle, car or quads and there are several rental companies in Crete where you can rent All Road, Custom, Quads, Buggies, scooters and cars. Prices for the rental of a motorcycle for a week are between 280 and 900 euros, depending on the model.
Renting from Eurodriver has the advantage that they can deliver your motorcycle anywhere so you can already get on your motorcycle at the airport and start the journey.
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Verdict
Duration
5h 44m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
201.38 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Via beautiful winding roads through small villages we drive to the only freshwater lake in Crete, Kournas Lake (RP9). This is an ideal place to stop for brunch and relax by the lake. There are several Taverns where you can enjoy a delicious meal. You can also rent a pedal boat at the beach.
Via a beautiful winding road through the mountains we drive to the impressive gorge of Agios Antonios (RP13), also known as Patsos-Gorge. A beautiful green and easy gorge where the temperature remains mild. You can walk through this gorge unaccompanied and it has a special bonus, there is a very good family restaurant at the beginning called Drymos (with a small animal park) where you can have a drink and eat something. On day 4 and 5 we also drove by here so if you have not visited the gorge yet, now is your last chance.
The next stop is at the Arkadi Monastery (RP14), The current Catholicon (church) dates from the 16th century and is characterized by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which combines both Roman and Baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place of science and art and had a school and a rich library. Located on a plateau, the monastery is well fortified, surrounded by a thick and high wall. On the other side of the square is the monument of death.
A few miles away you can visit the Museum of Ancient Eleutherna (RP15), which is an on-site museum located in the Eleutherna Archaeological Park, Rethymno, and houses artifacts found at the nearby Eleutherna archaeological site and the necropolis of Orthi Petra. This is also the last planned stop. From here we have about 80 kilometers to drive to the airport in Heraklion, where we return the engine.
This last part of the trip is a beautiful steering road with many curves and beautiful nature. We drive up to an altitude of 780m before descending back to Heraklion in a meandering fashion, where we refuel the engine and return it to the rental company. Heraklion has a lot to offer so plan a few more days in this vibrant city before flying back.
The 4 **** Star ride was a nice end to an 8-day Road trip over Crete. Also on this last day beautiful roads, many curves, beautiful nature and some interesting stops.
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Crete
About this region
Crete (Greek: Κρήτη, Modern: Kríti, Ancient: Krḗtē, [krέːtεː]) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Crete rests approximately 160 km (99 mi) south of the Greek mainland. It has an area of 8,336 km2 (3,219 sq mi) and a coastline of 1,046 km (650 mi). It bounds the southern border of the Aegean Sea, with the Sea of Crete (or North Cretan Sea) to the north and the Libyan Sea (or South Cretan Sea) to the south.
Crete and a number of islands and islets that surround it constitute the Region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), which is the southernmost of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece, and the fifth most populous of Greece's regions. Its capital and largest city is Heraklion, located on the north shore of the island. As of 2020, the region had a population of 636,504. The Dodecanese are located to the northeast of Crete, while the Cyclades are situated to the north, separated by the Sea of Crete. The Peloponnese is to the region's northwest.
Humans have inhabited the island since at least 130,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic age. Crete was the centre of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece. Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.
The island is mostly mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. It includes Crete's highest point, Mount Ida, and the range of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) with 30 summits above 2000 metres in altitude and the Samaria Gorge, a World Biosphere Reserve. Crete forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry and music). The Nikos Kazantzakis airport at Heraklion and the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania serve international travelers. The palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and ancient Minoan city, is also located in Heraklion.
Read more on Wikipedia
Crete and a number of islands and islets that surround it constitute the Region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), which is the southernmost of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece, and the fifth most populous of Greece's regions. Its capital and largest city is Heraklion, located on the north shore of the island. As of 2020, the region had a population of 636,504. The Dodecanese are located to the northeast of Crete, while the Cyclades are situated to the north, separated by the Sea of Crete. The Peloponnese is to the region's northwest.
Humans have inhabited the island since at least 130,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic age. Crete was the centre of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece. Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.
The island is mostly mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. It includes Crete's highest point, Mount Ida, and the range of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) with 30 summits above 2000 metres in altitude and the Samaria Gorge, a World Biosphere Reserve. Crete forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry and music). The Nikos Kazantzakis airport at Heraklion and the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania serve international travelers. The palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and ancient Minoan city, is also located in Heraklion.
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Route Collections in this region Eight beautiful routes in Crete Greece
This is a collection of 8 routes for an 8-day tour on the Greek island of Crete.
Motorcycling in Crete is a real pleasure, this island has many beautiful winding roads with thousands of bends, idyllic villages, beautiful views of the sea, bays, beautiful passes and ravines.
The locals are very hospitable. The roads are decent, but it is advisable to rent an All or Off Road motorcycle, as there are also many bad roads with potholes and unpaved areas.
On the very tourist island there are many hotels, especially along the coast, there are also B&B and a number of campsites. In these routes we assume camping accommodation.
The routes can be driven by motorcycle, car or quads and there are several rental companies in Crete where you can rent All Road, Custom, Quads, Buggies, scooters and cars.
Motorcycling in Crete is a real pleasure, this island has many beautiful winding roads with thousands of bends, idyllic villages, beautiful views of the sea, bays, beautiful passes and ravines.
The locals are very hospitable. The roads are decent, but it is advisable to rent an All or Off Road motorcycle, as there are also many bad roads with potholes and unpaved areas.
On the very tourist island there are many hotels, especially along the coast, there are also B&B and a number of campsites. In these routes we assume camping accommodation.
The routes can be driven by motorcycle, car or quads and there are several rental companies in Crete where you can rent All Road, Custom, Quads, Buggies, scooters and cars.
View Route Collection