English

Routaki routes on Crete

Driving tours and city walks in various regions of Crete. Ideal for those who want to explore the island on their own with a rental car, but still like to experience a sense of guidance. It’s called self-sightseeing. With the help of the GPS-interactive software app from VoiceMap, you are in full control of your day. The route you downloaded guides you through the Cretan landscape and automatically provides fun and informative insights along the way. You’ll drive to castles, beaches, or a typical Cretan village. Browse the selection via the homepage and choose the route that best suits your holiday wishes. Of course, you can also combine a driving tour with a city walk to enjoy even more of the RAGiF’s [Routaki’s Audio Guide info Files].

Please note that all routes are designed to fill a full day. So, take your time, don’t rush, and enjoy all the beauty Crete has to offer.

The VoiceMap app is free to download on your own smartphone. By using the Routaki route description, you are provided with accurate information and images, so getting lost is truly not an option. Nothing is standing in your way for a wonderfully relaxing day.

Routes on Crete, explore the island on your own, but still guided
VoiceMap app available on the app store.
VoiceMap app available on Google play

The car routes and city walks are available in English and Dutch. The German translation is in progress.

On the VoiceMap platform or in the app, if it’s your first time, you have to create an account. This can easily be done using your Google or Facebook account. Within this account, you can purchase the driving tour or city walk of your choice, or enter the code you received via the Routaki webshop for your selected route or walk. This route will then remain permanently available within your VoiceMap account. You can also listen to the tour or city walk in advance or afterward, from the comfort of your home, like an audio e-book.

Before purchasing, you have the option to listen to a few sample items, so you can get a sense of Mr. Routaki’s voice and decide whether the style appeals to you.

How do the Routaki routes work?!

  • By using the GPS – interactive software, you always know where you are and whether you are still on the route, whether you’re driving or walking.
  • In addition to all the directions, each route has  so-called RAGiFs. These are the informative audio files that precisely inform you at the right moment about what you see or will see along the way. These are placed in the route at positions where you don’t have to take any turns or significant bends.
  • The great advantage of this setup is that you are completely in charge of your own schedule for the day. You can stop as often as you like, leave the route and come back, or even execute the chosen route over multiple days.
  • The Routaki routes are designed with the idea that you can spend a whole day on them. The number of kilometers driven or walked doesn’t mean much on Crete. Due to the hilly and even mountainous roads, everything takes much longer.

RAGiF

Nr 26 – ‘Kalamafka’ route

General info concerning Crete

view the range of routes in Crete
  • The length of the routes is indicated on the VoiceMap info pages. Experience has shown that you drive an average of 43 km per hour on the B-roads where the routes take place. So, you can cover a route of about 70 km in two hours, but if you look at all the sights and enjoy what Crete has to offer, you are easily on the road for a large part of the day.
  • At Routaki routes, we advise to drive at a standard speed of 55 to 60 km per hour. In exceptional cases where a highway section is used, the information is set for a speed of about 70 to 80 km/h.
  • The VoiceMap app works entirely offline once you have your route in your account. The advice is to download the route within a Wi-Fi zone to avoid additional streaming costs.
  • You can pay with Ideal or a credit card at Voicemap. At Routaki, we keep our own webshop active where you can purchase a voucher code with PayPal, which can be entered in the app. In the (near) future, it will also be possible to pay with the most common cryptocurrencies.

Clothing advice: We would like to draw your attention to the fact that in most routes, there are objects to see or paths to walk where good shoes are necessary. It is also advisable to apply sunscreen well because you are driving in a moving car and may not realize that the sun is intensely shining on you (especially in a convertible). If you want to visit chapels or churches, it is expected that you are dressed appropriately.

Driving through bends: If you haven’t driven in the mountains often, a small tip; always try to drive through the corners with a bit of acceleration. So, give a little gas through the turn. When descending, decelerate on the gear (= the same as when ascending).

Private property: Always respect other people’s belongings. Tourists are very welcome here on Crete, but a farmer who suddenly misses his hammer is certainly not happy about it. A small example with the aim of asking you to keep this in mind. Also, make sure to park the car neatly and without causing any inconvenience.

RAGiFs: Routaki’s Audio Guide info Files, in other words, the audio fragments with guide information that make your day with Routaki so special. They play automatically at GPS locations, at times when you don’t need other instructions about turns or corners. Enjoy the information.

Responsibility: Routaki is in no way responsible for any inconveniences. Copyright, or author’s rights, applies to the route description as well as the RAGiFs: © Routaki 2024

VoiceMap:  the amazing app that we are fortunate to use for free, and which has made all this beauty possible. A South African startup that, like Routaki, has the goal to provide you with an unforgettable day.

Waste: We, at Routaki, strive to provide everyone with a beautiful and enjoyable day trip. However, we kindly ask for your help in keeping this beautiful island clean. Although we are aware that the residents may sometimes overlook it, we want to make an appeal to you. So please take all packaging, food remnants, etc., with you or dispose of them directly in a container. Thank you in advance.

Wrong turn: If you have taken a wrong turn, there’s nothing to worry about. The VoiceMap app will inform you about it. Take the time to return. Be careful not to create hazards for others. Take the time and space for it.

Enough of reading done ; have fun with the route and the RAGiF’s of Routaki routes.

Mr. Routaki

If you would like to hear more examples of a RAGiF [Routaki Audio Guide info File], simply click on the links below and be amazed by the wealth of delightful information gathered for you with the help of the Cretan people.

Listen to the RAGiF about Lake Kournas, the only natural sweet water lake of Crete.

You’ll pass it if you drive route 53 – ‘Myriokefala’

Listen to the horrible story of what happened in the Milatos cave.

It’s part of the Audio Guided Tour 58 – ‘Spinalonga’

The item about Nikos Kazantzakis, the famous Greek writer. The item will automatically play just before you enter the village of Myrtia, where you can visit the Nikos Kazantzakis museum.

All being covered in the ‘Knossos’ route 53.

Kommos beach was an important purple colour production centre back in these days. Listen to it and imagine you just came from Matala and are on your way to the excavation site of Phaistos.

All part of route 48 – ‘Matala’

RaGiF stands for Routaki audio Guide info File

– All regions of the routes are mentioned –

the map shows the region where the route is situated
easy to be used, the voicemap app for driving or walking
experience an unique day e.g. in the pottery village of Margarites

Enjoy & Share & Pass on your experiences

Of course, we appreciate it if you share your experiences with your family and friends on social media.