MISTRAL WALKS, BUS TRIPS AND CYCLE TOURS FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS
Now a typical unhurried Greek island beach village, with a few nice beach tavernas and souvenir shops, Maleme attracts the more tranquil sort of traveller. That said it’s a great base for exploring the surrounding olive and avocado tree covered hills and there are a number of interesting walks and cycle tracks directly accessible from the Mistral that make for nice excursions.
Maleme Beach stroll
Our ‘home beach’ is a 2km expanse of fairly coarse sand that makes for a very good stroll from the hotel, which is at the westernmost end. Plenty of places to stop ‘en route’ for a coffee, an ice cream or a beer. Particularly pleasant early morning or at sunset. The water is very nice, but if you want to swim it’s a good idea to wear a pair of those cheap boat shoes as it can be a bit pebbly underfoot.
WW2 German War Memorial and Minoan Tomb Walk
The Battle of Crete is not particularly well documented but over 4,400 German soldiers lost their lives during the invasion of May 1941. The memorial to them, a short walk up the hill behind the hotel, is a poignant link to politics past. On the way up or down make a stop at the Minoan Tomb, a remarkable burial chamber 4m high with a square floor plan rising to a pyramid. Bombed during the war it was restored in the 1970s.
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Bus trips
There is a bus stop right outside the Mistral where you can catch a bus directly into Chania Town, where the bus station is just behind the old Venetian harbour. Buses also stop between Chania and the Mistral at the popular tourist resort that is Platanias/Agia Marina. Originally two smaller villages that have merged into one long strip very popular as a tourist resort, you’ll find sandy beaches with good water sports, heaps of bars and restaurants, good shopping by day and an exuberant nightlife after dark. Buses run regularly during the day, check at reception if you’re heading out at night.
BUS ROUTE TO PLATANIAS / AGIA MARINA
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Tours by bike
Ask at the hotel to hire a bike and Anja will organise for one to be brought to the hotel. There are a range of cycle routes or village trips you can make, with detailed routes and directions available at reception.
We normally recommend E-Bikes as that takes the struggle out of the hills. We get them locally here and the team supplies the bikes ready set up for your height and weight. The rental includes a helmet and insurance cover. A typical cost is €12 per day for a classic bicycle, €25 per day for an e-bike.
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Afrata Beach
This is a nice day trip where you can ride with the sun on your back both going and coming, some 14kms along the coast, but the E-Bike makes light work of it. You ride through great scenery up some hills the finally down towards the glittering sea. It’s perfect to work up a thirst and an appetite for lunch at a local taverna.
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Maleme – Pirgos – Kyparissos – Xamoudochori – Maleme
Quite a hard route, rising up 160m and 11.2km in length, taking you into the hills above Maleme through pretty villages and scenic countryside.
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Kontomari – Kiparissos – Zounaki – Sirili
The quiet traditional villages of Kontomari and then Kyparissos are located at an altitude of about 100 meters above sea level. It’s a nice ride – check out the church of Saint George Tropeoforos with its old Cypress tree. Then ride on down to Zounaki and stop at the local brewery for a beer tasting before heading for Sirili.
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Village visits by bike or on foot
In addition some of the local villages are worth a visit. Some are a walk away, others best reached on two wheels.
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Vlacheronitissa
Offers scenic views of surrounding olive and oranges groves and vineyards running down towards the sea. If you’re interested in Military History there are some remanants there of the German occupation.
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Xamoudochori
Situated at an altitude of 110m in the green rolling hills above Maleme, the village offers some stunning views on all sides and is surrounded by endless olive groves and vineyards. The traditional cafeneion in the centre will welcome you with local beverages and traditional Cretan raki.
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Tavronitis
2kms from the Mistral but easily accessible by the new walking/cycling path that starts right outside the hotel, Tavronitis is a small bustling village with some interesting shops, cafes, a bakery and tavernas. Plenty for a nice couple of hours out.
