Explore the closest trails that Chania has to offer and escape the city to immerse yourself in the beautiful mountain of Malaxa as you run past ancient sites with the magnificent vista of Chania

Located just a 15-minute drive from the charming town of Chania, the Malaxa mountain range offers the closest running trails to Chania. This 5-mile / 8 km loop offers an incredible 1,200 ft /400 m of vertical gain, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area.

We will meet in the quaint village of Nerochourou. Our running route takes us through this charming village that leads us to the base of the mountain. From here we will catch the trail that immediately immerses us in nature.

As we make our way through the non-technical trail, we will pass by some fascinating old ruins before reaching an ancient spring where we can quench our thirst with delicious fresh water.

Our journey will take us running across the mountain, smelling the wild thyme with stops at three churches along the way. The first church is a popular hangout for the local goats and offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Continuing our run, traversing the mountains we will arrive at a second church hidden in a beautiful grove of flowers, where we will have the opportunity to take in the magnificent vista of Chania and Souda Bay.

As our adventure continues, we will begin our descent towards the final church, nestled into the side of the mountain. This will be the perfect spot to take some memorable photos and reflect on our incredible journey.

This trail is suitable for all levels of runners, with 90% of it being non-technical, making it an accessible and enjoyable experience for everyone.

We will run at a relaxed pace and hike where we need to and run when we can.