Kayak and Hike the Coast of Crete

A fun mix of kayaking and walking under the Cretan sun, with good and knowledgeable guides. The last two days in particular were fantastic: kayaking into Agia Roumeli as the village comes into view from the sea, then staying the night and setting off early the next morning into the beautiful Samaria Gorge.

Group dynamic was excellent-only 3 kayaking and hiking and 2 swimming but we all joined together for the penultimate days kayaking and last day’ hike up the Samariá Gorge by choice of the swimmers

An amazing week in beautiful Crete. The perfect amount of activity and adventure with some delicious food too. Couldn’t have asked for more from Fiona, Manu and Miltos. They really made it easy to relax and enjoy the adventure.

This was such a fantastic week. All the activities were spot on, a nice mix of sea and hike ending the days with a lovely long, late lunch with the group. Fiona, Miltos and Manu looked after us so well, and the group was the most friendly, supportive people, would go on another adventure with them in a heartbeat. The hardest day was the last one, going up the Samaria Gorge “the wrong way”, those last 3 km felt never ending. But fully recovered with a final wonderful dinner and pool time. This was one of my best adventure trips ever.

Amaazing food and I could spend all day in the crystal waters. Thanks to the awesome guides for the warm, easy welcome to Crete. I loved it!

Fantastic week in Crete, the mix of kayaking and hiking was well planned and worked perfectly. Our itinerary changed a little bit due to weather conditions but we didn’t miss out on anything. Lots of sunshine, clear waters, beautiful scenery and delicious food. Thank you Manu, Miltos and Fiona

A really fun adventure across the North-West of Crete! We had a group of 8 people which was a good group size for a trip like this and I enjoyed that activities alternated between hiking and kayaking, so you avoided becoming overly fatigued with either. The itinerary understandably changed on some days to accommodate for wind and weather on the sea, however we still got to do all of our itinerary. Highlights included snorkelling the WW2 mining pylons and shipwreck.

A note is that although the itinerary says you finish your activities at lunch, this is usually a late one and so your day's activities can actually finish at around 2pm, and with a late lunch you may arrive back at the hotel for 4pm or 5pm. I think this was good as we were all tired following the day's activities and it was nice to relax in the evening by the hotel's pool/beach area with some downtime.

Definitely bring water shoes if you can and a drybag with proper straps. Try not to overpack on the second to last night when you are kayaking 16km and then hike the Samaria gorge, as you will have to carry this kit with you. The only part of the trip that isn't guided is the hike on Samaria gorge, you navigate this with your group, however it is a straight path and you cannot get lost. Food was excellent and plentiful, sharing several dishes between the group. Thank you Manu, Miltos and Fiona for a great trip!

A fabulous week, which makes you forget the grey skies back home! Sunshine, clear water, very knowledgeable and friendly hosts, nice group The mixture of kayaking along the coast and walking the gorges is very enjoyable.

We had a brilliant week. The mixture of sea kayaking and hiking was spot on. All of the accommodation was of excellent standard. The food was superb. We were off the beaten track and saw a wonderful array of wildlife (vultures, Mediterranean Monk Seal with pup, kingfishers, lion fish, praying mantis). It was great to have the expertise of local guide Miltos on some of our trips. His knowledge of the local plants is excellent.

Being a relatively novice kayaker and, at 69, being somewhat older than the usual participant, I was slightly concerned that this holiday might be a bit much for me but in the event I had no problems. Even with the unseasonable weather (wind, rain and a thunderstorm) the holiday was challenging rather than intimidating, and possibly more satisfying because of the conditions. Organisation was superb throughout: good communication meant stress-free pickups despite some people’s flights being delayed, hotels were all more than adequate considering we really only used the rooms overnight, and the alterations to the program to adapt to conditions and events was appreciated. For example, the first day was changed to put us in more sheltered waters in the lee of the peninsula, and when the Samaria Gorge was unfortunately closed on the last day, we had an alternative walk of similar length on the coastal path. All the kit provided seemed to be of good quality, we had training on the first day to show that we could right a capsized kayak and get back aboard unassisted, and I felt that team (always 2 people with us when we were kayaking) were keeping an eye on us and conditions at all times, so no health & safety concerns. Finally, can’t finish without mentioning the food - those late lunches were amazing and, coming after all the exercise was finished for the day, could be enjoyed to the full (often rendering an evening meal unnecessary- just a snack needed) Thanks to Fiona, Manu, Miltos and Nora for a truly exceptional holiday. Pete

I really enjoyed my time in Crete with our Hosts, Fiona, Manu, Miltos and Nora. I knew before I booked that I wouldn't be able to hike the Gorge and other arrangements were kindly made for me which meant returning with Manu, Miltos and the Kayaks after the paddle to Agia Roumeli and being dropped at my accommodation in Chania, to be picked up next day to join the rest of the Group after their hike. The Kayaking was superb and I liked that it challenged us due to the occasional windy stretches and the Snorkelling was great as I saw a large sea urchin and an octopus. We had some fabulous late lunches at various Tavernas each day before heading back to the Hotel bar. As I was in Chania for an extra couple of days at the end of the week I also booked an additional day of Kayaking with Manu and Miltos. My thanks go to the team at Fit in Crete for a really enjoyable holiday.

I had a fabulous kayaking and walking adventure in Crete. Our first base in Kissamos was a lovely quieter Greek village. Away from the busier tourist areas of Crete. We also stayed a night in Agia Roumeli and Chania both charming places! I booked last minute but they were very helpful and managed to accommodate me and accept my reservation Both the kayaking and walking were wonderful! We were gradually introduced to longer and more challenging trips during the week. Giving us the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful nature and Greek culture. Which was of course wonderful! All our guides, Fiona Manu Miltos and Nora, both on water and on our beautiful walks were very knowledgeable, kind and tbh were a lot of fun! The taverna lunches were really delicious and a perfect way to relax after our adventures earlier in the day! We had mostly sun but also were lucky enough to have varied weather conditions. Which for me made it more interesting and gave us some variety while kayaking and walking. At the end of the trip they gave us all a beautiful personalised map which outlined all our fabulous experiences we had had during the week. Thank you so much to all our guides for all your great work and making a really memorable holiday!

Great mix of kayaking and walking and it turns out, Crete does have some rain. So we did get a few heavy showers on one of the walks and encountered the edge of a storm on one of the kayaks. But for me the few windy days and some heavy showers added to the experience. The kayaks were all sit on tops so ultra stable with a mix of doubles and singles allowing the group to mix it up a bit. The kayak trips varied in distance and location so we never paddled the same place twice. On the longer paddles there were plenty of stops and snacks aplenty plus welcome opportunities to swim and snorkel. The walking also varied and like the paddles started off small and built up to longer and more challenging distances and terrain at the end of the week. All the accommodations were modern, well located and served delicious meals. Though for me the best food was found during the lunch stops which changed every day so we had a lovely variety of tastes to choose from. Many thanks to Fiona, Manu, Miltos and Nora for making my first time to Crete such a memorable experience. As the weather prevented us from walking the final ravine I now have an excuse to return.

Manu and his team are very knowledgeable about the area and the kayaking felt particularly special as you get to empty coves and beaches, and swim/snorkel in areas where there are no other people. The kayaking in the blue , clear and clean water was a highlight for me. The tavernas we visited for meals are very local and the food was great. Weather/winds changed a few of our plans but manu always organised a suitable alternative. I would say we didn’t feel like a group until the last couple of big days, so they were the highlights for me.

This was a great holiday, the guides were excellent. As well as having great fun hiking and kayaking we learnt a lot about Crete and ate delicious local food at lovely tavernas. The weather became too hot to walk the Sameria Gorge but we were looked after and were offered alternative choices. The sea around Crete is warm and clear so the kayaking and snorkelling was beautiful. I wish I was there now.

I just returned from this wonderful trip to Crete. We were there during the heat wave and managed to have an incredible time because of the attention and flexibility of the local tour company we were taken care of by - Fit in Crete. These four guides checked in with us frequently and moved plans around to make sure we were safe and also that we got the trip we wanted. Moreover, they were extremely knowledgeable and fun. All there was left to do was enjoy the trails and that beautiful sea with snorkels and kayaks, explore sea caves and shipwrecks, learn about the local flora, and enjoy the delicious food Crete is famous for.

I had an incredible week in Crete on this trip. Manu & Miltos were excellent guides and we always felt in really safe hands. It’s a well thought-out itinerary as the distances we kayaked and hiked got progressively longer over the week, which gave us the chance to adjust (particularly for the kayaking, as I didn’t have much experience here!). Highlights for me were kayaking through the clear blue waters at Elafonissi, snorkelling from the remote beaches we landed at, and trekking the Samaria Gorge early in the morning before all the other tourists arrived. It was also great trying tasty Cretan food for the first time. Lots of choice for a veggie too. Highly recommend!

Fiona, Manu, and Miltos put together the most amazing kayaking and hiking adventure. All of the accommodations were clean and comfortable and there are not enough great things to say about the restaurants and food chosen. It was truly a once in a lifetime adventure. I loved everything about this trip, especially our guides and the new friends.

What an incredible week in Crete organized to perfection by Fiona & Manu. A great progression of activities in duration and difficulty before the peak fun on the last two days. Manu & Miltos led us through the best kayak and hike adventures. Crete is beautiful and the family-style food feasts at the late lunches are chef’s kiss. Highly recommend! Book now.

The local hosts are an Italian/British couple, Manu and Fiona who have lived in Crete for quite a while. They are ably assisted by Miltos. Communication before and during the trip was good. We enjoyed excellent weather, lovely swimming, snorkelling and kayaking, scenic and at times dramatic walks and some really delicious food. Our itinerary had to be changed a bit due to factors beyond the control of our hosts. We had a couple of windy days which made kayaking difficult in the area in which we were based so we had a much longer drive down to the south coast to find calmer waters. For me, the highlight was the final walk: going up Samaria Gorge (while 95 % of walkers were coming down).

Crete is beautiful! This tour is a great way to explore the land and the sea. A lot of the tour is self-guided though, and are not full days of activities. Nice accommodation and the tour leaders were lovely!

Fantastic trip. Nice mix of kayaking and hiking. A more relaxed trip than others I've done with Much Better Adventures, but moderate difficulty sums it up and I was looking for something less challenging this time, so fitted the bill perfectly. Highlight of the trip is the journey on the last 2 days. Kayaking to Agia Roumeli and then hiking up the gorge. If you have any energy left after the gorge it's worth continuing up to the spring partway up Mount Gingilos for stunning views and rock formations.

This was an awesome trip that totally exceeded by expectations. I am used to travelling on my own, so was a bit apprehensive of a group holiday, but we had so much fun and I learnt so much from the guides about Crete, food and the local plants and wildlife.

There was a good variety of activities throughout the trip, balancing kayaking, hiking, swimming and socialising. There was also a gradual build up to a 15km kayak in one day, followed by the epic Samaria gorge - as every bit as lovely (and challenging!) as expected.

The start of October was the perfect time to go, both in terms of the weather (mid to high 20s) and hardly anybody else there, as out of season.

My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our trip to Crete. All locations were different: we explored some famous places, as well as some hidden gems. Travelling in October was perfect: the water was warm, not too hot for hiking and not busy with tourists.

The guides (Manu, Miltos, Fiona) and the group were exceptional! We learned new skills for kayaking and snorkelling. I'm not a confident swimmer, so the guides made sure I could explore at my own pace and improve my swimming skills while the rest of the group could swim further.

We used everything from the kit list. Since we were lucky with the weather, wetsuits were not a must.

We kayaked to hidden beaches and caves, snorkelled and swam in crystal blue waters, hiked impressive gorges, and dined together at authentic Cretan tavernas. The week's activities unfolded in a way that each day was more impressive than the last. Manu, Fiona and Miltos are outstanding hosts, each with their own unique perspective on Crete and expertise across the various activities. They worked seamlessly to ensure we had the most amazing experiences. I loved the variety of activities and how much of Crete we were able to explore!

This was a truly amazing trip with a wonderful trio of guides and a group of fantastic like-minded people. Each excursion was expertly arranged with lots of exploration whilst in the kayaks, snorkelling and hiking. The guides were knowledgeable about the landscape, wildlife and culture which made for such an authentic experience and I very much enjoyed the cheeky samples of a variety of fruits from the trees and plants. We were provided with snacks during the day and then usually a late lunch in which there was so much food, communally shared, that you were full until breakfast the next day. The local dishes were delicious and for someone who is vegetarian and struggles with dairy and eggs, the team made no issue with this and made sure I had enough food to eat, which was highly appreciated. However, I think I could have lived off the bread and oil alone as it was amazingly tasty.

I had only tried sea kayaking once before so I was a bit apprehensive on how I would fare, but the team were so patient, kind and helpful, especially when I struggled at times. I was initially in a single kayak, as I travelled solo, but it was no issue when I asked to be in a double. I would say that the fitness rating is accurate as a good level of endurance is required for the longer days of kayaking and hiking although there are adequate stops throughout the days to refuel.

This was such a fantastic trip, and well worth the money spent. I will be recommending this to others. I loved every minute of it and I can't thank the team enough for such wonderful memories made!

This was a very enjoyable trip with a good balance of time on/in the water and hiking the spectacular scenery. As a novice kayaker/snorkeller it was great to experience such warm clear water and build my skills during the week. Prior kayak experience probably not necessary as those first couple of days are used to gain confidence. I think June was a good time of year to visit as the weather was warm (30C most days) without being oppressively hot. Plenty of sun protection still required though! Our hosts Manu, Fiona and Miltos were very welcoming and very knowledgeable on Cretan culture and Flora & Fauna. They were also able to adjust the itinerary to make best use of the weather. The week starts very relaxed and ramps up to some long days paddling, finishing with the hike up Samaria Gorge. All were fantastic but it does require a degree of fitness to fully appreciate (as it says in the trip notes). The late lunches in local tavernas was an unexpected bonus and ice-cold beers at the end of a long day were very welcome too. Thoroughly recommended.