What is Soul Treks?
An opportunity to go on an adventure vacation off-the-beaten-track on the Greek island of Crete where all the details have been planned and handled for you: the itinerary, transportation, transfers, lodging, meals. As a small group, we will travel like locals, eating local food, walking local pathways, visiting some of the most beautiful but lesser-known places on the island. Learn more about the origin of Soul Treks here.
What is the Soul Treks philosophy of travel?
Active, Authentic & Immersive Travel
Active travel gets your blood pumping, your mind engaged, and all 5 senses energized by the scent, sound, and pulse of a place. You’ll discover the invigorating and intriguing pleasures of Crete while exploring it on foot. Strolling at an unhurried pace, the natural world reveals its hidden beauty and charming vignettes unfold around you—vintners working among their green-gold arbors, oxcarts carrying grain to market, villagers playing bocce in an ancient square. Learn more about our travel philosophy here.
Active travel gets your blood pumping, your mind engaged, and all 5 senses energized by the scent, sound, and pulse of a place. You’ll discover the invigorating and intriguing pleasures of Crete while exploring it on foot. Strolling at an unhurried pace, the natural world reveals its hidden beauty and charming vignettes unfold around you—vintners working among their green-gold arbors, oxcarts carrying grain to market, villagers playing bocce in an ancient square. Learn more about our travel philosophy here.
I want to participate. When will there be another trek?
Let us know if you'd like to be placed on the Wait List for our next Soul Trek. We are currently planning treks in September of 2024, 2025, and 2026.
What is the level of difficulty of the walks and hikes?
At times, our walks will be strolling on the beach. Other times, we'll explore the practice of 'conscious walking', with a focus on placing each step with intention, and breathing more fully and in rhythm with our pace. And at other times, we'll be covering some miles and gaining in elevation, which will be more challenging. Each day will be somewhat different, with the variety enhancing the overall experience. See the full itinerary here.
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Easy to Moderate Walking/Hiking
- Daily Hours of Walking/Hiking: Up to 6
- Daily Distance (in miles) : 2-6
- Walking Surfaces : Gentle to rolling, with some uneven terrain, rocky scree, (copy from other page)
- Daily Elevation (in feet) : Up to 2,600
What kind of physical shape do I need to be in?This trip is ideal for participants who enjoy an active lifestyle and who are accustomed to cardio exercise at least 2-3 times weekly. The better physical condition you're in, the more you'll get out of this experience. See our training and conditioning tips here.
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What is the ideal participant profile?
We are looking for participants who:
- Are spirited
- Enjoy the company of others
- Appreciate the beauty of nature
- Love travel
- Savor new experiences
- Laugh easily
- Are in sufficient physical condition to enjoy the hikes
- Have an interest in mindfulness
Are single rooms available?
Our on-the-ground logistics guru, Hans, has arranged 5 double rooms for each of our 3 bases. Each person will have a roommate; you can either come on the trip with a traveling companion and share a room, or you will be assigned a roommate. Since each of the hotels are small, they or may not may not have a 6th room available. If one is available, we will work out an arrangement on a first-come basis.
How do you recommend I get to Chania?
Chania is the jumping-off point for Soul Treks, and is accessible via air and ferry. If you want to arrive rested, we recommend flying. Chania is serviced by a number of budget-friendly regional airlines, (Aegean Air, Olympic, EasyJet or Ryanair), originating from many cities in mainland Europe.
Do you have lodging recommendations for Chania?
We certainly do!
Chania is the jumping-off point for Soul Treks. And because we're getting an early start on our first morning, we recommend staying in Chania the night before we meet up as a group.
Upon registration, you'll be provided with a list of 6 of our favorite inns and hotels in Chania, all of which are within a short walk to our beginning-of-trip meeting place and end-of-trip drop-off point.
What will the meals be like?We will eat local foods that represent the essence of Greek culture. Served in the Greek tradition, and shared as a group—and often followed by dancing to Greek folk music—we'll savor fresh seafood and other local delicacies. Slow food made fresh from often locally sourced ingredients.
We'll enjoy local wines, fresh fruit, grilled lamb, vegetables featuring luscious tomatoes and olives, homemade desserts, wild Cretan thyme honey, and Greek coffee. |
What kind of group activities will be on the trip?
You'll have the option of beginning most mornings with tai chi led by Hans. Breakfast is shared as a group, and then we embark on the day's activities together. Hikes allow for walking as a group, or walking with some space between us, as the moment and mood dictate. At the end of each day, we'll share a wonderful dinner meal, including sharing our reflections on the day with one another. There will at times be live local music and the opportunity to dance. Group time will be balanced by daily down time which is yours to design—a nap, swim, laze on the beach, sight-see, shop—whatever calls you. See our detailed itinerary here.
Will there be free time?Yes. We've intentionally designed the itinerary to allow for a nice balance of group activities and down time where you're on your own to do as you please. Further, all group activities are optional. This gives you the freedom to choose more alone time, should you like. See detailed itinerary here.
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I understand the smaller regional airlines in Europe have certain luggage restrictions. Can you help me navigate this?
Absolutely. It's true that the smaller budget-friendly regional airlines in Europe, such as Ryanair and EasyJet, have size limits that may be unfamiliar to American travelers. Upon registration, you'll be provided with detailed information and tips for simplifying your packing and luggage choices.
By the way, these smaller airlines are a great way to go when hopping from country to country in Europe; for example, London to Athens via Ryanair can be as low as $50 USD each way.
By the way, these smaller airlines are a great way to go when hopping from country to country in Europe; for example, London to Athens via Ryanair can be as low as $50 USD each way.
How safe is travel in Greece and Crete?
We'll be traveling through small communities where residents do not lock their doors and where crime is negligible. The crime rate on Crete is much lower than in other southern European countries such as Spain and Italy, and certainly safer than Britain. One of the reasons for Crete’s low theft rates is the draconian punishments; a thief caught for the first time can expect a few months in prison. Secondly, the locals are extremely proud of their low crime rate and do all they can to keep it that way. Theft is rare, but common-sense vigilance is always advised when traveling.
Mosquitoes are a seasonal problem in some parts of Crete, particularly after the sun has gone down. Thankfully, Cretan mosquitoes do not seem to transmit any diseases (e.g. Malaria, Dengue Fever) There aren't many dangerous animals on Crete, and you can find more information about the few that do live on the island here.
Mosquitoes are a seasonal problem in some parts of Crete, particularly after the sun has gone down. Thankfully, Cretan mosquitoes do not seem to transmit any diseases (e.g. Malaria, Dengue Fever) There aren't many dangerous animals on Crete, and you can find more information about the few that do live on the island here.
Will I need travel insurance?Unexpected events can occur that may leave you with cancelled plans, lost luggage or medical expenses that you weren’t planning for. All participants are advised to have a travel insurance policy in force which provides coverage in the event of lost luggage, trip cancellation or trip interruption. We do require participants to have a policy which covers unplanned medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation; a copy of your policy is requested upon payment of final balance of the trip cost. Soul Treks travel partner, Ketcham and Associates Insurance Group, offers a selection of Travel Protection Plans, or you can acquire one through your own insurance provider or travel agent.
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Can you tell me about the waiver?
Your safety is our absolute highest priority, and we will take all measures to ensure everyone has a safe trip. While on your Soul Treks, we request you listen to your body and honor your own pace in the service of your well-being and safety. All participants will required to sign a waiver that holds Soul Treks, and Soul Treks staff, harmless in the unlikely event of a health issue, accident, or injury. Nikos, our on-staff certified backcountry first responder is at your service throughout the trip. Learn more about Kos here.
Do you recommend making Soul Treks part of a longer European vacation?
Absolutely! It's the best way to approach a vacation like this. Often the biggest expense of European travel is the airfare itself, so why not take advantage of the fact that you'll be here already, and add some destinations on your Bucket List! (Athens? Barcelona? Provence? Bruges? The Amalfi Coast?)
We suggest that you come to Europe early, before your Soul Treks trip. This will give your body a chance to adjust to the time zone changes, and you'll be fresh and alert for the hikes that are the highlight of the Soul Treks experience.
Our advice? Arrive in Chania, Crete, at least the day before our Soul Treks departure. Stay in a hotel on the Old Harbor and you'll be within walking distance of our initial meet-up. Leave some of your luggage in storage at your hotel, and plan to stay there again the night after our return to Chania at the end of the trip. Learn more about Chania here.
Do check out the budget-friendly regional airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair for hopping from country to country in Europe. One note, though, some of these smaller airlines have restrictive luggage policies. Upon registration, you'll get more info on this.
We suggest that you come to Europe early, before your Soul Treks trip. This will give your body a chance to adjust to the time zone changes, and you'll be fresh and alert for the hikes that are the highlight of the Soul Treks experience.
Our advice? Arrive in Chania, Crete, at least the day before our Soul Treks departure. Stay in a hotel on the Old Harbor and you'll be within walking distance of our initial meet-up. Leave some of your luggage in storage at your hotel, and plan to stay there again the night after our return to Chania at the end of the trip. Learn more about Chania here.
Do check out the budget-friendly regional airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair for hopping from country to country in Europe. One note, though, some of these smaller airlines have restrictive luggage policies. Upon registration, you'll get more info on this.