School Adventure - White Mountains of Crete
- A School Adventure on a stunning Greek island
- A Superb and quite Challenging Mediterranean Walking Week
- Visit the Roman ruins at Lissos
- Climb Pachnes (2453m / 8,090ft)
- Descend the Samaria Gorge
Starting out from the port of Sougia in the south-west corner of this rugged Mediterranean island, the Roman ruins at Lissos make an educational objective for a first day-walk on this School Adventure. Then it's inland to Omalos and the start of a descent to the sea through the famous and very impressive Samaria Gorge. After a delightful coastal walk to Anopolis, there are 2 options for this exceptional trip's finale. The tougher alternative involves a long hike by way of the summit of Pachnes (2453m / 8,090ft), the high point of the 'Lefka Ori', with the more leisurely option taking in the port of Loutro and the dramatic Aradena Gorge.
Educational perspective
Crete has been an island for 5 million years, plenty of time for endemic plant species to evolve. There are almost 200 endemics on Crete, many of them found in the White Mountains and relatively common.
Amend or Extend
A visit to the Heraklion, the Cretan capital, and the nearby Minoan archaeological site of Knossos, is a worthwhile addition to any school trip.
Is this holiday for you?
We recommend a minimum age of 14 yrs
This trip aims to make the most of Crete's rugged White Mountains, to enjoy the excellent mountain walking and to experience some of the area's special charm. The itinerary includes several of the best day-hikes in the White Mountains and also visits a number of fascinating historical sites. Trekking through the Samaria Gorge, climbing Gingilos and Pachnes, the highest mountains in the area, will provide a reasonable challenge for school groups. There is an average of 5 to 7 hours walking each day, with daily ascents and descents that can be between 500 and 800 metres. The underfoot conditions are generally good, following tracks and trails and long sections of well-maintained pathway. During the ascents of Gingilos and Pachnes, we will also encounter scree and cross rocky terrain with no discernable track. This trip is suitable for adventurous school groups with experience of hillwalking. Each KE School Adventure is given a grade, taking into account the amount of walking involved, the difficulty of the terrain, the remoteness, the altitude and the overall length of the trip. The trips are graded on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most challenging. This trip is graded 4.
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