discover Crete by foot, or with a rental car

Ook in het Nederlands
  • Choose your route

  • Use your own smartphone and the VoiceMap app

  • Enjoy the Routaki Audio Guide Info Files that inform you about everything.

  • Choose your route

  • Use your own smartphone and the VoiceMap app

  • Enjoy the Routaki Audio Guide Info Files that inform you about everything.

Discover Crete on your own way, with the help of the VoiceMap app

Exploring out of Rethymno to Myriokefala’s monastary, Kournas and Georgioupoli

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Discover Authentic Crete: Heraklion to Margarites via Anogia and Axos

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Take in Vineyards and Olive Fields: out of Hersonissos via Archanes to Knossos

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A Scenic Drive to Discover Zeus’ Birth Cave on the Lassithi Plateau

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Historical Hues; baffling stories about Milatos Cave, Spingalonga and Elounda

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A Stroll through the layers of Heraklion’s Historical Treasures

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The Venetian harbor and old town of Rethymno

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More information on this page with links and explanations…

beautiful impressive waterfall, and that on Crete, by Routaki

Car route 32: Rethymnon – Georgioupoli

[sceduled for May 2024]

This route guides you through typical Cretan villages and across mountain ridges to the Roman tombs of Ancient Lappa, including a visit to the Chapel of the Five Virgins, where the RAGiF’s have already provided detailed historical information. Proceeding to the old village of Lappa, you then traverse the mountain ridge to reach the village of Myriokefala, where a visit to the local monastery is highly recommended. Following a scenic drive through the mountains, you’ll reach the waterfalls and springs of Argiroupoli. Additionally, the route offers an opportunity to explore the freshwater Lake Kournas before concluding in the picturesque town of Georgioupoli. [Read more…]

Lake Kournas - the only natural lake on Crete
Margarites has all shapes and sizes of pottery

Car route 42: Gazi (Heraklion) – Panormos

[sceduled for May 2024]

This route takes you through valleys and mountain ridges to the typical mountain villages of Anogeia and Axos. When passing a typical Cretan cemetery, you will hear what takes place before and during a funeral. Once you arrive in Axos you can visit the woodcarving museum.  This route also takes you to the Melidioni cave. From the parking lot of the cave you already have a view of the olive factory of the Paraschakis family, where Joanna and her mother give free tours and talk about the production of ‘liquid gold’. This ‘road trip’ will take you to the pottery village of Margarites. To finalize you may enjoy one of the beaches of the tiny village of Panormos. [Read more…]

special sacrophagus in the melidoni cave
end this route at the famous Minoan excavations of Knossos

Car route 53: Hersonissos – Knossos

[sceduled for May 2024] With this route, you have the opportunity to visit the CretAquarium. Afterward, you drive through a variety of Cretan villages: Anopoli, Stamni, and Myrtia. In the latter, you can visit the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum. You drive through the vineyards around Peza, allowing you to visit the Wine Museum of the Union and take a break in the picturesque square of the charming town of Archanes, where you’ll feel like you’re in Venetian surroundings. Continuing through numerous olive fields, you will reach the entrance of the Knossos archaeological site, where you can explore this amazing excavation site. Afterwards the route will bring you to the clear beaches of Karteros and Amnissos. [Read more…]

fully enjoy yourself during a routaki route, partly due to the informative sound files
amazing views over the lassithi plateau

Car route 56: Stalida- Lassithi Plateau – Stalida

[sceduled for May 2024]

With this route, you have so many different possibilities that you could actually take two days to complete it. In the beginning of the route, you pass by the beautiful Selinari Monastery. Then, you go through the mountains instead of taking the highway and tunnel to the new city of Neapoli. There, cafes await you, as well as a very beautiful church. The route then ascends with the goal of reaching the Lassithi Plateau. Along the way, there are many photo opportunities, and there is plenty to see on the plateau itself. Local craftsmanship is explained at the Lasinthos Eco Park. Of course, the birth cave of the mythological king Zeus is a must-see. Descending, you have magnificent views, for example, of the Avdou reservoir. The tree in Krasi is remarkable, and once again, it’s delightful to relax at one of the cafes there. [Read more…]

the beautiful monastery of Selinari at the beginning of the route through crete
Sophie looks at the bay of Mirabello - a beautiful view

Car route 58: Malia – Agios Nicolaos

[sceduled for May 2024]

This route starts at the Minoan excavations of Malia and then goes through Sissi to Milatos. After Milatos, you can descend into the cave of the same name. Just before the town of Neapoli, you have the opportunity to take a free tour of an olive factory. You can also take a coffee break in this ‘new city’ or simply admire the Greek Orthodox church. Through the rugged landscape of Crete, you drive to Plaka, the fishing village from where you can take a boat to Spinalonga. You can also do this from Elounda, as it is later on the route. Finally, arriving in Agios Nikolaos, it’s time for a stroll through the city and a photo by Lake Voulismeni. [Read more…]

End of a Routaki route - the view of Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos
in the Heraklion city walk you will see all the notable attractions of the city

City walk Heraklion

Heraklion, formerly called Candia, is a historic city waiting to be discovered. Join me, via the VoiceMap app, as I wander through the ages, getting to know some of the characters and seeing the most famous, but also lesser-known sights. Using the GPS interactive app I will guide you along the coastline to the Koules harbor fort. Then experience the lively center of Heraklion, with all its historic buildings. See and visit the beautiful churches and still have time to sit down for a cup of coffee or a souvlaki, whenever you want. Walk from a Venetian fortress wall to the beautiful Agios Titus church. Stroll through the market street and learn about some local Cretan products. Explore the lion fountain in the lively center and end up at the entrance to the archaeological museum. [Read more…]

the lion fountain in the center of Herklion is included in the city walk in this city
overview of the old Venetian harbor of Rethymnon

City walk Rethymnon

Rethymnon, also called Rethymno, is a city with a beautiful old Venetian city center. Wonderful to walk through and enjoy one of the terraces here or there. Enjoy the old Venetian harbour, experience the picturesque little streets with the beautifully decorated souvenir shops. You can stop wherever you want, or sit down for a cup of coffee or a snack. This audio tour takes you past the oldest pastry shop in Rethymno, the beautiful stately minaret, the famous Rimondi fountain and of course also to the Fortezza. The enormous castle can also be skipped, but the views are enormous. Start the tour at the parking lot next to the new port, or join later if you want to visit this university city by local bus. [Read more…]

beautiful little alleys in the old town of Rethymno

ROUTAKI’S AUDIO

GUIDE INFO FILES

What makes the Routaki routes so special? Each route comes with a set of audio files containing guide information (RAGIFs). During your drive, these audio guide info files inform you about items you see or visit, traditions, and customs of the local population. Your own smartphone, using the GPS-interactive VoiceMap app, narrates the history of that small church you just passed or the way the locals harvest their olives. You also get information about your chosen route’s ultimate destination.

It’s like having a guide or hostess sitting next to you in the passenger seat!

The below mentioned RaGiF is automatically playing when you enter the main square in the city of Heraklion, during the city walk. It tells you about the fountain and its history.

Imagine you are just visited the Fortezza of Rethymnon and now you are given directions back into the city centre. On your right hand side is a tavern with this steel construction on its terrace. Your audio guide explains what it’s used for; Antikristo is a traditional method of preparing meat on Crete. This technique allows the meat to cook in its own fat and salt, utilizing the heat from the flames rather than coals. The term “antikristo” translates to “across the fire”.

the use of VoiceMap by Routaki routes

Routaki

audio

Guide

info

Files

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