Aradena Round
Weekend adventure: through the Aradena Gorge, the scenic coastal path, and a steep climb almost to the sky. A loop starting and ending in the seaside village of Loutro.
October 3-5, 2025
15 km of hiking
15 km, 1100 m. up and down. Very scenic path. Many opportunities to stop and rest.
3-6 PARTICIPANTS
Small group, personal contact.
Discover the beauty of Crete.
A path of wild beauty and seaside landscapes.
The route starts in the charming seaside village of Loutro, a steep path with amazing views of the Libyan Sea leads to the village of Anopoli, old stone roads - kalderimi - lead to one of the wildest and most beautiful gorges of Aradena, finally leads along a scenic seaside path back to Loutro.
What's in offer
All transfers: from Chania airport to Chora Sfakion (car) and Loutro (boat) on the first day and from Loutro back to Chania on the last day
Accommodation. Two nights in a hotel in Loutro
Guidance and support in the mountains
All meals
Chilling on the beach
Extras (t-shirt, buff, medal)
What's not included
Travel/health/accident insurance
Plane tickets to/from Chania
Drinks and snacks
Obligatory equipment
We move in the speed hiking style. This means that we take with us only as much equipment and clothes as is necessary. We fight for every kilogram of the carried weight. By walking lightly we move faster, we get tired less and have more time to admire the world around us.
Light hiking shoes or mountain running shoes but with good ground protection - sharp stones on the route (La Sportiva Ultra Raptor or similar).
Water -but there are points on the route where you can replenish your supplies
Recommended equipment
Poles - if you like them, a hat or other head protection from the sun, sunscreen, smartphone with a good camera, sunglasses.
Daily schedule
DAY ONE
Arrival at Chania airport. We will be waiting for you at the airport at 13:00. If you arrive earlier, pick-up from the city center is possible. We drive to Chora Sfakion (70 km) where we transfer to a boat that will take us to Loutro (no road goes there). Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a traditional Greek tavern, short briefing on the challenge of the next day.
Breakfast. Start at 7:30. At the beginning we have a steep uphill to the village of Anopoli with beautiful overlooks on the coast of the Libyan Sea. A short rest in Anopoli and on an old stone road – kalderimi – we reach the edge of the Aradena Gorge, which appears completely unexpectedly. We go down, follow for over an hour the bottom of the gorge, among vertical, red walls, to reach the coast with a small beach of Marmara. The last part is an almost flat section among rocky beaches to Loutro. Lunch in a tavern with the view of the sea, rest on the beach.
Breakfast. Transfer to Chora Sfakion (boat) and Chania (car). Arrival at the airport in Chania around 13:00.
FAQs
What kind of adventures does Foxtrot Tours offer?
We are mountain and wildlife fanatics. We love to walk and run in the mountains. We also believe that preserving clean, unspoiled nature is one of the most important values of mankind. We try to minimize the trace we leave in nature. Our trips can be difficult, and we like to draw continuous lines on the map (longer routes), so we avoid any sections covered by mechanical vehicles unless necessary. Our main goal is to experience the beauty of the world around us and try to challenge our own limitations. If you are tired after our trip – we have achieved the goal.
How difficult are hiking trails in Crete?
Hiking trail in Crete are very difficult, both because of the huge number of sharp stones, large differences in height, often high temperature, almost complete lack of trees, and therefore shaded places, and complete lack of water. In addition, Cretan paths are not very popular, so they easily become overgrown with prickly weeds (fregana) and are therefore difficult to see. However, this is what makes them so unique. Of course, there are easy paths in Crete, but you can go there on your own, you do not need our assistance.
What weather can I expect in Crete?
Crete is one of the warmest places in Europe. During summer trips, the temperature at sea level can exceed 30 degrees Celsius, on the mountain tops it rarely exceeds 20 degrees Celsius. However, due to direct sunlight, the perceived temperature can be higher. In the winter months, the temperature almost never drops below 15 degrees Celsius at sea level, high in the mountains there is snow for 4-5 months.
Crete has over 300 sunny days a year, prevailing westerly winds are not very strong (Crete is not the Cyclades), autumn months are much warmer than spring months. Two or three times a year there are invasions of Saharan sand that limit visibility.
Who can take part in the trips organized by Foxtrot Tours?
Our adventures are not for everyone. Due to the long and difficult routes, expeditions organized by Foxtrot Tours are intended for people with very good physical preparation and experience in high mountains. If you are a mountain runner, your ITRA index should be at least 500 points. If you are an experienced hiker, regular visits to a fitness club (2-3 times a week) will certainly prove helpful. A love of high temperatures is also advisable – Crete is the southernmost region of Europe – it can be hot. If you are a walrus and you like to swim under the ice, we recommend Iceland.
Are there any age restrictions?
Due to the difficulty of the routes and legal requirements, our trips are intended for people who are 18 years old or older.
What is the mandatory equipment for the expedition?
Since our expeditions are not intended for beginners, we assume that everyone knows best from their own experience what they need and what they feel comfortable in. This applies primarily to footwear – the most important element of clothing. We advise against large and heavy hiking boots with high uppers. In Crete, speed hiking shoes will work much better, as long as they have a sole that protects against sharp stones, e.g. La Sportiva Ultra Raptor or Salewa PEDROC PRO MID POWERTEX. It is also mandatory to have a light raincoat (also protects against the wind) and large container of water. Other elements of necessary equipment are listed separately for specific expeditions (e.g. a headlamp if moving at night).
What type of insurance should I have?
You need general travel insurance that covers participation in outdoor sports. Make sure your insurance includes what is called an evacuation insurance policy. There are many insurance companies in different countries, you can choose the one that suits you best. For our part, we can recommend membership in the Alpenverine Austria association combined with insurance that covers rescue operations up to 6,000 m above sea level.
How can I book my adventure and pay for participation?
You reserve your place on our trip by clicking on the link placed on our website. When booking a place, you pay only 30% of the price of the adventure. You pay the remaining amount at any time, but no later than 5 days before the date of the event.
I am canceling my journey, can I get my money back?
Think before making a payment, if you cancel the participation, the amounts paid are not refunded. However, you can use the funds paid for other trips organized by Foxtrot Tours, within the next 12 months.
Trip Overview
Since most things in this world can be divided into three, our route can also be divided in this way.
Loutro – our starting point – is a village that has no connection with the world by any asphalt road (or any road at all). You can only get there by a narrow path along the shore of the Libyan Sea or by ferry or boat. We are starting from the seaside boulevard. The route turns sharply to the left and begins to climb narrow streets, which are actually a sequence of stairs, only occasionally interspersed with flat sections. However, all this only lasts a moment, Loutro is a microscopic village, we pass the last house and a gate protecting the inhabitants from the invasion of sheep and goats. In front of us stretches a steep rocky slope, devoid of trees, yellow-brown in color, separating the coast of the island from the interior. From a distance, there is no path visible there, it is hard to believe that we will somehow manage to get to the other side. However, the path does exist, it winds through many bends, and by Cretan standards – it is even quite wide and comfortable. In many sections it is a well-preserved ancient kalderimi, what means a stone road. Anyway, this is the steepest section of our challege.
After a 5 km walk we reach the village of Anopoli, located in a flat valley. We go down a little to the main square of the village, turn left, and after another bend we find the beginning of the old stone road – kalderimi. This is an artery that was once the main communication route in this part of the island. The terrain is almost completely flat, the mighty White Mountains can be seen in the distance on the right. The surprise is even greater when the Aradena Gorge appears before us completely unexpectedly. Almost vertical, red and yellow walls, a path hanging over the abyss with many bends and a suspension bridge at a distance, currently connecting both sides of the gorge. We go down to the bottom of the gorge and follow it for several kilometers, although sometimes we have to climb up narrow stone steps a little. We reach the Marmara Beach with a beautifully situated bar on a steep seaside cliff.
The last part of our adventure leads right by the sea. This does not mean that it is boring. We do not just walk along the beach, we climb up smaller and larger cliffs, the view changes every now and then, we pass two tourist villages – Likos and Fenikas, chapels hidden among the seaside rocks and the ruins of an old Venetian-Turkish fortress. In Loutro we appear from the west, from above watching the aphitheatrically situated village around the bay, consisting exclusively of white houses. Time for a well-deserved lunch in a seaside tavern.
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About Us
We are mountain lovers, explorers of new, unknown paths. We love walking and running in the most remote corners of Crete. Although we are an international group, we are based in Chania for many years. We have experience in organizing tourist expeditions, multi-day trips into wilderness and trail running competitions.
Angela
Greg
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