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There is only one alternative to
the crowded gorge of Samaria if
you want to experience West Crete
on foot: find a good guide book
and hit the trail.
This is fine for experienced and
confident walkers but for most it
can be an experience fraught with
difficulties: getting lost or at
least spending more time wondering
about finding the path than enjoying
the scenery is the most common one.
There are also smaller problems
such as:
- dealing with the logistics of
getting to the start of your walk
and getting yourself back
- attempting a walk which is too
arduous for the condition of your
party
- not knowing where to find water
- missing some of the special
places on the way because you
don't know where they are
Why not save yourself the learning
time and plan the appropriate excursion
with the help of an experienced
guide?
I offer a complete walks and tour
planning and guiding service for
private individuals (when I am not
busy with larger groups or other
work).
The help I can provide can be
roughly divided in three categories:
Help you decide on a walk or
tour that suits your abilities and
interests
This aspect tends to get a little
overlooked but in Crete there is
such a wide choice of walks that
it is difficult to decide what is
suitable without trial and error.
I am quite capable of assessing
your condition and experience by
asking you a few questions and will
then offer you some suggestions
as to what may be suitable and in
accordance with your interests.
The time of the year and weather
conditions are of course also a
factor.
Help you with getting there and
if necessary finding the right accommodation
at the right price
Getting to the starting point of
a walk is not always simple, even
if you have your own car (how do
you do it unless you come back to
your starting point?). Sometimes
it is better to use public transport,
sometimes a taxi. But taxis will
refuse to drive on an unsurfaced
road: how do you find a local who
brings you to where you want to
go? On some walks it can save you
a day's walking, or several hours
on a tedious gravel road in the
burning sun. There are not always
simple solutions but I am more likely
to know the ins and outs of getting
transport to a specific point and
back than most.
I also know where to find suitable
accommodation if required.
Guide you on the walk or tour
Guiding a walk does not only consists
of getting people safely from A
to B. You also need to know alternatives
in case of sudden weather changes
or other difficulties, know where
to find water. I will also provide
you with a list of things that you
need to take with you according
to the walk and time of the year.
A good guide also needs to be able
to provide information about the
surroundings, the people, customs,
history and I believe I am quite
knowledgeable (one exception being
plants: I really appreciate them
but I keep forgetting their names!).
How much does it cost?
I charge Euro 100 per day (plus
accommodation and food expenses
for trips lasting several days).
If you want to hire me on your own
it is not cheap but shared through
two or more it is money well-spent.
This will of course include discussing
your wishes and providing you with
the necessary information prior
to your walk or tour.
On some very arduous walks (winter
crossings of the White Mountains
or if you want to cross them in
one day in the summer for example)
I may want to charge more. I may
also charge less if it is something
which does not take a whole day.
Just email me and ask.
About myself
Please follow this link
For ideas about walks that you
might want to do, please go to the
Walk ideas
pages
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