Tours
Our Mountains
If you’re looking for the ultimate mountain adventure with skis on your feet, then you’ve chosen the right island. An island overflowing with mountains, gorges, and peaks that you climb and descend always against a backdrop of the sea.
Most people know Crete as a summer destination. Yes, it is certainly famous for its incredible food, its generous hospitality, and its beautiful beaches. It’s an island that many compare to a small continent, as the landscape changes so dramatically and so quickly that even we who live here are often surprised. Our mountains literally rise from the bottom of the sea, and their unique character makes them special — and in some cases difficult to access. In the mountains of Crete you won’t find comforts, development, or facilities. They have remained almost untouched and authentic, and this is what makes them a unique destination for ski mountaineering in Europe.
You wake up in the morning and drink your coffee in a summer climate while listening to the sea, and only a few hours later you find yourself in an alpine landscape surrounded by 54 peaks over 2,000 meters. Life in Crete remains authentic as well, with locals who are still genuine and hospitable, staring at us wide – eyed when we tell them we came from the peaks of Psiloritis and the White Mountains. The high quality of hospitality and the excellent pure traditional food make you realize immediately that ski mountaineering in Crete is not just an ascent and descent on a mountain. It is a complete travel experience that you live to the fullest every day through the contrasts it offers. Welcome.
White Mountains (Lefká Óri)
The White Mountains are located in Chania, on the western side of the island, and form a massive mountain range. They are the mountains with the highest number of high peaks in Greece, with 54 peaks over 2,000 meters and another 54 up to 1,800 meters. There are also 36 gorges, the most famous being the Samaria Gorge.
The highest peak is Pachnes (2,453 m), located on the southern
side of the range, very close to the equally high peaks of Bournélo, Trocháris, Gavala, and Thodoris.
The range stretches 60 km in length and 35 km in width, composed mainly of limestone. The White Mountains extend across almost the entire regional unit o
f Chania, especially on the southern side where the peaks stand very close to the sea. This allows you to approach the mountains daily from different sides depending on the prevailing conditions, experiencing something new each day.
The higher peaks are closer to the southern coast and generally offer better snow conditions without ice.
The White Mountains are also ideal for ski mountaineering traverses, which can be done from any side of the range. Access is easy from the western side, with paved roads reaching 1,200 m, and from the northern side with pavement up to 900 m.
Psiloritis (Mount Ida)
The mountain of Zeus is equally high — and a few meters higher than Pachnes —
but definitely smaller in area. It has four major peaks and a pyramid – like shape. Its greatest advantage is its huge northern face, which gathers a lot of snow and, due to its orientation, keeps it until late spring. Access from the northern side is also easy, with a paved road reaching 1,600 m.
The downside is that because of its northern exposure, it freezes easily and can remain icy for weeks in early winter. In this case, it’s better to climb from the southern side, where the slope is gentler and the snow always softer. However, access from that side is not easy and requires more time for the ascent.
It is worth mentioning the Pierra Creta ski mountaineering race, held every two years in Crete on the northern slopes of Psiloritis, with more than 200 participants each time — most of them international.