Premium Safari Tour – Explore the Mountains of Chania & Samaria Gorge from Above

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Chania’s Panoramic Splendor through premium tour, blooming landscapes, local tastings, unique Samaria National Park perspective without crossing the gorge

Unique Experience

Wild White Mountains Adventure: Morning pick-up, charming village exploration, 1000m ascent, hidden shepherd’s trails, Kallergi Refuge’s majestic Samaria Gorge view, and a traditional Cretan lunch at Omalos Plateau.

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Elevated Views, Panoramic Bliss: Explore Chania’s beauty, savor Lakkoi village moments, and discover an alternative perspective on Samaria Gorge for a day of unparalleled, compact adventure.

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Tour Overview

Tour Highlights

  1. Join a stunning mountain safari tour
  2. Explore the White Mountains of Chania like never before
  3. Visit Xyloskalo, Omalos & admire Samaria Gorge from above.
  4. Reach the top and discover Kallergi refuge of 1680m altitude
  5. Enjoy a small-group safari tour (up to 6-8 people per Jeep)
  6. Traditional Cretan lunch with plenty of local food and wine
  7. Premium off-road vehicles & experienced escort-drivers

Description

On this tour, you will have the chance to experience the mainland of Crete and admire Samaria’s national park from above (we don’t cross the gorge on this tour). The day begins with a morning pick up from your hotel in Chania or a suitable near location. We drive south through a vast green valley and agricultural areas full of citrus fruits, avocado, kiwis, oranges and lemons. The aromas are coming from the open windows, and stunning, surprising tastings are taking part. We will pass some lovely villages such as Varipetro, Ayia, Alikianos, Fournes and then start climbing on altitude through an off-road route. The blooming vegetation and the surrounding environment will take your breath away as you experience some of the best panoramic views of Chania. A few time later, we reach an altitude of 1000m. The adrenaline is raising while we drive through our adventurous off-road route in the heart of the White Mountains. We will pass from hidden shepherd’s trails, filling our lungs with fresh air, and the fascinating wild environment is fulfilling our souls. We will arrive at Kallergi Refugee (1680m altitude) at the end of our adventure route. The view of Samaria Gorge is majestic. The highest peaks of the White Mountains around you and the Libyan Sea view in the South will offer you a unique feeling. We will enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch at Omalos Plateau with plenty of local food & drinks. On our way back, we will admire the beautiful and historical village of Lakkoi, where we stop for some photos and information before we return to Chania. *Please note that during winter (December-March), Kallergi refuge may be inaccessible due to dense snow. In that case, we reach Xiloskalo (the entrance of Samaria Gorge), and then we follow alternative off-road routes through mountains and villages. **Please note that from December to March we travel with snow in the mountains and the route may be altered according to weather conditions… If you wish to explore more options return to the Pemium Safari Tours page.

Inclusions

  1. Free hotel pick up and drop off
  2. Premium off-road vehicles (7 or 9 seated) driven by multilingual escort-drivers
  3. Lunch with traditional Cretan food and wine
  4. A visit to Kallergi Refugee
  5. Liability Insurance and local taxes

Exclusions

  1. Gratuities (optional)
  2. Coffee or beers or refreshments in tavern

Guest Stories

Great Tour What a great tour! We chose the tour on a windy day in Chania and were so glad we did! It was excellent. Andreas was so knowledgeable about the area and the wine and he answered all questions we had. The group was small enough that it felt personal and the wineries we visited were absolutely brilliant! We loved the stop off at the oldest olive tree too. Great way to spend a day of our holiday!
Ems
15/04/2024
The World War II battle for Crete Yanis, our driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and accommodating. He shared a lot of facts and photos of the battle for Crete and he explained the significance of each stop along the tour. The stop at the military collector’s mini museum was excellent. There were many unique and rare items in his collection that are tied to the battle. The pace and timing of tour was just right, along with a fresh sandwich from a local shop. I would recommend this tour to any interested in the history of the battle for Crete.
Rich S
12/04/2024
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Battle for Crete. As a former New Zealand Army officer I was very much looking forward to this tour and it did not disappoint. The whole tour was excellent and covered so much ground literally and figuratively. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and a great person to spend the day with. Being able to visit the actual battlefield sites really put so much into context. Highly recommended.
Tata C
02/04/2024
Fantastic cooking class on Crete Everything about this experience was wonderful! The driver, Nikkoli was very knowledgeable and hospitable, the hosts for the class were gracious and warm, the good was amazing and the other guests were terrific. I am so lucky to have found this class and highly recommend!
Sue T
27/12/2023
Relaxing excursion This was such a nice relaxing tour. Very simple and easy day! We were picked up at our hotel, it happened to be one of the pickup locations luckily. We drove to two different wineries but also made some stops along the way for cool lookout spots and even a 3,000 year old olive tree.
Sarah S
12/12/2023
Cooking in Crete!!! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The staff and tour were excellent. We had such a good time being taught how to cook stuffed peppers, zucchini and tomatoes. I highly recommend this tour. The food that we created was simply delicious. Just a high quality experience.
Mobile562656
16/11/2023
Top bloke as guide Our guide had superb knowledge about the area we went to. He was friendly and accommodating. Despite our lack of knowledge and messing this company around we still got to Di our tour.
Compass52027796678
03/11/2023
It was a great tour! This tour allows you to learn more about the culture and history of Crete. They will explain in detail about the food and the background to it. I thought it was a little pricey due to the strong yen, but it was a valuable experience that money can't buy. I'm really glad I participated. I recommend it.
ゆか
03/11/2023
Awesome Wonderful experience. We were taken up into the mountains of Crete to a host house. Over the next 4 hours, we had a tour of the house, learned about Cretan history, had a local wine tasting, and made an incredibly delicious meal. It is vegetarian friendly and comes with a few surprises. I gained a newfound appreciation for olive oil—there can never be too much. One of the highlights of my trip.
Richard Z
28/10/2023
A Real Cretan Cooking Experience Yannis led us on a wonderful trip to a farm in the countryside with great views, warm and gracious hosts and cooks, and a night of fun and friendship. This was well worth the time to learn about Crete style cooking and Greek history
Todd W
24/10/2023

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