Day Trips from Chania, Crete
There are so many great options for day trips from Chania. It only takes about an hour and a half to cross the island to the south or reach some of the amazing beaches in the west. We had read so much about the small mountain villages and amazing tavernas that we opted from a couple of trips highlighting these and the southern beaches on the Libyan Sea.
Tasting Tour
Our first trip was an organized tour with stops to try local products. Overall, it didn't rank as one of the best we've done but the scenery was beautiful and it was a good introduction to what driving the tight and winding mountain roads would be like. After all, if a bus can navigate them, we could too!
Oldest Olive Tree on Crete
The first stop was in Vouves to see the ancient olive trees there. Opinions differ but they are definitely placed at over 1,000 years old. 
The area has a cafe, a small museum, and a few buildings. 
Definitely worth a quick stop.
The area upslope from Chania and in the valleys are the prime growing area for olives on Crete. There are over 44 million olives trees on Crete and this area is just amazing because it looks like forests of olive trees are covering every hill and valley with the twin backdrops of the Aegean and the White Mountains (Lefka Ori).
It's truly mind-boggling.
Cheese, Bread, and Honey in Pervolakia
Our next stop was a small cheese producer, Papagiannakis Brothers, where they make Graviera (sort of Greek Gruyere) and a few other varieties. We were disappointed not to see any production happening but it was fun to see the small operation and the elder Papagiannakis.
Next door is a beautiful bakery where we saw loaves coming out of the brick oven and got to try a few different rusks and pies. 
I fell in love with rusks while on Crete. They are twice-baked bread products, historically made from ingredients like barley, wheat, and rye, and sometimes other flours like carob or corn. They are hard as rocks until you soak them with olive oil or tomato juices, like in the famous Dakos salad, but they are also just nibbled on with meze and ouzo. Most everyone knows the classic spinach pie but in Greece these pies are filled with all kinds of things from meat, to cheese, to other veggies. They are really addictive!
Lastly in Pervolakia, we stopped at a honey producer, Idiosmos, and did a taste test of about 10 different varieties. It was interesting to taste them side by side and really be able to tell the difference. The property was beautiful as well.
Pnevamatikakis Winery
Our last stop was a winery - the highlight of which was it's a self-serve tasting haha! Other than that, it was unspectacular but again the views were worth it.
Mountain Adventures - Botanical Garden of Crete, Meskla, and Theriso Gorge
Perhaps our favorite trip, this one took us high into the White Mountains and through one of the legendary gorges of Crete. But our first stop was the Botanical Garden of Crete. Built on a very steep hillside that was ravaged by a fire in 2003, it is the vision of Petros Marinakis to reclaim his home and the flowers and fruit trees that grow there. There is a circular path that leads down into a gorge and then back up the other side. For us, it was a fairly arduous undertaking but it was worth it.
There were lots of birds but the best were the peacocks - even an all white one!
And when you're finished there's a wonderful restaurant where you can sit outside under the grape arbor and enjoy a cool drink, a meze, and the amazing view.
From Meskla to Theriso
We stopped for lunch at Taverna Halaris in Meskla before starting our journey. Don't be fooled by the drive-time estimate on the map above. We quickly learned that Google seriously underestimates drive-times on Crete! It was quiet that early in the day but the food was delicious and eating under the ancient plane trees was magical.
The road up above Meskla takes you right to the foot of the White Mountains, getting ever more narrow as it climbs. It's a fun drive to see the small farms, goats, and villages that exist up away from the cities. It truly is like entering a different world, set in a different time. I was glad Scott was driving though!
At lower elevations Pine and Fir forests dominate, although there are hillsides where all of the trees have been cleared at some point and the remains of old terracing can be seen. Up higher the land is bare except for the odd Cyprus or Pine. The variation of dark green and tan and the white of the limestone is just beautiful.
We arrived in Theriso and stopped for a coffee before heading down through the gorge. Again we found amazing ancient plane trees. They dominate the small towns and villages at lower elevations.
The Theriso Gorge is wonderful as it has tons of hiking but you can also drive through it. Most other gorges we saw the road was high up along one edge so this was really special.
Chora Sfakion and Loutro
One day we decided to take the bus across the island to Chora Sfakion and catch the ten minute ferry to Loutro. We liked it so much we rented a car and took the girls back during their stay. The bus ride/drive is another winding, crazy road up and over the mountains and then down through the Imbros Gorge, although this is one you can only look down into from the steep edges.
Chora Sfakion is a cute little village and the main jumping off point for this part of the coast. Loutro and other villages on the southern side are only accessible by ferry or very steep hikes down through the gorges. We saw a lot of hiking tours in these villages and admired their energy as they hiked through the valleys and along the steep cliffs from beach to beach. 
The ferry trip is short but a great way to see the southern edge of the island. 
The day that Scott and I went to Loutro was a calm, sunny day and the trip was magical as we sat out on the front of the small ferry. However, the day that we took the girls there were gale force Meltemi winds coming over the island and funneling down through the gorge. Getting out of the car to take pictures you had to lean into the wind not to be knocked over. Needless to say we were worried about the winds on the Libyan Sea and when we came over the crest of the mountains we could see the water was choppy and riled up. As a result, only the large ferry was running where normally there are tons of small ferries and water taxis making the trip. As soon as we rounded the Sfakion headland and exited the funnel of the gorge, the winds calmed down and Loutro was once again gorgeous behind the protection of the tall mountains but it was touch and go for awhile!
The village of Loutro is a quintessential Greek village with its white-washed buildings and blue trim. And the beach was our favorite on the island. It's a small pebble beach but as a result the water is amazingly clear and so many shades of blue. 
The girls enjoyed it as well (once we got there!), although the ride there was not their favorite to say the least. Note to self, taking a pregnant daughter still fighting morning sickness and another daughter prone to car sickness up and down those winding roads was not one of our best plans! 
Loutro is a really a magical place and somewhere we'd like to stay longer if we ever return to Crete.
Plakias
Our last trip was an overnight to Plakias. We actually tacked it onto our stay in Rethymno because it made the bus connections easier. We again traveled by bus over the mountains and down to the Libyan Sea. 
Plakias is a larger town than Sfakion or Loutro and there were a lot of holiday rentals. It felt a lot more geared at tourists and we didn't find it our favorite but the beach was beautiful and we did catch a spectacular sunset.
Next up is our trip to Paros and finally Agios Nicholaos and Eastern Crete. Looking back, we really packed a lot into the month we were there!
This featured blog entry was written by mrb430 from the blog Arrr Adventures.
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