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Crete Day Tour: Imbros Gorge and Ilingas Beach
4.9
10 Ratings
Πλατανιάς
Experience the majestic views of Greece’s Imbros Gorge on a private tour. Walk through the stunning gorge, visit a 14th century castle, and relax at a beach bar. Book now!
Experience the majestic views of Greece’s Imbros Gorge on a private tour. Walk through the stunning gorge, visit a 14th century castle, and relax at a beach bar. Book now!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- War Museum Askifou - Start your cultural exploration with a visit to a private war museum located in the heart of Sfakia. This hidden treasure showcases a personal collection of artifacts from WWII and Crete’s resistance period. Featuring old weapons, uniforms, intimate photographs, and handwritten notes, the exhibit narrates powerful stories of…
- War Museum Askifou - Start your cultural exploration with a visit to a private war museum located in the heart of Sfakia. This hidden treasure showcases a personal collection of artifacts from WWII and Crete’s resistance period. Featuring old weapons, uniforms, intimate photographs, and handwritten notes, the exhibit narrates powerful stories of bravery and defiance. It offers an emotional and enlightening introduction to the spirit of Sfakia and its enduring quest for freedom.
- Imbros Gorge - Next, immerse yourself in the wild beauty of Imbros Gorge, one of Crete’s iconic natural wonders. This relatively gentle yet dramatic hike meanders through narrow canyon walls, sculpted rock formations, and lush vegetation. Your guide will accompany you along the trail, sharing local legends and ecological insights. Easier than the Samaria Gorge but equally scenic, Imbros provides a peaceful, awe-inspiring walk suitable for all hiking levels.
- Ilingas Beach - If you wish, your guide can suggest a stop at a traditional mountain taverna for an authentic local lunch. Savor Cretan specialties like fresh vegetables, Sfakian pies, and grilled meats or seafood, all while enjoying panoramic views. Meals and drinks are not included in the tour price but can be purchased directly at the venue. The timing and menu are flexible based on your preference.
- Ilingas Beach - Conclude your day at Ilingas Beach, a secluded coastal spot where turquoise waters meet dramatic cliffs and natural sea caves. This tranquil location is ideal for swimming, relaxing, or exploring the rocky shoreline. It’s a hidden gem on Crete’s south coast—uncrowded, raw, and beautifully untouched.
What's Included
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and/or taxes
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- All fees and/or taxes
- Snacks
Additional Information
This exclusive journey through Sfakia unveils a hidden side of Crete that few travelers get to see. Trek through the stunning Imbros Gorge with a local guide who shares captivating stories and the spirit of the land. Explore a private war museum that provides unique, personal insights into Crete’s remarkable resistance history—details not found in…
This exclusive journey through Sfakia unveils a hidden side of Crete that few travelers get to see. Trek through the stunning Imbros Gorge with a local guide who shares captivating stories and the spirit of the land. Explore a private war museum that provides unique, personal insights into Crete’s remarkable resistance history—details not found in guidebooks. With adaptable pacing, serene beaches like Iligas, and optional visits to family-owned tavernas, this tour seamlessly combines nature, culture, and authenticity in a profoundly personal way. It’s more than just a scenic drive—it’s a deep dive into the essence of Crete’s untamed south.
Location
Heliophilia
Our office is located right next to the green Teachers Bar in Stalos Crete.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(10 Ratings)
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Basil
Jul 3, 2024
A Fairytale Walk and Swim in Crete - The tour began with a beautiful brief on the activity of the day in a special new jeep being picked up from Chania. Jacob and Sophia were present at all times tsking care of my needs and amending schedules and stops based on my pace and needs. We first headed to the war museum, a family through generations owned museum that offered WW2 items from toothpaste to machine guns. It was truly informative and the guide was outstanding.
Imbros Gorge took us 3 hours and was very interesting with midpoint rests. After the beautiful gorge we headed further south to the beach where a fresh fisherman's lunch was served followed by iced refreshing coffee. We had beautiful conversations with Jacob and Sofia who are vet passionate about their tours and guest experiences. Right after lunch we headed by foot to an outstanding beach that had hidden caves and crystal clear waters. Instagram perfect is just about right!
If you want to be pampered through unique experiences that are guranteed to highlight as one of your "once in a lifetime" experiences, then this is the right boutique tours provider. Kudos to Jacob.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael
Sep 24, 2023
Fantastic hike through a spectacular gorge - The trip through the Imbros Gorge, lunch afterwards, and castle visit was very well organised and guided by Jacob. The later morning start suited us as did the shorter day compared to the much longer Samaria Gorge. Imbros Gorge was about 2.5 hours and was very pretty and interesting. At the end Jacob took us to traditional taverna for lunch with a stunning view. Following a fantastic grilled fish lunch, we visited a fabulous beach further along the coast for a beautiful swim. All in all a great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
628laraq
Jul 6, 2023
The essence of Crete - Amazing day full of once in a lifetime photos, a wonderful immersion in the natural beauty of Crete, and an amazing guide (Iakovos) who was great with kids and made us feel like family. Already want to go back 😊☀️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barb_q
Jul 2, 2023
Magic ! - Jacob was an amazing guide. This tour was fantastic. The walk through the gorge is brilliant. The only thing that exceeds that was the gorgeous beach we ended up on. A perfect end to a magical day. Nothing is too much trouble for Jacob - he took lots of photos and shared these as well. Best tour we have done in chania !
Review provided by Viator
Stub_hub
May 18, 2023
Fantastic day hiking Imbros Gorge and visiting Iligas Beach ! - My wife and I went on the Imbros Gorge - Frangokastelo - Iligas Beach Private Tour, and it was a fantastic day. Our guide was Jacob, the company's owner. He picked us up at our hotel and drove us to the Imbros Gorge entrance. We had coffee and a Sfakian pie at a cafe next to the entrance, then hiked the Gorge, 8 km in all. It was steadily downhill, rocky but manageable, beautiful and interesting, and we very much enjoyed our conversations with Jacob. He was happy to take pictures and videos of us, even sometimes when we hadn't requested it. After the hike, we had a bite to eat at a tavern at trail's end, then Jacob got a ride back to his car and returned to the tavern. From there, we went to the Frangokastelo castle and to Iligas Beach. The Beach was great - very few people were there (more in the summertime, I understand), very scenic, and the water wasn't so cold that I didn't go in and submerge myself. All in all, the trip met and exceeded our expectations. I heartily recommend this tour and commend Jacob for his planning and execution.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
981spirosk
May 17, 2023
Awesome day !!! - A day well spend with Jacob! Had an amazing hike, saw and learned about a 14th century castle and relaxed on an amazing turqoise water beach ! Can’t thank you enough! We’ll be back
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Braos999
Sep 7, 2022
Great tour!! - One of my best days in Chania so far! Loved the hike and the food right after was something else!
The finish of the day at Iligas beach completed it!
Loved it, thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mobile74357
Sep 7, 2023
Full Day - We had the pleasure of an enjoyable day with Jacob hiking the Imbros Gorge. He was attentive to our needs and pace while he lead the way through this interesting geological feature. We, as a group of seasoned hikers, would have liked to know more about the types of trees and plants in the gorge.
We were treated to delicious light meals on both sides of our trek.
Unfortunately the Frangokastelo Castle is undergoing repair so we could not enter but we were able to get a good look through the barrier fencing.
The day culminated in a visit to a lovely beach. Unfortunately, we chose not bring swimsuits. The time allotted before our return to Chania allowed for a refreshing swim, a wonderful end to a dusty day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
