Crete West Coast Trek, October 19–20, 2024
— Amy G. Hackney Blackwell, with Christopher Blackwell
When we finished our White Mountains trek, we immediately traveled to Sougia to do the last two days of Trekking Hellas’ Coastal treks in Crete (E4)(https://trekking.gr/en/excursions/coastal-treks-in-crete-e4). This was the last of the walks that Trekking Hellas set up for us.
When I was planning our trip, this seemed like a logical addendum. The first four days of the coastal trek actually duplicates four days of the White Mountains trek but in reverse (which in retrospect would make it a completely different hike, albeit over the same terrain; Samaria south to north might actually be a treat, though I wouldn’t love the first descent on the trail out of Chora Sfakion). The last two days, however, head to the west coast of Crete and a completely different prospect.
What made this short journey extra special was that, for the first and only time, we had a guide with us. Yannis met us in Sougia and was a delightful leader, companion, and friend, enlivening our conversation and keeping up our pace. We are most grateful to him for designing this fun itinerary, for being a strong and wise guide on the trail, for all his help with our subsequent arrangements, and for his warm hospitality and enthusiasm for his homeland.