12/11/2025
FOLLOWING THE ABDUCTORS 18-24/5/2026
April 1944. Patrick Leigh Fermor and William Stanley Moss with the help of Cretan partisans abducted the German General Heinrich Kreipe, the head of the occupation troops in Crete. For three weeks they hiked over 100 miles, managed to escape from the German soldiers hunting them and left for Cairo.
This May we follow their route, visit their hideouts and trying to understand how and why the managed it.
A combination of hiking, history and culture, based on their books and their map.
DAY 1 18/05/2026
Driving to the Abduction point, to understand why they chose it and pay our respects to the monument.
By car we go to the historical village of Anogia, so we can discuss all the details of the trip and have something for lunch.
We drive again to Petradolakia Cave, the first hideout the team used in 1944.
(We have decide to skip hiking this part of the actual route, as is an asphalt road, without any interest).
Afterwards, just an hour hiking to our beautiful camping spot at Nida Plateau.
Spending the night in tents, with freshly prepared dinner and local wine.
DAY 2 19/05/2026
Early morning start, with a big breakfast, as we have our most difficult hiking day in front of us.
From the Nida Plateau, at 1300m, we are climbing at Mt Psiloritis peak, at 2456m, to enjoy the view. We need about 5,5 hours till the summit, but that is not the end.
From the peak we descend to 800m at the village of Nithavri, where we spend the night at a guest house.
DAY 3 20/05/2026
We change shoes and, from strong hiking boots, we wear our running shoes, as our hiking day is mostly on asphalt, dirt roads and tracks. 20k in about 6,5 hours with our stops, passing by villages away from the tourism development.
Out destination is the village of Yerakari. Near the village is the second hideout, we are going to visit, called Hainospilios.
We are going to visit a shepherd’s stone hut, where we can spend the night, if we don’t choose the tents.
DAY 4 21/05/2026
Climbing at Mt Kedros summit, at 1.776m. From the same path we’re going down and walk at a dirt road till the village of Patsos and our third hideout, under the trees. It’s a full day hiking and demanding a
It’s time to rest, so we are spending the night in a hotel with a pool to relax.
For dinner we prefer a traditional tavern with excellent food and wine.
DAY 5 22/05/2026
It’s time to avoid the asphalt road, so we drive till the village of Velonado to hike the Kollita Gorge to vist there our two las hideouts of the trip.
We are staying at a guest house and for dinner we are going to prepper the “famous” Greek souvlaki.
DAY 6 23/05/2026
Climbing to the top of Mt Krioneritis and going down to the Peristeres Beach, the point where the boat came in 1944 and evacuate the Abduction Team with the General.
DAY 7 24/05/2026
Driving to Chania, visiting the Commonwealth Cemetery and the German Cemetery on Hill 107, above Maleme Airport, where the Battle of Crete begun in May 1941, 85 years ago.
The trip is a combination of history, hiking and camping.
Keep in mind that the hiking parts are demanding and our guests should be keen hikers and fit to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Contact [email protected] for more details.
