Adventure Sports in Crete You love the outdoors? Welcome to paradise! Gorges, remote mountain summits, steep slopes, and in the deep sea make Crete the perfect destination for adventure lovers. If you have a head for heights, choose from rock climbing, paragliding, mountain hiking (and biking). If the ocean lures you, try kayaking and canoeing, sailing, scuba and snorkeling.
Crete is its own nature park. The blossoming period is more than six months, and the ground is often carpeted with spectacular blooms. Its location in the centre of the Mediterranean makes it a birdwatcher’s paradise. This narrow island, with mountains rising up to 2,500 metres, affords simultaneous views of the turquoise Mediterranean, north and south.
Crete’s country roads are not overcrowded with traffic. Trails for walkers and bikers are also marked for easy navigation (motorbikes can also be rented). These trails give the traveller the perfect opportunity to absorb the unique natural beauty of Crete: its ancient paths, settlements, monasteries, as well as its mountains; the perfume and colours of its flowers and herbs; rivers and creeks and beautiful gorges like the Samaria. | Crete’s Beautiful Beaches Crete offers every possible choice of beach experience. Some may be white/pink, others sandy; others yet, pebbly. Some beaches have shallow, warm water, while others go deep very quickly, and are usually superior for snorkeling. Some have sunbeds, bars and cafes, while others are close to deserted – so take your pick!
Vai or Elunda are trendy, while younger travellers head for Hersonnisos, where the nightlife is lively. Makrygialos, Myrtos, and Agia Galini tend to get more crowds.
For some, locating a secluded beach on Crete is half the fun. A journey to Zakros, for example, imbues a sense of achievement to have reached this eastern point, an impressive coastline, a large pebble beach and often-dazzling waters. Keratokambos brings out the rally driver in you as the road winds down towards the beach, to be rewarded with a small, cozy, sand and pebble beach, shady pines, backdrop of mountains -- and tavernas offering the freshest of fish dishes.
A good guideline: northern beaches are shallower and warmer; southern beaches are more secluded. A cautionary note: sea urchins are common on the rocky shores, and very painful. So watch your step. |
 Touring in CreteCrete is a large island with such great contrasts, that it is a wonderful place just to tour. Your self-catering villa is a perfect launching pad for your exploration, whether it be the archaeological sites, a fishing village, or just a tour through the mountains.
The Iraklion Museum of Archeology is considered one of the most important in Europe. Dorians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venicians, Turks and, more recently, British and Germans have all left their mark here. The architects of Venice have probably left the most lasting imprint, and their influence can be seen in many of the islands monuments and buildings.
Of the archaeological sites, the most famous is Knossos. This famous Minoan Palace, just south of Heraklion, stands in the Kairatos valley. The ruins are fascinating; the myth of the Minotaur even more so, perhaps.
For a day out (remember, all excursions can be combined with a village, lunch and, often, a spell on a beach), and a view of what most of us would consider an oddity, a trip to Matala, where you will see artificial caves, carved into the rocks, north of the coast. Created in prehistoric times, they were “rediscovered” in the seventies by a hippy community, who lived and even raised families there.
For a cave of a very different nature, you might take a trip to the village of Anogeia Just outside the village is the famous Sfentoni Cave, presenting an exceptional example of stalactites and stalagmites. These mineral creations of Mother Nature display a kaleidoscope of shapes and colours, offering a brilliant background for the sparkling calcium crystals.
Cretans live long lives, and this has been largely attributed to the islands delicious natural food. Crete’s virgin olive oil and local produce combine to make mouth watering recipes, and to create an incredibly healthy population. Local fruits, vegetables, cheese, bread, basil, oregano, honey and molasses, all play their part – and don’t forget the occasional glass of “raki” and the local wine. |
