Half-Day Hiking Tour - Kournas Village & Azilakas Path

description Book now

Half-Day Hiking Tour - Kournas Village & Azilakas Path. An amazing hiking tour with beautiful views, unique (holm-oak) Azilakas Forest, a small chappel and varied scenery.

  • Private
  • 1-4 Hours
  • History & Culture
  • Trekking & Hiking
  • Cretan Villages
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • Agrotourism/Ethnography


We will start in the small, country village of Kournas, set against the foothills and amongst olive groves, we follow the dirt track slightly uphill towards the mountains.

We pass the small chapel of Agios Ioannis and gradually continue uphill to the highest point of the walk. We are treating to panoramic views of Almyros bay and the eastern Lefka Ori or the White Mountains. 

Then, we head and walk into the unique ("holm-oak") Azilakas Forest and continue in the shade of its very dense canopy. Azilakas forest is a dense and untouched forest with Holm Oak trees, a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region.

After approximately 1-hour hiking on a clear path (can sometimes be slippery as it is downhill on fallen leaves) the great forest ends and alongside vineyards we cross a small valley. 

Up ahead the village of Kournas is visible, perched on the hill. The last part of our guided hike takes us back up to the village square from a different approach, offering us stunning views of the whole area.

Lake Kournas is the largest natural, sweet-water lake in Crete and is located between the western slopes of the White Mountains or Lefka Ori and the fertile plane of Georgioupolis. Lake Kournas and its surroundings constitute is a very important ecosystem for Crete and Greece, as the area of Apokoronas is one of the very few areas of Crete where plenty of freshwaters is stored throughout the year.  The name Kournas is believed to come from the Arabic word kurna for "lake" or "bath". In ancient manuscripts, it is mentioned as Korissia, while it is believed that the area hosted a sanctuary dedicated to Korissia Athena.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the regulations that have been put in place by the Greek Government concerning social distancing and personal protection against COVID-19, the prices of some excursions are subject to change, depending on the current, legal number of passengers allowed in transfer vehicles (cars and minibusses) on the day of the excursion.  Feel free to contact us for further details and personalized offers.

Highlights: 

- The small, country village of Kournas.
- The unique ("stone-oak") Azilakas Forest 
- Stunning views and varied scenery
- Small groups (max.8-10 persons) - Private/Semi-private groups

Dates & Prices: 

- for 2 people: 155.00 Euros / per person
  for 3 people: 115.00 Euros / per person
  for 4 people: 100.00 Euros / per person
  for 5 people: 100.00 Euros / per person
  for 6 people: 75.00 Euros / per person

- for 2 people: 115.00 Euros / per person (no transfer)
  for 3 people: 85.00 Euros / per person (no transfer)
  for 4 people: 70.00 Euros / per person (no transfer)
  for 5 people: 60.00 Euros / per person (no transfer)
  for 6 people: 60.00 Euros / per person (no transfer)


- This trip can be organized from April to October.
- We do not have a fixed/weekly program, all trips are upon request and depend on availability.
- If you are a family, a bigger group? We can customize this trip according to your wishes.

Included:

- English-speaking host from hotel pick-up to hotel drop-off
- Private transfers (hotel-Kournas Village-hotel). Transfers are based on hotels located in the area of Chania (Platanias to Kalyves)

Not included:

- Lunch
- Personal expenses

Cancellation Policy: 

- For cancellations over 20 days before the excursion date, any amount paid is refunded.
- For cancellations up to and including 20 days before the excursion date, no amount paid is refunded.

Good to know:

Hiking time (approx.): 3.5 hrs + stops
Elevation difference: 215m - 350m - 150m
Walking on: Path (sometimes uneven terrain, earth, and stones), dirt track, paved stone path.
Suitable for: Anyone in good health who enjoys hiking, children over 12 yrs.
Don´t forget: Hiking boots (closed/sports shoes), sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, snack/fruit, camera, hiking poles (advisable)

PLEASE NOTE:  ​If excursions have to be canceled due to unsuitable weather (heatwaves, high winds, heavy rain predicted, etc), then any amount already paid is refunded. The decision to cancel rests with our Partner Travel Agency. Often, weather conditions can differ greatly from one location in Crete to another (e.g. north to south) so do not be put off by weather conditions where you are staying in Crete. Please note that weather conditions can only be predicted 1-2 days prior to the excursion date, especially at the beginning and end of the summer (April/May and October). On the date of the excursion, each participant will be asked to sign a “Participant agreement, release, and acknowledgment of risk” statement in order to participate in the excursion.

Health issues: If any participant suffers from any severe allergy (e.g. to bee stings) or has medical/health issues we need to be aware of, it is important to let us know in advance. This is clearly a safety measure, personal information is by no means violated and all discretion is exercised.

Insurance: The partner travel agency is covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Each participant is advised to take out health/travel insurance before traveling to Crete.

Location

Honest Reviews

The reviews for the Half-Day Hiking Tour - Kournas Village & Azilakas Path

Reviews ( 0 )

Leave your review

Want to Rate it?

you may also like

CreteTravel,West Crete,Tours, Tastings, Events - Manousakis Winery
  • 16 reviews

Tours, Tastings, Events - Manousakis..

Come and enjoy a tour and wine tasting..

Start From € 10.00
CreteTravel,West Crete,Samaria Gorge - Private Tour from Chania
  • 60 reviews

Samaria Gorge - Private Tour from Chania

Samaria Gorge - Private Tour, enjoy a..

Start From € 110.00
CreteTravel,West Crete,Daily Sailing Trip In Chania - Crete
  • 4 reviews

Daily Sailing Trip In Chania - Crete

Sailing Trip in Chania, spend the day..

Start From € 690.00
CreteTravel,West Crete,Half-Day Hiking Tour In Picturesque Villages of Apokoronas
  • 0 review

Half-Day Hiking Tour In Picturesque..

Half-Day Hiking Tour In Picturesque..

Start From € 60.00
CreteTravel,West Crete,Rustic Hinterland - Explore Apokoronas Region
  • 0 review

Rustic Hinterland - Explore Apokoronas..

Rustic Hinterland - Explore..

Start From € 95.00
CreteTravel,West Crete,Half Day Hiking Trip At Omalos Plateau & Reikia Hills
  • 0 review

Half Day Hiking Trip At Omalos Plateau..

Half Day Hiking Trip At Omalos Plateau..

Start From € 50.00

Our Other Sites