Second visit for us, first for our friends & a surprise holiday for Jules. 8 night tour of Western Crete starts in Chania for 3 nights exploring the Akrotiri Peninsular, Gouverneto Monastery, Katholikon and beautiful beach of Seitan Limania. A day at Balos Lagoon with an early start to avoid having to pass many cars on the shear drop cliffs. 

We arrive late around 2230 from the airport which is an easy 30 minute drive. Quick check in at the hotel after the boys drop us off with the cases whilst they search for a car space. We all enjoy a refreshing Mythos outside the fab hotel which Russ and I sampled breakfast at the year before. Great waterfront location, modern hotel with very comfortable beds! We laugh about nearly missing our flight to the boys hunting for a car park space only to come back to the hotel saying it ok to park in front of others as we give them the keys and they move any cars that are in the way!

  Next day is planned on Jules itinerary we gave her as this holiday is all one big surprise. We head on to Akrotiri Peninsular taking them to the first beach we visited, a little gem, the Seitan Limania beach on the west coast. Go early to have the beach to yourself, its a beautiful little pebble bay at the end of an unwalkable gorge. It's a bit of a scramble down but well worth it and its one of Mark's best memories and wow's of the holiday. You should really scramble down in trainers or walking sandals, not suitable for flip flops, pack them in your beach bag. 

 We enjoy the cool waters for couple of hours then head back to the jeep for a driving tour of the area. We stop at a taverna for a fabulous lunch inland and then head to Gouverneto Monastery.   
From Gouverneto Monastery, the path is only accessible by foot and leads to the cave of the Arkoudiotissa ("she-bear"), where a stalagmite looks like a bear. This cave is believed to have been used for worship since ancient times (as there is evidence for cults of Artemis andApollo), but was dedicated to the Arkoudiotissa Panaghia (Our Lady) during the Christian era.Ascetics lived in the caves in the area. Further along the path, after a descent of 140 steps, is the Katholikon (monastic church), the third monastery, now abandoned. It is believed to date from the 5th or 6th Century, founded by St John the Hermit. It is built into the cliff, with a unique church largely carved into the rock-face. This striking set of buildings is now overgrown with fig trees but retains significant charm. 
 
The walk down and back up is worth doing in the late afternoon as for the second time we had the place all to ourselves which provides the perfect ambience. It also of course means you are not walking in midday heat as there is no shade. Some of the path is stepped, other parts in even. Again not suitable for flip flops. Well we nearly had it to ourselves until we heard voices far below us in the bed of the gorge which you can scramble through to a very small bay for a swim. The voices echoed in the stillness of the monastery. Then they appeared a bunch of guys wearing the smallest of speedos which was quite a sight! luckily they didn't hang around to spoil our time at this wonderous place. Once they were gone we were back to hearing nothing but the bell of the odd goat in the surrounding hills. 

Climbing back up to Gouverneto we covered up with sarongs and visited. 
We then headed back to our hotel after a full, exciting day and head to the Venetian Harbour. 

You have to visit the harbour but we much preferred to eat and drink away from it as very touristy and busy. We enjoyn the old town to the east of this harbour, great waterfront tavernas selling delicious food, where most occupants were locals. 

Next day is Balos Lagoon, early start which is drizzle, I was very disappointed as wanted the first sight of the lagoon to have the same affect as it did for us last year and for that I wanted sun! However as we travelled west along the coast the sun came out and the rain past. We drive up the track with no problem in the jeep and one of the first ones on the parking area. We head down with our picnics and beach gear, camera in hand. 

 As the Lagoon came into view our friends were definately wowed as we were and were again. To visit here you have to drive and walk up and over to walk down, arriving by boat just doesn't give you the wonderful vision of the lagoon. 

We spend a few hours enjoying beach and lagoon time in the shallow warm waters edged with pink sand. We walk the island to explore. It is one beach I could actually stay on for more than 2 hrs! 

Later in the afternoon around 1600 we head back as there is on more beach I wanted to visit which was recommended last year but we never made it. This was further down the west coast Falassarna beach. 
It is a very sandy beach but too big for myself. We didn't have that much time to walk to investigate before the sunset so maybe we did not see the best. We watched the sunset then headed back to Chania to explore more of the city. 

We we head into the back streets sampling cocktails along the way. We love Chania. 

Next day we are checking out but first Russ and I head to the museum next to the hotel and walk the outer walls whilst Mark and Julie head to explore the Venetian harbour in the daylight. We meet up around midday check out and head to the White Mountains to Sougia....... The next part of our adventure, mainly walking the Samaria Gorge. 


Link to You Tube Videos of Balos Road  
https://youtu.be/rL93_ENARAs