Between Crete and Santorini: on the paths of King Minos

Your plane lands in Chania. A transfer takes you to your hotel, tucked in the heart of the old town. Set down your bags, then let yourself be carried by the charm of the Venetian harbour: colourful facades, Mosque of the Janissaries, small artisan shops. Chania is a town where you take your time; a first glass of raki on a terrace sets the tone for the trip.

Public bus to Paleochora (at your own expense), a seaside village set between two sandy beaches. You settle into the hotel and have the rest of the day to taste the Cretan atmosphere: a swim in warm waters, a stroll up to the ruins of Castello Selino, 13th-century Venetian remains overlooking the bay. In the evening, the harbour tavernas compete in generosity: grilled fish, crunchy salads, fragrant olive oil.

The path leaves the shore, gains a light-filled plateau, then descends to the ancient site of Lyssos, a hidden treasure of Greek and Roman remains nestled in a green valley, facing an emerald cove reached only on foot. A place outside of time, perfect for a contemplative pause. You continue through the shaded gorges of Selinou to the village of Sougia, its pebble beach and its peaceful atmosphere.

Gorges more intimate than their famous Samaria neighbours. The path follows a riverbed lined with centuries-old plane trees and oleanders, in welcome coolness. Water murmurs between the rocks, light filters through the canopy. At the top, the Omalos plateau welcomes you for the night: a landscape of shepherds and sheep, where the Cretan mountains reveal their full serenity. Dinner, served at the hotel, is a moment of authentic conviviality.

The most grandiose day of the trip. From the Xyloskalo viewpoint, you descend gradually into the immense rift of Samaria, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The walls rise to dizzying heights, centuries-old cypresses scent the air, light plays on the rock. At the bottom, the village of Agia Roumeli and the Libyan Sea welcome you for a well-deserved swim. The descent is long but gradual, with no technical difficulty.

A day that alternates walking and swimming. The path follows the coast, passing the 12th-century chapel of Agios Pavlos, a place steeped in legends. You discover the white marble beach of Likos, whose limpid waters invite an enchanted pause. Then Loutro appears: a hamlet of white houses, nestled in a turquoise cove, reached only by sea or on foot. The tavernas serve the morning's fish, feet almost in the water.

A last look at the bay of Loutro before taking the boat to Chora Sfakion (not included), then the public bus to Heraklion (at your own expense), the island's capital. You settle into the hotel and enjoy the end of the day discovering the Morosini fountain, the Venetian ramparts and the bustling lanes of the old town. In the evening, the restaurants of the old harbour offer refined Cretan cuisine.

A day devoted to heritage. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, one of the most important in Greece, houses the treasures of Minoan civilisation: delicate frescoes, gold jewellery, mysterious ritual objects. Then a visit to the Palace of Knossos, where the myth of the Minotaur takes shape among the red columns and open-air courtyards. At the end of the day, a wander through the historic quarter and a final Cretan evening.

The boat leaves Heraklion and sets course for Santorini. As you approach, the spectacle is striking: the sheer cliffs of the caldera, the white villages clinging to the edge, the deep blue of the Aegean. Settle into your hotel, then take your first stroll. If time allows, a walk among the vines that grow on the volcanic terroir; Santorini's vine produces a wine unique in the world, Assyrtiko.

The clifftop path linking Fira to Oia is one of the most beautiful walks in the entire Mediterranean. Before you, the immensity of the caldera; below, the sea, of an almost unreal blue. You pass through the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli, where blue-domed chapels vie for photogenic glory. In Oia, time stands still: flower-filled lanes, art galleries, terraces suspended above the void. The sunset, from the heights of the village, is an unforgettable moment.

Visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, a Minoan city buried by the volcanic eruption of 1500 BC and remarkably preserved. A modern museum houses the remains: paved streets, multi-storey houses, polychrome frescoes. In the afternoon, relax on the red or black sand beaches of the south coast, where volcanic cliffs plunge into crystalline waters. A lunar and fascinating landscape.