- Dates: 10 Nights, May 29—Jun 9 & Oct 16—27, 2026. Group Size: 6 (min) to 12.
- Description: High-Alpine hiking at its best and most challenging. Get a taste of Cretan’s wild trails, gorges, isolated beaches & high trails with a ten-day tour of our White Mountains that traverses the entire Lefka Ori massif from east to west. This is a program of difficult trails for experienced hikers. But with each night spent at a great mountain inn with great meals, and with days off at the pristine beaches of the southern coast, it’s a nice balance of glamping with tramping.
- Who Should Come: Experienced hikers who love the adventure of new trails and challenging treks, and love sharing those challenges with others. A perfect itinerary for those who may have never hiked Crete’s Lefka Ori trails, or for those who visited before but experienced only the more popular and less challenging E4 sections and now seek a deeper exploration of these beautiful mountains.
- Limitations: Participants should have appropriate gear & be able to carry a full pack (minus sleeping & cooking kits) on difficult (non-technical) trails that cover 0 to 2,000m+ elevations & often exceed 10k.
- Highlights:
- Askifou Plateau and Asfendou Gorge.
- Samaria Gorge, the uphill traverse from Libyan Sea to Omalos Plateau.
- Gigalos Peak and Greleskas Observatory trail to Koustagerako’s historic, isolated village.
- Rest times at mountain & seaside villages of Agios Ioannis, Agia Roumeli & Sougia, with optional hiking routes supported.)
- Every evening at mountain inns for great food and camaraderie.
- Costs: May €2,150; Oct, €2,050 | Min Enrollment Deadlines: 31 Jan & 30 Apr 2026
- Pricing Discounts & Options:
- 5% discount for groups of 3 or more signing up together.
- 5% discount for sign-ups received before 31 December, 2025.
- €150/€250 prorated discounts for triple- or quad-occupancy accommodations when available.
- Facilitators: Daniel Kolibius is a certified mountain trek leader who has been hiking the deeper reaches of Crete’s mountains since the age of 10. An avid Cretan history buff, birder & naturalist, Daniel will not only lead your group, but enrich the experience with his deep knowledge of the people, history and culture of these historic gorges, trails & peaks.
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👋 Welcome to Villa Koukouvayia!
Hi! We're Heidi and Richard. After 23 years on Crete and in Greece, we're excited to share our corner of the world with you.
We've crafted four unique, hassle-free retreats for 2026, combining adventure, history, culture, and, of course, amazing food and friendship.
The retreat dates start with the March Photographer's Collaborative and run through the November Olive Harvest.
Ready to explore? Get in touch and let the planning begin!
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