CAR ROUTE 58

Malia – Milatos – Spinalonga – Ag.Nikolaos

What makes route 58 – ‘Spinalonga’ so special:

Start at the Minoan Palace of Malia and listen to the details about it.
Drive through the village of Milatos and visit the Milatos Cave.
Receive a free tour at the olive factory of the Vassilakis estate.
Enjoy a Greek coffee or cappuccino on the square of Neapoli.
Drive past the Amazonas animal park and take a short look there.
In Plaka, enjoy the terrace of the boats that sail to Spinalonga.
Explore the former leper colony of Spinalonga.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in Elounda by the beautiful harbor.
To conclude, enjoy the surroundings of the inland lake of Agios Nikolaos.

Buy this ‘MUSEUM LIKE’ audio tour

What makes route 58 – ‘Spinalonga’ so special:

Start at the Minoan Palace of Malia and listen to the details about it.
Drive through the village of Milatos and visit the Milatos Cave.
Receive a free tour at the olive factory of the Vassilakis estate.
Enjoy a Greek coffee or cappuccino on the square of Neapoli.
Drive past the Amazon animal park and take a short look there.
In Plaka, enjoy the terrace of the boats that sail to Spinalonga.
Explore the former leper colony of Spinalonga.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in Elounda by the beautiful harbor.
To conclude, enjoy the surroundings of the inland lake of Agios Nikolaos.

Buy this self-sightseeing tour

This route starts at the parking lot of the excavations of the former Palace of Malia and is 91 km long (see the starting point on Google Maps). The idea behind this Routaki route is that it takes up an entire day, due to the items you are able to visit.

You are heading eastward with Spinalonga as your main destination. The route takes you past the Milatos Cave and the town of Neapoli, where you can visit the small animal park Amazonas. Consider, before or after a delightful lunch in Plaka or Elounda, taking the boat trip to the former fortress of Spinalonga.

Before the Milatos Cave, various RAGiF’s (Routaki Audio Guide Info Files) have already explained what you encountered or saw along the way. This is the special aspect of a Routaki route; you receive the right information at the right moment. For example, you receive information about the Minoan excavation site of Malia when you depart. If you drive past the plastic banana greenhouses of Malia, you will be explained why they are so special. Your own smartphone ‘talks’ and ‘plays’ as a guide about things you encounter along the way or that are generally important for Crete.

Purchase this car route (incl. 28 RAGiF’s)

the hothouses around malia with the bananas

You continue driving, following the route instructions narrated and displayed by your own smartphone or tablet. Routaki routes utilize the VoiceMap app. Through this GPS interactive software, you always know where you are, and the software knows what it should play or display.

And all of this offline. You download the app for free, create an account, and purchase the route. The route is downloaded and remains available to you forever. You can even listen to it in advance in the audio-book version as a prelude.

The spoken texts, as well as the images, ensure that you drive around with a secure feeling, and you realize that it’s nearly impossible to get lost. Even sharp turns or road hazards are mentioned. If you deviate from the route, the app will notify you so you can return to the route.

However, you can also interrupt or stop the route whenever you want. You can take a break, go for a swim, take a forest walk, or continue the route on another day—whatever you prefer. If you want to resume the route, simply press the ‘Resume‘ button, and the route will be displayed again.

After visiting the former leper colony of Spinalonga, you have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal in Elounda. The route then continues along beautiful winding roads, where you’ll hear about traditions related to weddings, including the music and dance forms used. You can conclude the day with a delightful stroll along the coastline in the harbor town of Agios Nikolaos. Well-positioned terraces around the inner lake create an idyllic atmosphere. Agios Nicolaos also boasts many beautiful boutique shops and plenty of opportunities to purchase a nice souvenir.

In total, there are 28 different RAGiF’s in route 58, in addition to all the audio files explaining the route. The route is up-to-date and extensively narrated, with images for reference or clarification.

a lovely atmosphere around the inner lake of Agios Nicolaos

de waterbronnen van Krasi tegenover de eeuwenoude plataan

This route features audio files about Malia Palace, Milatos Cave, Olive Oil Production, Neapoli, Amazon Animal Park, everything about Spinalonga, Plaka, and Elounda. Additionally, much information is provided about local traditions and customs.

Buy – to explore yourself – stil guided

Install the free of charge VoiceMap app and find this route among the more than 1,500 available routes.

Some useful tips:

Bring your smartphone battery charger.
Maintain an average speed of 55-60 km.
Wear appropriate clothing for churches and monasteries.
Purchase the correct language version of the route (Dutch or English).
Ensure that the route is NOT set to the audio-book setting.
If you have one, bring a smartphone holder
Disable automatic screen turn-off (don’t forget to put it back on afterwards)

Other Routaki routes:

Route 32 – ‘Myriokefala’
The Spirit of Crete: A Drive from Rethymno to Georgioupoli via Myriokefala

Route 42 – ‘Margarites’
Discover Authentic Crete: Heraklion to Margarites via Anogia and Axos

Route 53 – ‘Knossos’
The treasures of Knossos unveiled: from Hersonissos through Archanes’ vineyards